One step up, two steps back
Written: Jul 05 '01
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Pros: Best sounding of the current portable cd player lineup
Cons: missing features of previous models, cheaply built
The Bottom Line: This years best but if you happen upon last years model, grab it and run for the counter. Otherwise settle for this and hope it lasts.
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| Todd's Full Review: Panasonic SL-CT580 Personal CD Player |
For the past 4 or 5 years the best sounding portable cd players have been made by Panasonic. This year they remain on top, but not by the same margin as before. It is not that the competition is catching up, Panasonic is sliding into the mediocrity of its competitors. Sad!!!
The first thing I noticed was the lack of a line out. Portable cd players have continuously had their outputs reduced in favor of a longer battery life. This has limited the quality of headphones you can use with a portable cd player and led to many users using a portable headphone amp (like the HeadRoom Total Airhead) to power their headphones. By using the signal from a line output you could get the purest sound into the amp. Now to use the amp you must take the signal from the headphone out - this passes the signal through the crappy op amps of the SL CT 580. Thus it doesn't sound as good as previous models with an amp from the line out. This same thing holds true if you hook it up to a home stereo system.
Strike one!
The amp is powered by 2 internal 1.2v Ni-Cd batteries. They are supplied with the player. An additional 2AA battery holder that attaches itself to the rear of the player increases playing time to 50 hours. I still don't care for the idea of using custom batteries, which the Ni-Cds are. An ac adapter is supplied for use at home and to recharge the batteries inside of the cd player. So to summerize, not the most convenient way to power the player.
Strike Two!
Durable...NOT. Flimsy is more like it. It is small and compact but rather cheaply built. Slightly larger than a disc, the controls are on top. They are easy to use and a hold button on the side assures that your settings will remain as you chose them. I wouldn't recommend playing catch with this baby or it might fall to pieces.
Another strike..
The anti skip is excellent BUT it is not defeatable. The sound quality is generally better when the anti skip is not engaged. Now there is no option so you get the compression of the anti skip - like it or not. Still, this player will take a lot of movement before it missed a beat.
Call it a draw...
The headphones... to the circular file. Get a Koss Porta Pro or Grado SR60 and you'll live happily ever after. Better yet, Add an amp and some Etymotics or Senheisers or Grados and really live it up!!!
Ok, so the unit still sounds better than the rest of the class of 2001. Previous models have spoiled me with their features and functionality. Still, this is what I would recommend to someone who wanted the best sounding cd player currently on the market. Finding an old 470 or 570 would be nice...
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 99
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Epinions.com ID:
Todd
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Member: Todd Green
Location: Three Forks, Montana
Reviews written: 30
Trusted by: 88 members
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