Customer Reviews

Panasonic SL-CT582V Portable CD Player with MP3 Playback

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought the SL-CT582V after much research on current available portable cd players. I was mainly interested in a cd player, as I prefer my music uncompressed. I have a couple of Sony portables and an Iriver portable lying around the house. I've never owned a Panasonic, and after doing some research I decided to try one. Boy, what I have been missing. None of my portable players sounded as good out of the box as the SL-CT582V. In fact, it sounds better than good. It sounds great. I just use the normal EQ setting and any genre of music I throw in it sounds superb. I've tried the other eq's and they seem to work great. I just prefer the normal setting. I haven't had the sound setting past 10 yet, and on some newer cd's I turn it down to 8. It's nice to know though, that when I want it loud, I can have it loud. This is the best sounding portable player (my iPod included) that I've owned to date.

The player is well constructed and durable. It feels great when holding it, and just as great to look at. I really like the design and style of the player. The buttons are very easy to use and navigate. When you go to make an adjustment with one of the buttons, it just feels natural.

The player comes with a lineout albeit through the included remote. I would rather see a lineout coming directly from the player. However, you can play it through your stereo, car, and digital recorder if so desired. The remote is a nice feature. It is well constructed and includes the basic functions of the player. The clip on the remote appears to be quite sturdy. It also comes with an external battery pack for extended play. The headphones that come with the unit I haven't tried. I use my porta pro's.

The player also supports mp3's if you like listening to sub par audio. MP3's hurt my ears. Now, once in a while I will make an mp3 disk to sample some music. In that instance, I would like to see ID3 tags supported in the future. I would also love to see a playlist feature supported in the future as well.

The AM/FM feature is huge plus for me. I love being able to listen to a ball game from time to time and the AM feature allows me to do this. It also comes with several play modes as well.

In my opinion, if you want a portable audiophile system, then do purchase the SL-CT582v and a pair of porta pro's and you'll have one at your fingertips. I do.

I want to mention the "Digital Re-master" function for playing mp3's. What this function does is regenerate lost frequencies due to mp3 compression methods. I tried it on some live recordings I have, along with a test of my own from one of my cd's. I have to say I am quite impressed and excited about this feature. It seems to do what it says and does it quite well. I still prefer uncompressed, but for the mp3's I do have, you can't get any closer to the original file using this function.

The battery life also seems to work as advertized. I'm goin on two weeks and several hours a day on original batteries.

Enjoy. I am.

I just wanted something to listen to cd's -- this works great for me. It fits in my pocket so I can use it while working out, and the sound quality is excellent, especially with the various EQ settings. I'm no audio expert, by any means, but I am impressed with this little unit. It didn't skip even when I dropped it. When I stop a CD in the middle, the player automatically returns to that point when I start it again (as opposed to just going back to the beginning). Love this little toy.

I purchased the SL CT-582V and, while I was not passionately unhappy with the unit, ended up taking it back. My impressions:

1. SOUND. Sound is very good, but not very loud, a problem noted by other reviewers with other Panasonic models (but not my previous Panasonic CD player). There are three EQ settings + 2 more specific to MP3 playback that sound great. That said, the sound when playing back MP3s wasn't loud enough. That is, in part, a function of the MP3 bit rate (I was listening to audio tracks), but I have had better results from other players;

2. APPEARANCE. As always, Panasonic's sense of style and aesthetics is great - the player just looks great, and it is definitely slim. The body of the player does feel a bit light, however, which didn't do much to inspire confidence in the resiliency of the unit. Also, when the CD player is open, there is a rather large hole in which the laser moves out to scan the CD (I'm guessing maybe two inches by an inch or so). It's about twice as large as any laser track area I've ever seen in a portable CD player, and the circuitry within the bottom-half of the unit is completely exposed through the hole - didn't do much to bolster my confidence in the durability of the unit;

3. POWER. The unit runs on two AAA batteries inserted under the CD lid itself. If you have the right DC adapter (not included with the player), you can plug in the unit overnight with rechargeables and recharge the AAA batteries. That's probably a good idea, given that AAA chargers are somewhat rarified, and I would imagine that the smaller batteries would need to be replaced frequently. The unit also comes with an auxiliary/supplemental power supply in the form of a housing for two AA batteries that plugs into the DC port and another port directly next to the DC port. My impression was that the auxiliary power unit was kind of flimsy and cheap. Also, the auxiliary unit doesn't clip onto the player in any way; it would be awkward to use anywhere but in a very stationary setting (like an office?);

4. FUNCTIONALITY. First off, I liked the remote. The remote plugs into the headphone port, and the headphones plug into the remote, potentially extending the headphone cord range to several feet. The remote worked well, and allowed me to turn up/down the volume, switch from radio to CD/mp3 player, and scan. The unit allows for multiple subfiles for mp3s, though I found the process of switching back and forth between the files a bit tedious. Also, the unit takes its time in scanning for mp3 files, and once you're playing mp3 files, there is no scanning within the file - a big disappointment if you're using the mp3 player to listen to auido books or the like. In contrast to some reviews I've read, I found the radio player was exceptional. There are something like 30 presets (20 FM), and the reception was excellent. Note that the mp3 functionality does not include WMA's - that can be a huge pain in the neck if you are planning on burning a disc that has both mp3s and ripped CD files (I use WMP, so they are WMA). You could convert them all to mp3 at the time of burning if your program allows you to do so, but seriously - that's a pain. Also, the LCD display is pretty rudimentary - no title or artist info.

5. CLOSING THOUGHTS. After using it for a couple of days, I decided to take the SL-CT582V back and purchase instead the RCA CD player, RCA RP2621. The unit was almost $20 cheaper and plays mp3s and WMA files. Though it doesn't have a radio player, I like it much better than the Panasonic. It has separate toggle buttons for folder selection, has scan function within the mp3s, is faster at initializing the mp3 files, is louder, feels heavier and more solid, runs on two AA's, has three lines of text including the title of the mp3 and - well, let's just say I am happier with the RCA unit. If you're looking for a CD/mp3/radio, I don't think you can beat the SL-CT582V for the price - there just aren't a lot of lower-end mp3-playing units with a radio; however, for me, the overall quality and functionality of the RCA unit was more important than the radio function. With the Panasonic, I felt like the player probably wouldn't last very long. I suspect the RCA will last quite some time...

As of, the SLSV570 from Panasonic broke on me for 2 months. This was somewhat ridiculous. No, the lid did not fall off as that was a very common problem with that player. The LCD shattered, makling the player unusable.

Yes, I was heptic on buying another Panasonic, but I didn't want to pay $70 for a Sony or $20-$30 on an "el cheapo" brand such as Durabrand, GPX, J-Win, Coby, etc.

First off, it's easily noticeable that Panasonic took control of their errors of the SLSV570. They also added a few extras people have been begging for, such as a remote, a slimmer esign, two hinges for the lid so it is strongly on. These are only some of the extras of the SLCT582V.

The player's sound is even better than my friend's recent Sony (DFJ-200). The bass booster has been more enhanced than the SLSV570, which I had problems with onthe bass boost due to disortation. Now, that seems to be mostly removed. There is also a new feature that is called "3-Way D.Sound". It is basically a live equalizer, so you can hear concert sound right from your little player. This is a nice feature, though cannot be used on AM/FM radio, but on CDs and MP3 discs.

The construction is the biggest improvement. The duble hinges do make the lid strongly held, and the player's top seems like it could do some strong use fine, unlike the SLSV570 with only one hinge on the lid, and geting scratched easily. It seems there is a metal boundary on the inside of the player, which says a lot about construction and that Panasonic cares about their customers.

Like I stated earlier, there are many features on the SLCT582V. There is a 30 station memory as an upgrade of 20. I haven't found out if the player has ID3 tags or not. I'm thinking it doesn't, though that would be a nice improvement. The CD Player/MP3 CD Player works wonderful, and I've had a hard time at trying to make the player skip. The player seems to have a bigger output, but not that bigger. Bigger enough that it will make 11 go to 7 or 8. You figure it out. If you haven't owned a Panasonic, I still think these will power most headphones. As I mentioned earlier, it does have a bonus remote that can be used on any 3.5mm headphone. The player comes with behind-the-neck headphones. They actually are pretty worthy, though I'd rather use my Sony h.ears. The remote has backward, forward, stop, play, cd/radio switch, volume, and hold buttons. Nothing advanced like repeat, random, program, bass boost, memory, or anything special, but you rarely switch those anyway. Besides, the remote would be too crowded with that. Also, the player is much slimmer, and equivalent to 10 CDs stacked. That's pretty awesome!

Any cons? The color is a bit boring. Otherwise, I truly think there aren't any.

The cost is still $60, but the SLCT582V is worth it for the CD/MP3, AM radio, and FM radio player. And don't forget all the extras! Happy shopping, and enjoy!

I bought this unit a few months ago and just love it. My favorite feature is that it has RESUME on the CD and MP3'S. This is quite useful when listening to regular CD audio books or MP3 audio books. Because this unit is so terrific, I gave it 5 stars because:
1) It has the 4.5 adapter plug for saving batteries.
2)Overall, this unit is easy to use and has WONDERFUL STEREO SOUND and equalizers!
3) Skip free and lightweight, easy to travel with!
4) Excellent designing, easy to use features.
5) Clear and easy to understand booklet.
The only drawback is that it uses AAA Batteries.
In order to use this in my office, I went and bought some small Altec Lansing speakers so I can listen to it on my desk. And of course, take it everywhere I go and it stays skip free! The batteries last on MP3's about 20 hours, not what they tell you. But all in all, I do love this unit!

This portable CD player is awsome! It has great sound, with real panasonic headphones. It plays all of my CD's, even the burned ones, making them sound as if they were originals! It is easily used, and very self explaintory. I would recommend it for anyone who loves to listen to a lot of music. It has an external battery case, which allows the music to continute for hours!

I bought this for fifty - cheapest brand name MP3 CD player with AM/FM tuner I could find. The sound was excellent as always with Panasonic products, particularly the processing for MP3s, which significantly improved the warmth and realness of the sound, removing the "computerized" feel. The packaging boasts 140 hrs MP3 playback - however that's with two internal AAA batteries and two in an auxiliary unit that hooks up to the player - I don't see the point of the auxiliary unit as I don't really won't to lug around another attachment if I'm on the go, and I would use an adaptor if I'm using it for long periods at a desk. Only a single line display. The remote has all the necessary buttons and is very useful.

Where I was disappointed, though is in the inability to search through and sift MP3, making it almost useless to me as a CD MP3 player. First off, the unit took about 15 seconds to read through the CD before it could start playing, and it has to do this every time you turn off and back on the player, whether or not you switched CDs. Second, it plays MP3s back in the order they were recorded onto the CD, whether or not this is the order they are actually in on the album, which is really annoying for trance music or album rock. Furthermore there is no way to rearrange track play order. Third, the unit can't read id3 tags or playlists. Fourth, to get to a track on another "album," you have to manually advance through every song in the album you're in and the intervening albums. For example, you have 5 albums with 10 tracks each on a CD MP3, to get from the first song to the last according the order set by the player, you have to push the next button 49 times! Freaking useless.

I loved the sound, but I reluctantly returned it and got the Sony D-NF420PS and have not been disappointed.

Hi everyone,

I finally found this player after returning Philips and CPD to Target - I was looking for a player which would sound like my hi fi. Finally! It sounds very good even with mp3 music thanks to DRMT - digital re-mastering Technology.
Crisp sound, Eq allows to enhance low frequencies, I found many nuances in old CDs I did not notice before.
I have had it for 3 days, so I can not say how resistant it is to dropping. It won't skip whgen I walk, but I hav e not tried running with it.
So far I'm happy with it - seems perfect for my needs.

i had my doubts but after reading the first reveiw i went ahead and gave it a shot; and i'm still impressed. this thing does everything but play dvds! panasonic has always been tops in the soung quality and with this gadget you can't miss. i took an old cd (80's)just to see how it would sound and the sound quality is second to none! so save your money on those re- mastered classics; with this machine you don't need re-masters and as for the price it is well worth every dime.

First I paid $20 more than amazon is charging - so that is a good deal..

But I have had alot of mechanical issues with it...

First the headphones broke in about a week and a half - there are some fairly narrow areas and it snapped.

My second issue is that it takes AAA batteries in the player and AA in the separate unit that will extend the play time but really - this is impractical for my son who would take it and put it in his pocket. He was not going to take the extra battery pack. That made replacing the batteries a chore and expensive.

Third - the unit failed in about 5 weeks - after I had thrown out the reciept and couldnt return it to the store. I will say that I called panasonic and they have a year warentee so they are going to replace the unit if I send it to them...however when the headphones broke I just threw them out and they wont replace them. I think they should - I got a fairly expensive unit that was mechanically imperfect, I am sending them the main part and I think they should cough up a set of head phones for my trouble (not to mention my postage expense).

On the good side this had nice audio and the company is going to stand behind it - even if not quite as much as I think they should.... I am assuming I just had a unit that was a lemon and that once replaced I will have a working unit that will last a long time