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Topic: Looking for new CD MP3 player (Read 3278 times) previous topic - next topic
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Looking for new CD MP3 player

About 3 years ago, I got a Sony Walkman MP CD player, DCJ-01.
I killed it several months ago, and am now in the market for a new one, but it is hard to find the info I want. SO let me gets down to it.

Pros of DCJ01
  • Would not skip at all, except with CMC media.
  • Small gaps between songs, save with CMC media (with MCC, TY and Riteks, it was generally <2 seconds)
  • Played any MP3 I threw at it (see con #3). From 32kbps to >200kbps (avg) VRB
  • Recharged easily, lasted a real 24 hours on a full charge with two NiMH AAs (recharged in the player itself--clever and useful!)
  • Easy to use controls. No stylistic crap--just a good design that was easy to use blind (or rather, in a pocket).
  • Was tough. It died when I stepped on it. And that wasn't the first time it had been stepped on, kicked, or fallen onti brick, concrete and hardwood flooring.
Cons of DCJ01
  • Significant bass rolloff.
  • MP3 & ATRAC only.
  • Would not read ID3 v2 tags.
  • Would not FF/RW in MP3s. Not having gapless playback would be fine if I could move around the MP3.
Ogg would be handy for a new one. The main thing, however, is that I want something of similar quality, but newer features, like ID3v2. In fact, the same player with ID3v2 would be good enough. However, my father got the new one. It has all the same features, and reads ID3v2 tags, but the case is flimsy, and the expensive ones are similarly flimsy slim players.
It would also be handy to have a player that can actually get loud. Currently Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, and just about nay classical stuff is futile to listen to anywhere but at home.

The only non-CD player I can find that's halfway reasonable is the Rio Karma, but even that does not appear to put up with hard use.

I haven't used or handled any iRiver players recently, so am left wondering about those.

edit: Necessities list
  • ID3v2 support
  • Good controls
  • Good sound. Not good bass boost--just sounding good.
  • Forward and back within MP3s.
  • Decent folder navigation--it's suprising how many lack an alpha display and folder next/back buttons!
Things I don't care a bit about:
  • Styling. A 1lb black brick, like the walkmans of old, would be fine.
  • Backlit display. If I can use the controls in the dark, why do I need to see the display?

Looking for new CD MP3 player

Reply #1 –
You should have a look at the iRiver iMP-550. It got all the features you want and then some. Plus it looks stylish and has a backlit display (on the remote) <wg>.
Truely a Cadillac of MP3 CD players.

I would certainly not recommend stepping on it, though. The controls' convenience may be a personal thing too, so you're advised to buy from a place where returns are easy (like Amazon).
 

Looking for new CD MP3 player

Reply #2 –
I was wondering about the 450 and 550, but didn't know if they were really that great, given the piss poor competition at that price. How do they hold up? My last experience was with a Rio SP90, which had flimsy plastic parts that would break after a couple good drops.

...I don't try to step on them, BTW, they just happen to be there under a magazine or something .

Looking for new CD MP3 player

Reply #3 –
Unfortunately, I don't know of any one unit that meets all of your wishes.

However, last year I needed a very durable device too; but did not think such a unit existed until I came across the 2003 Sony S2 discmans. I purchased a D-FS601, and it's built better in terms of durability then any other portable disc player I have observed(very stiff thick plastic frame, cast metal front latch, rubber seals all around to make it weather resisitant--looking inside the transport appears to be built to endure lots of shock). It does not play MP3s. But their was a more expensive model with what appeared to be the same basic chassis/shell designl that did play MP3 files: D-CS901

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...395931?v=glance

Also, their is the Sony D-NS921(very similar, and more likey to be found):

http://www.wholesaleconnection.com/product...px?Product=2497

The 2004 S2 sereis *appears to be a signficant downgrade in physical constrcution quality, plus they have this built-on hand band. The band on the 2003 models was removable.

-Chris

Quote
About 3 years ago, I got a Sony Walkman MP CD player, DCJ-01.
I killed it several months ago, and am now in the market for a new one, but it is hard to find the info I want. SO let me gets down to it.

Pros of DCJ01
  • Would not skip at all, except with CMC media.


  • Small gaps between songs, save with CMC media (with MCC, TY and Riteks, it was generally <2 seconds)


  • Played any MP3 I threw at it (see con #3). From 32kbps to >200kbps (avg) VRB


  • Recharged easily, lasted a real 24 hours on a full charge with two NiMH AAs (recharged in the player itself--clever and useful!)


  • Easy to use controls. No stylistic crap--just a good design that was easy to use blind (or rather, in a pocket).


  • Was tough. It died when I stepped on it. And that wasn't the first time it had been stepped on, kicked, or fallen onti brick, concrete and hardwood flooring.
Cons of DCJ01
  • Significant bass rolloff.


  • MP3 & ATRAC only.


  • Would not read ID3 v2 tags.


  • Would not FF/RW in MP3s. Not having gapless playback would be fine if I could move around the MP3.
Ogg would be handy for a new one. The main thing, however, is that I want something of similar quality, but newer features, like ID3v2. In fact, the same player with ID3v2 would be good enough. However, my father got the new one. It has all the same features, and reads ID3v2 tags, but the case is flimsy, and the expensive ones are similarly flimsy slim players.
It would also be handy to have a player that can actually get loud. Currently Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, and just about nay classical stuff is futile to listen to anywhere but at home.

The only non-CD player I can find that's halfway reasonable is the Rio Karma, but even that does not appear to put up with hard use.

I haven't used or handled any iRiver players recently, so am left wondering about those.

edit: Necessities list
  • ID3v2 support


  • Good controls


  • Good sound. Not good bass boost--just sounding good.


  • Forward and back within MP3s.


  • Decent folder navigation--it's suprising how many lack an alpha display and folder next/back buttons!
Things I don't care a bit about:
  • Styling. A 1lb black brick, like the walkmans of old, would be fine.


  • Backlit display. If I can use the controls in the dark, why do I need to see the display?

[a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=237963"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Looking for new CD MP3 player

Reply #4 –
It's better to stick with CD MP3!
With flash and HDD based being fashionable these days, I find that CD player has more substance and value. For one, the optical pickup mechanics have been perfected at Sony and Panasonic, and they last for years! Optical expertise as well as high quality Headphone amps trickled down from MiniDisc R&D make it to sub-$100 portable players that sound like $300 MD portables, with the same standards of fit and finish.  But even Sony makes poor entry level units, so I'm recommending midrange and up from Sony, and anything from Panasonic (even their $39 units are Made in Japan, just bulkier!) I have no experience with Korean brands like iRiver, but I don't think they measure up mechanically- Software-wise, maybe better, but not overall (reliability, noise, other subtle qualities). As for your previous Sony CD, it was a first generation MP3 player from Sony, but they have since came up with a killer MP3 CD player:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...750406?v=glance

I highly recommend the Sony D-NE900, although it's a bit expensive in the US ($140) and not available in black as it is in Japan. Regarding ID3v2, the Sony can display Chinese charaters in MP3 tags - not just Japanese Kanji (as recent MD units can), but  those encoded in Traditional Chinese. I don't know if this means it's ID3v2 compatible. The scroll wheel and 4line LCD UI navigation is designed along the lines of future HiMD units... while a track is playing, you can scroll through the repertoire to program the next track without interruptions or skip directly to the new track.  It certainly can ff/rew within MP3 tracks.  It has a high quality defacto Sony remote, but all the controls and the 4-line display is well placed on the main unit. The main unit is also uniquely designed, a tapered ceramic-saucer-like profile that envelopes the 12cm disc, rather sleek with plenty of curves compared to most cylindrical portable CD players. It's really something to be appreciated in 3D, instead of in pictures. I can almost see it as a model of the saucer section of Star Trek's USS Enterprise.

I personally own the Panasonic SL-CT700 (predecessor of SL-CT710, also available at amazon.com). I had it for a year before the Sony D-NE900 came out. I don't know if it's worth a $50 difference, but the $80~90 Panasonic cannot ff/rew within MP3 tracks, and ID3 tag is v1.1 only. Panasonic of Matsushita Electric has the superior opto-mechanical design and manufacturing of anyone in the world, and partially because they're still made in Japan, they've been the most reliable. Mine works as fine as it was new since Fall 2002, no skipping with any CD-R/RW. Both Panasonic and Sony sound the best of any MP3 players I tried, including the iPod. I'm talking about using your favorite headphones, of course, not the stock ones.

I think you'll like the D-NE900, in addition to a scroll wheel it has directory up/down buttons dedicated too. It's a year old and due for an yearly model update, but I don't think Sony is too keen to let it overshadow the HiMD rollout. It uses a single 1.2V NiMH gumcell, which makes it very light. You can get an extra cell for swapping for under $10, too. It's the alternative choice nowadays, and a "diamond in the rough" in my opinion.

Looking for new CD MP3 player

Reply #5 –
Quote
  • MP3 & ATRAC only.
    [a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=237963"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

D-CJ01 is an MP3 ONLY player. It does not support AtracCD.
Sony's MP3/AtracCD PCDPs 2003 line and forward support ID3v2.

You may want to consider Panasonic. I have the lowest end model, and also the D-CJ01. D-sound is great, and the remaster feature may improve sound quality from low bitrate MP3s. Overall, it sounds much better than the D-CJ01. Unfortunately, all panasonic MP3 PCDPs in the US do not have line/optical out, even though the same model number for outside the US might have it.
twitter.com/pika2000

Looking for new CD MP3 player

Reply #6 –
I've got an iRiver iMP-400 - I'll sell it to ya for a good price! It plays MP3, WMA & OGG ...

All original accessories + carrying case, 2 extra sets of batteries and an extra remote.