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Koss CDP-3100 Personal CD/MP3 Player with Lid Top Digital Controls by Koss Audio & Video Average Customer Review:  Electronics list price: $99.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review The compact, affordable CDP-3100 not only plays MP3 files burned to CD, but also mixed-mode CDs containing a combination of MP3 files and standard (PCM) CD tracks. You'll enjoy forty-five seconds of anti-skip coverage for music tracks and up to 120 seconds of coverage for MP3 files. Playback options include MP3 and CD track programming, as well as random and repeat (single track, all tracks). An auxiliary output lets you hook the player up to your home system through a stereo Y interconnect (not supplied). The six-line text and numeric LCD simplifies file maintenance and offers scrolling text so you can read the full artist name and song title. The player supports MP3 bit rates of 32, 64, 96, 128, 192, and 256 Kbps, as well as variable bit-rate recordings (MP3 format ISO 9660). A hold switch prevents unintended interruptions in playback and saves batteries by negating playback when the player is stopped. Dynamic bass boost system (DBBS) heightens the impact of low frequencies. The player runs on two AA batteries (not supplied) and includes an AC power adapter. What's in the Box Features Reviews (47)
There are skips, some songs that it will refuse to play, and doesn't work too well upside down.Mine had a tendancy to just turn off for no apparent reason, even if it had fresh batteries and the buttons locked.Oh, and the locker is cheap.It kept un-locking and then the player would turn on and run the batteries dry. Not a huge problem and served me well on my trip.It's now gathering dust and will probably get chucked next time I trip over it. Great for trips/children who break things/people who want a cheap MP3 CD player.NOT great for music conesueirs or people who move a lot.Whether it is for you, I don't know.
Asin: B00005KJWH |
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DONT BUY THIS! IT SUCKS1
awesomefabulousobject
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Aiwa In-Dash CD/MP3 Player (CDC-MP32) Average Customer Review: Electronics US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Reviews (4)
After installation and a full two years of product testing, I can really write the definitive review.Too bad you have to search high and low for these: Aiwa was subsumed by Sony last year. The unit plays MP3s with surprising clarity and volume.The trick to any MP3 playback on any device is to first normalize the volume levels, then decide on a bitrate/ sampling combination. Without delving into much technical essay, if you have tins ears then 44Hz stereo with 128kbps sampling is more than adequate.If you like a little more fidelity and you are certain you normalized volume, then 44Hz stereo with 192kbps will be your bottom limit.Anything at 256 or higher really requires a top-end system to appreciate.Keep in mind, this is a car stereo. The display is bright, clear, supplies you with some color options if you like, but more importantly, it will scroll your ID3v1 tags.These tags can indicate the artist, title, and album you're hearing.It doesn't support ID3v2 tags (more information possible), but then again this is four year-old technology and that's light-years in electronics.The tag scrolling is clear and a decent rate. The "random" function is sometimes prescient, sometimes stuck on a genre.Some days it'll know the right song to follow, and I'll swear it read my mind.Other times, it will insist I need to hear four Donna Summer songs in a row (don't ask, it's my wife's car).It makes me laugh, so that's actually kinda cool. I don't really like the flip-down face, because I live in a tough town and detachable faces are safer (read: easier to keep).Sometimes the unit will briefly flake: the wife had a bad couple days when the face refused to come back, but it was stuck on a very loud Spanish-language station (again, it's the wife's car and she's Brazilian).The fix was kinda simple but unfortunate: pull the fuse for the radio, start the car, shutoff the car, replace the fuse.You lose your presets and you have to get rid of the default scrolling, but it beats very loud Merengue songs while driving to work. The remote was useless.It's wireless, swell, but the attachment was worthless for actually attaching it to the steering wheel.It lasted a week.Besides, the wife never used the remote, so no loss there. After two years, it plays MP3s better than my Sony portable CD player, scrolls the tags so I can read it at night, and pumps considerable volume.AM/FM reception is about what I'd expect, with FM tuning in rather well and AM somewhat spotty depending on the station.It plays pressed-CDs as well, and it'll decode CD-TEXT if your CD is so equipped.That's actually kinda nice. In all, this unit should be a measuring stick for anyone looking.If you can score one of these lightly used, do it.It's been reliable for us, aside from the few glitches, and it delivers what you'd expect.
It's been ten weeks since I shipped them the broken stereo, and I still don't have the unit back.That's ten weeks commuting to and from work in total silence (I've really improved my whistling skills).I called the repair shop and I called customer service to complain but nobody seems to care.I talked to someone at the repair shop today and they said it will probably be another week, but I'm tired of hearing that.I registered a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, and while I was on their web site I noticed that Aiwa has an "unsatisfactory" rating.At this point I am so fed up I don't want the unit back I just want a refund.I left a couple of voice messages with my Aiwa customer service rep (and a fax) saying I want my money back, but they won't even acknowledge my request.They just keep saying it will be fixed soon.So if you're thinking about buying this product definitely get the longest extended warrantee offered. While it was working I only had one small gripe, and that was with the remote control you strap to the steering wheel.At first I thought it was a great idea, but it kept falling off the strap when I pressed the buttons.Also, since it uses IR for a signal it has to be almost perfectly lined up with the main stereo unit - so it won't work if you are turning the steering wheel (even a little bit).Other than that, I was satisfied with most of the other features of the stereo (while I had it).
Sorry Aiwa. It's great unit after all. ... Read more Asin: B000068GEM |
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Sony ZS-X3CP S2 Sports CD/Radio Boombox (White) Average Customer Review: Electronics list price: $179.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Ideal for summer fun, the ZSX3CP CD/radio boombox offers all-systems-go media playback and a sturdy, water-resistant design so tunes can go almost anywhere you do. Its MP3-compatible CD player uses a jog-lever navigation control to help quickly and easily select the song or album being looked for, and a four-line, dot-matrix display further simplifies navigation. The ZSX3CP's ergonomic design includes innovative features like a carry handle spanning its stereo speakers and function controls closely clustered for ready access while listening. Sony's ESP2 CD shock protection uses advanced technology to provide skip-free playback during active use, and the water-resistant design makes use of high-impact plastic housing with rubber gaskets, bushings, and waterproof seals that help keep out water, moisture, and dirt. (The unit is explicitly not designed for immersion in water.) The ZSX3CP comes with a digital AM/FM stereo tuner, too, boasting 30-station memory presets (20 FM, 10 AM) and drift-free reception. Other features include resume (which re-starts a compact disc from the beginning of the track where playback last stopped, even in MP3 mode), Mega Bass sound for enhanced low frequencies, 20-track CD programming, shuffle play, and repeat play (one/all/program). ... Read more Features Reviews (42)
Admittedly, the environment I use the unit is very harsh. I leave it on the deck of my sailboat where it receives light rainfall and ocean spray. I have been unable to find any water resistant unit other than Sony products. Sony used to make a Sports boombox that was yellow and extremely well built. It lasted me five years on the sailboat! That unit stayed on deck all the time. Even in heavy rainfall and sailed through a Tropical Storm while playing CDs!! It also came with a DC power adapter which is convenience for plugging in the boat. The new models do not. The answer may be the expensive option of installing a complete audio system. However, that is expensive, requires wiring to be run through the boat, and, worst, requires putting holes in the boat to mount speakers. In the meantime, I will purchase one more Sony Sports boombox because I like the price and the product before if fails to the elements. A hundred bucks a year for having tunes on the boat is worth it.This time, however, I am going to try the cheaper version without the jog switch, and treat the power connection with water resistant electric grease. ... Read more Asin: B000067G0L |
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SONY D-CS901 S2 Sports CD Walkman(R) / MP3 Player Average Customer Review:  Electronics US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Features Reviews (11)
I love this mp3 player. I use it when I am running to listen to audio books and sometimes for music. My audio mp3s tend to be very large/long files, so a good resume and the ability to fast forward/rewind quickly were important to me. The D-CS901's FF/Rewind are real, not just 2x speed like most mp3 players. You can zip through an hour long mp3 in a minute or two. And the resume is perfect - it ALWAYS starts where you left off - unless you take the CD out, then it forgets. The thumb control is absolute perfection when running. Some reviewers have said their thumb bumps the volume by accident - I guess it's a hand shape issue because I do not have this prob at all. The so-so sound quality overhead-ear-plug headphones are actually perfect for running. They don't mind getting sweaty like hphones with pads, and they are light as feathers. Plus, having the plugs pushed into your ears helps you hear even when near traffic. The fact that the player is waterproof is pretty handy when it is raining. Rain? So what! There are some minor negatives. The hand strap is a little narrow and I can't get it quite as snug as I'd like it to be. The narrowness of the strap causes some discomfort. The other negative is that I wish I could crank the volume up just a bit more. Even with a regular music CD it feels like Sony decided loudness is bad for you. Hey, can't I make that decision myself? ... Read more Asin: B00006G2OM |
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Sony D-NE710 ATRAC3/MP3 CD Walkman Portable Disc Player Average Customer Review:  Electronics list price: $139.95 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Features Reviews (39)
Asin: B00008W7LK |
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iRiver SlimX iMP-400 CD/MP3 Player with Remote and Wraparound Headphones by iRiver Average Customer Review: Electronics list price: $199.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review The iMP-400's design and incredible features redefine expectations for what's possible in a portable CD player. From its circuit design to its final manufacturing spec, iRiver has channeled all its efforts into delivering the best CD and MP3 sound quality. The player supports WMA and ASF formats as well as discs burned with Winamp playlists. Additional formats, such as AAC and MP3 Pro, will be supported in the future through simple firmware upgrades, by which iRiver can add and modify player features. The iMP-400 comes with quality iRiver wrap-around headphones, offering far superior quality to standard CD player headphones. The player offers eight preset equalization curves and one user-defined curve (choose from normal, pop, rock, jazz, dance, classic, metal, U-Bass, and user EQ). Auto EQ changes automatically according to ID3 tag information, and a battery indicator lets you know when you're low. The player also performs perfectly in the face of external shocks because of iRiver's unique anti-shock algorithm, iRiverShockFree. This feature maintains supreme control over the server, so it can accurately read data even in the face of extreme vibrations, letting you listen to continuous music. An easy-to-read, four-line LCD shows every bit of information needed, and an FM tuner comes in handy when you're traveling by tracking the frequencies to maintain reception as you move. The iMP-400 uses 16 MB Flash memory to support the display of Chinese characters (traditional/simplified)--37 languages are supported. The player also recognizes discs in Packet Write format, which enables you to use CD-RW discs like PC hard disks, offering the ease of using discs and of saving and deleting songs. Finally, the player prevents its rechargeable batteries from overcharging, and a discharge function fully discharges batteries before recharging, thereby preventing the diminishing of rechargeable battery capacity. ... Read more Features Reviews (40)
On the upside, I have loved all the features about this player, with the ability to play mp3's, audio CD's, AND have the radio function to be the most prominent features. The svelte styling of the player has impressed many people, along with the slim size of it. I also have defiantly put it through its paces by taking it camping/hiking along with my everyday use. The layout of the remote control, although somewhat tough to learn at first, provides instant access to all of the important functions. Also impressive is the inclusion of many minor features such as the inclusion of an audio-out port to connect the player to a sound system (I have also used it to connect a second set of headphones to share music with a friend). Another is the ability to select the next track to be played with out interrupting the current song; this ability is still available during random mode. The fact that the player uses firmware has allowed updates to include new modes and features, and even a snake-style game! On to the bashing section of my review: All in all, if you want a mp3 player that also plays your CDs, the iRiver series is as good as they come. But if you don't plan to use its ability to play standard CD's too often, you may be better off with a hard drive player. ... Read more Asin: B00009597D |
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Samsung MCD-HF920 by SAMSUNG Average Customer Review:  Electronics list price: $149.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review The Samsung MCD-HF920 portable CD/MPE player plays audio CDs, MP3, Windows Media Audio (WMA) format, and has a built-in FM receiver. Up to 160 seconds of skip protection makes this CD player virtually skip-free in most conditions and a great choice for joggers and runners. The CD player's navigation technology helps you quickly access specific songs or playlists. Using the four line display, you can use the file-management system, letting you view song data and create playlists at the touch of a button. The player allows for a 30 track personalized program. Other playback features include five preset equalization settings, resume play, and a hold switch to prevent unintended interruptions in playback. The unit comes with a recharging unit, as well as an external battery pack. Recharge time takes ten hours and the batteries will run for up to eleven and a half hours (MP3). What's in the Box Features Reviews (5)
Pros: Cons: Asin: B000099O00 |
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Panasonic SL-MP35 Portable MP3/CD Player by Panasonic Average Customer Review: Electronics list price: $99.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review With MP3 CD compatibility, the SL-MP35 puts hours of entertainment at your fingertips, on the road, at your computer, or anywhere you want to listen. Load the player with a custom-made CD-R or CD-RW and you can organize your MP3 files into a playlist of your favorite songs or albums. The unit's display shows up to 6 characters at once; longer titles scroll from left to right for up to 30 characters to describe album, track, ID3 album, and ID3 track titles (a "~" symbol appears at the end of the title if it is longer than this). The player was designed with a 45-second backup memory (100 seconds with MP3 files) to virtually eliminate CD skipping under normal listening conditions. You can program the SL-MP35 to play at random, in a specified order, or to repeat one song or the whole disc, letting you enjoy your favorite tunes without interruption. Panasonic's S-XBS (Extra Bass System) gives your music an added bass boost for full, powerful sound. Panasonic's Power Last function makes 2 standard AA batteries (not included) last much longer than they would in another player, up to 30 hours--or up to 40 hours during MP3 playback. You also have the option of running the player from rechargeable batteries (Panasonic P-3GAVA/2B, not included) or from an optional AC adapter (Panasonic RP-AC46). No matter what power source you use, the auto-power-off function shuts down your player once your CD ends. What's in the Box Features Reviews (18)
So I suggest:If you don't have much money,SL-MP35 can make you feel happy & comfortable. ... Read more Asin: B0000659UH |
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Samsung MCD-MP67 CD/MP3 Player by SAMSUNG Average Customer Review:  Electronics list price: $149.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Get advanced MP3-CD playback with a whopping 100 seconds of antiskip protection from this spiffy, lightweight portable. It'll play CDs and MP3-encoded CDs (CD-Rs and CD-RWs in both cases), and it comes with a multi-function remote control and an external battery pack for an additional eight hours of playback, to help get you through those super-long MP3 CDs. Navigation is simplified through a 10-track skip button; bass boost helps compensate for bass-shy headphones and inferior-quality MP3s. This player does not support ID3 tags (which show artist and song title). Earbud headphones are included. ... Read more Features Reviews (25)
I has a album function, and it was especially good, cause I could pick a song I want to listen out of 120 songs. I want to recommend this item, if you don't mind refurbished goods. ... Read more Asin: B00005NZ48 |
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Sony D-NS921F Atrac3/MP3 CD Sports Walkman Average Customer Review: Electronics list price: $199.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Get durable, high-tech, Sony Sports style and hours of digital music listening with Sony's D-NS921F portable CD player. The ultraslim player includes SonicStage CD Simple Burner software so you can take advantage of ATRAC3plus, Sony's proprietary music-compression technology when making custom MP3 CDs on a computer. And, though it's not designed for immersion, the Walkman offers a water-resistant design with rubber gaskets, bushings, and water-resistant seals that help keep out water, moisture, and dirt. A three-way control on the player's grip gives you access to Active Control playback operation during active uses. The D-NS921F puts the best of the broadcast world at your fingertips, too, with FM/AM/TV/weather-band digital tuning. Using its 54-station preset memory (30 FM, 10 AM, four weather-band, seven TV, and three favorites), favorite stations are never more than a button away. The player also offers a three-line dot-matrix display, 14 playback modes for the ultimate in music management (repeat, shuffle, and others), and delivers up to 75 hours of continuous playback on two "AA" type batteries (not included) using ATRAC3 files (48 hours of CD audio). ATRAC3plus is a high-quality audio-compression technology that reduces the size of digital audio files while preserving much of a track's original sound quality (similar in concept to MP3 or Dolby Digital sound formats). With ATRAC3plus, music can be burned and compressed at 132, 105, 66, 64, or even 48 kbps (kilobits per second), letting you select the right balance between fidelity and storage space (you'll get around 490 songs per disc at 48 kbps). The player comes bundled with Sony's SonicStage CD Simple Burner software. Compatible with ID3 tagging and most CD burners, this application transfers songs from CDs or MP3 music files from your PC's hard drive and burns them to a CD using ATRAC3plus compression. CD Text and ID3 tag support gives you easy access to CD Text information as well as details like song title, album title, and artist name. Skip-Free G-Protection technology boosts the laser pickup's shock protection to minimize read errors that would otherwise interrupt your music, providing quick recovery from both horizontal and vertical shocks. Bookmark playback lets you program your favorite songs from multiple CDs and play them back at the touch of a button, and CD Text support displays artist and title information with compatible commercial audio CDs. Sony's two-position automatic volume limiter system (AVLS) conserves batteries and guards your hearing by capping your listening level. Finally, the unit's Walkman-logo headphones are Sony MDR (Micro Dynamic Receiver) type for wide dynamic range and excellent sound. What's in the Box Features Reviews (20)
Now, I havent realized of that "chirping" until today i read these reviews.So, I put my dns921f on test: I put a MP3-full CD with songs at different constant bitrate.There I have a 3:59 duration classical guitar song recorded @ 192kbps and 44.1Khz, so I played it at the medium , and I realized that there were strange sounds (not exactly chirping, its like a quiet "ffsss" sound of0.7 secs aprox., like the sound when you change the frequency on a radio when looking for a radio station) The sounds appeared 3 times: But then I heard the entire album of that song while surfing the web and I didnt realize the sounds were there... that's the only "but" i found for this anyway GREAT CDplayer! Asin: B00009955I |
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Creative Labs M-100 CD-MP3 Player by Creative Labs Average Customer Review: Electronics list price: $99.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Experience skip-free MP3/WMA CD and audio CD playback wherever you go. The Creative MP3 CD M100 player provides the freedom to play MP3 or WMA (Windows Media Audio) files and regular audio CDs using a single sleek unit. The M100 features an exceptional eight-minute anti-skip buffer for CD-Rs and CD-RWs of MP3 and WMA files (up to 160 seconds with audio CDs) and comes with a handy wired remote for extra versatility. Queue your MP3 directories and songs with the smart program function. It's also easy to spice up music with five equalizer presets or see the scrolling artist and song titles displayed as while listening. ... Read more Features Reviews (19)
Asin: B00007AKCT |
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RCA RCD128 Portable CD/MP3 Player Average Customer Review: Electronics list price: $89.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Enjoy favorite MP3 and WMA (Windows Media Audio) tracks from CD-R andCD-RW with full navigational convenience from this RCA boombox. The player'sSmartTax Interactive Navigation provides 32-level folder-subfolder filemanagement and full track and artist information scroll across the front panel'smultiline text display. MP3 functions include scroll up/down, directory up,folder repeat, play/pause, next, fast forward, reverse cue, shuffle, and introplay. The CD player offers the flexibility of shuffle/repeat and also can beprogrammed (up to 32 tracks) to play in a specific order. You can listen inprivate through the unit's headphone jack, while a remote control makes it easyto change songs and sources from across the room. Preassigned equalizationsettings of bass, treble, and midrange let you tailor the sound according topersonal preference (choose from classic, jazz, rock, and pop). The stereo usesdual 4-inch bass-reflex (ported) speakers, with Dynamic Bass Boost to heightenthe low-frequency presence for more powerful sound. The player's 30 station presets let you program and readily access favoriteradio stations. The unit switches from DC to AC automatically when it's pluggedin, prolonging battery life. For portable use, the RCD128 operates on six Dbatteries (not included). Memory back-up for the clock/timer requires three AAbatteries (also not included). The unit comes with a music management CD-ROM. ... Read more Features Reviews (16)
I had also played a little with it, using my MP3 collections, and they sound very nice... I think it is great unit, so sorry that it cannot play Ogg Vorbis... But for the features a high school girl might expect, it seems to be a top of the list product...
Asin: B00006LEJ2 |
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Panasonic SL-MP80 CD/MP3 Player by Panasonic Average Customer Review: Electronics list price: $69.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Enjoy music with the freedom that comes from MP3 and WMA (Windows Media Audio) CD playback, extended battery life, and high-powered anti-skip technology with Panasonic's SL-MP80. The company's exclusive No-Skip technology helps prevent interruptions from jostling during active use. No Skip's unique construction uses rubber brushings to absorb shock, while an anti-skip mechanism and an anti-skip digital servo further prevent read errors. A 48-second memory reserve provides added back up. Now, battery changes will be fewer and farther between thanks to Panasonic's PowerLast high-efficiency power system, which combines an efficient motor with low-load circuitry for playback time of up to 48 hours on two AA batteries (during MP3/WMA playback). CD playback abilities include ID3 tag support (displays artist names and song titles with properly formatted sound files), 24-track random-access programming; repeat and resume (which picks up where the unit left off when last stopped); and skip/search and memory/recall. A hold switch prevents accidental starting, stopping, or track skipping during use or transport. The unit boasts a thin design with operation keys and LCD laid out logically on its top cover. ... Read more Features Reviews (21)
Based on my experience of the few weeks while it was still in my hands, my impression of this player is generally positive. The sound quality is good. I didn't look at the watch, but battery life was totally decent. The antiskip protection has passed several tests which have probably been more strenuous than real-life situations. And unless you're a geek, this player has pretty much all the features that you will need. I bought it last year, it's still being used and I haven't heard complaints so far. There are a few things about it that I didn't like. I will mention them in order of their importance. First, the lack of the fast forward and rewind functions while playing MP3s. I knew about it from the manual, prior to purchase, but I underestimated how important these functions are. It may vary with your listening habits, but if you listen to audiobooks or if you find yourself frequently skipping back and forth in a music track, this is not the player for you. Again, it only applies to MP3. Fast forward and rewind does work for audio CDs. Another issue was the occasional overlapping between the end of one track and the beginning of the next when playing MP3s, but this happened randomly and it may have something to do with the quality of the CD. A shortcoming that seems to be common to many CD-MP3 players are the "clicks" presumably generated by the buffering/antiskip algorithms. This player makes no exception. The clicks are there, very weak but still audible. They tend to occur when silence follows sound abruptly. If you pay attention, you will hear them at the end of music tracks. You may notice them if you listen to voice recordings even without paying attention. But you may not care about this. Audiophiles probably don't expect much from a portable player. The browsing of MP3 CDs is limited to jumping by track or by folder/album. CDs with deep directory trees are not easy to browse, but otherwise you'll be fine. The design is okay, but there's nothing "slick" about it. A little dull and bulky, actually. No back light on the LCD display, which makes it harder to use in the dark. The included headphones have a wide spectrum, but they accentuate lower frequencies, which I find unnecessary, since the player itself has a bass-enhancing mode. However, many people like that, and if you don't, you can always replace the headphones.
This CD player is amazing for one simple reason:you can fit up to 15-17 CDs worth of music on it.I am fairly experienced with computers--I used Windows Media Player to 'rip' songs from 11 CDs from my CD collection, then burned them to ONE CD.Windows Media Player was able to automatically download song/album information using CDDB--navigating from CD to CD and within each virtual CD is a breeze.Now--I *have* put my MP3s onto a CD and I will acknowledge that many, many mp3s will fit onto a single CD.However, I am amazed that so many MORE WMAs will fit onto the same CD.The manual recommends ripping songs at 96kbps and this is fine for me.I notice no sound degradation at all. The sound is very good.(...) This is a very cool piece of technology and I am very pleased with the sound--but I am so over-the-edge happy about the WMA format and functionality. This is a must-get.
Somethings you just need to see and buy in a store to learn all the hidden facts, a lesson learned for me. I hope this helps you. ... Read more Asin: B00008IP5R |
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Classic Portable CD Player w/MP3 Compatiblity (CM430K) by Classic Average Customer Review:  Electronics US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Reviews (2)
Asin: B00005T3JS |
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Memorex MPD8505CP Personal CD/MP3 Player with 45 Seconds of Anti-Skip Protection by Memorex Average Customer Review: Electronics list price: $89.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review This shiny little unit is not your garden-variety cigarette-lighter-powered portable CD player, however much it resembles one. No, this player gives you something more: the ability to listen to MP3-encoded CDs, which, when you do the math, works out to far more megabytes for the buck than you'd get in a dedicated MP3 player. Accommodating standard CDs as well as CD-Rs or CD-RWs brimming with MP3 or .WAV audio files, the Memorex MPD8505CP MP3-CD player packs high technology into a low-lying music player, giving you beck-and-call access to literally hours of music from a single MP3-encoded CD. And did we mention that it's far cheaper than any of its name-brand competition? Each of the player's multifunction control buttons is used for standard CD controls like Play, Pause, Skip, or Stop, as well as programming functions such as File/Directory, File Search, Display, and the numbers and letters of the alphabet. That's right--unlike other MP3 CD players, this one shows track and artist information, and lets you add it as well. Unfortunately, the buttons aren't clustered together for ready access, but configured in an eleven-button semi-circle to memorize. Imperceptive controls with multiple functions demand a good study of the manual to guide you through searching and programming. You'll also need to spend some time learning and remembering things like stop" also means "off", and other such hidden functions. It also seems that due to the MP3 chip, start-up time is slower than on standard CD players. After loading a CD, we had to wait at least 10 seconds to be able to play, search, or adjust any of the controls. Meanwhile, the dark LCD display screen remains blank while you wonder if the unit is on or if the CD has been loaded correctly. Then, it takes an additional 10 to 15 seconds for it to play.While not a huge inconvenience, a portable unit for car use should react quickly to minimize the time spent fiddling with it. The DBBS (Dynamic Bass Boost System) offers impressive bass reinforcement. The high end is bright and clear, although you'll hear some hiss with quieter tracks or during music featuring a soloist. A 45-second "electronic skip protection" feature lets you use the Memorex on road trips, bus rides, or brisk walks, though we did experience occasional skips even on relatively sedate bus rides. Memorex includes a complete car kit, a nice convenience. But despite its quirks (and despite its bulky and awkward design), this Memorex piece can be a good way to take music along any journey, long or short--especially when used with a good set of headphones. --Zoe Knight Pros:
Cons: Features Reviews (176)
The car kit that came with mine, though, is a little weird. At times the volume will be too soft for no reason, but mostly they all worked great. The only things I really don't like about this unit are 1) the display LCD isn't backlit, making reading practically impossible at night, and 2) the search option is not very user friendly, and the unit doesn't seem to respond too well to it. Over all, I give it 4 stars, for its price, and that it hadn't died on me yet.
However the skip protection was disappointing from the beginning. Walking caused several skips per song and it would sometimes skip in the car. Don't even think about doing anything more than that with this player; it'll skip like crazy and drive you crazy. The worst thing, though, was that a few months after I started listening to it frequently it broke to the point where it now skips every few seconds when it's just sitting on my desk (with both regular and mp3 CDs). This happened after I had taken it on a few plane rides, so maybe that had something to do with it, although I'm not really sure how. Whatever happened, it's too annoying to listen to now. Despite the nifty search function, I wouldn't recommend this CD player. It's got a lot of flaws and you can probably find something much better.
Asin: B000051WW9 |
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Sony MZ-E909 MD Walkman Player (Silver) Average Customer Review: Electronics list price: $349.99 US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France Editorial Review Sony's MZ-E909 MD Walkman player has a durable and stylish full-magnesium body. The unit plays standard minidiscs as well as those recorded using Sony's Net MD system, which stores up to 320 minutes--over 5 hours of music--on one 80-minute disc. Ultimate Skip-Free G-Protection technology offers substantial resistance to shock under the roughest conditions. Easy Skip group and folder navigation eases access to all disc tracks, providing simple navigation between multiple file folders. A single AA battery used in tandem with a supplied rechargeable battery provides up to 145 hours of playback (in LP4 mode). The player includes a battery-charging stand and a memory that stores preferred settings for favorite MDs. In addition, this player supports multiple Internet audio formats (including MP3 and WMA) as well as ATRAC3 playback. ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) is the data-compression scheme developed for minidisc, and ATRAC3--the format used by Sony's Memory Stick--offers even greater compression while maintaining near-CD quality. The player includes a backlit LCD stick remote, which features a battery-level indicator. ... Read more Features Reviews (5)
It's play only so you'll need a minidisc recorder as well.The best recorders to get are the NetMD ones, which allows you to make a great quality copy of your mp3's CD's etc from the computer straight to minidisc.The big drawback of this is that as it's a sony proprietry format your stuck with Sony's terrible software to do it.It works ok though just a few irritating functions and once you've built up a bit of a library you should be golden.Have a look at minidisc dot org for some good reviews and hopefully if someone breaks the NetMD format you might get some decent software to copy songs over too......
However i disagree with the fact that LP4 compression has such a 'dramatic' effect upon the qulity of the music, especially through headphones. The Minidisc has great versitility, and I believe the main reason why people choose to buy minidisc players over CD/Mp3 players is the sheer fact of 'portability' and music on the move, a minidisc unit is a great deal smaller than any CD player... However i do agree that a newer version of minidisc unit such as the NetMD are a much better investment to take advantage ofUSB connection for 32x faster than real time recording and antrac3, mp3, wma and wav compatability.
Asin: B000068IHT |
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Sony MZ-R700DPC MiniDisc Walkman with Stick Style Remote Average Customer Review: Electronics US | Canada | |