Sony D-NF340 CD Walkman{R} with MP3 Playback and FM Tuner ( Silver )

1. ( 1 of 1 found this review helpful ) Posted: Aug 11 2008

   I bought this Sony Walkman for plane travel, heaven help me. You can't even get an enjoyable volume out of the thing in an empty hotel room. I smell a lawsuit in this somewhere, since this is a new problem with Sony for me. All over the instructions, and I mean all over, are constant warnings that loud noise can cause hearing damage. Considering that we live in the Age of the Lawsuit, I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised. The volume level that's attainable, on CD or radio, stinks. No, I'm not a teenager. I'm pushing 50. But when you're trying to hear the soaring notes of a favorite song, even if it's Big Band music, you want to hear it. Two points. One of the reviews blamed the awful level of hiss the thing makes, and yes, it's as quiet as a meat grinder. But I think that reviewer missed the one-two punch of enforced-by-law sound level combined with system noise. Second, it does surprisingly well with audio books, which is just the opposite of what most portable sound systems do. So far, the talking books I have come in crisp and clear, and loud enough to be heard. But I'll be junking it before my next vacation, because I'd like it to be able to play a little music on it, as well.

2. Posted: Jun 13 2008

   This is a neat little CD/MP3 portable player. One really needs to get the AC adapter as it is a little hard on Batteries. The remote that comes with it is a fantastic addition. The reason I give it less that 5 stars, is that it has FM, however I would like AM as well. OR even in place of. Gene ARS W6EAJ

3. Posted: Jun 7 2008

   Amazon doesn't advertise it, but this model does not come with an adapter for the wall, and when I finally got one from sony for $15(no help from amazon)it can't plug into american outlets, and that is the only adapter that works with that model. I had to seperately buy an adapter for the adapter so that it would plug into american outlets (the adapter has prongs instead of flat american style plug). This was a birthday present, and it took a long time for it to actually be used, so I was pretty disappointed at amazon for selling this model, it's clearly not for use in the united states, unless you actually want one that can only run from batteries (if you want rechargable batteries don't forget how expensive they are, this player doesn't come with them and then you have to buy a recharger for them). It takes rigorous vetting of products for a company to earn a reputation as a reliable source for useful goods, and this experience leads me to be wary of amazon and of sony. I had to wait on hold with sony for 30 minutes, twice, both times listening to their new aggressive/loud advertising that is forced upon people who call their customer service line and are put on hold. It's loud, and sounds like your call has finally been answered, but no it's just their ad, over and over. Very annoying and manipulative. As if they don't have enough money to take your call in a reasonable time without harassing you.

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