Rating: Summary: Great battery life and playback options in a small package Review: After I bought--and returned, a month later, after the lid snapped off--a Philips portable CD player, I was a bit reluctant to get into the portable player market again. But I remembered the first portable I owned, a Sony Discman D-9, back when such players weighed a couple pounds, were square hunks of metal, and ate batteries at obscene rates (you were lucky to get 3 or 4 hours out of a set of AAs).Amazon was nice enough to send me a promotional coupon, however, so I thought I'd try my luck once more, and go with a brand I trust. This player is small, lightweight, and full-featured, and definitely worth the full price -- go for it even if you don't have any discounts. Pros: Variety of playback modes; fantastic battery life; great anti-skip protection; simple controls; full-featured remote control; lid isn't spring-loaded; included carry case has a strap for running, walking, whatever. Cons: Bass boost is lacking; included headphones produce tinny sound; CD hub seems like it might break when removing CDs. Here's each pro or con with background included. (PRO) Playback modes: I count 9 playback modes, for great variety. You have the option of playing a disc all the way through; repeating an entire disc all the way through; playing a single track once; repeating a single track; shuffle all tracks once; shuffle all tracks repeatedly; program of up to 64 tracks; program repeat. The one playback mode I miss is scan, which plays the first 10 to 15 seconds of each track in turn, so you have an idea of what the tracks sound like. (PRO) Battery life: Both the included rechargeable batteries and regular alkaline AA batteries last forever in this player. The rechargeables ran about 28 hours total. I've since put in a single set of alkaline AAs and have not changed them since, for a running time approaching 40 hours. I haven't tried using the external battery case but I fully believe 76 hours would be a minimum total playback time with 4 AAs at once. (PRO) Anti-skip protection: Haven't made it skip yet. Despite shaking, a couple of badly scratched CDs, and one drop of about a foot to the surface of my desk, the player simply will not let the sound skip. (PRO) Remote control: The remote provides every feature available on the player itself with the exception of the "AVLS" (volume limit system), which is accessed by a manual switch on the bottom of the player. You can control playback, enter playback programs, choose sound mode, everything -- all via the remote. (PRO) Lid: The lid isn't spring-loaded. When you release the latch, the lid pops up perhaps 1/2", and you must lift it manually. This is an advantage over the Philips model I had, which sprang open every time and eventually snapped off after just under 4 weeks of regular use. (PRO) Carry case: The form-fitting case included has a strap for holding securely to your hand while you walk, run, cycle, whatever. The case covers the entire player but has impressions of the controls so you know where to press for stop, play, pause, forward and reverse, etc. Its rotating clip is easy to operate and lets you position the remote for quick access in any direction. (CON) Bass boost: As noted by other reviewers, the bass boost for this model is lacking a bit. It isn't suited to use for all CDs with the included headphones. It works well with better headphones and/or with use plugged into a larger stereo. (CON) Headphones: The included headphones produce a tinny sound if the music approaches higher frequencies and has strong bass at the same time. (Perhaps this is a fluke of my set.) (CON) CD hub: The hub that holds the CD in place has small clips that make a loud snapping sound whenever I remove a CD, leading me to believe they might break with repeated use. (My first Discman, the D-9, failed because its hub broke.) Overall, a strong value, worth the full price. You won't be sorry if you choose this model -- Sony's made a strong product at a reasonable price.
Rating: Summary: CD hud was a big problem Review: After just only 2 weeks of purchasing this cd player as i was taking the cd out, the cd hud snapped right in half. I even had my finger over the hub because that makes it easier to take the cd out. But it still snapped. And it was at limited use. I only listened to it about 4-5 times in those 2 weeks. And it was also frustrating how easily the cover lid scratched. It played well, ok bass although it didnt get very loud. Aside from some of the good things about this cd player, I believe Sony needs to start making better products that last longer without problems. Basically this cd player is the nike shoes of cd players. I dont recommend buying it.
Rating: Summary: O Yea.... Review: After telling my wife I was looking for a Walkman type CD player with extra good anti-skip features, she bought this for me for Christmas 2000. The NiCad batteries included never held a charge sufficient to run the player. In mid-January it stopped working and I brought it to a Sony service center. If you receive a Sony product as a gift, get the receipt from the giver. Without it there is no warranty. "Those warranty cards don't mean anything to us" I heard this from the service center and the 800 number. Two weeks later I received my player in the mail and it still didn't work. Two weeks after that I received the player in operable condition (both times absent the batteries I foolishly left inside). Today, March 28 2001, it stopped working again. This is one very expensive paper weight and is without a doubt the last piece of Sony junk that will come in our house. Run from this product. Run.
Rating: Summary: Sadly Disappointed Review: After telling my wife I was looking for a Walkman type CD player with extra good anti-skip features, she bought this for me for Christmas 2000. The NiCad batteries included never held a charge sufficient to run the player. In mid-January it stopped working and I brought it to a Sony service center. If you receive a Sony product as a gift, get the receipt from the giver. Without it there is no warranty. "Those warranty cards don't mean anything to us" I heard this from the service center and the 800 number. Two weeks later I received my player in the mail and it still didn't work. Two weeks after that I received the player in operable condition (both times absent the batteries I foolishly left inside). Today, March 28 2001, it stopped working again. This is one very expensive paper weight and is without a doubt the last piece of Sony junk that will come in our house. Run from this product. Run.
Rating: Summary: Mediocre headphones, flimsy construction Review: Ahhh, how one longs for the days when Sony meant quality, but no longer. This unit isn't inexpensive, but it's built as though it is. My unit has always a glitch where it momentarily stops producing sound in the middle of a track, even on a new disc. When I re-record the same track it has no problem. The headset is (bad). The overall construction is suspect; I don't expect it to last long. I purchased this unit because it has a digital out jack so I can record to minidisc, but Sony and other companies now have units with this feature much cheaper. For ordinary usage I would buy a more economical unit, even a store brand. Sadly, Sony's product quality now has as many problems as their marketing has long had.
Rating: Summary: Excellent new skip protection Review: Awesome awesome awesome! This cd player knocks down all of sony's previous cd players. The cd player doesn't skip...at all. I'd suggest spending the 10 more bucks because this cd player has everything and a bag of chips. definetly worth the extra 10 dollars. SPEND IT! All praise to sony. they make the best cd players.
Rating: Summary: A Great All-Rounder But A Little Soft Round The Edges! Review: Basically, Sony products has a renowned sound quality that stands out from the rest. Whatever it is, Sony hi-fis and CD players have the ability to bring out the music. Happy to say that I'm a proud onwer of this blue model, the DE-J815. And it's totally unshakeable. Heck, you can even bring this baby for a jog and it won't skip a beat. Finally, a CD player from Sony that has a universal standard. So, let me say in a few words. This player is an all-rounder performer. It's great with classical, orchestras, pop, rock, new age and whatever your music taste is. It will play with ease and big on sound details. But, for heavy metal listeners, you might be a little disappointed as this player is a little soft round the edges. Especially, when it comes to sudden cymbal crashes. They tend to sound a little strained. But, overall, this is a great buy! Highly recommended for music freaks like me! :) Partner this player with a good earphones or headphones and you'll get a great sound quality! Enjoy! Well done, Sony! You did it again with your flagship model! :)
Rating: Summary: A Great All-Rounder But A Little Soft Round The Edges! Review: Basically, Sony products has a renowned sound quality that stands out from the rest. Whatever it is, Sony hi-fis and CD players have the ability to bring out the music. Happy to say that I'm a proud onwer of this blue model, the DE-J815. And it's totally unshakeable. Heck, you can even bring this baby for a jog and it won't skip a beat. Finally, a CD player from Sony that has a universal standard. So, let me say in a few words. This player is an all-rounder performer. It's great with classical, orchestras, pop, rock, new age and whatever your music taste is. It will play with ease and big on sound details. But, for heavy metal listeners, you might be a little disappointed as this player is a little soft round the edges. Especially, when it comes to sudden cymbal crashes. They tend to sound a little strained. But, overall, this is a great buy! Highly recommended for music freaks like me! :) Partner this player with a good earphones or headphones and you'll get a great sound quality! Enjoy! Well done, Sony! You did it again with your flagship model! :)
Rating: Summary: Good for the money. Review: Buy it if you plan to use it occasionaly, because the "extra-long" battery life is a complete lie. It appears in the picture it is built all durable and everything, but it really is just a piece of aluminum or two. Sound quality is awesome, but the "hold" button is too easy to push and that makes me quite mad. I would buy this for around $80. Other than that, the CD Player is great!
Rating: Summary: cool Review: I am about to buy this Cd play becuase I tried out my friends player. and I have to say that this one is great. it is a good player and if you like music it is the one for u.
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