Panasonic SLS222 Portable CD Player

by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [791kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches ; 8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004S7NP
• Item model number: SLS222
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

For a plain, silver CD player that weighs less than a paperback book, Panasonic's SL-S222 is full of surprises. While most portables open via a thumb switch on their front (which is prone to accidental opening), the SL-S222 has a large Open button on its top, making it much easier to insert and remove discs. Panasonic also thoughtfully includes a push button on the center of the CD tray that ejects discs, so you don't have to pry CDs loose with your fingertips. The battery door, located on the back of the player, is a snap to open and close as well.

The right side of this compact player houses the headphone jack along with an assortment of hidden switches and a thin volume dial that may be too tiny for some thumbs. A Hold switch prevents the player from accidentally turning on while it's stored in your backpack or purse. Resume, Random, and Normal switches offer manual access to these functions without relying on the LED and Left/Right disc-skip buttons. We found the manual Random function most useful, since it automatically programs random tracks at the flip of the switch.

The player also has an S-XBS (Super Extra Bass System), which we opted to keep on all the time, as it enhances the dynamics of all musical genres, from classical to rock. Finally, an antishock deactivation switch enables users to save battery life while the player is stationary.

Initially, Panasonic's 10-second antishock protection seemed insufficient, as many players within the same price range sport 40-second memory buffers. However, we were proved wrong in our tests--after tapping it, shaking it, turning it upside down, and dropping it from several inches off the ground, the SL-S222 still refused to skip.

We were impressed with the sound of the SL-S222, which incorporates Panasonic's acclaimed 1-bit MASH (multistage noise-shaping) technology. Panasonic's seemingly flimsy headphones outclassed our standby portable set, which are usually preferable to the tinny, bass-anemic variety that come with most portable CD players.

As for programming features, the SL-S222 has those covered as well. It enables you to program up to 24 tracks in any desired order. Thanks to Panasonic's plainly written, well-illustrated instructions and intuitive user interface, we were able to program a CD containing 18 tracks in preferred order in less than 20 seconds.

In addition to its affordable price, the SL-S222 impressed us with its bass-rich headphones, rock-solid antishock memory, smart features, and superb ergonomics. --Eric Gill

Pros:

• Reliable antishock protection
• Good headphones
• Great ergonomic design
• Easy to program

Cons:

• Construction is slightly flimsy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I bought the Panasonic 361c, April 19, 2000

By 

the_one007 (Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic SLS222 Portable CD Player (Electronics)

I bought the higher end Panasonic CD player which is model 361c, which has 40 seconds of anti-shock memory II, car-kit and back-lit LCD... The back-lit LCD only stays lit when used with the adapter for the car or for the adapter to plug into the wall. the headphones included were pretty junk considering that when you turn on the great extra bass system the sound comes out distorted. you need to get a good pair of headphones to get the best out of the XBS (extra bass system).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Panasonic SLS2222 CD Player, October 30, 2001

By 

Tammy L.Pal (Lopez Island, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic SLS222 Portable CD Player (Electronics)

This CD player is awesome! At first I also thought that 10 seconds of electronic skip protection would not be enough, but it has never skipped on me. A lot better than my friends Philip Magnavox 40 second antiskip. The only Con to this cd player is the head phones which are functional, but they do not put out the sound of some other comparitive headphones. This problem seems to be common of Panasonic headphones. I would definately reccomend this cd player to the music enthusiast.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good allround Discman, May 21, 2000

By 

A. Alkins - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic SLS222 Portable CD Player (Electronics)

I bought this cd-player in July 1998. I still have it and it works perfectly. The amount of times I have dropped this item is unbelievable but it never once gave me a problem.

You can't ask for more in a cheap discman. You get 10 Seconds antishock (enough for me in the car), XBS on/off (Extra Bass), 30 track programing and some other modes. If you find the 10 Second Antishock a problem, you can probably buy a later model for not much more with 20 secs or even a 40 second one. Another excellent thing about this product is the Rechargeable batteries. It comes with a built in recharger for the AA rechargeable batteries. I have only had to buy about 5 sets of the rechargeable batteries in for my nearly 2 years overused cd player.

In conclusion, this is a great solution for a little price. The only thing a changed were the headphones which I replaced with the one that fit inside your ears.