CD Audio Player: Research your needs

In order to end up with the CD audio player best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.

Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of CD audio players are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a CD audio player.

Research the market: CD Audio Player essentials

The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the CD audio player market. The range of options can seem daunting, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:

Type: Bookshelf, portable, personal, computer-based, DVD player.

Durability: When you have a lot of moving parts in a CD player you have a greater risk of damage. Since the CD system requires that a CD spin as it is read, the less a CD player moves, the better. However, in the case of portable and personal CD players, there are shock resistant and weather resistant models that can hold up under stress.

Controls: Some of the stationary as well as portable CD players come equipped with a remote control, and personal CD players are now coming with that option as well. Control options can include: play, stop, pause, skip, rewind, fast-forward, and auto-scan.

Colors: CD audio players come in a wide range of colors and styles to suit your mood, your décor, as well as your attire.

Power system: CD audio players will generally be powered by either batteries or power cords to a mains supply.

Volume levels: CD audio players will have a turn-dial volume control system or push button.

Formats played: Traditional CDs, MP3s, .wav, .mpeg, DVDs, CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW.

Screen: Some CD players come with a screen to help you navigate through the menus. Some screens will be black and white, others can light up, while others come with color.

Additional equipment: CD players may necessitate purchasing separate headphones in order to keep your music to yourself.

Extras: Anti-skip protection, bass boost, radio capability with preset channels.

Cost: The standard rule that you will see when dealing with costs of a CD player is that the smaller it is and the more controls it includes, the more costly it can be. In general, the more technology that goes into it, the more you will pay for it.

Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself

Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a CD audio player. For example, will you use the CD player only for playing the occasional disc or do you like to constantly listen to music?

You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.

Have I owned a CD audio player before?
	If you have, work out what you did or didn't like about the CD audio player. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient.

What is my main concern with a CD audio player?
	Perhaps your CD player will be your main listening device. Or perhaps it may be part of an entire new music system you are looking to set up. In this case, you will need to ensure it has all the necessary output and inputs to connect with other devices.

Do I want something that I can bring along with me when I'm on the move?
	You may require a portable CD audio player that you can take with you wherever you go. Think about how you will carry it. Will it need to be attached to you, and how will you store it when it's not being used?

What kinds of CDs do I want to be able to play?
	There are certain formats of music that you are able to play. Perhaps you want more than one option. Think about the what formats you currently use, and may intend to use in the future. If you want to borrow CDs from others, check what formats they use.

How much money do I want to spend on a CD audio player?
	Much of the expense that comes along with a CD audio player is the result of the features as well as the formats of music that can be played. Generally, the newer the technology, the higher the price tag.

Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.

Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of CD audio players and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.

Video Links

Audio Solutions Cd Player - User Review
Audio Solutions CD Player with MP3 and radio. (1m 16s)