D-5 is based on the D-3 mechanical format but has been directed to the same product market as D-1. It is a component, rather than composite, non-compressed digital format. The tape speed is twice that of the D-3, but the common platform between the two allows D-3 tapes to be played on a D-5 machine. The recording time on a single cassette is reduced to two hours as it consumes twice as much tape as the D-3.