looking for decent priced portable cd player

[Naveb]

hello,

i would like one that plays CD-R/RW and has mp3 playback. it would be better if it could play folders or even better if it played folders within folders but those features arent essential.
my budget is probably around AUS$60-100 and its got to be durable.

id prefer it if the player would be found in kmart or any other of those types of stores.

i hope im not asking for too much with the price.

thankyou

 

[Ice Nine]

[size=small]Sony D-NE330 is available at most Walmarts and Targets for $50.00. As long as you don't care about having a line out it should do.[/size]

 

[TAF94]

...Or you could wait for the whole line-up of 2006 models to be released any day now and get a higher end model with a backlite and more if you so desire. Either way I would get a sony imo.

 

[spaceconvoy]

The Panasonic CT579v is the best alternative to a Sony. It's the last Panasonic made with an analogue amplifier - avoid all their new digital D.sound crap like the plague. I personally think it sounds much smoother and more natural than the Sony, but other have complained that it sounds dull and undetailed. IMO, Sony players tend to sound aggressively sharp which creates an artificial perception of more detail, and has an unnatural frequency response with very distinctly seperated highs/mids/lows. But for $50 (American) you're not going to get anything remotely audiophile - at this price it's more about synergy and finding the right match for your headphones.

 

[tattoou2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaceconvoy The Panasonic CT579v is the best alternative to a Sony. It's the last Panasonic made with an analogue amplifier - avoid all their new digital D.sound crap like the plague. I personally think it sounds much smoother and more natural than the Sony, but other have complained that it sounds dull and undetailed. IMO, Sony players tend to sound aggressively sharp which creates an artificial perception of more detail, and has an unnatural frequency response with very distinctly seperated highs/mids/lows. But for $50 (American) you're not going to get anything remotely audiophile - at this price it's more about synergy and finding the right match for your headphones.

Have to agree about the recent Panasonic offerings with their "D-sound." I have a an SL-CT720 and I find it mediocre at best for SQ, and I'm being charitable.

 

[Naveb]

ive got a sansui SS-10 pair with a 1/8 convrerter. will they make a good companion with the sony players or any of the sort you guys suggested?

 

[spaceconvoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naveb sansui SS-10 pair with a 1/8 convrerter

I doubt you'll find many people here who've heard of those. Would you describe them as bright or thin? If so, go for the Panasonic. If they're more heavy and dull sounding, go for the Sony. That's the best generalization I can give.

 

[Naveb]

ahahah ok.

well they are closed and were made in the 70s or 80s, most likely 80s, they're nothing flashy. i dont know how they sound as they're the only headphones ive used properly.

ill be happy with either brand if i could find it

thanks.

 

[TAF94]

Of the 2005 sony models, I've heard the d-ne319,320(white and black), d-nf420 and 600. They all sound superb to me and with a lot more features and a customizable eq contrary to the panasonic line. The customizable eq enables you to tweak the sound of your headphones to your liking which is a huge plus imo.

 

[spaceconvoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TAF94 The customizable eq enables you to tweak the sound of your headphones to your liking which is a huge plus imo.

Ha! More like 'distort the sound to you liking.' The Panasonic has a very useable bass-boost - very clean sounding, but tends to soften the highs. The EQ on my old Sony DNE320 was just weird sounding... everything became distorted and harshly 'digital' sounding, and it created odd frequency peaks and valleys - not very linear at all. That said, it was very useful for getting the right synergy with lower quality headphones or cans with an unnatural frequency response.

 

[adam917]

Avoid Panasonic models unless you see it as OK to NOT be able to search through (FF/REW) or pause an MP3 file!

 

[citywithoutmetal]

sony d-ne330+px100 is fantastic

 

[spaceconvoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam917 Avoid Panasonic models unless you see it as OK to NOT be able to search through (FF/REW) or pause an MP3 file!

That reminds me - my Panasonic also leaves huge 2-3 second gaps between tracks which are very annoying. This plus the FF/REW thing will probably make it useless for most people (although there shouldn't be any problem with pausing an mp3 file

what model do you have?).

Probably an iRiver would be the best compromise between useability and sound quality. My iMP-50 suffers from a slight bit of digital harshness, but is leagues better than the Sony DNE320. It has a very bright sound that matches well with Koss headphones. Too bad they're out of production.

 

[adam917]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaceconvoy That reminds me - my Panasonic also leaves huge 2-3 second gaps between tracks which are very annoying. This plus the FF/REW thing will probably make it useless for most people (although there shouldn't be any problem with pausing an mp3 file what model do you have?). Probably an iRiver would be the best compromise between useability and sound quality. My iMP-50 suffers from a slight bit of digital harshness, but is leagues better than the Sony DNE320. It has a very bright sound that matches well with Koss headphones. Too bad they're out of production.

For strictly MP3 playback, _any_ iRiver model - even their oldest iMP-100 and iMP-150 - would do better than today's latest Panasonics and probably most of the Sony stuff. iRiver stuff plays WMAs too. Some of their CD models, like the (screenless) iMP-1000 and (colour-screen) iMP-1100, play MPEG-4 video.

For CD-DA only, I know there's better out there, especially if an optical out and decent CD-TEXT reading is desired.

 

[TAF94]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spaceconvoy Ha! More like 'distort the sound to you liking.' The Panasonic has a very useable bass-boost - very clean sounding, but tends to soften the highs. The EQ on my old Sony DNE320 was just weird sounding... everything became distorted and harshly 'digital' sounding, and it created odd frequency peaks and valleys - not very linear at all. That said, it was very useful for getting the right synergy with lower quality headphones or cans with an unnatural frequency response.

I must disagree. The description you give does not sound like any of the 5 models I've auditioned at all. I used good headphones with all of them, and even the stock earbuds don't distort unless you have the volume and bass turned up too high. Useable bass-boost? Sony has a 3 level user-adjustable clearbass setting plus the customizable eq for bass - panasonic doesn't even come close. I can only surmize 3 reasons for your results: 1)poor headphones/buds 2)not using the eq right 3)you got a lemon.