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RCA RP2301 Personal CD Player with Top-Mounted Controls

RCA RP2301 Personal CD Player with Top-Mounted Controls

List Price: $49.99
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Product Info Reviews

Features:
  • Programmable 22-track CD memory
  • CD push-button controls
  • Bass boost
  • Includes lightweight stereo headphones
  • 1-year limited warranty


Description:

With nice sound quality, a slick appearance, and a terrific price, this RCA portable CD player is hard to pass up. You get all the basics you'd expect from any CD player including sturdy, lightweight headphones; a clear 6-digit LCD showing the track, minutes, and seconds; and the ability to repeat a track or the whole disc. Plus, the RCA RP2301 also offers more advanced features.

You can program up to 22 tracks in any order, pump the sound with the bass boost option, and opt for a random playing order. The simplicity of the unit eliminates the need to read the manual before you can operate it--not something every portable CD player can claim. To program, press the back or forward button to the track you want, then press the program button. You continue doing this until you've programmed all the tracks you want to hear.

Buffering was adequate although not enough for sports use. The unit's matte, metallic-gray, plastic case gives the RP2301 a sleek look. The CD door opens widely, making it easy to insert and remove discs. Most controls are on top of the door, including program, random, and repeat. You'll also find the primary buttons here: back, stop, play/pause, and forward. These buttons are a little small and their VCR-style markings are somewhat hard to see. But the remaining controls are conveniently located on the sides of the unit.

The AC/DC jack is on the left side, and the control, open, and bass switches are on the front. The control switch, when on hold instead of on, deactivates all other buttons so you won't accidentally change mode--a useful feature on a portable unit. To the right of the bass switch, you'll find the volume control and the headphone jack. The RCA RP2301 comes with an AC adapter and can run on two AA batteries. A battery-saving, auto-off feature, turns the player off about 10 seconds after a CD finishes.

Pros:

  • Good sound, including bass feature
  • Sleek look
  • Easy to program and select other advanced features
Cons:
  • Main play buttons not fully accessible
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