Philips Expanium EXP103 Personal CD Player
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Expanium is the nicest.
Pros
Plays wide range of bit rates and long file names.
Cons
Not drop-proof and does not display long file names.
Recommended it?
Yes
Of all the mp3 cd players available the Expanium is the nicest.
I have been wanting an mp3 player for well over a year. The types that only stored songs in memory didn't impress me because they were limited to what's in memory and thats it. I wanted more. When I first read about mp3 cd players I knew I had to have one. The only problem is most of the models available are too limited. Either they won't play songs with long file names or the won't play VBR (variable bit rate) mp3s or they won't play 32 bit rates or they won't play 256 or 320 bit rates or they have unacceptable anti-shock capabilities or they won't ignore non mp3 files or they won't play CDRWs. Whew! `Quite a bit that many won't do and what that means is downloading mp3s or ripping cds would have to become an art. Plus you don't know if an mp3 is a VBR until you've downloaded and played it -- a real hassle on a 56K dialup line.
Finally along came Philip's Expanium and all the above has changed. The EXP plays VBRs and bit rates ranging from 32 to 320. It plays long file names, ignores non-mp3s, plays CDRWs, has 100 second anti-shock capability, and it's relatively affordable at $199 retail or $179 at Amazon.
The coolest thing now, when I'm at my computer, I can play mp3s for hours and there's no more stuttering as my system eats up resources needed for smooth nonhesitant playing of mp3s. It is great on long trips in the car too -- no more fuddling with finding a decent station on the radio or fumbling around for the right cd. I can make my own mix, up to ten hours long at 128 bit rate, 12 hours at 96, less at bitrates over 128. I am really impressed with the Expanium
It is not quite perfect. With non-amplified speakers the volume is too low even when its turned up as high as it can go. Another thing is its not at all drop proof. I have read other user reviews which have said the unit can be destroyed if it falls as short a distance as two feet. Duh, I am a major klutz, I guess I will have to be extra careful. Two hundred bucks is a bit too much to squander for a moment of carelessness -- either your own or that of a three year old who just likes to pick things up and throw them. If you buy one and have a three year old around watch your Expanium closely. Better yet watch the three year old too.
I have been wanting an mp3 player for well over a year. The types that only stored songs in memory didn't impress me because they were limited to what's in memory and thats it. I wanted more. When I first read about mp3 cd players I knew I had to have one. The only problem is most of the models available are too limited. Either they won't play songs with long file names or the won't play VBR (variable bit rate) mp3s or they won't play 32 bit rates or they won't play 256 or 320 bit rates or they have unacceptable anti-shock capabilities or they won't ignore non mp3 files or they won't play CDRWs. Whew! `Quite a bit that many won't do and what that means is downloading mp3s or ripping cds would have to become an art. Plus you don't know if an mp3 is a VBR until you've downloaded and played it -- a real hassle on a 56K dialup line.
Finally along came Philip's Expanium and all the above has changed. The EXP plays VBRs and bit rates ranging from 32 to 320. It plays long file names, ignores non-mp3s, plays CDRWs, has 100 second anti-shock capability, and it's relatively affordable at $199 retail or $179 at Amazon.
The coolest thing now, when I'm at my computer, I can play mp3s for hours and there's no more stuttering as my system eats up resources needed for smooth nonhesitant playing of mp3s. It is great on long trips in the car too -- no more fuddling with finding a decent station on the radio or fumbling around for the right cd. I can make my own mix, up to ten hours long at 128 bit rate, 12 hours at 96, less at bitrates over 128. I am really impressed with the Expanium
It is not quite perfect. With non-amplified speakers the volume is too low even when its turned up as high as it can go. Another thing is its not at all drop proof. I have read other user reviews which have said the unit can be destroyed if it falls as short a distance as two feet. Duh, I am a major klutz, I guess I will have to be extra careful. Two hundred bucks is a bit too much to squander for a moment of carelessness -- either your own or that of a three year old who just likes to pick things up and throw them. If you buy one and have a three year old around watch your Expanium closely. Better yet watch the three year old too.
