EmailBest Reviewed
Portable CD Players
- Best portable CD player Sony D-NF430 *Est. $60
- Basic portable CD player Coby MP-CD521 *Est. $20
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Best portable CD player
- Sound quality
- Shock protection
- Has AM/FM radio
- Weather band
- Audio TV stations
- Hard to find
- Small control buttons
The Sony D-NF430 portable CD player is discontinued but still available on the Internet, and owner reviews say it's a good deal if you can fine one because it sounds great. The Sony D-NF430 plays CDs and MP3s that are burned to CD-R/RW discs, and there is an AM/FM radio, audio TV reception and a weather band. Software enables you to convert music to the proprietary ATRAC format so you can fit nearly 20 hours of music onto a CD. The "G-Protection" does a good job as an anti-skip function, user reviews say, and you can get about 40 hours of use on one AA battery. Many find the controls frustratingly tiny. If you can't find a Sony D-NF430 and you want a cheap CD player, reviews suggest the Coby MP-CD521 (*est. $20), which has no radio.
Professional reviews are virtually nonexistent for portable CD players as reviewers concentrate on MP3 players. Consumer Reports, for instance, last rated portable CD players in 2002 and each of them has been discontinued. We found about 60 owner reviews at Amazon.com and a smattering of user ratings at PCWorld.com and Epinions.com for the Sony D-NF430.
Our Sources
1. Amazon.com
About 60 owner reviews give the Sony D-NF430 a good average score, roughly three-quarters scoring it four or the maximum five stars. The most common complaint is that controls are small and difficult to operate.
Review: Sony DNF430 MP3/ATRAC CD Walkman Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com
2. PC World
About ten user reviews posting to the PC World website give the Sony D-NF430 a very high average score, and they uniformly praise the sound quality.
Review: Sony D-NF430 Reviews, Contributors to PCWorld.com
3. Epinions.com
A handful of owner reviews give the Sony D-NF430 a good average rating, most liking the sound but disliking the small control buttons.
Review: Sony PSYC D-NF430 Personal CD Player Reviews, Contributors to Epinions.com
