Price Paid:  $0.00 from Sonystyle sevice cen

Summary:
Having used this format professionally over the past 8 years with varying degrees of success side-by-side with its older sibling the MDS-S38, have found the '50 to be much more reliable but less user-friendly. This being as a result of its smaller display and and less-comprehensively-featured remote - track titling via the remote proving a rather arduous task because of each key representing 3 characters. The two models' remotes being unfortunately incompatable in this latter respect. The '50 also lacks a digital OUT facility meaning that mode of duplication can be acheived only by copying from a similar deck with digital OUT terminal.

Fuctions such as program-play require extra switching via the jog-dial and associated buttons - the jog-dial being somewhat less positive/responsive than the earlier model. Also, if standing whilst operating the unit due to the non - sloping aspect of the display results in the characters being harder to view unless the user is in-line. However, ergonomically-speaking, the improved spacing of the basic controls is a definite plus. Sound quality indistinguishable with other models using ATRAC 4

In conclusion, Sony should have "stuck to its knitting" of the previous models appearance and they would have had a winner in the MDS-S50.

Strengths:
Reliability

Weaknesses:
Function-combining on remote, lack of digital out, smaller display. Pitch control?? - unfortunately there isn't one...

Similar Products Used:
Sony MDS-S38