which mp3 cd player: tdk mojo, rio volt 250, or Sony D-Cj01?

[kylef]

Here's a link to the Sony D-CJ01. It looks pretty sweet, and the price on their website is $149. The rated battery life is truly impressive!

Rio Volt SP250
TDK Mojo

But it just doesn't look like the display on the Sony model is as good as those on the Rio Volt 250 and TDK Mojo...

I can't find any reviews on the Sony model, either. There are quite a few available on the Rio and TDK models.

My main requirements are:

1. Ease of folder/song navigation
2. Relatively loud volume (I just bought a non-mp3 portable cd player the other day and at max volume it sounded weak!)
3. Ease of burning (throwing a bunch of mp3s onto a cd using EZ CD Creator, for instance, is easy)

Thanks for any tips!

 

[kylef]

Anyone out there have an opinion? Or is my post too off-topic? I actually DID do a search, and the only other threads on mp3-cd players seemed to be in the "General Hardware" forum...

Thanks for any advice!

 

[iluvdeal]

Forget mp3 cd players, that's just a carryover from the mentality behind audio cds but its not really needed here since they don't sell mp3 cds. Get a hard drive model and store you whole collection on the player! Here's a nice comparison site on them:



http://www.hotmp3gear.com/ComputerInnovation/Comparison1.htm

 

[kylef]

Unfortunately, our collection of CDs FAR outstrips what even a 20 gigabyte HD mp3 player could store! I've got a 13 gig drive FULL of mp3 albums I've ripped from my own collection, and I've only covered about 25%... So it's not really feasible to put all of our mp3s onto one device until the devices increase storage capacity about an order of magnitude...

The biggest problem I have with the hard disk units is the length of time it takes to transfer songs over a USB connection... I have a hard enough time waiting for 128 megabytes of digital pictures to leave my digital camera, much less a few gigabytes of mp3 files!

PLUS, it appeals to me to have a collection of mp3 cd's since most newer stereo component DVD players can play mp3's off of CDs as well... Throw in a mix of Frank Sinatra at dinner, for instance... Or a dance mix for a party...

I understand that you can accomplish many of the same types of things with playlists on one of the hard disk models, but then you'd have to have both CDs AND mp3s...

PLUS, the mp3 cd players will play normal audio CDs, which can be a plus depending upon your situation. My father, for instance, lacks the energy necessary to rip ALL of his CDs, so it would be VERY nice for him to only need to take ONE device with him when he travels. He can take normal CDs and mp3 CDs with him, and they'll both work.

 

[MDFusion]

get the 350 (SlimX) its going to be out this year fpor 199
www.iriveramerica.com

 

[iluvdeal]

Well if you have to get a mp3 cd player, wait for the Iriver3 (aka Slimx, IMP350) as the other poster just recommended. But if you don't need the thin size, just get a RioVolt 250. Or you might even wanna get the Iriver2 as it the same thing as the 250 but comes with LCD remote (which is an optional item for 250) and it can play games.

 

[kylef]

Hmmm... that SlimX thing does look pretty sweet! However, I was hoping to get something by Christmas so that I could make it a gift...

Well, of the models I mentioned first, that's ONE vote for the Rio Volt SP250. Anyone else?

I was thinking about getting that Neo Jukebox hard drive model for myself, since I happen to have a spare 6 gig laptop drive sitting on my desk. But then I read that the ZDnet reviewers said something about a background hiss? That's a BIG turn-off in my book for something that costs > $200!

 

[iluvdeal]

<< Hmmm... that SlimX thing does look pretty sweet! However, I was hoping to get something by Christmas so that I could make it a gift... >>



SlimX is due out my midDecember I think. Personally I'd wait for it since even if you don't want that model, the others should drop in price to compete with it.


http://www.iriveramerica.com/products/imp350_slimx.html

 

[m1ke101]

another vote for the sp250, if you want to get a cd mp3 player at this moment, its the best one to get. i love mine.

 

[Mltsao]

the rio player is great.

Me and my friends have it and it has not disappointed us

 

[Soccerman]

I just bought the SP250, and first impressions are great. I had the SP100, and though it wasn't all that great at the beginning (it was still better than the competition IMHO), the upgradeable firmware that it had allowed it to overcome some limitations it had.

AFAIK, u can't do that with the sony.

Though I haven't seen any reviews of the sony (save from a few commments on the Mp3.com message board), I get the impression that it's a CD player with Mp3 support added on, so to speak. ie, I don't think it has all the little features that the SP250 has (AFAIK the SP250 has a better display for one).

The Sony gets it's Battery life AFAIk by having built in batteries (I don't know if these are lithium Ion or what), as well as AA batteries in the remote (it's Pencil shaped AFAIK).

now, the reason why I feel the SP250 is better than the Sony, is cause it's built as an Mp3 player first, with CD functionality (I think it has all CD player features, which isn't too hard to do, considering there aren't very many CD player features in the first place).

The TDK mojo also looks to be pretty good, though I haven't read much about it in a while (so I forget).

and as for the iMP-350 (no doubt to be released by Rio as the RioVolt SP350), AFAIk it offers the same features as the 250, but is slim, though it doesn't have the LCD display on the case, but rather on the remote (so I think the remote is bigger than the iMP250 remote, sheesh I wish I could get that LCD remote already, SonicBlue takes their time with this).

again this is off the top of my head, because I can't view that webpage (older browser and I need plugins)..

now, the neat thing is, have you ever seen Sony's tiny CD players? they're very thin, and are impressive simple due to their size! If iRiver can pull that off with the iMP350 that'll be an even MORE tantalizing player

one thing the sony has over the RioVolt series thus far, is that it doesn't skip as easy (ie, it has less need for a buffer becuase the laser doesn't lose it's spot as easy) though I've never tried one out, I don't doubt their claims of good AntiShock without the use (or at least with very little use) of memory buffers.

BTW, I don't know about u, but I think I'm going to find the remotes on most CD/MP3 players to be somewhat useless. only in certain conditions do I like them..