Update: aight, I'm keeping it. Check out my new next gen audio rig 3000:
I cleaned it out and it seems to work fine. The drive belts seem okay: not dry, but maybe a little loose, although the BPM of the music sounds about right. I paid $50 for it.
I have no bloody idea why I'd need it or would want to keep it. I just wanted to try it out, knowing that the store's policy is "no questions asked" if I return it within 30 days. Also, retro is fun...?🤣
MiniDisc was peak. I really wish they still manufactured the players and discs.
It's impossible to find a working MiniDisc recorder these days. I have two units and the record function thinks it works, completes the operation, then when I check playback there is nothing there.
I've contacted people selling these with the text "fully tested & working" in their description. In every case they haven't tested recording and when they do, it doesn't work.
It's such a shame. All our local electronics repair guys have retired and the current generation just do phones.