Conference cookie::notes$archive:cd_v1

    WHAT ? are you made of money now?
    

    But seriously Pete,
    
    	I was at tech hi-fi the other day and saw the new portable
    Sony CDP-790 with a new 5 beam prisom divided laser system.  It
    is supposed to eliminate bad tracking problems that can be so
    common with portable players.  The price is a little more than you
    want to pay : about 300 more, but it is really eighties !!!
    
    
    						Bob
    

RE < Note 814.2 by YODA::TRABUCCHI >

>    	I was at tech hi-fi the other day ...

    Surely you mean Lectra City?  Tech Hi-Fi doesn't exist anymore...
    (though there certainly isn't much difference between it and Lectra
     City!)
							-- Nina    

    RE: Yes, 814.3 is correct.  Old habits die hard I guess, it is Lectra
    		city now.
    
    		I stand corrected.				
    						BOB
    

I just bought the Citizen CBM 1000 portable CD player from DAK, $149.90.
I've only had it a few weeks, but so far I have no complaints.
It seems reasonably made.  It comes with an AC adaptor, separate
combination battery pack (takes 4 AA batteries, good for about 2 1/2 hours
according to the manual) and carrying rack.
It has line and phone out, but the line level is kind of low to drive 
a stereo AUX input without having to kick up the volume.
It comes with stick-'em-in-your-ear phones, which I replaced with a separate
set of headphones.  The unit is programmable, up to 16 selections in the order
you choose, but it's a bit like setting a digital watch - there aren't enough
buttons to make it simple.

I'll get the specs from home, if you like.

- tom]

    I also just bought the same unit from DAK and am very happy with
    it.  The only other portable I found near the same price was a 
    Sony D-5A at K-Mart for $119.  The sales clerk that I talked to
    was not sure if that included things like battery pack, earphones,
    etc.  A friend told me about the one from K-Mart and the salesman
    told him that it did indeed come with everything.  I have heard
    of problems with the D-5 but I am not sure about the D-5A.
    You may want to consider this...
    
                             -=> Jim <=-
    

    RE -.2
    Yeah, I'd appreciate any specs you have on the Citizen; I'm debating
    between it and the Sony D-3 for 70 bucks more at Lechmere.  My biggest
    fear about the Citizen is quality...I've never heard of Citizen
    making audio equipment...
    
    Matt
    

    I'm interested in a first-time purchase of a portable CD player
    for my kid and can't find anything locally in stock for under $200.
    
    Where are these cheap (under $150) deals to be found in the Westboro
    to Maynard area?  'Lectra City (Sound Playground) is out of stock
    on everything.  I'd even consider 2nd hand....

    What K-Mart where is carrying the Sony at that price?
    
    Thanks!  
    
    Elizabeth Moretti
    

    I don't know if this will help you out much, but it was in the K-Mart
    in Colorado Springs on Powers Blvd.  That was their "regular" price.
    They also had the "compact" (not really portable, not a full-blown
    unit) Toshiba for $119 on sale for $99.
    
    Ron  (The friend Jim was talking about)

    Jeez, we have tons of cheap CD players at discount stores here in
    Minneapolis, so there have to be some out in New England.  Just
    last sunday a local retailer had:
    
    Sharp $139
    Technics $169
    Toshiba $119
    
    etc.  I don't remember the models, but I noticed that there were
    about half a dozen different types/brands under $170.
    
    D

    Thanks for the input!  They must be particularly hot in this area
    as most stores I've tried are out of stock of just about every model
    mentioned.  That probably accounts for the price difference, too.
    
    I'll keep looking around.....
    
    Elizabeth

    RE .9
    
      This particular one is in Colorado Springs, Co. at the corner
    of Powers Blvd. and Palmer Park Blvd.
    
                          -=> Jim <=-
    
    

    
    	For Mass and New Hampshire folks -
    
    		The D3 is on sale at Lechmere this week - $199.98.
    

RE < Note 814.14 by NAC::BENCE "Shetland Pony School of Problem Solving" >
    
>    	For Mass and New Hampshire folks -
>    
>    		The D3 is on sale at Lechmere this week - $199.98.

I think this sale is for just three days -- today (Thursday), tomorrow,
and Saturday...
							-- Nina    

Re: .5, .7

Citizen CBM 100 specs, from the owner's manual

	freq resp		20 to 20,000 Hz, +1/ -3 dB
	dynamic range		90dB or more, 1Khz
	S/N ratio		90dB or more, 1Khz
	chan separation		80 dB, 1Khz
	wow, flutter		undetectable

	semiconductor laser, three beam tracking system

	line output, 1V @15ohm (low impedance line out? is that odd?)
	phone output, 2 x 20mW @16 ohms
	size, weight		5" x 5" x 1", 1.4 lb. (battery pack bigger,
					wraps around unit - holds 4 AA's)

- tom]

    
    Just a quick note to let you folks know that Lechmere has recently
    opened a store here in CT in Newington on Berlin Turnpike.  Now
    us CT folks can enjoy the benefits of Lechmere.  I went to school
    at Northeastern and had forgotten how great their sotres were...
    
    Jim
    

    Re: someone back there
    
    Fry's, the local grocery/electronics (seriously) store, has the
    D3 for $188 and the DT3 (w/ AMFM) for $259.  Local is Santa Clara.
    
    FYI
    
    andy

    RE:  note 814.18
    
     FRY's in Santa Clara, Calif. has a SANYO CD player for $130.
     Don't know the model but I bought one & compared it to my SONY
     CPD302 & could not hear a difference.

     	If you are looking around for a "portable" CD player you must
    know that there are two types of "portables". The walkman style
    and the larger portables with cassette recorders, and radios. I
    know of a place in Boston where they sell "refurbished" SONYs. The
    name of it is ;
    			Great Entertainment
    			147 Staniford Street
    			(not too far from Boston Garden)
    			Boston,Mass
    	I have bought one of the refurbished units and I find nothing
    wrong with it. Prices for the SONYs range from $99. up to $199.
    They carry a phile of other SONY refurbished stuff too and the
    prices range from good to fantastic.

    re .-1: I wonder if a couple of my returned-due-to-breakage CDXR7s are
    there.  Probably bunch of of D5s were there, right? 

    This seems like as good of place as any to ask. I am looking for
    a good portable and have been considering the Sony D10, D3, and D160 as
    well as the Panasonic SLNP10. I have not been able to find any comments
    on the Panasonic. Does anyone have any experience or comments on
    this one? Also, I would prefer a unit that can run on AC, batteries,
    and from the 12V car power. The SLNP10, D3, and D10 appear to run
    on battery and AC only and the D160 appears to run on AC and car
    DC only. Does anybody know if any of these can operate on all power
    sources? Any inputs would be appreciated.
    
    Thanks,
    Bob

    My Sony D3 operates on 120V AC,   rechargeable battery pack, 
    and [with the right adapter] 12V DC [automobile].
    
    I think it might also operate on a battery pack into which you put
    conventional alkaline batteries, but I'm not sure.
    
    -Monty-

    The Sony D10 is packaged with a rechargeable battery pack, an AC converter
    and can be used with the SONY adapter, same one the D160 uses, in your car.
    
    George

    Just thought that I would mention that here in Colorado Springs
    we have one of those warehouse stores, PACE.  The sell the Citizen
    CBM-1000 portable CD player for $129.97.  If you are not a business
    member then add 5%.  With tax it comes to $145 even.  This portable
    come with AC adapter, battery pack (conventional - alkaline batteries),
    in-the-ear headphones, carrying strap which attaches to the battery
    pack, and a line cord to connect the portable to any standard amp.
    
    I have had mine for quite some time now, thought I bought through
    the DAK catalog at a slightly high price.  I really like it.  It
    stands up quite well to everyday useage.
    
                                -=> Jim <=-
    
    

    OK, here the D10 is called the D100.

    Power supplies go as

	240vac to 9v (household power supply)
	12vdc to 9v  (car power supply)

    Battery packs

	BP100	rechargeable	     - 4hours
	BP200			     - 8hours
	EBP300	6 alkaline batteries - 6hours

    By the way, rumour has it that the next release of the CDs will be
    using lithium rechargeable battery packs. Better voltage, current,
    drop-off, longer life and shorter recharge time.


    Barry Smith
    

    Thanks for the inputs. Sounds like the Sonys can run off of AC,
    DC, and Battery. Just what I need. The Panasonic needs +/- 6V like
    the Technics so I will probably stay with one of the Sony's.
    
    Thanks Again,
    Bob

    
    Be careful.  I don't know how the newer Sony quality is but my
    D5 went south a while ago after working well for only two years.
    Check the other notes in this conference (DIR/TITLE=SONY, or D5
    or problem)before investing in one.  Perhaps things have improved
    but last I knew, servicing one translated into "buy a new one".z 

    My D-5 is still flawless after three years.  I think that some of
    the reasons you see lots of complaints about Sony portables is that
    they are BY FAR the most common, and therefore the numbers get
    large.
    					Steve

    Well, I had made up my mind to get a D10 but Mail order was out
    since I had procrastinated too long and wanted it for a business
    trip next week. Well to make a long story short no one had a D10
    in stock so I ended up getting a Panasonic SL-NP10 (on sale at
    Treismans in Nashua for $225). The +/-6V in the car isnt a problem
    since Recotron and Panasonic both make adapters now. The Panasonic
    is very nice. The player is about the size of three jewel boxes
    and the battery is about the size of one jewel box. Not quite as
    small as the D10 but still impressive. The SL-NP10 has 18 track
    random programability, repeat play, a high filter, skip, and search
    functions. It runs about 4-5 hrs on one battery charge. The display
    can be changed to either display current track and time or tracks
    remaining and remaining time. It appears to be made well (It compaired
    favorably with the D10 which was one reason I was looking to get
    the D10). Much less plastic and much more metal than others I had
    looked at. Weight is about 2.5 lbs for the player and battery pack.
    Recharge time for the batteries is 5 hours. No remote control
    capability which I dont need and there is no oversampling if anyone
    cares. The resistance to skipping seems good but I have no frame
    of reference to compair to. All in all I am quite happy no one had
    a D10 in stock and I looked at the Panasonic again. Hopefully
    reliability will not be a major problem but for almost a $100 savings
    over the D10 it is well worth the risk.
    
    Bob (Who will have a much better time on his trip next week)