Bold, boxy, and becoming. “Flagship looks” is the vibe. Clean lines exclaim, “It’s a Sony!” with industrial elegance. Disc-loading slot resembles an expressionless mouth whose favorite food is tasty tunes. Spits out the gobbled up disc with a satisfying hinged eject mechanism. Some MD players simply shine. The MZ-E800 radiates nostalgic futurism.
The sound is soft, meaning friendly and welcoming, not quiet. Even with 7506 studio monitors. Recordings find a balance with “both analog and digital” character. Itches get scratched. Satisfaction isn’t far away when a favorite mix is loaded
Its output occupies a most habitable spot in the Goldilocks zone; neither too hot or too cold. Just right..
Digital Megabass 1 is competent in filling out a lossy-source recording’s thinned edges. Most remarkable is its ability to sound “enhanced” and not “equalized” through loudness compensation. Kick drums translate with increased thump and still sound natural.
Digital Megabass 2 sounds more akin to the bass-emphasized EQ curve Sony users have come to expect.
The results accomplish a bringing of the boom. Kick drums and low bass notes alike are assertive, impactful, and often exaggerated..
You will want to use a remote with the MZ-E800. When laying flat, all buttons are located on the bottom of its metal chassis. Makes for a minimalistic aesthetic, albeit slightly inconvenient for on-board navigation of the media.
Pro: looks, sound, build. Robust metal chassis.
Con: hefty form factor may be uncomfortable in some pockets, remote use is all but mandatory.
AVJonez
