Sound Objet

In April 2003, Sony, which had long dominated the world, fell into crisis as its stock price plummeted to its lowest level since the bubble economy (known as Sony Shock). It was particularly criticized for the "lack of technological and product development" in its electronics business. As a result, a new business plan called "QUALIA" was born, aiming to revive the Sony brand.

Although QUALIA was part of the brand reconstruction, the entire series was custom-made and featured high-priced luxury products. Our protagonist is the fifth model in the series, Q017-MD1.

The body and remote control were luxuriously crafted from brass, with high-precision processing that concealed screws and gaps. The surface was plated with expensive palladium, and it was hand-polished by craftsmen. The extremely simple and smooth body surface only had the name of the QUALIA 017 series. Most people didn't know that the real model was Q017-MD1, which may be the only Walkman in history without a Sony logo on the front.

MD1 was only available for sale by appointment and was limited to 15 units per month. It was a craft-grade product with a boutique-level price of ¥180,000, which was six to ten times higher than regular models.

The accompanying MDR-EX070 earphones were also not ordinary. The official emphasized that they had been finely tuned by hand for high sound quality and featured an in-ear design that was rare at the time. The frame was made of brass and aluminum. Originally, it was only one of the accessories and not for sale, but due to high demand, a new series called MDR-EXQ1 was created, priced at ¥21,000, which was enough to buy another MD Walkman.

MD1 was equipped with a "High Definition Amplifier" that achieved high-resolution, extended sound quality, and reduced noise. However, the TYPE-S optimization for MD music details was absent.

It couldn't be charged externally, nor could the battery be replaced easily. In addition, the machine used a thin connector and required an accessory adapter to connect to regular earphones.

Since the introduction of the QUALIA plan, it has been continuously criticized for deviating from the needs of the masses, showcasing technology, and being a high-end Sony brand. In June 2005, about two years later, the official announced the termination of research and development.

Due to the limited production, even the "cheapest" MD1 in the series set a record high price of ¥1,564,157 in a Japanese auction in April 2017, creating a legendary myth in the history of MD, or perhaps a myth...