SA-708
Appalachian-American
A few weeks ago, while adding some new acquisitions to my collection of three inch (8cm) compact discs, I decided that I'd like to have a small CD player to go with all of my small CDs; getting up to change CDs every few minutes wile looking through my collection was probably a factor. Following several days of research, I selected an Aiwa XP-Z3C that was available on eBay, which I received yesterday.
The iconic collectable player for the miniCDs is the Sony D-88, introduced in 1988 when the miniCD format was first introduced for audio CD singles. On the positive side, they are often available for sale and there are available options for repairing the players and dealing with the battery. On the negative side, they are going on 30 years old, usually sell for good money in non-working condition so one will have to spend more money to get one working. There is a good amount of information available on this model.
http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2015/1...-ever-made-is-a-modern-day-health-and-sa.html
After some research, I decided to look for other options. While I could not find any information about other small format CD players from the 1980s, I discovered that several models were introduced in the early 2000s, after the introduction of miniCD-R discs. They were capable of playing MP3 files burned onto miniCD-R, which was a viable option for a window of time. They were smaller than the personal CD-MP3 players for standard 5 inch CDs, but had cheaper storage than the early flash memory and hard drive MP3 players. Within a few years, flash memory had dropped enough in price that the days of the miniCD-MP3 players were over.
Many of the models available at the time were made by the companies that made CD-R media. Models I looked at were the Memorex MPD8081, Imation RipGO!, Verbatim MP3/8cm, and Freecom Beatman (Freecom is a subsidiary of Verbatim). I also decided to pass on the Compaq iPaq PM-1 for similar reasons. In addition to concerns over the sound quality of products from companies not known for audio equipment, some of these were rather ugly and also larger than I expected. Some were about 4 inches square, while others were around 3 inches by 5 inces.
Of the audio manufactureres, Philips went pretty heavy into the portable CD-MP3 market, and made at least four models dedicated to the 3 inch format. A couple of the models looked interesting, including a Nike co-branded player, but were not currently being offered at a price I was willing to pay.
The other one was the Akai XP-Z3, also sold as the XP-Z3C when packaged with a "car kit" of a power supply and cassette tape adaptor for use in a vehicle. It was small, it was well designed with a "kawaii" cuteness factor, and there was one for sale at a reasonable price on eBay. It was made in 2002, the year that Sony became full owner of Akai (they had been the majority shareholder for some time), so it is 15 years old, about half the age of the Sony D-88. Portable power options are two "gum stick" NiMH batteries (still available for sale) that fit into the player itself, and an extra add-on battery pod for two AA cells.
After several anxious days, the player arrived yesterday. It came complete with the box and all of the accessories, apart from the Aiwa-branded car cassette adaptor, and looks like it has barely been used. I am certain that several of the accessories in sealed bags were never used. From the box and paperwork, this was sold by Aiwa Canada, and is not packaged for sale in the USA (no FCC language, for instance). It came with a charging dock, wall wart, wired remote control, ear buds, manuals including product registration cards in French and English, car power adapter, carrying bag, AA battery pod, two Sony-branded NiMH "gum stick" batteries inside plastic cases, and a small shrinkwrapped brick of 5 miniCD-R discs in jewel cases. The manual only mentions one miniCD-R so the brick may be a substitution for the original.
I have not yet attempted to burn & play a miniCD-MP3 disc, but I have charged the NiMH batteries and played a few 3 inch audio CDs. I have learned that the in-line remote isn't needed for simple usage. I'm very happy with my new toy. It is newer, smaller, and cuter than the Sony D-88, and looks to serve the purpose I purchased it for.
The iconic collectable player for the miniCDs is the Sony D-88, introduced in 1988 when the miniCD format was first introduced for audio CD singles. On the positive side, they are often available for sale and there are available options for repairing the players and dealing with the battery. On the negative side, they are going on 30 years old, usually sell for good money in non-working condition so one will have to spend more money to get one working. There is a good amount of information available on this model.
http://www.techmoan.com/blog/2015/1...-ever-made-is-a-modern-day-health-and-sa.html
After some research, I decided to look for other options. While I could not find any information about other small format CD players from the 1980s, I discovered that several models were introduced in the early 2000s, after the introduction of miniCD-R discs. They were capable of playing MP3 files burned onto miniCD-R, which was a viable option for a window of time. They were smaller than the personal CD-MP3 players for standard 5 inch CDs, but had cheaper storage than the early flash memory and hard drive MP3 players. Within a few years, flash memory had dropped enough in price that the days of the miniCD-MP3 players were over.
Many of the models available at the time were made by the companies that made CD-R media. Models I looked at were the Memorex MPD8081, Imation RipGO!, Verbatim MP3/8cm, and Freecom Beatman (Freecom is a subsidiary of Verbatim). I also decided to pass on the Compaq iPaq PM-1 for similar reasons. In addition to concerns over the sound quality of products from companies not known for audio equipment, some of these were rather ugly and also larger than I expected. Some were about 4 inches square, while others were around 3 inches by 5 inces.
Of the audio manufactureres, Philips went pretty heavy into the portable CD-MP3 market, and made at least four models dedicated to the 3 inch format. A couple of the models looked interesting, including a Nike co-branded player, but were not currently being offered at a price I was willing to pay.
The other one was the Akai XP-Z3, also sold as the XP-Z3C when packaged with a "car kit" of a power supply and cassette tape adaptor for use in a vehicle. It was small, it was well designed with a "kawaii" cuteness factor, and there was one for sale at a reasonable price on eBay. It was made in 2002, the year that Sony became full owner of Akai (they had been the majority shareholder for some time), so it is 15 years old, about half the age of the Sony D-88. Portable power options are two "gum stick" NiMH batteries (still available for sale) that fit into the player itself, and an extra add-on battery pod for two AA cells.
After several anxious days, the player arrived yesterday. It came complete with the box and all of the accessories, apart from the Aiwa-branded car cassette adaptor, and looks like it has barely been used. I am certain that several of the accessories in sealed bags were never used. From the box and paperwork, this was sold by Aiwa Canada, and is not packaged for sale in the USA (no FCC language, for instance). It came with a charging dock, wall wart, wired remote control, ear buds, manuals including product registration cards in French and English, car power adapter, carrying bag, AA battery pod, two Sony-branded NiMH "gum stick" batteries inside plastic cases, and a small shrinkwrapped brick of 5 miniCD-R discs in jewel cases. The manual only mentions one miniCD-R so the brick may be a substitution for the original.
I have not yet attempted to burn & play a miniCD-MP3 disc, but I have charged the NiMH batteries and played a few 3 inch audio CDs. I have learned that the in-line remote isn't needed for simple usage. I'm very happy with my new toy. It is newer, smaller, and cuter than the Sony D-88, and looks to serve the purpose I purchased it for.
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