I've owned a number of Sony CD players over time, but this one stands out far above the rest. The quality of the sound, sleek design, and ease of use earns it five stars.
During my two years of owning it, its been beaten, dropped, and whacked, but it still works like new, if not a little battered. That is the most outstanding feature of this machine- its durability. I am also surprised that it has lasted this long without burning out. Most go withing 6 months to a year, but this Sony has lasted two without ever showing a sign of faltering.
The battery will usually last around fifteen hours, even with the ESP on. The ESP, while I'm on the subject, has worked to prevent skipping even when going for a long jog. During these jogs, the device's small size allows it to fit in the pocket of my cargo pants and is easily held with one hand.
It has all the standard modes you would expect on a CD player- shuffle, repeat, repeat all, and three different levels of bass. A hold button on the front locks the buttons so they can't be punched accidentally.
It also comes with around the back of the head earphones that are better quality than most, though after a while they give me a headache because it squeezes together on my ears (recommend buying separate headphones that hang freely on each ear).
I highly recommend this CD player for one who enjoys quality of sound with a simple but fully functional machine.