Never Stop Learning!

I recently realized that I hadn't showcased any Panasonic models even though I have a few! I know I fixed some before starting this blog/YouTube, and I've been more focused on Sony and Sharp models with a Kenwood thrown in once. Here's a fun one, then! The Panasonic SJ-MR230, affectionately called the "answering machine" for those that know what those are... It was a nice solid, chunky player that came with a dock and speakers (powered by the adapter going into the dock) that surprisingly aren't terrible considering how small (and old!) they are. It was released in late 2002 as a smaller, non-NetMD sibling to the SJ-MR250.  This particular model was sold as "working when docked" and yes, it was working, but there was a problem... the face buttons, specifically the Stop/Play/Pause and Fwd/Rev buttons were SUPER sensitive where brushing the surface of them would cause the player to pause/play or skip tracks. This can happen as older models get dirt or ...

The Sony MZ-N10 is still a highly-coveted MiniDisc player/recorder that, to this day, has a premium look and feel. In my previous post/video, we helped tune one to fix read errors, but perhaps more common are the ones that are just "dead" since Sony designed the MZ-N10 with an internal, Li-ion battery that wasn't easy to find anymore.  A few years ago, people were finding similarly-sized Li-ion batteries and soldering them into place, which is a great solution, but I wanted something even easier. Now, there are Li-ion options purpose-built for the task with the flex cable built-in that will fit right into the stock board/clip. With just 1 screw and 5 minutes of time, you can breathe new life back into your MZ-N10! Please check out the video to see it in action, but the pictures below cover the main steps: 1 - After removing the top screw for the knob's plate, open it as shown to reveal the battery (it's the blue sliver you see - and the left-most ribbon cable in a...

OK so this one won't be nearly as tricky as replacing that "write head lowering gear" from the other MZ-R700, but you play the cards you're dealt! In this case, I received a working MZ-R700 with a broken display and a non-working MZ-R700 with a good display. Time to swap lids!  Since these devices are old with no new replacement parts, salvaging working parts is a valid repair option! Check out the video for details, but it basically boiled down to: Removing the rear casing Disconnecting the flex cable that leads to the front lid and display components Removing the front lid Put the new lid in place and connect the flex cable Replace the rear casing You should now have a fully-functional unit!

The Sony LIP-12 Lithium-ion battery was used in many different models like this MZ-R30 I have. Sony MiniDisc devices that use the LIP-12: Sony MZ-R2, Sony MZ-R3, Sony MZ-R4, Sony MZ-R4ST Sony MZ-R30, Sony MZ-R35 Sony MZ-B3, Sony MZ-E3 The original was a 1350 mAh battery and most of them, as you can imagine, are dead and won't hold a charge. Since the internal cell is actually an old 18650, there are plenty of options to replace it. Opening the case is technically "destructive", but if you're careful, you can reseal it cleanly and it will slide into/out of the battery cavity smoothly. There's not much room for error in the battery compartment, so work carefully and slowly. Also - working with Lithium-ion batteries can be dangerous! Make sure to get the polarity correct! The positive side will usually be designated on the label. If it isn't you can tell by the "rings" around that end of the battery. The negative terminal will be smooth and flat. Additi...

The Sony MZ-N10 was a flagship, celebrating Sony's 10th Anniversary of MiniDisc technology which launched alongside the MZ-E10 and LAM-Z10 in late 2002 . Sony being, well, Sony, designed a premium-feeling device with an internal (not easily replaceable) Lithium battery, a nice dock, and proprietary connector (connects to PC via USB for NetMD).  The form-factor of the device shows a real evolution from the R900/R909 (which went from dual jog dials to a jog dial + control pad) to the previous year's MZ-N1 (3-line display, flat control lever + jog dial), to a nearly perfect combination of a 3-line display plus a large, left-side-mounted jog dial to scroll through tracks and menu options. Pushing down (not in) on the jog dial selected the option. It's a great control scheme for zipping through tracks and choosing menu options. It's good enough to not need a wired remote if you want to reduce the tangle/clutter. Having said that, the proprietary connector combined with the i...