・PMD-R1

033   |   Pioneer   |   '96  02

Pioneer Debut

Due to continuous revenue decline, Pioneer was sold to the Hong Kong BPEA Investment Fund and was delisted from the stock market in '19. Once a leading brand in DVDs, holding the largest global market share in DJ audio equipment, and a prominent name in AV products and car audio navigation, Pioneer introduced the portable MD for the first time in '96.

The prototype of the device might have originated from the Sharp MD-MS100. Unlike the intricate shell mechanisms in typical devices, this machine has a simple one-touch horizontal slide to swiftly load/unload discs, but the Slot In design requires more space, making the device somewhat bulky.

Its design features a clean and airy large blank space with curved bodylines. The inclined arrangement of buttons adds a touch of flexible aesthetic sensation. However, the oversized MD Logo disrupts the overall balance. The elongated LCD screen displays track names, REC level, battery status, and disc information, supporting a maximum of 10 characters in English, numerals, or Japanese kana. Unfortunately, it's equipped only with screenless remote control operation.

It incorporates a thoughtful feature called "Synchro REC" which detects audio presence during recording, enabling automatic start/stop of recording (automatic deletion after 3 seconds of silence, automatic track marking in silent sections), making recording editing more effortless.

What's notable is that unlike most competitors, Pioneer created two distinct storage cases corresponding to two models. Additionally, it generously included an exclusive one-year theft and damage insurance, showcasing Pioneer's emphasis on creating product highlights in a competitive market.

MD-S50