The JA20ES is the ''little brother'' of Sony ES decks, but since it is the newest deck it has the new ATRAC DSP Type-R compression technology, which is to be two times better then the previously versions of ATRAC. Other features is Wide Bit Stream feature for 20 bit accuracy, tray loading mechanism, digital record level control and "R-Core" transformer. The unit has FB Chassi (frame & beam) construction, BASC aluminum front panel, double thickness top plate, variable coefficient digital filter (4 settings), 20 bit A/D converter, current pulse D/A converter, wide range pitch control, automatic CD text (track name & discname) transfer from Sony A1 compatible CD players (with CD-Text), digital output bit length selector (16, 20 or 24 bits), time shift recording (time machine) (6 seconds), two line text display (11 characters one each line), expanded fluorescent meter, 15 element music calendar, time and date stamp. Unit allows mono recording mode. RM-D19M remote. Remote commander features "menu/no" & "yes" keys, a "D.O Bit" digital output bit length selector key, "recorded" & "present" date keys, "Rec-It" key, +/- keys for analog level out / digital rec. level and fade key.

My first impression of the unit was the weight (Which acc. to the manual is 7.8 kg) and that it is being very well built. Buttons, knobs etc. gives a very high quality impression. After I have connected the unit and open the tray I got really surprised that there was no "hole" in the tray, like on a CD player. But there is like a "arm" that drags the disc into the unit while the tray also is moving, very impressive! All users of MD-players know that the MD is "TOC Reading" every time you put a disc into the unit. Even if you leave the MD inside the deck and turn it off my old JE500 had to read the TOC when I turned it on, but not with the JA20ES, it remembers the TOC. Thus giving you a quick play back when turning the unit on! The two-line text display (11 characters on each line) also impressed me, although I think it should have had 12 characters on each line. (The JE500 have one x 12-character display) During play back; If you have the upper line set to show track title the lower line can show played or reaming time of the track, or remaining time of the disc. You can change the upper line to show pitch or the digital filter that is in use. Or the upper line can be set to show disc title then lower line can only show track title. You can also show analog output level, but then both lines will be used and no information about the disc or track can be showed. Same information can be showed during recording except that instead of analog output level digital input level will be showed and instead of pitch the sampling frequency will be showed.

The digital recording level on the unit is controlled by an endless knob and on the remote by +/- buttons. The digital recording level can be adjusted between -infinity to +12dB. Between -22.9dB and +12dB in steps of 0.1dB. From -22,9dB down to -29,8dB in steps of 0.2dB. From -29.8dB down to -32.2dB in steps of 0.3dB. From -32.2dB to -34.6dB in steps of 0.4dB. From -34.6dB to -36.1dB in steps of 0.5dB. From -36.1dB to -37.9dB in steps of 0.6dB. And so forth, -60.2dB is the lowest setting after that only -infinity is available.

Two new edit functions is available on the deck, Name Copy and A-B Erase. With Name Copy you can copy a disc or track name to another track (or track name to the disc), very useful if you are making a MD with miscellaneous artists and with maybe two or three tracks with each artist and wants both the artist name and song name as track name on the MD. Write the artist name only once and copy to the other tracks! Or if you have written a whole MD with track names but in the wrong order, simple, just copy the correct name to the correct track! A-B Erase allows you to erase a portion of a track, let's say you want to erase the middle part of a track on a MD deck without this feature you need to divide the song twice erase the middle part then combine the remaining parts. With the JA20ES you just erase the middle part, simple! You can adjust the points A and B with an accuracy of 1 frame, which are approx. 12 ms. The fader can be used both during playback and recording, and can be adjusted between 1s and 15s, in steps of 0.1s. The settings can be made independently between fade in and out.

If you record from analog sources you can use Track Mark Level Sync (T.Mark L.Syn) feature to automatically mark a new track number when the signal level drops to or below a certain level for more the 1.5s. On the JA20ES this level is adjustable between -72dB and 0dB in steps of 2dB. The pitch control is said to be useful for practicing the playing of musical instruments, dancing or language lessons, but I have not used it for anything constructive yet. However you can control the pitch by the chromatic semitone or by dB with 0.1% pitch. The total range covers +2 semitone to -48 semitone with the normal"PITCH" mode or by +12,5% to -98.5% with the fine pitch"F.PITCH" mode. The wide range pitch control does not alter the rotation speed of the disc (as I have read somewhere on the Net); the pitch mode just changes the interval of picking up data. Another feature is Sleep mode that allows you to fall asleep to music; you can set the deck to automatically turn of after 30,60,90,120 minutes. Like other Sony MD decks you have CD-Sync on the Remote commander, which I think is as good any A1 sync functions.

Lot's of connections possibilities with 2xOptical in, 1xCoaxial in, 1xCoaxial out, 1xOptical out.

There is no demo mode on JA20ES as on the MDS-JB920.

A1 features that is available if you connect the unit to a Sony compatible A1 CD player. To use the a unique Rec-It key requires that a "CONTROL A1" cable is connected (from MD) to a "CONTROL A1" compatible Sony CD player. When playing a CD from the A1 connected CD player, you can press the "REC-IT" button during a track you wish to record. This returns the CD player to the start of that track and recording stars. When the track ends, the MD deck stops recording and CD playback continues on to the next track as usual. I have not yet tested this since I do not have an A1 cable connected to my CD player (Sony CPD-XB920). But it sounds like a great feature. Transfers of CD-text info. If you connect the unit to a Sony MegaStorage CD-Changer you can use the MegaControl feature that allows you to control the CD-Changer from the MD decks front panel (or remote). The deck display will show disc-number, disc/track name (CD-text), and track number, playing time. I have not yet tested this feature either.

I really like this MD deck and thinks it gives you great value for the money. OK it cost more than the usual MD Deck, about $670 in Sweden, but the quality is great. So if you want a MD deck above the average deck this is the deck to buy.

If I have to give some negative comments, I have to say I liked the JE500's 25 element music calendar is better this units 15. I would like to have a "continuously" scroll mode where long track titles can scroll continuously during playback; it would be very nice! But I have not yet found a MD-player which have that feature, have anyone out there such a MD-player (or knows of one) please Email me.

Technical data: The manual states that it has a Signal to Noise ratio of more than 102dB (During playback). Power consumption is 18W. Frequency response 5-20.000 Hz, +/- 0,3 dB. Dimensions (incl. buttons) (WxHxD) 43 x 12,5 x 34,5 cm. Well the reviewer Jan-Erik summed it up very well on the JA20ES, It is a awesome machine . In all aspects of the MD format . The 20ES is as close as i have got to the original source 44.1k CD audio . After very close AB comparison between CD and the MD recording it is close very very close ! The only differences i could pick up where, slight loss of "air" and "imaging", upper midrange was just slightly harsh (and i mean hair thin compared to the original source) . When it comes to the compression on the MD well i heard none, the ATRAC encoding is very very good ! Like i have said these differences are so slight and so very narrow i am very happy . If i wanted bit clone perfection i would just buy CDR...BUT i love the powerful and incredible editing of MD and CDR cant even get close to it . I am running CD from a Sony DVPS7700 DVD/CD transport and then am running into a MSB tech digital director, MSB Tech LinkDAC, Pioneer Elite VSX26 reciever, Acurus 3 channel amp, NHT mono amp and NHT Super2 and NHT sub system, i am using a MONSTER HTS5000 for line conditioning . All connections are toslink and coax except from my LinkDAC to my reciever it is analog of course . I am most happy and HIGHLY recommend the MDS-JA20ES