Need recommendation on portable mp3 CD player

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Cherub

Senior member
Feb 1, 2001
475
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I'm looking for a quality portable mp3 player for under $100.

I would like a portable deck that plays CD-R's and CD-RW's, has a remote with a decent display, uses AA batteries, and has good search and organizational features. Also, it must feature the ability to scan through tracks. I couldn't care less about the headphones included.

I have an Imation Rip!Go now and I hate it. Basically, I want the opposite of this inconvenient, unreliable deck.

Any ideas?
 

My sister has a RioVolt and she really likes it. Not sure if it's under $100 yet.

What don't you like about the Rip!GO?
 
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Cherub

Senior member
Feb 1, 2001
475
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Where do I start to complain about the Rip!Go?

1. I've used mine about 2 hours per day x 3 days per week, and it's dead. It simply will not recognize any CD.
2. Battery life is maximum 2.5 hours on full charge. If it has any seek problems, it can be as little as 45 minutes, no exaggeration.
3. The controls are awful. Despite an 8 meg. buffer, it still tries to play each track before you can skip ahead to the next track -- if you want to skip ahead 8 tracks, it will take a while because each will be partially loaded.
4. Buffer logistics are crazy. It has an 8 meg buffer, but can't go back to the beginning of a 1 minute track without 30 seconds of reloading.
5. After playing an individual track, it returns to the main folder instead of playing the next track, so if you have a long list in a folder, you either have to play the entire folder and skip ahead to where you want to start (see problem 3) unless you want to play each track individually (horrible for audiobooks). Programming is even worse--a clumsy mess and clearly an afterthought.
6. Units not recognized by firmware update software. I couldn't update either of two units because the software wouldn't recognize the units, even though Explorer did and even though I would use them through windows.
7. Frequent skips, battery drops, and spontaneous shutoffs.

Glad to get that off my chest! There are more problems, but that's enough for now.
 
L

Lager

Diamond Member
May 19, 2003
9,433
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Not a recommendation but whatever you do, don't get a riovolt mp3 cd player.

It sucks and eats up battery faster then me at a buffett after not eating for two days.
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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Originally posted by: PCMarine
Originally posted by: pulse8
I have the SlimX 350 and I love it.
Click to expand...

Me too. Best MP3/WMA/FM Tuner/CD player hands down.
Click to expand...

Yep...and it looks like it also supports .asf files now too. Ah, the beauty of firmware updates... :)
 
D

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
slimx is great but it's not sub $100 so it doesnot fit his reqiremetn requirement
 
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bolido2000

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2001
3,720
1
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Get a NetMD. I get 56 hours with one AA battery. Can form different groups for the songs and you can edit the contents on the MD in any way you want.
Their firmware is even hackable. I hacked my lowly Sony N505 to a N1
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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0
Originally posted by: dighn
slimx is great but it's not sub $100 so it doesnot fit his reqiremetn requirement
Click to expand...

I've seen the 350 model of the SlimX for just under $100. I got mine for $100 shipped, but there were a few places online selling them for less at the time.

Edit:

I take that back...it appears the price has gone up. :(
 
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Cherub

Senior member
Feb 1, 2001
475
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0
Thanks for the input. I would consider spending over $100 if it was really worth it. I can't tell much difference between the iRiver Slim-X 350 and 400. Any good deals on the 350 lately?
 
X

xyion

Senior member
Jan 20, 2001
706
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I got the slimx350 for $99 no tax no shipping from Amazon a few weeks ago. I just googled it, bought it from some store, which turned out to be linked to amazon in the end.
 
K

KeyserSoze

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 2000
6,048
1
81
Keep on checking bensbargains.net, it seems like he lists those pretty frequently on his site, usually from Amazon.com






KeyserSoze
 
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isaacmacdonald

Platinum Member
Jun 7, 2002
2,820
0
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don't go no-name. don't go "classic" either.

my friend bought a no-name off ebay for $50 about 2 years ago. It would only ready to about 180mb mark (on regular and mp3 cds). sucks. My classic has served me well, but it skips like crazy when I play normal cds (next to never).
 
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thelanx

Diamond Member
Jul 3, 2000
3,299
0
0
I got my SlimX 350 for under $100, but that was with a 20 dollar price drop and a 30 dollar rebate. Also had a 10 coupon, so it came out to be 90 with free shipping. The 20 dollar price drop was permanant I think, look for the rebate. Basically the only advantage of going through Amazon for me was the 10 dollar coupon. This was a few months ago however...still, there should be good deals online. Look around.
 
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Cherub

Senior member
Feb 1, 2001
475
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0
I picked up an iRiver 350 SlimX 350 from Best Buy, and I'll try it out. It seems that reviewers who posted at Amazon either love it (as did the "editor's review") or absolutely hate it citing bugs and longevity problems.

BTW, anyone know if Best Buy will price-match to major online venders like Amazon or Newegg?
 
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Cherub

Senior member
Feb 1, 2001
475
0
0
I actually returned my SlimX-350 today. It's a shame...I loved the controls, but the volume issue is inexcusable. Even at top volume I can't hear audio books. The Best Buy rep said that the 350 will be discontinued in October anyway. Maybe the 400 or 550...
 
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