Panasonic SL-SW880 Brainshaker X-Treme Portable CD Player (Silver and Blue)

by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [758kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 5.2 x 1 inches ; 9.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004T1WZ
• Item model number: SL-SW880
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The Panasonic SL-SW880 is a snazzy blue-and-silver-toned portable CD player offering most of the features we've come to expect from a unit of this size and price. Panasonic is paying attention to what's important in a portable CD unit: durability, lengthy (40-second) antishock protection, a hand strap and grip, a behind-the-neck headband with secure earpieces, and of course, bass boost.

To combat the all-too-common problem of headphones falling off or earpieces coming out while you're walking or jogging, this model employs a behind-the-neck headband with secure earpieces that did not budge unless we shook like a wet dog. Another great feature is the remote-control panel built into the headband. This way, if you've tucked the unit away in a coat pocket or travel bag, you can still adjust the volume, skip tracks, and turn the player off or on.

The control buttons are not hypersensitive, which prevents accidental activation of controls, while the tension and positioning of the volume thumbwheel work in tandem to prevent unwanted volume changes. This unit is easy and comfortable to hold in one hand--ideal for active use--with a locking door that easily opens and closes and a hand strap with a rubber mold fashioned to accommodate three fingers. And, we're pleased to report, the 40-second antishock protection works better than any we've seen in similar players.

Along with the standard random and repeat play, 24-track programming, hold button (to lock all controls), auto shutoff, and preset low-end EQ or bass boost, Panasonic has added its proprietary VMSS (Virtual Motion Sound System). When engaged, a medallion attached to the middle of the headband vibrates. This vibration is triggered by low frequencies like bass lines or a kick drum, and was probably invented to simulate the "drum & bass" club atmosphere that can move the hairs on the back of your neck. Although it's inventive and will probably appeal to many young electronic music lovers, we found the effect to be distracting after a few minutes.

Headphone quality is satisfactory, but we have doubts about the reported 20-to-20,000 Hz frequency response. There's a nice, round fullness to good headphone delivery that is not quite achieved here. The earpieces could use another layer of padding or extra cushioning, while some distortion can be detected with tracks containing heavy bass and drumbeats.

Durable and user-friendly, the Panasonic SL-SW880 is a workhorse of a portable CD player for the active listener. It accommodates the traveler with excellent antishock resistance and efficient control design. You'll find yourself grabbing for it as habitually as your house keys! --Zoë Knight

Pros:

• Durable
• Innovative headphone design
• Conducive to physical activity
• Excellent 40-second antishock protection

Cons:

• Ineffective VMSS (Virtual Motion Sound System)
• Average headphone sound quality
• Not MP3 compatible

Amazon.com Product Description

This is a durable portable CD player designed for jogging, walking, and other strenuous activities. Its assortment of features includes bass boost, programming of up to 24 tracks, a dual-lock system for the disc lid, and a built-in battery recharger. The SLSW870 is also water and heat resistant so your CDs and the system are protected. It sports a "hold" feature that prevents the user from unintentionally turning the player on and draining the batteries or accidentally hitting "stop" in the middle of a track.

The headphones have a special built-in amplifier in the main unit that picks up and boosts the bass signal around the 50 Hz range. A Virtual Motion Sound System (VMSS) transforms bass signals into vibrations. This allows you to actually feel the vibration of the bass signals. The remote control is built into the headphones for easy access while on the go.

Since the SLSW870 was designed for rugged activity, the most important feature is the antiskip function. It stores up to 40 seconds of data in its memory buffer to fill in the gaps caused by bumps and vibrations. This player comes with a handgrip so you can hold it while jogging. Aside from these features, all the basics are covered as well. The SLSW870 includes repeat of one or all tracks, skip/search, memory/recall keys, and 24-track random-access programming.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This player is AWESOME!, June 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Panasonic SL-SW880 Brainshaker X-Treme Portable CD Player (Silver and Blue) (Electronics)

This player is sooooooo cool. Right when I got it I started testing it. I would run around with it and I would shake it. It never skipped a beat. The one thing that is misleading is that it doesn't have a built in battery pack. You have to buy that separately. Other than that the player is awesome. After I got it and showed all my friends what functions it had, they all wanted one too. Now they're raving to all their parents that it is the best and since they are in sports and stuff it's good for them. I do sports so this player is good for me because it doesn't skip. I would totally recommend it to anyone.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Discman to date, November 13, 2000

By 

Dave Fritz (Little Rock, AR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic SL-SW880 Brainshaker X-Treme Portable CD Player (Silver and Blue) (Electronics)

About 4 years ago, I got the Panasonic Sockwave CD player. That's the yellow one. It was great: built like a tank. I never thought it could get better, until I got this one. Overall, I have found that Panasonic makes better quality portable CD players than anyone, including Sony and Aiwa. It has the best sound quality, even with it turned all the way up. The headphones are a huge plus. For an extra $10, as opposed to getting the one with the normal headphones, GET THESE HEADPHONES. They hurt your ears after awhile, but it takes awhile, and then just adjust them. The VMSS is well worth it. The player is durable, and I should know because I go to High School and if it can survive there, it can survive anywhere. Overall, it's an excellant CD player. The only drawback is that the batteries are inside the CD area, but I can get over that. It's well worth the price, even at $200 (retail). Good luck getting it, though, considering it took me a week because they are constantly sold out.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent player, disappointing headphones, March 20, 2001

By 

James S. (Irvine, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic SL-SW880 Brainshaker X-Treme Portable CD Player (Silver and Blue) (Electronics)

I've only had the SL-SW880 for a couple of weeks now but I am very pleased with its performance.

The metal case makes it more durable but a bit heavier than its plastic-cased counterparts. And the more substantial heft of the player makes it feel "higher quality". There are two latches on either side of unit that hold it closed, and the lid is not spring loaded, so changing discs with one hand is a bit awkward. On the other hand, the unit isn't going to spring open accidentally.

Overall, the fit and finish of the player is very good. The buttons are rubberized but have a positive feel, and they are not so closely spaced that operation is difficult. The headphone, AC adapter, and line out jacks all have rubber gizmos (attached to the player) that fit into the jacks when not in use to seal out dirt and moisture.

I use the player while doing cardio so my issues are: no skipping when bumped, headphone comfort for an hour, good enough volume to obscure gym noise.

Plainly put, I've never had a skip occur with Anti-Shock turned on. The documentation says that the player uses compression to make Anti-Shock work, so there is (theoretically) diminished sound quality. I do not find the difference noticeable in a gym environment, but if I were playing the unit through a home stereo I would turn off Anti-Shock.

I would have given this player a 5-star rating if it weren't for the headphones. I don't like the headphones at all and I don't use them. To me, they're not comfortable, the sound quality is poor, they are heavier and the volume is lower than with other headphones. They are fancy though: remote control buttons at the temple to control volume, play, and track skipping/searching. The bulbous thing on the back of the headphones is supposed to enhance the bass experience when the player's EQ is set to VMSS mode, but it didn't do anything for me. The discomfort comes from the way the ear buds sit in your ears. They are spring loaded so they are always pulling to the rear of your head. Couple that with the "bass bulb" sitting on your neck and any head movement causes the ear buds to dig into your ears. They do come with little foam covers to lessen the discomfort. ...

I believe that the SL-SW880 is exactly the same as the SL-SW860 except the 880 has blue accents whereas the 860 is black, and the 880 comes packaged with the BrainShaker headphones and the 860 comes with the usual over-the-head ear bud type headphones, which accounts for the higher price for the 880...