Page 1 of Manhattan and Raite clones; do they do the business? And the Mico ...

I already have a good DVD player and what I was really looking for was an MP3 on CD-R player (yea, I know, not really a topic for this site, but please read on ...) Then I thought, well, why not go the whole hog and get a portable DVD/SVCD player with MP3 capability instead; problem is, I can`t find one. So now I`m looking for a normal DVD-player that will do the complete MP3 business (VBR, wide bit-rate range, etc), with all the macrovision and region hacks and on-board NTSC to true PAL conversion ... yeah, I want it all!

So I`ve gleaned the threads here, and also been through all the mags., and the one that beats all others hands-down on paper is the MICO 980, but the mag. reviews have not been too good. Apart from that, I live in Spain, and I can`t find any MICOs on sale here.

What I have at last found are a MANHATTAN 2000 badged as a Vieta (local loudspeaker manufacturer turned "badger") and the RAITE 713 & 715, also under new names. The former is expensive by UK terms (over £300) whereas the latter is reasonably priced (around £200).

So, should I go for either or try to get a MICO from somewhere? More especially, do they both do the full NTSC>true PAL conversion so I can use them connected to a bedroom PAL-only TV? Are they both competent and flexible MP3 players that I can confidently use to play my home-burnt CD-Rs?

Thanks to all who respond.

Stay away from all the players you mentioned!
They where all made in PANTS-VILLE.

Stop F*ckin around and get the AIWA:)

See below.

This item was edited on Friday, 5th January 2001, 18:52

{Stay away from all the players you mentioned!
They where all made in PANTS-VILLE.

Stop F*ckin around and get the AIWA:) }



Sorry, forgot to mention, lots of cheap Aiwa VCRs on sale, but no Aiwa DVDs; I have in fact been out and around especially looking for `em, not to mention searching on local web search engines. It was up there among my first choices after reading all your threads on same. I would prefer to buy something locally, as I do not visit the UK often (last time 1993), and asking friends or family is such a bore.

Does the Aiwa do the full NTSC>true PAL conversion? I`ve also read on some thread or other that the MP3 playback features are rather limited.

Ta anyway.

This item was edited on Friday, 5th January 2001, 19:16

Irondude, if he wants an Aiwa he can buy mine. it is s***e (picture gone all pale) and I can`t get a replacement or a refund, they want to repair it and won`t tell me how long the repair will take (could be weeks).

I have the Mico and yes it does all you want and more. You will find that most DVD players have very limited features when ti comes to Mp3 playback and with mine only showing track numbers and no fast search on each track, but I do think it plays them very well.

as far as I know http://www.unbeatable.co.uk are the only ones selling it at the moment.

Some people have had problems with this player and mine on occations does play up but on the hole I am happy.

If you just want to play Mp3 on CD-R`s have you thought of getting a CD player for £80 which plays Mp3?

Briley is correct.

Of course, I would say this as another happy Mico owner but I will give you ten good reasons why the ~MiCO~ is a better player than the Aiwa.

1) SVCD - Great way to play ripped DVDs.
2) Macrovision Disable
3) Decoded DD 5.1 outs
4) Up to 999 MP3 tracks with any DOS characters / 22,050 & 44,100 at ALL bitrates. Sounds like a old mellow valve. MEGA-BASS.
5) Just take a look at the back of the Aiwa! - NOWT THERE!!!
6) MiCO`s crappy remote is still better than Aiwa`s joke.
7) You can skip those annoying FBI copyright messages.
8) Twin Karaoke Mic Inputs w/ Digital Effects.
9) CVD / DVCD & CDi-FMV Formats also playable.
10) Peace Of Mind that you bought quality.

I could point out many more reasons, but why kick em when theyre down.

Also Availability is no problem. Contact www.unbeatable.co.uk and let the dream begin.

Answers & more queries, then.

Firstly, yes I had thought about getting a standalone MP3 player, but then weighed up the price aspect; the only real "hifi" standalone MP3 player I know of is the Terratec MP3O which is getting on for £400 - and (I don`t understand the logic behind this) which doesn`t have a digital output.

So I looked at all the various portable discman type MP3 players now out there, and discovered that they fall into two types: the cheapos and the more expensive ones. As far as I can see, you get what you pay your money for, ie: the cheapos are none too good, and the good ones are rather expensive. The good ones I rate as the Pine and the Philips Expanium, which are both well on the way to £200 - and don`t have digital outputs either, and the Philips, at least, is very plasticky! So I thought (and this is where we came in), if I`m going to shell out 200 quid for an MP3 player -and only a portable at that- why not go the whole hog and get a second DVD player and MP3 player for the same money?

Now, as regards the MICO. Does it do the real NTSC>true PAL thing? I looked at the unbeatable site, and they don`t really give all that much info., but I couldn`t find a Mico (manufacturer`s) page through my search engines. Anyone know of one? Or of a Mico fans` page like Jimbo`s Aiwa page? Somewhere where I can get the real lowdown? And what`s the difference between the "Open Box" and the "Multi" versions on the unbeatable site?

Once again, many thanks to all those who take the trouble to respond.

This item was edited on Friday, 5th January 2001, 23:30

"10) Peace Of Mind that you bought quality."

carrot you really are a funny guy:)

The Mico is an okay machine to go for if you get one that doesnt fall apart!

Be prepaired to send it back for atleast one replacement if you get one.

Get a Stand alone MP3 Player
Get a portable MP3 Player
Get an MP3 playe that holds decent qualtities of music, and will support WMA, and has upgradable firmware.
In Short - get the Creative DAP Player, About £350
6gb HD (150 CD`s)
Fab stuff.

En_croute