Panasonic SL-SX390 Portable CD Player

by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [353kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 6 x 5 x 1 inches ; 8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000659UC
• Item model number: SL-SX390
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Panasonic SL-SX390 portable CD player was made for active use, incorporating not only a wired remote control but Panasonic's "No Skip" anti-skip system. "No Skip" construction was designed with rubber bushings to absorb the shock, while a thin and light anti-skip mechanism and anti-skip digital servo system add to the defense. It also boasts a digital-servo recovery system that can detect even a fractional difference in the CD's tracking and quickly recovers before it has a chance to "derail."

The system is bolstered by an improved set of error correction chips together with a 48-second backup memory buffer. When a vertical shock (along the axis of the disc) causes a tracking error, the system plays back music from the memory buffer until correct tracking resumes.

Since the SL-SX390 enables playback of CD-R and CD-RW discs, you can enjoy listening to CDs that you make in addition to conventional audio CDs. This unit also features programmable playback (up to 24 tracks, in your chosen sequence), random play, repeat play (either one song or an entire disc), as well as S-XBS bass boost and Train mode (which cuts high frequencies for less externally audible or less fatiguing sound). The player includes a "pop-up" disc eject mechanism for easy disc removal.

The CD player uses two AA batteries (not included), which last up to 40 hours. You can also power the unit with an optional 4.5V AC/DC adapter, which lets you plug your portable CD player into an outlet. In order to let you load a CD more easily, the top of the player fully opens, and a slide lock closes it back up once your CD is placed inside, making sure your player won't open during playback.

With a heat-resistant polycarbonate body, the SL-SX390 can be used in most outdoor settings without worry of damage. However, the unit should not be exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods.

What's in the Box
CD player, stereo headphones, a wired remote control, and a user's manual.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice features but needs higher sound volume., November 5, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Panasonic SL-SX390 Portable CD Player (Electronics)

This CD player has some very nice features, including great sound quality, but the sound volume should go higher. If this model's headphones would fit better, the ear pieces would stay closer to the ears which would partly compensate for the lack of volume produced. The headphones are all plastic (as most are these days), and these did not sit well on my normal-size male head. I tried a very good set of headphones with the unit but that did not improve the volume. Just to make sure I wasn't imagining the problem I tried my Walkman cassette player, and that had excellent volume.
I liked several things about this Panasonic SX 390 CD player including the wired remote that comes with it, the controls layout, the ease of inserting and removing the CD. To be fair, I must say that other buyers of this model might not be as bothered as I was about the sound volume. In a non-noisy environment the volume would probably be fine.
Over the years I have learned to bring home two or three such items to try and then keep one if satisfactory. But I bought only this Panasonic SX 390 on the basis of excellent reviews from different sources. And now I have to start all over.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible CD Player at a Great Price w/ Little Flaws!, August 16, 2002

By 

"notredamefan7588" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic SL-SX390 Portable CD Player (Electronics)

This is an excellent product. The sound quality is great! The price is great for a budget conscience tennager like myself. The remote is useful and easy to use. The controls are simple and I have yet to hear it skip during normal use. My first problem is the volume. It needs to be a little louder. If you don't need it to be superloud it's great. I can hear almost clearly while mowing the lawn. The headphones also were too small for my head. So I bought a nice pair of headphones for [money ammount] and no longer have any complaints about the volume. My final complaint is about the usefulness of the equalizer. It has several sound types and they all sound the same to me. I don't even use the button anymore. I would have liked to see a bass boost there. All in all, it is a great product and I recomend it to everyone!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Badly manufactured?, March 28, 2003

By 

Robert P. Chatham (The Woodlands TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Panasonic SL-SX390 Portable CD Player (Electronics)

I bought the SL-SX390 on the basis of the great reviews... and, yep, it worked reallllly well for a while. No skippage, great battery life, and great sound for the price!
Except... it's a fragile little beast. Unlike the other CD players I've had in my day, this one's just not good with outdoor activities. It's not like I dropped it repeatedly - it's just fallen apart through everyday use. And so, five months later, I'm shopping for a new CD player because the little CD spinner is now slightly warped (how THAT happens from normal usage is beyond me.) I'd give this baby a 5 for battery power and anti-skip technology, a 4 for volume, and a negative three for lasting power. That's an average of two, gents!