▸MD-ST501

067   |   Sharp   |   '97  12.15

Neo Future Vision

By Sharp's press release indicates that in the expanding market driven by the demands of younger demographics for MiniDisc (MD) players, the domestic Japanese market is expected to grow to approximately 4.6 million units in '97, a 190% increase from the previous year. Alongside the popularity of MD audio systems that can record, the demand for MD Players has also surged. In August of the same year, Sharp introduced the industry's first pocket-sized Slot In model, the trendy MD-J series, meeting the needs of teenagers for portable convenience and stylish design.

To further advance the dream, the following technologies were introduced：

Ultra-compact Optical Head

Utilizing a 3-way 3.6mm thin holographic laser projection. The newly developed optical head occupies only 55% of the volume of previous models and achieves an ultra-thin thickness of 6.7mm.

Lightweight High-Performance Mechanism

A newly developed mechanism with an area reduced by 25% compared to previous models, with further reductions in the chassis.

High-Density Single-Chip LSI

The newly developed fifth-generation compact LSI uses ATRAC 24Bit and integrates RF digitalization, decoder, digital servo EFM processing, compression, and decoding functions into a single chip. Additionally, it achieves 1.8V drive capability for energy efficiency. Furthermore, it incorporates new block floating-point processing, optimized bit allocation, and noise shaping technologies to achieve high sound quality.

Through these technological advancements, the MD-ST501 was created, featuring a projection area size only as large as an MD cartridge and a slim thickness of 17.9mm, transforming the Portable MD into a more compact and lightweight Pocket MD.

The avant-garde arc-shaped holographic ribbon surrounding the disc exudes a technological aura. Typically hidden touch-sensitive controls are boldly placed on the top, seamlessly integrated into the design while ensuring operational recognition. LED lights on the body flash with the movement, enhancing the overall dynamic appeal.

Available in three color schemes: Shining Yellow and French Blue with metallic finish coating, and Aurora White with a smooth enamel that shifts to a pink iridescent color depending on the angle.

The new LCD remote control is equipped with backlighting, illuminating the sophisticated technological imagery whether outdoors or in low-light environments.

Equipped with a rechargeable battery providing a pleasing play 8hrs of continuous and extending up to 14hrs when combined with AA , ensuring comfortable and stress-free music enjoyment even while on the go.

Memory Shock Protection is generously enhanced with a 16Mbit DRAM, providing nearly four times the capacity compared to previous models, ensuring virtually skip-free performance for up to 40 seconds.

PMD-P3