Sony MDS-JA 3 ES

Data

General

• Manufacturer: Sony
• Model: MDS-JA 3 ES
• Type: MD-Deck
• Years of manufacture: 1995 - 1997
• Made in: Japan
• Color: Champagne, Black
• Remote control: RM-D 2M
• Dimensions: 430 x 125 x 345 mm (WxHxD)
• Weight: 6 kg
• Original price approx.: 1'900 DM

Connections

• Number of inputs: 2
  • Line in(Analog) 47 kOhm

Microphone 2x mono jack 6,3 mm 600 Ohm

• • Digital in (coaxial) 75 Ohm
  • Digital in (optical): 660 nm / S/PDIF via TOSLINK
• Number of outputs: 3
  • Headphones: 28 mW / 32 Ohm
  • Line out (analog)
  • Digital out (optical)

Technical data

• Frequency response: 5 - 20000 Hz

Signal-to-noise ratio: >102 dB

• Dynamic range: 98 dB (digital), 98 dB (analog)
• Supported formats: MD
• Hi-MD support: no
• Anti-shock: yes
• Playback functions:
  • Title programming: yes
• Shuffle: yes

Repeat: yes

• Recording functions:
  • Automatically set track numbers at regular intervals.
  • Advance the recording start time by 6 seconds
  • Synchronous recording Music Sync
  • Fade in/out

Auto Cut function Smart Space function Timer controlled recording

• Editing functions:
  • Title name editable: yes
  • Delete: yes
  • Move: yes
  • Share: yes
  • Connect: yes

Pictures

• Picture: Sony MDS-JA 3 ES

• Excerpt from brochure: Sony MDS-JA 3 ES

Remarks

• The MDS-JA3ES is the first SONY Minidisc Recorder for the Hifiists with higher requirements concerning the housing quality and converter section. Were the so far predominant number of the Minidisc devices with plastic fronts provided, this equipment has clearly more metal.

Unfortunately this unit (as well as some of the close followers like JA50 and JA30) suffers from a faulty construction of the laser pickup. Especially in recording mode the laser pickup is driven with a too high laser current. Therefore it is recommended to use these devices, if they still work, only for playback mode.

• In the device is the laser KMS210 and a hakeliges drive. Properly maintained, however, it does its job. Many users report that the JA3 has the best sounding transducer, others swear by the switchable transducers of the successor JA30/50 in the "spline" position. Due to the laser problem, many of these devices are no longer functional today.
  
• The drives in the JA3, 503, 303, JA30, JA50, Kenwood DM 7080 and 7090 are identical. This refers only to the laser, drive block and BD board, but not to the loading mechanism. This is only the same for JA3 and 303/503.