How to Choose a CD Player

CD players are the hardest-working piece of equipment in most home music systems. When you're out shopping, look for the features you use most. Very good machines can be found for well under $300 or less in UK pounds.


Steps:
1. Think about how you listen to music. Do you routinely drop in several CDs and hit Shuffle, or listen to one at a time? Do you burn your own CDs? Your habits should drive your choice.

2. Check the CD connection on your current stereo. If it accepts digital optical inputs (which provide better sound quality than normal wire jacks), find a CD player with digital optical output.

3. Bring some home-burned CDs when you go shopping to play on any unit you're considering. Some CD players can't play CD-RWs, and many can't play MP3s.

4. Consider a CD jukebox or a carousel that holds dozens (or hundreds) of discs if you have lots of CDs and rarely take them out of the house. A cataloging feature uses disc and track names encoded on newer CDs to help you find songs.

5. Serious listeners can look at high-definition compatible digital (HDCD), DVD-Audio, or super-audio CD (SACD) players. These new (but incompatible) formats provide better sound quality. All will play traditional CDs, as well, but only HDCDs will play on a regular CD player.


Overall Tips:
Manufacturers use the terms shuffle and random differently. If a CD player has both features, find out what they mean.

Broken CD players can sometimes be repaired, but repairs can be expensive and often don't last.


What to look for:
Shuffle/random/programmable playback
Digital optical output
CD-RW capability
MP3 capability
Carousel or jukebox
Cataloging feature
HDCD capability
DVD-Audio
SACD capability

Tips from Users:
Buy New Headphones
Usually, the company that produces the portable CD player gives you headphones. My suggestion is to buy better quality headphones. I know from experience that the headphones the manufactures give you fall apart easily.
 

Are you looking to integrate

If your business requires mini towers, midi towers or full tower computer systems we have a solution ready for you to integrate with your IT Infrastructure.

We address the specific requirements

We have finely tuned our support model to address the specific requirements of your business.  Utilising a combination of award winning hardware and our own acclaimed software solutions, we aim to resolve problems before your business is impacted.

Pinnacle has provided solutions and services to a range of reputable companies, see Pinnacle's Companies page or our case studies for more information.

 

Fax machines  Phone accessories  Mobiles & telephones  Modems  Hard drives
CPU Processors USB Devices  Cases  Control Cards  Motherboards

Graphics Cards  Sound Cards    Memory  Toners and cartridges
Blank Media  Desktops  Laptops  Monitors  Printers  PDA's

Software  Computer Accessories  Networking  Input devices
Scanners  UPS & Power Supply  Audio systems  Cameras  CD players software