How to Buy a Portable CD Player

Portable CD players range in price from under $50 to $200. How much you pay will depend on the unit's sound quality, features and accessories.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Headphones
• Portable CD Players
• CDs

1. Take a few familiar CDs to your favorite consumer electronics store.

2. Listen to song excerpts through good speakers or headphones on several models.

3. Turn off as many sound-altering features (bass boost, and so on) as possible.

4. Carefully test each unit's anti-skip protection if you will use the player in a car or while walking or running. Jostle the unit. Run with it.

5. Compare performance features such as oversampling filters, digital-to-analog converters, length of digital anti-skip protection (10 to 45 seconds), and bass-boost switch.

6. Decide which programmability features you want, such as programmable memory, random play, repeat play, and audible fast-forward and fast-reverse.

7. Compare convenience features such as automatic shut-off, display type, line-out jack, remote control, and weight with batteries.

8. Compare included accessories such as AC adapter, headphones, carrying case, remote control, standard or rechargeable batteries, and car cassette adapter kit.

9. Compare ease-of-use of various models.

10. Understand that extra hardware and extra features add to the price.

11. Remember that the least expensive units have a 90-day limited warranty, other units have one year.

Tips & Warnings

• A cheap player with decent headphones may sound better than a more expensive player with included headphones.
• Longer memory buffers for anti-skip protection consume extra battery life when activated.
• Some portable units won't play some or all CD-RW discs. Test a unit first if you expect to use the homemade discs.