1997 MZ-R50
The MZ-R50 is a MiniDisc recorder that offers improved portability and ease of use compared to previous models.
1998
MZ-R55
The MZ-R55 is a MiniDisc recorder that maintains the basic configuration of a recording device while achieving miniaturization and power saving. Optical and analog recording use a common input, and it also supports voice recording via a dedicated microphone input. The miniaturized chassis and low power consumption design improve efficiency while maintaining functionality, and playback stability is ensured by an anti-skip buffer. A backlit remote control supports title input, editing, and playback operations. It uses a gum-type rechargeable battery and is designed with portability in mind.
The MZ-R55 was Sony's first MiniDisc recorder shaped to match the footprint of a portable MD player, pushing the format toward true pocket-size recording. Volume fell by roughly a quarter compared with the MZ-R50, and the body was slimmer than the MZ-E35 that inspired its proportions.
Sony marketed it as the smallest MD recorder of its time, and the design made that clear with long, narrow controls and a clean LCD frame that gave the front a more refined look. It also marked a shift in Sony's power system by adopting the 1.2-volt NH-14WM(A) gumstick, bringing recorders in line with MD players and unifying the portable battery ecosystem.
Color options included Silence Blue, Vintage Gold, and a limited Illumination Yellow. The updated Stick Controller added a backlit nine-character display, allowing text entry from the remote rather than the body.
Size introduced compromises. Removing the Jog Dial made editing more dependent on button sequences, and battery life dropped sharply, with only a few hours of recording or playback from the internal cell.
See also MZ-E44
