Panasonic SL-SX450 Portable CD / MP3 Player

Panasonic SL-SX450 Portable CD / MP3 Player
by Panasonic

List Price: ~~$39.95~~
Our Price: $29.97
You Save: $9.98 (25%)
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Category: Network Media Player
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Customers in the UK, Buy this product at amazon.co.uk for British Pounds

Digital Photo Product Details

Manufacturer: Panasonic
Brand: Panasonic
Edition: Electronics
Model: SL-SX450
Color: Silver
Publisher: Panasonic
Studio: Panasonic
Music Label: Panasonic
Product features:

Slim, affordable personal CD player with 45-second anti-skip memory
Compatible with CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and MP3 formats
S-XBS bass boost enhances low tones to improve audio performance
20-track programming, random and repeat play, and skip/search functions
Runs for 50 hours (CD) and 85 hours (MP3) on 2 AA batteries; 1-year warranty

Accessories:

Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Panasonic SL-SX450 Portable CD / MP3 Player

Customer Review: Great choice if you want to save money
Summary: 5 Stars

If you want a decent quality MP3 player but don't want to spend much, this is an excellent choice. I have used mine for several months and I'm very satisfied with it. It's also a fine CD player though I primarily use MP3 CDs. It's worth noting that CD-R/RWs are probably the cheapest digital media format, so when it comes to MP3s, you will also save money there.

Here are the main pros and cons...

Pros:

-Very inexpensive considering the potential capacity (650-700+MB per disc).

-Good sound quality. I don't think you can do much better for under $50 (or even $100).

-Great battery life. I used it every day for well over a month before I had to replace the batteries. Maybe not the full 85 hours under (my) normal listening conditions, but close enough.

-Startup load time for MP3 CDs is fairly short. After that, switching between songs is virtually as fast as a normal CD. It is worth noting that if you have mp3 tracks that are supposed to transition into each other (like in the Gladiator soundtrack) there will be a slight pause between them.

-Very good at finding and playing all the MP3s even on CDs containing considerable amounts of non-MP3 data.

-Has a very good resume feature with MP3s. Even if it does sometimes need to rescan the disc when it's powered on, it always picks up where I left off.

Cons:

-No track seeking for MP3s. Be aware that this is a con for every MP3 CD player that I know of (except for a computer). Shouldn't be a problem for most content except for audio books. It does have a good resume feature though...

-No ID3 tag support. It would be nice to see the song titles, but it's not really important to me. As long as you keep your MP3s in well organized folders, it's easy to figure out what's playing.

-There are smaller MP3 players out there. It does fit into some of my clothing pockets but since I'm not Guybrush Threepwood, it looks weird and is not comfortable. If size is a major issue, then you probably should consider a non-CD MP3 player. It's worth noting that it doesn't take up unnecessary space. Actually it's probably as small as any CD player with an internal AA battery compartment can get.

Miscellaneous:

-Has 4 Equalizer modes:
-OFF: A nice, crisp neutral sound.
-S-XBS: A rich and warm bass sound.
-S-XBS+: Very heavy bass. Too heavy for some songs, but nice for others.
-Live: This seems to add some treble and reverb. Interesting, but some songs sound strange if they already have reverb.

-Headphones are decent quality but there's not anything special about them. If you need to move around while listening you probably should buy a different style.

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Description of Panasonic SL-SX450 Portable CD / MP3 Player

This compact portable player lets you listen to your MP3-encoded CDs too! It features Panasonic's No Skip System with 100-second memory back-up for MP3 playback. Exclusive D-Sound brings an incredible listening experience. There's an integrated remaster circuit for superb MP3 playback on any CD that has pre-recorded MP3 tracks, including CDR and CDRW discs. Enjoy long playback time-up to 85 hours with 2 AA alkaline batteries, sold separately. So wherever you go, whatever you do, this portable CD player performs beautifully for your enjoyment. No-skip anti-skip system backup memory - 45-sec for CD-DA and 100-sec (at 128 kbps) for MP3 playback Includes Stereo Earphones

Join the MP3 revolution without abandoning your CD collection with the stylish and affordable Panasonic SL-SX450 personal CD player. Outfitted with a number of basic features and a few more advanced functions, the device is an ideal alternative to expensive Flash memory MP3 players, as it lets listeners enjoy downloaded MP3 files when burned onto a CD-R/RW disc. Listeners can employ such playback features as 20-track random-access programming; repeat and random play; and skip/search within both individual tracks and MP3 albums. The device also includes a hold switch that locks the current settings so that users don't accidentally switch tracks while jogging or turn on the unit while traveling. Active listeners will welcome the anti-skip technology, which includes a 45-second CD memory reserve to help ensure a skip-free listening experience whether you're sitting on the sofa or jogging on the sidewalk. The memory reserve is even more generous (100 seconds) when listening to MP3s.

The CD player delivers on the audio front as well thanks to the multiple equalizer settings, which include a live setting that simulates the sound from a live concert hall and two S-XBS settings. The first S-XBS option boosts the bass to create a deeper, more powerful audio effect, while the second S-XBS enhances the overall sound (including the bass). Adding to the CD player's value is Panasonic's PowerLast high-efficiency power system, which combines an efficient motor with low-load circuitry to create a playback time of 50 hours for CDs and 85 hours for MP3s on just two AA alkaline batteries. The device also includes a low battery indicator and carries a one-year warranty against defects.

What's in the Box
SL-SX450 CD player, stereo headphones, user's manual.

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