Sony MXD-D5C (2000)
The MXD-D5C combines a five-disc CD changer and an MD recorder in one component. Load a stack of CDs and a blank disc and start dubbing, with no second deck to wire up. Sony called it a "Compact Disc MiniDisc Deck." It was introduced in September 2000 at ¥79,000 in Japan.
The headline feature is dubbing speed. The deck copies from its CD changer to MD at 4× realtime in SP mode, dropping to 2× when recording in MDLP modes. Sony's High Speed Copy Management System (HCMS) blocks a second 4× pass on the same track within 74 minutes of the first. That's a deliberate restriction, not a fault. If a scratched or dirty disc causes a read error during high-speed dubbing, the deck retries once at high speed and then quietly falls back to realtime for the rest of the disc. The CD changer can also dub in a programmed track order rather than straight through.
Recording runs ATRAC with Type-R DSP on the CXD-2662R chip, though Type-R only engages in realtime, non-LP recording. The deck supports MDLP (LP2 and LP4), handles Scale Factor editing, displays Kanji-titled discs, and accepts a PS/2 keyboard for titling. It works with Sony's PC Link kit (PCLK-MN10) over USB, and it reads CD-TEXT from the changer side. Other features include digital record-level control from −∞ to +12 dB, a per-input memory for level settings, pitch control, music-sync auto-start, a six-second buffer that catches the start of a recording, monaural recording for double-length discs, and the usual DIVIDE/COMBINE/MOVE/UNDO editing suite with a rehearsal function. SCMS limits digital copying to one generation.
The service manual gives the transport as the MDM-7X2A mechanism with a KMS-262A optical pickup, shared with the related MXD-D4 and MXD-D40. The CD section uses the CDM55B-21BD53 mechanism. Frequency response is quoted at 5 Hz–20 kHz ±0.5 dB, with wow and flutter below measurable limits. The deck measures 430 × 120 × 395 mm and weighs 6.5 kg. Inputs are line and optical digital plus the PS/2 keyboard port; outputs are line and a headphone jack with its own volume control. Supplied accessories included the RM-D43M wireless remote, two AA batteries, and a pair of RCA patch cords.
No substantial period press reviews have surfaced in the archive's sources, despite the deck's popularity. The documentation that exists is Sony's own service and operating manuals, plus scattered owner commentary. One recurring maintenance item shows up in used listings: belt replacement. If you're buying one, ask about that first.
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