Blank MiniDiscs - Standard MD & Hi-MD

MiniDisc (MD) was Sony's flagship portable digital recording format, introduced in 1992 and refined over more than a decade into one of the most capable personal audio formats ever made. Using magneto-optical recording technology, MiniDiscs delivered near-CD quality audio in a pocket-sized 68mm × 72mm cartridge - smaller than a credit card. The format remained in active production until 2013, making NOS (New Old Stock) blank MiniDiscs increasingly scarce and sought-after.

Ultra Ferric carries a carefully curated selection of blank MiniDiscs from the format's leading manufacturers: Sony, TDK, and Maxell, alongside a range of miscellaneous brands. Our stock includes both factory-sealed NOS discs and B-stock items with minor cosmetic imperfections - all backed by our full warranty and 14-day return policy.

Standard MD vs Hi-MD - what's the difference?

Standard MiniDiscs use ATRAC lossy compression and record up to 80 minutes of stereo audio (or up to 320 minutes in LP4 mode on compatible decks). Hi-MD discs, introduced by Sony in 2004, hold 1GB of data and can record in uncompressed PCM linear audio - delivering genuinely lossless digital quality - as well as extended ATRAC3plus modes offering up to 45 hours of recording time. Hi-MD discs are backward compatible with many standard MD decks for playback.

Who uses blank MiniDiscs today?

Blank MiniDiscs are actively sought by audio enthusiasts with functioning MD portable players and home decks, musicians who recorded live performances or demos on MD in the 1990s and 2000s, archivists transferring older MD recordings, and collectors drawn to the format's elegant engineering and distinctive cartridge design. Sony's Hi-MD units like the MZ-RH1 remain particularly sought-after for their ability to transfer recordings back to a computer - making them practical tools for digitising archives.

Browse by brand:

Sony · TDK · Maxell · Axia · Denon · Daiso · JVC · Memorex · Saehan

What is a blank MiniDisc?

A blank MiniDisc is a rewritable magneto-optical disc in Sony's MD format, designed for recording up to 74 or 80 minutes of ATRAC-compressed digital audio. Introduced by Sony in 1992, MiniDiscs were widely used in portable recorders and home decks throughout the 1990s and 2000s. They are still sought after today for recording, archiving, and collecting.

Can you still buy blank MiniDiscs?

Yes. Ultra Ferric stocks genuine New Old Stock (NOS) blank MiniDiscs from Sony, TDK, and Maxell - all original, sealed, and unused. MiniDisc production has ended, so NOS stock is the only source of new, unrecorded discs. We carry standard 74-minute and 80-minute discs as well as rare limited editions.

Which blank MiniDisc brands are best?

Sony, TDK, and Maxell are considered the three top-tier blank MiniDisc manufacturers. Sony discs offer the widest variety of models and editions. TDK discs - particularly the XA and HO lines - are prized by audiophiles for their precise manufacturing. Maxell discs are valued for consistent quality and reliable error rates. All three brands produce disc-level performance suitable for any MD recorder.

How long do unused blank MiniDiscs last?

Sealed, unused MiniDiscs stored in cool, dry conditions can last many decades. The magneto-optical medium itself is highly stable. NOS discs from the 1990s and early 2000s purchased from Ultra Ferric have been verified as functional and free of defects before listing. Store discs in their original cases away from heat, humidity, and strong magnetic fields.

This collection includes 74 and 80-minute versions from top brands like Sony, TDK, Maxell, Axia, Denon, Daiso, JVC, Memorex, and Saehan.