A CD Player offers high quality sound output as well as programmability. It may also have
features such as anti-skip technology. With such features being available, it is not surprising that the demand
for CD players is rapidly rising. The portable versions provide
for convenience and come in a variety of designs. For many music lovers the ability to take their music wherever
they go is not just an idea or a thought, it's mandatory. Even though CD-players have trimmed down considerably,
they are still the bulkiest among the personal audio players, such as; Minidiscs, iPods, MP3 players, etc. The price for the basic
model is less; but a model with additional features it could be a little costly.
Also, the number of songs that you could listen to is subject to the number of CD’s you would be willing to
carry along. Most of them come with remote control, headset and run on batteries and a power adapter. In addition, to
playing CD’s some players also come with a cassette deck and a digital AM/FM tuner. Some even come with
water-resistant features that give them an extra edge.
1 - What should one consider before buying a CD player?
CD-Players offer enough features to keep most audiophiles happy and most come at a price that would make almost
anyone sing and dance. Of course that doesn’t mean you can have it for a song and a dance!
Here are some features of a CD-player that you absolutely must consider while making a choice:
1. Anti-Skipping Technology
The term "portable CD player" implies you can carry it along with you while you are on a journey, while jogging, while dancing or
while on the move. These situations may result in the skipping of music or screeching/stretching of notes due to the player
being accidentally jostled. Anti-skipping technology is the solution to this problem.
There are two variants to this technology:
a. Anti-shock or Ultra shock protection:
This variant maximizes the quality of scanning by strengthening the laser that reads your CD, thus leading to an
uninterrupted flow of music. It can improve signal strength of a player by four to fifty percent.
b. Memory Buffer:
This variant reads the track of music slightly ahead of what you are hearing and stores it temporarily in the player’s
memory, so that if you hit a bump or when the player is jostled, you can still hear the music or the song while the
player quickly gets back on track.
2. Bass Booster or the Boom Box
Exercising on the treadmill or doing aerobic exercises requires us to be alert and alive and there’s nothing like high energy
music to keep you marching further. A Bass booster or a Boom Box accentuates heavy beats in the music so you can do more.
3. Disc compatibility
CD-players support different types of CD formats. Some may support playing a read-only CD and a CD-R (CD-recordable, wherein information can’t be erased and can be written only once.). Some may also support playing a CD, a CD-R and a CD-RW (CD Rewritable - information can be erased and rewritten a number of times). Some may support all three and also support SACDs (Super Audio Compact Discs, which is a higher quality CD format giving improved sound quality). So if you have CDs that have been written or rewritten, it would be advisable to get a player which supports a CD-RW format.
4. Radio with Presets
Want to keep in touch with what’s going in the world when you are away on a camping trip? Or, are you a bit tired of
listening to the CDs you have with you? Then a CD-player with a built in radio with presets would be apt. You can always
switch to listening to radio whenever you are tired of listening to CDs. Having a radio means you can stay connected to
the world even from the remote countryside.
5. Edit functions
CD-players offer playing options such as; play/pause, search, skip, move forward/backward, random, repeat, etc. so that
you can skip tracks you don’t like, repeat your favorite track, fast forward or backward to a particular track, search
and select any track at random etc.
6. Direct disc (or track) access
Just push a button for instant access to any disc (or song). For example; to hear the song on track 7, just push "7".
This feature may be accessible from the unit's front panel, the remote, or both.
7. Pitch control
A few CD and CD-R/RW systems let you increase or decrease the playback speed in precise increments, a great feature for
DJs, musicians, and aerobics enthusiasts.
8. Battery utilization & Recharging
Battery utilization or the ability of a player to last longer on a single battery is one of the critical aspects that
one has to be extremely discerning about. Since you do not want to be let down by a device which uses most of them,
leaving you songless! While it is a good idea to carry spare batteries along, it is advisable to go for a model which
consumes less of power and yet gives you good sound quality. The best CD players provide you a battery utilization of
about 41 hours. Many CD-players have a battery recharge button. This feature allows you to recharge your player at the
touch of a button.
9. Display
Most CD-players come with built-in LCD displays which showcase, the name of the track that is being played, battery life,
backlight, track time left etc. Some CD players are loaded with many more display features, go for extra features only if
you are sure of utilizing them to the fullest, else go only for the essential features, it would save you some money.
10. Warranty
CD-players, often come with a warranty of at least one year.
Prices of CD-players range from $60 to $350 – these vary as per the extent of features offered. Some popular brands which
have created a positive impression are Sony, Philips, Panasonic, Pioneer, and AIWA.
