Rating: 
Summary: Not awesome, but works reasonably...
Review: I've had a few problems with this MP3 CD player, like skipping and not reading some CD's. Mostly, the problems occur with audio CD-R's and to a greater extent with CD-RW's. However, with mp3 CD's it seems to work well, as long as you're using a quality media recorded at low speed (2x or less). I would recommend that burned MP3/audio CD's for use on this unit are made with CD-R's instead of CD-RW's, or with a reliable quality RW. With regular audio CD's it works just fine as any portable CD player. Despite of the problems with audio CD-R/RW's, I'm keeping this product because I intend to use it mostly with mp3 CD's, and it is working fine with them. Also, it has the great advantage of a large display where the folders and track names are easily viewable. Overall, I'm satisfied with this product as it supplies my demands for a portable mp3 solution, but certainly there are some aspects to be improved on it, hopefully as this is a new technology we'll be able to see better stuff coming up in the next years.
Rating: 
Summary: It looks like I'm going RioVolt after all...
Review: I've had this unit for over 2 months now. First problem was the first unit I brought home was defective, brand new in the package. After a swap out, I used this thing on and off until I finally got enough NiMH rechargeables to be able to swap. Now that I'm using it constantly, here's the rundown. This seems to be VERY temperature sensitive. After warming up, it seems to work reasonably well. Until then, it will skip through the first 4 or 5 songs randomly. Then, the volume control is digital, and there is DEFINITELY not enough volume for my use (in car thru cassette). The backlight problem seems trivial until you run into it. I don't believe this is a reasonable alternative to the RioVolt SP250 from what I've read lately, and the prices for all the units seemed to have dropped precipitously recently from when I purchased this. Don't compromise unless you are TRULY strapped for the difference.
Rating: 
Summary: Dont Buy This!
Review: I've tried everything I know and still the same problems mentioned.It still skips several minutes ahead
for no reason when you least expect it. Wont play 32 kbps MP3s ..maybe 64 kbps sometimes. Old Time Radio or Audio Book fans look elsewhere.This aint the player for you. Makes awful sounds whenever it feels like it.Im returning mine tomorrow and trying a RioVolt. Dont even bother to waste your time on this player.
Rating: 
Summary: Works Great for me!
Review: I've tried it with CD-R's that I have made and it plays them fine! I like the unit and I'm a fussy person! I don't know why other people are having trouble. It could be the blanks that they are using (some CD players are fussy about what kind of blanks are used). But the biggest possibility could be that people are recording their CD-R's at a very high speed. I've noticed that some CD players will not play CD-R's if they are recorded above 2 Speed. So my suggestion to everyone making either MP3 or CD-R's is to make them at 2 speed or even 1 Speed so that they will work on just about all CD or CD/MP3 players.
Rating:
Summary: this cd player [is not good]
Review: it skips it does all this things and it also takes a very long time to load. It also jumps to the next song just buy itself. This was the worst purchase I've ever made.
Rating:
Summary: Run away! Run away!
Review: Lotsa problems here...1. There is easily audible noise/hum in playback. This happened with a variety of CDs... when a friend came over he immediately remarked "god, what a noisy CD player". *I've read several reviews that have stated that this depends on the quality of the CD media. In my experience this happened with all CDs, whether a record company artist release or a home-burned CD-R. 2. There is a fairly loud operational noise (mechanical) that is onmipresent when the unit is operating. On louder pieces it's not noticable but with quiet music it is very irritating. You can hear the unit in the background going "rrrrrr...." 3. There is an odd crackling sound in the playback which is noticable on quiet pieces... sounds like an old record with pops(!?!) As above, with a variety of disks. More gripes: When inserting a CD one must hit PLAY to activate the player. Then you need to wait while the player reads the disk and then hit PLAY again. This extra step (and the wait it entails) quickly became annoying. The bass boost sounds good but the surround mode is just silly and tinny. Buttons are non-responsive and must be pushed fairly hard. The CD player inserts pauses between tracks where there is none on the disk! On Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" the songs fade into each other, but this player puts a moment of silence between the tracks which is VERY annoying. CD player would often just stall in the middle of tracks. Required ejecting disk to reset. Good anti-shock but would just skip at other times for no reason at times of no movement. Very low sound output, expect to keep the volume cranked! Requires 4 AA batteries instead of the standard 2. Digital volume control instead of the standard dial. Please note that I also have one of those "no-name" brand CD players that I picked up for $32... and it played all the same disks that gave the RCA fits while exhibiting none of the problems stated above. I didn't try the RCA's mp3 capabilities so I can't comment on them. I don't think I'm a tremendously picky consumer with items like this, I just feel that this unit really falls below the mark in several important categories.
Rating:
Summary: Half and half...
Review: My main problem with this player is that it's not consistent...
Half the time when I turn it on it is awesome and plays every song with great quality and no skipping.
But sometimes (on its bad days?) it completely messes up while trying to read the disc, skips a ton, or just stops altogether.
Note that I am using the SAME discs...and they are not scratched or anything. I have tried to figure out some pattern in its behavior, but to no avail (though it does seem to skip less when in a vertical position...go figure.) Besides its quirky behavior, it is otherwise a good piece of equipment. Basically, if you can get it to turn on and read a disc, you'll probably be satisfied. Overall though, I would recommend spending a little more money to get a little more consistency...you get what you pay for, and this thing's at least twice as cheap as the competition.
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't work
Review: Received the player, and can't get it to work. Shows picture in the screen that is not shown in the instruction book. Contacted RCA customer support - takes up to 3 days for a response!
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't work
Review: Received the player, and can't get it to work. Shows picture in the screen that is not shown in the instruction book. Contacted RCA customer support - takes up to 3 days for a response!
Rating:
Summary: Totally Unreliable
Review: Skipps arbitrarily. All my tracks were recorded at 2x and at 128 Kbps as recomended. Sometimes it would play them and sometimes it would not. It seemed to work better when warm and with CD-R verses CD-RW. I listen to music to relax and this actually stressed me out. I took it back after a week and exchanged it for another thinking maybe the one I had was defective but this one I think is actually worse. I am taking it back today and getting my money back. My advice is spend the extra money and a get a better one.
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