An incredibly tough portable CD player! It's quite useful to have one: Panasonic SL-S310

Why it's good to have one portable CD player

This time, it's a rather niche topic.

I own this particular unit.

It was manufactured in 1999!
It is still usable today.

Its features are as follows.

I rarely have the chance to listen to CDs while out and about, but 25 hours of continuous playback on batteries is a nice feature.

Nowadays, you can listen to almost any music for free on the internet.

But sometimes, I pull out old CDs and enjoy music on a portable CD player.

For someone like me who isn't usually that particular about sound, your ears, accustomed to compressed audio, will be surprised.

You'll think, 'Was CD sound this good?'

I also listen to records occasionally.
Records have an especially amazing analog sound.

Even with recordings from nearly 50 years ago, the sound is so vivid that it creates the illusion that the performance is happening right in front of you.

However, records are a hassle to handle.

They take up space and are heavy. Plus, they're ridiculously expensive.
Record needles are also seeing massive inflation every year and are exorbitantly priced.

You can't just listen to them casually.

Compared to that, CDs are great. In the 90s, I would agonize over which album to buy with my pocket money, choosing just one after much serious deliberation.
Now, those albums that once sparkled are available for practically nothing.

CDs are cheap. They sound good. Of course, it's a one-time purchase without subscriptions. No annoying commercials either.

They are easy to handle. They last a long time.
If they get dirty, you can wash them with a little mild detergent.

Above all, since you can't listen to them infinitely like on the internet, you can truly face each song on an album.

Because a CD is limited to only 74 minutes, you can focus on the sound.

While enjoying music, I don't look at my smartphone, tablet, or TV.

I realized that the time spent truly engaging with sound has almost disappeared.

Immersing yourself in sound.

Sometimes, this kind of time is nice to have.

The reason why Panasonic is good
1. It's too tough

Now, about the 1999 Panasonic SL-S310.

Actually, I owned one when it was released and used it in my car.

Whether it was shaken, exposed to direct sunlight, or stepped on, it never broke.

The model I used back then, believe it or not, still works today. Though for some reason, it forces shuffle playback.

The original SL-S310 was so tough it felt like it wouldn't break even if an elephant stepped on it, and my trust in Panasonic products from this era is absolute.

Around 2017, I went through a phase where I was really into portable CD players and audio equipment, so I searched for and bought a used SL-S310. Before I knew it, I ended up owning four other Panasonic portable CD players.

Out of the five Panasonic portable CD players I have, two of them work perfectly fine, aside from the fact that they can't use batteries for some reason.

Even in 2017, CDs were pretty much a dead format. Back then, they were all just a few thousand yen. The prices have gone up a bit now.

2. Maintenance is incredibly easy

Stationary CD players generally have CD trays that open and close automatically, right?

The rubber band-like part that moves the tray tends to fail due to aging.

During the golden age of CDs, I don't know how many times I brought them in for repairs. "Parts cost 200 yen. Labor cost 10,000 yen." Something like that.

If it were today, I suppose I could watch YouTube and fix it myself.

But because I've had so many bitter experiences with CD player tray failures, even though I still own stationary audio equipment from Denon and Aurex, I can't quite trust them.

Compared to that, portable CD players are simple because they open with a button. There's no worry about them breaking. And there's a sense of security knowing that even if they do break, you can fix them with a bit of brute force.

Also, the lens is clearly visible once you open the lid. It's easy to clean. If it starts skipping, I just gently wipe the lens with anhydrous ethanol.

Alternatively, if you search online, you can easily adjust the laser output of the lens. Sometimes, increasing the output slightly can fix reading issues. However, I hear that if it's too strong, it can damage the CD.

In conclusion, portable CD players are inherently sturdy, and there is a sense of security in knowing that even if you encounter minor trouble, you can handle it yourself.

3. The overall balance is just too good

Portable CD players are just right, somehow. For me, at least.

During the audio boom around 2017 that I mentioned earlier, I introduced a Time Domain speaker and amplifier set.

What I purchased was the first-generation yoshii9.

My favorite thing about the yoshii9 is that you can enjoy stereo sound no matter where you are in the room. Furthermore, the sound is heard in three dimensions.

When I auditioned it at an acquaintance's house, I was struck like a bolt of lightning by the beauty of the high notes and the sense of presence as if I were actually there. After borrowing the speakers for a while, I installed them in my home.

Yes, Time Domain reproduces sound that is faithful to the recording.

That is why it pairs well with simple playback devices that do not process the sound.

According to the manufacturer, high-end products from famous brands have their own unique sound effects applied.

Therefore, if you want to reproduce faithful sound, it is better to choose a basic model from a reputable manufacturer rather than those high-end players.

At the time, one of the players recommended for Time Domain was an S-brand player.

It is true that S-brand products have good sound. I know this because I used them myself at the time.

However, they broke down often. Every player I used broke within a few years. By the way, the MD players were sturdy.

A K-brand player I also owned had its cord undergo hydrolysis and melt when I went to pick it up at my parents' house after a long time. Back then, K-brand was also selling itself on sound quality, but it's no use if the cord melts.

In comparison, Panasonic portable CD players feel like home appliances, which is nice.

The sound isn't particularly amazing, but it's not bad either. It's a straightforward sound.

And there's no atmosphere that it's an expensive piece of audio equipment that everyone has to handle with care. Panasonic products just feel like home appliances.

This casualness is great.

Conclusion

Well then, this has gone on for a long time.

If you have a chance to visit your parents' house, look for the portable CD player you used back then and your favorite CDs.

How about trying to listen to them for the first time in a while?

If it's a Panasonic, the CD player will probably still work.

As long as the CDs aren't warped or scratched, they should be usable.

Records and cassette tapes are popular right now, aren't they?

CDs should have that next level of nostalgia coming up.

On Amazon, models around this range are relatively inexpensive and in good condition.
Amazon is safe because you can return items if something goes wrong.

The model above seems to require a remote control.
Be sure to check this site before purchasing other models as well.
Welcome to the world of portable CD players, the PCDP swamp.

Now is the perfect time to listen to Bach.

Let's start a band!
I want to strum the guitar again.

Panasonic from the 2000s and Sharp from the 2010s.
Also, Nikon products have a quality that makes you think they could last a lifetime.

Because it's the Reiwa era, let's enjoy being offline with an electronic dictionary.

I recently bought a Nikon D70, which was made in 2004.
It still works perfectly after more than 20 years. The quality speaks for itself.