Overview
The Kenwood DMC-S33 is a light and compact MiniDisc player released in 2003. Just by looking at it it may seems pretty plain, but came in four trendy colors (plus some special design editions) and boy does it have sound character. It is MDLP capable, but EQ features, etc. are relatively simple otherwise.
Let me give you a quick overview of this stunning MiniDisc player. So…let’s go!
Please note that this review is based on my personal experiences and less of a technical review based on data sheet specs.
Design and Controls
The Kenwood DMC-S33 is made of aluminum both on the front and back panel. The colored inlay is made of some soft touch material and with good care it should stay as shiny and clean as shown in this review. The build quality is good, but it feels lightweight and the internals are made of plastic on a higher scale compared to other MiniDisc players like Sony.
Absolutely pocketable not need to be mentioned here. I personally enjoy the simple design with colorful front panel accents. I am owning the orange version, which gives me some vibes of 70s and 80s color trends.
The S33 runs on a standard gumstick battery, but also features a Kenwood specific mount for a AA battery sidecar as wall as a dock connector. I do not own these accessories, so I can only review by using gumstick batteries.
The controls available on this unit itself are simple. Play/stop, skip and volume buttons are mounted on the upper edge. The hold button is located on the back panel. The button layout is easy to operate, but as mentioned only features basic functions. To go into the EQ adjustments, the remote is a must, same for different play modes, etc.
The unit itself does not feature any display for track information, etc. so also here the remote is a necessary accessory, which should not be missed when purchasing one of these or similar devices. More on the remote later.
Connections
Connections on the Kenwood DMC-S33 are simple: Headphone jack and remote plug. The Kenwood specific remote features two lines and works just great. It is backlit also with two small LEDs, different to Sony remotes. Track number- and name, album name, remaining play time, etc. is well readable and some of the best remotes out there I think. I love the sharp edge design, too. Unfortunately the remote which originally came with the S33 does not have a clip. I tried another remote incl. clip from Kenwood, but it does not work. I am not sure if the remote is broken (sound is channeled through) or if there are compatibility issues. So be careful when purchasing these Kenwood MiniDisc players and remotes separately, since it seems the compatibility is not as good as with Sony devices.
Usage and Battery Life
Take care when purchasing remotes I am very satisfied using the Kenwood DMC-S33. It offers all functions of a MiniDisc player I can think of. Some A-B repeat mode for studying as well as alarm/sleep timer are on board as well. I am not really using those features (yet) though.
The battery life is amazing, on a fully charged gum stick battery you can play…play music for a long time. I did not have any problems with the battery being fully drained yet.
On the way to work, for study or relaxing on a nature walk…this bad boy does a good job
Sound
Sound quality is superb for this small MD player and fits my personal preferences. It features (Sharp’s?) 1 bit digital amp. Clear sound and the volume gets pretty high. There are a few EQ presets with different bass/treble level and also a customizable setting, which I am using mainly. This simple EQ is more than enough to adjust preferred sound settings for different headphones in my opinion. The S33 is definitely a powerful device.
I am using the following (on-ear) headphones with the Kenwood DMC-S33:
• AKG K450
• Harman/Kardon Soho
• Audio-Technica ATH-ES55
• and some simple in-ears
Conclusion
I can recommend the Kenwood DMC-S33 MiniDisc player to anyone who wants to get a simple device with great sound quality. It offers simplicity, but with a special touch…be it the color available or the sleek design and remote.
Thanks a lot for reading. Keep rockin’ MiniDisc!
HighFidelity1989