The End of an Era: Exploring the Final Sony MiniDisc Walkman Models

Sony's Farewell to the MD format

Twelve years ago Sony stopped making MiniDisc players and, last month, ended production of recordable MDs, closing a 30-year chapter. MiniDisc had a strong start with its sleek, portable design, but couldn’t keep up with the rise of MP3 players, file sharing, and digital downloads. Still, thanks to social media, MD remains a beloved relic for retro tech enthusiasts like me. I guess I just can’t stop talking about it.

If you’re new to MiniDisc, or just need a refresher, check out my previous article, The Early Years of Sony MiniDisc (1992-1996), where I dive into its origins and breakthroughs. Today, let’s explore how Sony tried to keep the format alive into the 2000s despite the rise of digital music players.

The Rise of MiniDisc

When Sony launched MiniDisc in 1992, it ushered in a new era of personal audio. Combining portability, durability, and digital sound, it quickly gained strong popularity in Japan, where it positioned itself as a promising alternative to CDs.

However, by the mid-'90s, the music landscape began to shift. CD burning became widespread, enabling people to build huge music libraries for cheap. By the late '90s, MP3 players emerged, offering even more portable and flexible digital alternatives. By the turn of the millennium, MP3 players had gained serious traction, and MiniDisc struggled to keep up.

Sony recognized these changes and responded with several innovations in the 2000s, hoping to adapt MiniDisc to the evolving market. Let’s take a look into the final years of MD to see how the company tried to keep the format alive.

MDLP and the Push to Increase Capacity

In 2000, Sony launched MDLP (MiniDisc Long Play), which allowed users to record up to 320 minutes on a single disc using the ATRAC3 compression format. This gave MiniDisc a much-needed edge, allowing more music on fewer discs. However, by then, MP3 players were already leading the charge, offering not just digital audio but massive storage capacities that MiniDisc couldn’t match.

Net MD: Adapting to Digital

The next step came in 2001 with Net MD, which gave users a way to transfer music directly from their computer to their MD player. Sony’s MZ-N1 was one of the first models with this feature, but by then, MP3 players had already taken the spotlight, offering better storage and greater ease of use. Despite being a useful step forward, Net MD couldn’t overcome the fact that MP3 players were quickly overtaking MiniDisc.

2001 MZ-N1 world’s first Net-MD Recorder.

The MZ-E10: MiniDisc’s 10-Year Anniversary

In 2002, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the MD Walkman, Sony released the MZ-E10. This model was thin, lightweight, and featured a magnesium body, making it one of the slimmest MiniDisc players at the time. At just 55g and 9.9mm thick, it showcased MiniDisc’s potential for portable audio. However, MP3 players with flash memory and easier interfaces were becoming the go-to choice, rendering the MZ-E10’s sleek design irrelevant in a rapidly changing market.

Hi-MD: The Final Push

By 2004, Sony introduced Hi-MD, a revamped version of the MiniDisc format that boosted storage to 1GB per disc—five times the capacity of a standard MD. The Hi-MD format also introduced linear PCM recording, appealing to audiophiles looking for top-tier sound. The MZ-NH1 Walkman, which supported Hi-MD, could store both music and data, adding versatility to the format.

Despite these advancements, MP3 players were already firmly entrenched in the market, and music downloads were on the rise. Hi-MD was a technical leap forward, but it couldn’t stop the shift to digital audio. It struggled to gain widespread attention.

The Last of the MD Walkmans

In 2005, Sony released the MZ-DH10P, a Hi-MD Walkman with a built-in 1.3MP camera. While it had some unique features, the inclusion of a camera didn’t resonate with users who had already embraced MP3 players.

The MZ-RH1, released in 2006, would be the last of the MD Walkman line. It featured linear PCM recording, an OLED display, and USB connectivity, but by then, flash-based MP3 players and digital music stores had already taken over. Production of the MZ-RH1 ended in 2011, officially closing the chapter on Sony’s 20-year venture with MiniDisc.

A Legacy That Echoes

The decision to end production of recordable MD media marks the last chapter of an era for Sony. MiniDisc may not have kept pace with MP3 players, but it still made its mark on the portable audio landscape. For those who remember it, MiniDisc remains a nostalgic reminder of a time when music felt personal, tangible, and hands-on.