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(More customer reviews)After searching the net for a day, this was the best CD player I could find. I bought the unit as a backup for my (still functioning well) Sony DNF-430, a unit I'm in love with but I am concerned that when it eventually dies (as we all must), there will no longer be a decent standard CD player at all.
This unit seems to be the successor to the 430. Several improvements have been made over the 430:
It uses 2 batteries instead of 1 for longer play between battery swaps
The controls are much better -- transport function controls that were twitchy on the 430 are larger and better laid out
The remote is easier to use, and the controls are laid out identically to those on the top of the player
It "remembers" where you left off playing a CD and starts from there after being stopped OR (new) even after the door has been opened
The display is much easier to read, especially from an angle
The case seems more solid
The price has been substantially reduced
On the downside vs 430:
Maximum volume not quite as loud as the 430, and very high or very low frequencies are not rendered quite as well
The weather, AM radio, and analog TV receivers have been dropped (doubt many used these functions)
The LCD readout of song titles and artists on regular CDs is gone
No ATRACS (Sony's old compression scheme that had no real advantage over MP3s)
The parametric equalizer is gone (really only useful with low quality headphones)
The body is noticably heavier and larger both in thickness and diameter
The transport buttons are much easier to accidentally press when carrying it about as a portable (use the "hold" button underneath to prevent this).
The remote connector has changed, so only the remote that comes with the unit may be used
Cheezy earbuds and a car cassette adaptor are no longer included
Like the DNF430, the transport mechanism is a bit noisy, although no louder than the sound leakage you would get with good open-air headphones (recommended). No AC power adaptor is included, but there is provision for plugging in separately purchased 4.5 volt AC or car DC adaptor. And opening the lid to change CDs is still a bit awkward. The anti-skip mechanism still works flawlessly.
The important thing, the reason for the five stars, is the sound quality. While sonically not quite up to the DNF430, you still can plug in a pair of good headphones like the Grado SR80 and you've got yourself a personal sound system that rivals a good home theater setup. Other reviewers have spoken of "muddy sound" and "hiss"; I can detect none such. The low distortion and high frequency range does reveal flaws in source material that are not evident when that material is played on a lesser unit. On the other hand, I have heard distinct background playing (eg., a trumpet way down in the mix of a Grateful Dead song, the sound of a pick against guitar strings) I'd never heard on lesser players. When playing big band or orchestra CDs, it individuates instruments so you hear each distinctly instead of a single smear of orchesteral sound. This all refers to standard CD's. I do not use the FM or MP3 features. If you care about good sound, you realize that MP3 compression degrades sound.
Bottom line: for car or personal listening of standard or burned CDs while not too active, this is a wonderful device. While the size, weight, and easily triggered controls make it less than ideal for physically active listening (I still listen to my hearty old Panasonic while working in the garden), it is still quite serviceable in that mode.
I think Sony made a lot of sensible design decisions here, and I hope they sell enough of these to make it worthwhile to keep manufacturing them.
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Sony D-NF340 CD Walkman and MP3 Player w/FM TunerProduct Description: Sony's D-NF340 CD player brings you the best of the CD and MP3 worlds. Burn MP3 audio files onto CD-R/RW discs and listen for up to 16 hours. Or fire up the digital FM tuner for instant access to 40 preset stations. A simple, one-line LCD displays MP3 information, for easy identification of disc, track and artist names. And with 12 playback modes and reliable, Skip-Free G-Protection technology, you will have a continuous soundtrack of your favorite tunes wherever you go.
Play back your favorite CDs, MP3 files burnt to disc, or FM radio on the go. Convenient in-line circle remote control. Walkman earbud headphones included. FM Tuner with 40 Presets Program 40 of your favorite FM radio stations, for on-the-go access to your favorite shows, the news, weather or traffic reports, or anything else you get from the airwaves.
Skip-Free G-Protection Technology The D-NF340 provides continuous, quick recovery from both horizontal and vertical shocks, to eliminate or reduce skipping during many active uses.
Five-Direction Control Key Enjoy intuitive, single-button control with five individual functions, for an easy and convenient way to control both playback and navigation.
Two-Position Automatic Volume Limiter System (AVLS) Maintain volume output at levels below the distortion threshold for cleaner sound reproduction.
CD-R/RW and MP3 Playback Capability Plays CD-R/RW discs with MP3 files burned from your CD-ROM or home recording deck. Get hours of music on a single disk, along with a one-line LCD display showing ID3 tags for easy ID and navigation.
Multi-Language Support for LCD Text Displays information on compact discs that contain encoded text data that can include the artist name, disc name, and/or track name. (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian)
12 Playback Modes and Bookmark Playback Function The D-NF340 offers 12 different choices for playback of CDs, including: Normal Play, Group Play, Single Track Play, Shuffle Play, Group Shuffle Play, Bookmark Play, and Repeat Play for all play modes.
Digital Mega Bass Sony's DSP technology produces rich, deep, bass tones with extremely low harmonic distortion.
What's in the Box Sony D-NF340 CD Player, Walkman Earbud Headphones (MDR-E706LP), Circle Remote, User's Manual
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