Classic CM342 Personal MP3/CD Player

by Classic

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00065HLYW
• Item model number: CM342
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

With a slim body measuring less than an inch thick, the Classic CM342 personal MP3/CD player fits conveniently in a purse, workout bag, or large jacket pocket, yet it boasts a number of features that make it competitive with much more expensive devices. As with any good portable player, the CM342 decodes MP3s recorded on a CD-R/RW disc, in addition to playing prerecorded audio CDs and traditional CD-R/RWs. The system also lets listeners program up to 64 MP3 tracks and play them in a favorite order for custom listening. Joggers and other on-the-move folks will doubtless appreciate the anti-shock protection (45 seconds for CDs and 120 seconds for MP3s). Additional features include track and disc repeat, intro scan, random play, program search/pause, and a bass boost for listeners who like extra oomph with their audio.

The CM342 comes with a pair of stereo headphones and runs for approximately 13 hours on a pair of AA batteries (not included). The unit even offers a low-battery warning, so listeners won't be caught off guard when the power is dying. The CD player measures a 5.1 by 5.5 by 0.9 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 0.9 pounds.

What's in the Box
CD/MP3 player, stereo headphones, user's manual.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Please Don't Buy This, March 3, 2005

By 

Danielle (Peabody MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Classic CM342 Personal MP3/CD Player (Electronics)

Six months ago, my MP3 player died, and not willing to blow a lot of money on another so close to Christmas, I bought this MP3/CD player. It has two pluses to it. It's cheap and it plays MP3s, but that's about it. It has a lot more downsides on upsides, that's for sure. And, a lot of things that are claimed on the 'product description' section of its Amazon listing I found to be simply not true at all. Here are its many downsides:

1. Has no resume feature--Now, if you're playing a CD-RW with 200 songs on it, this is very important to have. I don't know about you, but I find it very hard to listen to 200 songs in a row in one sitting. Usually I'm able to listen to 30 songs at the most, before I have to turn it off. Unfortunately, this thing doesn't 'remember' the last song you played, so when you come back to it the next day, it's up to you to figure out where you left off.

2. Has no lock button--This is very important when you're doing housework and you have the player in a carrier around your waist. You're bound to bump into something and inadvertently change the track or some other setting. Unfortunately, this player doesn't give you this option. Sometimes I find myself listening to the same song 3 times over and wondering why. That's because I bumped into something and turned on the 'repeat track' function. Also, it doesn't help that the buttons are incredibly sensitive. If you just brush up against something, it will change the settings.

3. There is no way it has 45 second skip protection!--Maybe 5 second, MAYBE. My last CD player had 20 second skip protection and it NEVER skipped. This thing skips all the time, especially when you first start playing the CD.

4. 13 Hour battery life...MY FOOT!--My guess is more like 6 hour battery life. I have never seen any CD player burn through batteries like this has (with the exception of my first cd player, which took 4 AA's and you had to change the batteries about every three hours, but that was back in 1985! I expect much better battery life now.) I find myself changing the batteries every two or three days compared to once a week with my old cd player. If you use rechargeable batteries, like I sometimes do, expect maybe four hours of play at most. And oh yeah, to replace the batteries, you have to take the CD out because the battery case is inside the player instead of outside. I find it to be very irritating and inconvenient.

5. And last but not least, it doesn't work anymore!--About a week ago, it would just stop in a middle of a song. At first I thought it was a short in the headphones, but the headphones didn't act up when I was using the computer, or some other device. Then I noticed that the song wasn't playing. The display on the CD player was frozen. At first it happened only once in a great while, but a few days ago, it started happening constantly. It only would play through the whole song if the player was held horizontally--not very practical for a PORTABLE cd player. Now, I haven't been rough with this thing at all. I've never dropped it, and it's always been protected in my carrier. I have no idea why it would just stop working. Yesterday, I gave up on it and threw it in the garbage. Now, here I am, only six months later, looking for a new one.

If you're looking for an MP3/CD player, I'd recommend you buy one a little more expensive than this. Its cheap price definitely does not make up for all the aggravation it's caused me.