Features: Sampling rate converter. Synchro recording (start recording when audio appears at input). Title search. Built in wall clock based timer for recording and playback.
Variants: Smaller (93mm wide) Sharp MD-R1MKII supercedes original unit. Upgrade apparently includes 24-bit ATRAC (and 20-bit wide processing LSI?)
Criticism: Sampling rate conversion is a very convenient feature. It will be a must for MD decks before long. But be careful to check the performance. I found the specs of Sharp's sampling rate converter in IEEE trans. on consumer electronics. They are .. S/N 90dB, Distortion 0.005% (1kHz) That's about 14-bit accuracy. I've not yet checked the sound quality myself, but I'm afraid that it will affect the sound quality of low level music [when sampling rate conversion is used]. -Takeshi SASAKI
Has been tested, full working order