Thank you for showing what's available in Japan, I already knew that minidisc was big in Japan, but now i can see how much. That's a cool feature that you can test the "junk" items yourself, sure wouldn't happen here in France. Big fan and early adopter of the format since 1992
I bought MZ-R55 from Japan through eBay, I find the one from Japan are priced competitively and often includes shipping with the pricing (you just pay duties covering sales tax/VAT) The one I bought from Japan is a "global" model, so all labels are in English. Some of models are Japan only exclusive and they are in Kanji text.
Great video! It’s good to see what’s actually out there at hard off, for when I go. Could you have perhaps mailed some of those decks? It doesn’t seem too expensive on Buyee.
Thanks! Unless you're in the area, save time by skipping the big city ones and try to find your way to the smaller neighborhoods/outskirts! I could have mailed them, but I've already got enough (for now?)... I could use a boombox though...
Broooooooo... That grey pioneer xpr9dv was amazing. My brother was stationed in Japan in the 2000s. He bought that and sent it to me. It came with two small speakers. I loved that thing. Had great sound and base. Of course I couldn't play that many DVDs because of the region. One day there was some domestic situation with my father and got mad and threw away all my stuff including this... I miss it wish I could buy it again
I didn't know a lot about that unit, but I just looked it up - sounds nice! Sounds like you had some good memories before it got tossed out :( I bet you could find it pretty cheaply if you're patient! Ppl in Japan are getting rid of these things often
@@TechnicalInitiative funny you say that I just found one on eBay for 50 bills I'm thinking about grabbing it. Also because If I remember correctly you can transfer CDs to minidisc all in the unit
@ToolsElectroDIY - it's funny that you mentioned that... I can't get the whole collection out right now, but I'm going to do a focused video on one of my favorite models very soon!
Wow TI, what a find. That sharp is almost mint, very nice player. I would have gone crazy seeing all those MD units and discs. But I should maybe not buy anymore MDs I already have over 300. Cheers, looking forward to the next one. 😉
Hi 👋 Great vid and very interesting to see ! Love Japan and sure like many I would have to buy the lot ... its perfect !!! Do you know if they send out side Japan 😅 🙏🙏🙏 Would like to see other stores that sell HiFi 😊
Thanks and I'm glad you enjoyed it! I definitely would have bought more if I could... The best way to buy from Japan is to use a proxy like Buyee - they can search Yahoo Japan auctions or Mercari, collect it in a warehouse and ship it to you. Of course there are some fees for this, but it's the easiest way outside of a good buddy living in Japan! www.technicalinitiative.com/2023/03/buyee-get-minidiscs-and-players-and.html I'll definitely be visiting more Hard Offs (and similar) as soon as I get a chance!
Was great to catch up in the south. Would've been nice if Hisayama had yielded a few better results while you were in town. Maybe next time. Or the time after that. Or the time after that ....
I just picked up an Onkyo FR-X7A from ebay similar to the one at 1:34. Works great and has timer recording to MiniDisc. AM radio is the Japan 9 kHz spacing, so not compatible with the USA 10 kHz spacing, no big deal. I use it with a step-down transformer to provide it with Japan-style electricities.
Sony was so ahead of their time with the remote controls/display screen built into the headphone cord. Apple never could even duplicate it during the height of the iPod!
oh no - were you in the junk section? I would think one device might have made an appearance and one of the Discord users had some great luck in Kyoto! Sorry to hear that! I hope to keep hunting again, soon!
I worked in Fujisawa (you were staying across the street from my house in Sakuragicho) and would visit the Hardoff at least once a month. Got some cracking HiFi equipment there (which I shipped back to the States) they also had a great vinyl selection. The Hardoff in Ofuna was ghetto as f though. Just the worst junk from the early 00s
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Thank you for showing what's available in Japan, I already knew that minidisc was big in Japan, but now i can see how much. That's a cool feature that you can test the "junk" items yourself, sure wouldn't happen here in France. Big fan and early adopter of the format since 1992
Glad you liked it and I hope to visit more of these places in the near future! You've been into it longer than I have!
This is where heaven on earth is!
I've barely scratched the surface, I'm sure! I need to go back and check out more from all over the country... especially smaller towns!
So wonderful that you can still find a lot of MD equipment/accessories in Japan
Thanks!!! Wow! I LOVE MINIDISC!
You're welcome! I love them, too!
I’ll be going to Japan this coming year, I will definitely pick up a portable recorder.
Good luck in your search!
Wow MD was really big in Japan back in th day!
oh it was HUGE! And I was there during that time - spent a lot of time there in 2001+ and didn't stock up like I should have....
wow, what a good find! would love to visit this place
There are a lot of stores like this all over Japan - I plan to check out more next time!
I'd be looking for pocket radios (especially ones with shortwave) and melodicas.
You could literally scour every store like this in the whole of Australia and not find one item minidisc related. So jealous.
I hear you - same in the US - I had to head over to Japan!
@@TechnicalInitiative I’ve imported a few things from Japan too, but we are 240v here, so it’s tricky.
I bought MZ-R55 from Japan through eBay, I find the one from Japan are priced competitively and often includes shipping with the pricing (you just pay duties covering sales tax/VAT) The one I bought from Japan is a "global" model, so all labels are in English. Some of models are Japan only exclusive and they are in Kanji text.
Very cool!
I like the one at Ueno (so close to the subway station) and will definitely have a look when visiting Tokyo next time.
Sounds like both of us will be checking it out!
So jealous, I'd love to go there. But I would buy it all!
I hear you! If I wasn't packed up to move (or had less restraint...) I would definitely have picked up some!
@@TechnicalInitiative Great vid though.
Great video! It’s good to see what’s actually out there at hard off, for when I go.
Could you have perhaps mailed some of those decks? It doesn’t seem too expensive on Buyee.
Thanks! Unless you're in the area, save time by skipping the big city ones and try to find your way to the smaller neighborhoods/outskirts!
I could have mailed them, but I've already got enough (for now?)... I could use a boombox though...
Broooooooo... That grey pioneer xpr9dv was amazing. My brother was stationed in Japan in the 2000s. He bought that and sent it to me. It came with two small speakers. I loved that thing. Had great sound and base. Of course I couldn't play that many DVDs because of the region. One day there was some domestic situation with my father and got mad and threw away all my stuff including this... I miss it wish I could buy it again
I didn't know a lot about that unit, but I just looked it up - sounds nice! Sounds like you had some good memories before it got tossed out :(
I bet you could find it pretty cheaply if you're patient! Ppl in Japan are getting rid of these things often
@@TechnicalInitiative funny you say that I just found one on eBay for 50 bills I'm thinking about grabbing it. Also because If I remember correctly you can transfer CDs to minidisc all in the unit
Very nice trip 😊
It was fun and I wish I could have brought more things back! Next time!
@@TechnicalInitiative Definitely 💯
awesome video, thanks for sharing!
Thanks! I want to definitely check out more of them! Looking forward to your Japan trip!
@@TechnicalInitiative I would be interested to see a video going through all of your MD collections too :D
@ToolsElectroDIY - it's funny that you mentioned that... I can't get the whole collection out right now, but I'm going to do a focused video on one of my favorite models very soon!
Wow TI, what a find. That sharp is almost mint, very nice player. I would have gone crazy seeing all those MD units and discs. But I should maybe not buy anymore MDs I already have over 300. Cheers, looking forward to the next one. 😉
It really did require a lot of restraint not to buy more... Wow - that's a ton of discs!
Incredible World 😀 I ❤️ MD
Me too! Definitely stop by one or two Hard Off stores if you're in Japan!
Hi 👋 Great vid and very interesting to see ! Love Japan and sure like many I would have to buy the lot ... its perfect !!!
Do you know if they send out side Japan 😅 🙏🙏🙏
Would like to see other stores that sell HiFi 😊
Thanks and I'm glad you enjoyed it! I definitely would have bought more if I could... The best way to buy from Japan is to use a proxy like Buyee - they can search Yahoo Japan auctions or Mercari, collect it in a warehouse and ship it to you. Of course there are some fees for this, but it's the easiest way outside of a good buddy living in Japan!
www.technicalinitiative.com/2023/03/buyee-get-minidiscs-and-players-and.html
I'll definitely be visiting more Hard Offs (and similar) as soon as I get a chance!
Was great to catch up in the south. Would've been nice if Hisayama had yielded a few better results while you were in town.
Maybe next time. Or the time after that. Or the time after that ....
Thank you so much! Fukuoka was great! Definitely more HOs to scour next time!
I just picked up an Onkyo FR-X7A from ebay similar to the one at 1:34. Works great and has timer recording to MiniDisc. AM radio is the Japan 9 kHz spacing, so not compatible with the USA 10 kHz spacing, no big deal. I use it with a step-down transformer to provide it with Japan-style electricities.
The Onkyo MD units are great! I don't have a compact one yet, but I do have the Onkyo FR-B8 that does Hi-MD and I love it!
Sony was so ahead of their time with the remote controls/display screen built into the headphone cord. Apple never could even duplicate it during the height of the iPod!
I think there was a lot more fun experimentation with designs back then!
I went to ~15 stores and 3x Hard-Offs, but no MD remotes, no MD decks at all! I was in Nara, Osaka, and Kyoto... Nothing!
oh no - were you in the junk section? I would think one device might have made an appearance and one of the Discord users had some great luck in Kyoto! Sorry to hear that! I hope to keep hunting again, soon!
Looked like a fun adventure, congratulations on the pickups!
Thanks! It was a ton of fun - highly recommended! I gotta go back!
I worked in Fujisawa (you were staying across the street from my house in Sakuragicho) and would visit the Hardoff at least once a month. Got some cracking HiFi equipment there (which I shipped back to the States) they also had a great vinyl selection. The Hardoff in Ofuna was ghetto as f though. Just the worst junk from the early 00s
That's awesome! I know if I lived nearby it'd be VERY hard to resist the temptation of stocking up on stuff!
good audio
Very sigma channel no shitty intro background music and camera self-acting,, thumb up & subscribed immediately
haha thank you so much! No nonsense here for sure!
Remember to bring your geiger counter.