The MZ-N510CK offers high-speed transfer from a PC via a direct USB connection, and it can record more than five hours of music on one 80-minute minidisc (using LP4 mode). It also uses Sony's skip-free G-Protection technology, which eliminates or reduces skipping during many active uses. The MZ-N510CK is compatible with the RealOne music player and the pressplay.com online music subscription service. It plays back ATRAC3 files and supports multiple Internet audio formats, including MP3, WMA, and WAV.

Besides the bundled SonicStage software and SonicStage simple burner application, the MZ-N510CK includes MoodLogic software, which goes beyond typical jukebox applications, letting you compile music by mood or tempo rather than simply by artists and song titles. MoodLogic corrects file information by identifying and retitling mislabeled tracks during ID3 tag cleaning. It also has a feature called Music Marker, which lets you "tag" music during playback. Once the device is reconnected to a PC, MoodLogic retrieves the marks, connects to the Musiclub Web site, and provides you with information about the song and artist and links to download new tracks, purchase CDs, or discover similar artists. The unit provides up to 56 hours of continuous playback on one AA battery and comes with a Remote Commander control and an AC adapter.

Here's how you can use the included Sonic Stage Software to manage your music files: