Koss PC300 MP3/CD Boombox

by Koss

Product Details

Product Manual [621kb PDF]

• Item Weight: 7.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000079Q6K
• Batteries: 6 C batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #433,692 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Take computer-recorded music compilations everywhere you go with the compact, affordable PC300. The unit plays not only MP3 files burned to CD, but also mixed-mode CDs containing a combination of MP3 files and standard (PCM) CD tracks. Playback options include MP3 and CD track programming (up to 99 MP3 tracks), as well as repeat (single track, all tracks). An analog AM/FM stereo tuner lets you listen to your favorite radio stations as well. The boom box supports MP3 bit rates of 32, 64, 96, 128, 192, and 256 Kbps, as well as variable bit-rate recordings (MP3 format ISO 9660). Dynamic bass boost system (DBBS) heightens the impact of low frequencies. The player runs on six C batteries (not supplied) and includes an AC power cord.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Third-party L.A.M.E. encoder users watch out!, January 3, 2003

By 

microwiz "The Evil Microwizard" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Koss PC300 MP3/CD Boombox (Electronics)

Picked one of these up as a bit of retail therapy (impressed by the price), and quickly regretted it. Read the part in the description about "supports MP3 bit rates of 32, 64, 96, 128, 192, and 256 Kbps" carefully... it skips and pops if you present it with 320kbps, and also possibly with 224kbps, which you will frequently find in a L.A.M.E. -encoded ("--preset standard") mp3.

Everything else worked flawlessly on this unit, which I can't actually say about some other MP3 boomboxes I tried out... If only it could play ALL the mp3 bitrates... I'd happily pay 1.5-2x the cost for a unit that could play the MP3 CDRWs without the skipping or other problems!

Unfortunately, this one will be going back, and the hunt will go on...

[I'm also curious as to why Amazon felt they had to remove the name of the MP3 encoding software I use - it's a recursive acronym for 'L A M E Ain't an MP3 Encoder.' Perhaps they'll see this and leave it where it belongs this time.]

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Lose Radio Capabilities after a few days, May 5, 2005

By 

Mari (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Koss PC300 MP3/CD Boombox (Electronics)

I was able to use the radio functionality probably two week before it just STOPPED working. You could still select radio stations, just no sound comes out. And it only does it with the radio. The CD Player seems to play just fine. I packed up my boombox for about a month and then the radio started working again after I plugged it back in... then it stopped once again (about a week later). I can't say too much for the sound quality... can't complain too much about the price. Although, if I knew I would be limited to just a CD Player, I wouldn't have paid as much. BEWARE! I've heard nothing but bad things about GPX products.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Variable bit rate is the strongpoint, February 18, 2007

By 

traderje "traderje" (Through the Window) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Koss PC300 MP3/CD Boombox (Electronics)

Many mp3 players out there will not play variable bit rate mp3s. This one states up front that it does. It plays several, all the ones that I need. If you need variable bit rate mp3s you should verify that your chosen player can handle them.

So, for me, this unit satisfied that requirement and was the most important selling point.