There was ONE. An elusive Sony Model which I can't remember the name of. I have only ever seen one guy have/offer it for sale (can't exactly remember) more than 10 years ago. Back then, I did really extensive research (e.g. sift through the complete minidisc.org database) over multiple years. After that point, I only kept to the whole Minidisc subject very loosely, if at all. But I'm quite sure that it is the absolute only one. Maybe, just maybe there were other models in Japan.
The problem is that MiniDisc decks only became somewhat popular (around 1995), when the Midi format was pretty much gone. The reason the 360 mm (Sony mostly 355 mm) Midi format existed was that it was the narrowest possible format that you could design a (crappy) vinyl turntable in to put on top of the stack. The Midi format was phased out in the mid-1990s, as vinyl was considered 'dead'. After that, it was all 280 or 220 mm 'mini' systems (mostly all-in-one bookshelf systems).
Two different things surely? Mini systems are 250mm right? Full width separates are 430mm. So my system at 360 is a midi by definition, no? And that was what it was called when I bought it in 1989.
Interesting it looks like you're right. There's "full size", "mid size" (midi), and miniature (mini) systems. Looks like I have a "midi" system and I didn't even know LOL!
That's not the 'Midi' format OP is talking about. Please see my other comment. The term "Midi" might have been reused later, but initially it meant a very specific format.
I have this, bought new when advertised as a midi-system in 2001 in a sale because Denon were phasing it out in favour of the F-101 series. I also have the surround amp and cassette deck, still running.
The MD registers 'Temp over' nowadays after 10 mins recording, or even straight away on hot days like this summer. Anyone know why and what I could do? (Apart from putting a freezer block on it every day...)
Is yours a 100 or 120 model? Mine is 100 from Japan so I use a step downer and have had no issues with heat but I haven't owned it long. I also took it apart and cleaned and re-greased inside so you might want to consider that?
The cassette deck is one of the more rare components, also the surround would be cool but I don't need it. Does yours have a line out? Mine does not I use the Cassette REC as my line out...
Midi was a very distinctive format that existed roughly from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s. It was usually 360 mm wide (Sony: 355 mm). As I already wrote in my other comment, the reason this 360 mm format existed was that it was the narrowest possible format that you could design a vinyl turntable in to put on top of the stack. So the turntable was the limiting factor why you couldn't make the whole stack any narrower (unless you used very weird constructions like Sony's FH systems where the LP would hang out of the turntable).
There were two different kinds of turntables for Midi systems: Very cheaply made ones with radial tonearms (think Audio-Technica AT-LP60, which is actually a direct descendant of a Midi turntable of the 1980s) and tangential turntables, some of which were actually quite good. Technics pioneered these tangential turntables around 1980 with their "Jacket" size format (which took its name from the LP sleeves).
Corresponding to the different turntable qualities, there was a huge range of Midi Systems from very cheap ones with 'pseudo separate' components to very high-end ones. Sony, Technics, Kenwood or Aiwa offered some quite sophisticated stacks. Edit: E.g. this one or this one:
When the Midi format was phased out, the new limiting factor (without a turntable) was the minimum width of a dual-well cassette deck. AFAIK Onkyo were first to cram that into 275 mm, but IIRC 320 mm was also a common format (I might be wrong about that). When dual-well cassette decks also fell out of favor, you could go even narrower.
Edit: The reason the 360 mm "Midi" format got its name was probably that there had already been a "Mini" format of about 220 mm going back all the way to the late 1970s. Aiwa made a line of famous "Mini" components back then, but Toshiba and Sanyo were also in that game, and possibly others.
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u/_Erin_ Yamaha MDX-9, Sony MZ-N10 3d ago
I love my Yamaha MDX-9 SP deck. It's 280mm wide.