My choice of media player is the Portable Discman.

Reportage · 11-08-2010, 09:07 AM

after a slew of mp3/mp4 devices...have decided that the discman is my media player of choice.

1. runs on AA/AAA.

2. No menu interface to dig through.

3. Actual CD quality.

4. No volume restrictions.

5. reads CDR of home-brew albums.

6. still works after 5 years.

7. can go wherever i go.

Nowhere Matt · 11-08-2010, 09:43 AM

Oh they skip so easily, though. Battery usage is to be expected though. Spinning that disc at something like 90 rpm.

About two weeks ago, Sony announced they had finally ceased production of The Walkman. Yeah. I did not even think they still produced the thing but I have not used my Discman in about eight years either.

I cannot argue some of your other points. But you are limited by less than 40 minutes of music at any given interval. I know what you mean though being one who still often does not mind getting up after 18 minutes of music to change over to side two with my turntable. But access to hundreds of songs on a tiny other thing is nice when moving alone in big circles.

deadwolfbones · 11-08-2010, 10:12 AM

Really like my Zune HD, to be honest.

Nowhere Matt · 11-08-2010, 11:22 AM

Wait a minute. You are suggesting that you have at least owned some mp3 devices and still prefer a Discman?

Well, I guess... I even have a silly, one gig clip on Colby mp3 player that I would prefer to a Discman. To say nothing of my RCA 8gb or iTouch. Heck I even have an mp3 FM modulator that... No. It really has poor sound quality so the Discman probably wins that battle. How about using a cassette tape adapter in your Walkman to plug into the jack of an mp3 device? That would be like drinking wine from a Dixie Cup.

Reportage · 11-08-2010, 11:55 AM

Originally posted by Nowhere Matt

Wait a minute. You are suggesting that you have at least owned some mp3 devices and still prefer a Discman?

Well, I guess... I even have a silly, one gig clip on Colby mp3 player that I would prefer to a Discman. To say nothing of my RCA 8gb or iTouch. Heck I even have an mp3 FM modulator that... No. It really has poor sound quality so the Discman probably wins that battle. How about using a cassette tape adapter in your Walkman to plug into the jack of an mp3 device? That would be like drinking wine from a Dixie Cup.

Thats right. as crazy as it sounds...

Well...after going for quantity of songs, i do find going for quality of songs to be quite refreshing.

Anyway, being an onsite photographer waiting for things to happen. Doesnt hurt to have something that runs on batteries and yet sound good when plugged to portable speakers. Simpler as well.

jogiba · 11-08-2010, 04:59 PM

My 64GB iPod Touch has thousands of songs and videos on it and also can scan barcodes and show the lowest price.
[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeVAjrrTgHg[/YT]
[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-15JrsOApRw[/YT]
[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4_Xy0ESChY[/YT]

Nowhere Matt · 11-08-2010, 05:30 PM

Yeah! Bet your Discman can't scan bar codes and find the best prices for a professional dslr on The Internet!

Reportage · 11-08-2010, 06:39 PM

Originally posted by Nowhere Matt

Yeah! Bet your Discman can't scan bar codes and find the best prices for a professional dslr on The Internet!

no it cant...dont need it to scan bar codes or find prices. Just play CDs as best as it can.

**ChrisPlatt** · 11-09-2010, 08:16 AM

I own several MP3 players. I have gripes with each one of them.
A portable CD player sounds better and is far simpler to operate.

Chris

jolepp · 11-09-2010, 08:30 AM

I suppose the audio quality of an mp3 player depends quite a bit on the bit rate used, some even support lossless formats. One problem with these is that because running on a minuscule battery they cannot drive proper headphones. The in-ear mini-earphones such as Sennheiser cx-300 and are surprisingly good though (not lacking bass like the 'open' ones).

**ChrisPlatt** · 11-09-2010, 09:06 AM

Using higher bitrates or lossless formats greatly diminish the increased capacity advantage of MP3 players.
MP3 player volume is restricted by law. Separate headphone amplifiers are readily available but a PITA to use.
I own the Sennheisers. They do have better bass but don't help the anemic audio output of MP3 players.

Chris

Lloydy · 11-10-2010, 02:17 PM

I gave my MP3 player away, it sounded like spanners in a dustbin, or trascan if you prefer.

And I searched the house until I found my old Sony MiniDisc player. What difference in sound! And it doesn't skip, I have a lead that plugs the player into my car stereo, the battery lasts for days and it sounds terrific.

Did I mention it sounds better than the compressed rubbish of MP3 ?

**ChrisPlatt** · 11-10-2010, 09:24 PM

Headphones reveal all the shortcomings of my MP3 audio players.
OTOH the same players sound quite good plugged into decent amplified speakers...

Chris

hcarvalhoalves · 11-10-2010, 10:23 PM

There's no perceptible difference between MP3 at 320kbps VBR and CD, while still being able to cram a lot more music per GB. The default CD bitrate is 1400kbps, but primarly because of physical reasons (reading speed, disc size and laser wavelength), not quality.

And if you absolutely, positively want to get anal about quality, get a FLAAC-capable player.

There are legitimate excuses to be nostalgic - like enjoying it -, but complaining about audio quality is not a good one in this case.

**ChrisPlatt** · 11-11-2010, 08:44 AM

That's a lot of work and expense to get an MP3 player to sound good.
The CD player sounds good right out of the box - just press "play".

Chris

11-08-2010, 09:07 AM	#1
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	My choice of media player is the Portable Discman. after a slew of mp3/mp4 devices...have decided that the discman is my media player of choice. 1. runs on AA/AAA. 2. No menu interface to dig through. 3. Actual CD quality. 4. No volume restrictions. 5. reads CDR of home-brew albums. 6. still works after 5 years. 7. can go wherever i go.

11-09-2010, 09:06 AM	#11
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,696	Using higher bitrates or lossless formats greatly diminish the increased capacity advantage of MP3 players. MP3 player volume is restricted by law. Separate headphone amplifiers are readily available but a PITA to use. I own the Sennheisers. They do have better bass but don't help the anemic audio output of MP3 players. Chris Last edited by ChrisPlatt; 11-09-2010 at 09:17 AM.

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11-08-2010, 09:43 AM	#2
Nowhere Matt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nowhere Land Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,362	Oh they skip so easily, though. Battery usage is to be expected though. Spinning that disc at something like 90 rpm. About two weeks ago, Sony announced they had finally ceased production of The Walkman. Yeah. I did not even think they still produced the thing but I have not used my Discman in about eight years either. I cannot argue some of your other points. But you are limited by less than 40 minutes of music at any given interval. I know what you mean though being one who still often does not mind getting up after 18 minutes of music to change over to side two with my turntable. But access to hundreds of songs on a tiny other thing is nice when moving alone in big circles.

11-08-2010, 10:12 AM	#3
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 7,451	Really like my Zune HD, to be honest.

11-08-2010, 11:22 AM	#4
Nowhere Matt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nowhere Land Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,362	Wait a minute. You are suggesting that you have at least owned some mp3 devices and still prefer a Discman? Well, I guess... I even have a silly, one gig clip on Colby mp3 player that I would prefer to a Discman. To say nothing of my RCA 8gb or iTouch. Heck I even have an mp3 FM modulator that... No. It really has poor sound quality so the Discman probably wins that battle. How about using a cassette tape adapter in your Walkman to plug into the jack of an mp3 device? That would be like drinking wine from a Dixie Cup.

11-08-2010, 11:55 AM	#5
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739 Original Poster	Originally posted by Nowhere Matt Wait a minute. You are suggesting that you have at least owned some mp3 devices and still prefer a Discman? Well, I guess... I even have a silly, one gig clip on Colby mp3 player that I would prefer to a Discman. To say nothing of my RCA 8gb or iTouch. Heck I even have an mp3 FM modulator that... No. It really has poor sound quality so the Discman probably wins that battle. How about using a cassette tape adapter in your Walkman to plug into the jack of an mp3 device? That would be like drinking wine from a Dixie Cup. Thats right. as crazy as it sounds... Well...after going for quantity of songs, i do find going for quality of songs to be quite refreshing. Anyway, being an onsite photographer waiting for things to happen. Doesnt hurt to have something that runs on batteries and yet sound good when plugged to portable speakers. Simpler as well.

11-08-2010, 04:59 PM	#6
jogiba Banned Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Millstone,NJ Posts: 6,491	My 64GB iPod Touch has thousands of songs and videos on it and also can scan barcodes and show the lowest price. [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeVAjrrTgHg[/YT] [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-15JrsOApRw[/YT] [YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4_Xy0ESChY[/YT]

11-08-2010, 05:30 PM	#7
Nowhere Matt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nowhere Land Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,362	Yeah! Bet your Discman can't scan bar codes and find the best prices for a professional dslr on The Internet!

11-08-2010, 06:39 PM	#8
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739 Original Poster	Originally posted by Nowhere Matt Yeah! Bet your Discman can't scan bar codes and find the best prices for a professional dslr on The Internet! no it cant...dont need it to scan bar codes or find prices. Just play CDs as best as it can.

11-09-2010, 08:16 AM	#9
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,696	I own several MP3 players. I have gripes with each one of them. A portable CD player sounds better and is far simpler to operate. Chris

11-09-2010, 08:30 AM	#10
jolepp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 3,196	I suppose the audio quality of an mp3 player depends quite a bit on the bit rate used, some even support lossless formats. One problem with these is that because running on a minuscule battery they cannot drive proper headphones. The in-ear mini-earphones such as Sennheiser cx-300 and are surprisingly good though (not lacking bass like the 'open' ones).

11-10-2010, 02:17 PM	#12
Lloydy Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 1,114	I gave my MP3 player away, it sounded like spanners in a dustbin, or trascan if you prefer. And I searched the house until I found my old Sony MiniDisc player. What difference in sound! And it doesn't skip, I have a lead that plugs the player into my car stereo, the battery lasts for days and it sounds terrific. Did I mention it sounds better than the compressed rubbish of MP3 ?

11-10-2010, 09:24 PM	#13
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,696	Headphones reveal all the shortcomings of my MP3 audio players. OTOH the same players sound quite good plugged into decent amplified speakers... Chris

11-10-2010, 10:23 PM	#14
hcarvalhoalves Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: São Paulo, Brazil Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,019	There's no perceptible difference between MP3 at 320kbps VBR and CD, while still being able to cram a lot more music per GB. The default CD bitrate is 1400kbps, but primarly because of physical reasons (reading speed, disc size and laser wavelength), not quality. And if you absolutely, positively want to get anal about quality, get a FLAAC-capable player. There are legitimate excuses to be nostalgic - like enjoying it -, but complaining about audio quality is not a good one in this case.

11-11-2010, 08:44 AM	#15
ChrisPlatt Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rockaway Beach NYC Posts: 7,696	That's a lot of work and expense to get an MP3 player to sound good. The CD player sounds good right out of the box - just press "play". Chris