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Portable CD Players

Though the MP3 player  revolution has put a ticking clock on CD player technology, for now, portable CD players  remain the most convenient way to get that new CD out of the case and into your ears. Pressure from the MP3 player market has also forced manufacturers to significantly drop their prices to attract consumers. Even for MP3 player owners, having a backup CD player can be useful for immediate satisfaction or to ensure standardized quality playback. CD players are thinner, lighter, sleeker, and have longer battery life, than ever and some even have MP3 playback capability,  seriously increasing exactly how much music you can play from a disc.

When Shopping, Look For

• Sound Quality
• For home use only you should aim at buying a player with the best sound quality over anti-skip features. For people on the go, spending more money may get better quality even under bumpy conditions, however, that is not always a guarantee.
• Like with home audio, a CD player is only as good as its speakers. Use premium headphones  to optimize your music experience. So if the CD player you want comes with really terrible speakers, then consider upgrading.

• Construction Quality
• Portable CD players are meant to be brought with you even thought they are suitable for home use. If you plan to make the player part of your daily ensemble, look for one that is made of heavy-duty plastic or rubber.

• Shock-Protection and Anti-Skip
• For those who want to jog, ride a train, or put their CD player in their car will want to opt for the best anti-skip there is. Special jogger's players are nearly skip-free depending on the buffer level. Usually the anti-skip memory buffer ranges upwards of 45 seconds, but you should look for the highest possible to get the best skip-free music listening.
• Unfortunately, sound quality has been shown to suffer under bouncy conditions even with shock-protection.

• Battery Life
• Average battery length is around 40 hours, but it can be lower for the most basic models. Some MP3 compatible players get lower play time than conventional models without multi-format support.
• Good battery life is around 80 hours.
• Consider investing in rechargeable batteries as a less expensive and more environmentally-friendly option.

• Weight
• Any portable device can get heavy quick despite the fact that it's "portable". Lightweight models, great for joggers, will be less cumbersome and more pleasing in the long run to the average user as well, but remember that price and portability often go hand in hand.
• Consider how light you need a player to be and if it's worth more to you than battery life. A heavier model may run for a long time, but a lightweight model may last much less.

• Multi-File Compatibility
• If you want to play more than just store bought CDs, check to make sure that the CD player is compatible with CD-R/RW.
• MP3 compatibility is only important if you want to play music burned from a computer. If you only listen to store-bought CDs then don't worry about this feature and save your money.
• Conventional players will run from $25-$70 and MP3-capable players, $60-$200.

• Other Features
• Remote capability is useful if you plan to use your CD player with speakers at home. The best are LCD style remotes.
• Integrated AM/FM radio with preset buttons makes listening to the radio on a CD player more convenient.
• Waterproof shell is useful for commuters and runners, or anyone living in a very humid climate.
• Bass Boost is essential for getting big sound and deep thumping rhythms.
• Shuffle and repeat modes plus optional programming.

All About Brand Loyalty?

Basic

• Panasonic,  Long battery life SL-SX390,  SL-SX280 
• Phillips,  Good overall AX5011 
• Sony,  Long battery life, but heavy D-EJ621,  top of the line D-EJ925 

MP3 Compatible

• Sony,  Good for joggers D-CJ01 
• Phillips,  Good for MP3 playing EXP503 
• Panasonic,  Long battery life SL-MP50 

Related Products
MP3 Players	iPods	Headphones	CD Players	Portable Speakers

Additional Articles

• Future Shop - A guide to personal CD players.