RCA RCD128 Portable CD/MP3 Player

by RCA

Product Details

Product Manual [742kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 11 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006LEJ2
• Item model number: RCD128
• Batteries: 6 D batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Enjoy favorite MP3 and WMA (Windows Media Audio) tracks from CD-R and CD-RW with full navigational convenience from this RCA boombox. The player's SmartTax Interactive Navigation provides 32-level folder-subfolder file management and full track and artist information scroll across the front panel's multiline text display. MP3 functions include scroll up/down, directory up, folder repeat, play/pause, next, fast forward, reverse cue, shuffle, and intro play.

The CD player offers the flexibility of shuffle/repeat and also can be programmed (up to 32 tracks) to play in a specific order. You can listen in private through the unit's headphone jack, while a remote control makes it easy to change songs and sources from across the room. Preassigned equalization settings of bass, treble, and midrange let you tailor the sound according to personal preference (choose from classic, jazz, rock, and pop). The stereo uses dual 4-inch bass-reflex (ported) speakers, with Dynamic Bass Boost to heighten the low-frequency presence for more powerful sound.

The player's 30 station presets let you program and readily access favorite radio stations. The unit switches from DC to AC automatically when it's plugged in, prolonging battery life. For portable use, the RCD128 operates on six D batteries (not included). Memory back-up for the clock/timer requires three AA batteries (also not included). The unit comes with a music management CD-ROM.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great, January 1, 2003

By 

M. Bergeron "Muziclvr" (Colchester, VT United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: RCA RCD128 Portable CD/MP3 Player (Electronics)

Good points:
-Unit plays standard CDs as well as WAV, MP3 and WMA files on CD-R, and CD-RW.
-Plays mixed-format discs (any/all of the above formats on same disc)
-Good sound. Preset EQ and DBBS bass boost settings.
-Bundled Music Match software quite good, rips to various sample rates for MP3 and WMA.

Bad points:
-VERY sensitve to skipping: placing something down on the same table as the unit will usually cause player to 'lose it's place' I cannot imagine using this in ANY type of mobile situation
-Somewhat awkward control cluster
-Occasionally has trouble reading CD-RW, esp. mixed format.

Overall a good unit if you don't plan on moving it while it plays.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid performance + Low price, April 2, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: RCA RCD128 Portable CD/MP3 Player (Electronics)

I reviewed several different MP3 players before purchasing this unit. I bought it primarily to play Old Time Radio MP3s, which are generally highly compressed MP3s that do not play on many MP3 players. The RCA handled the playback extremely well. I have not had it refuse to play or fail to read any MP3 files.

The unit has some good features, particularly the remote. The buttons on the unit feel cheap, but the remote handles all of the tasks effortlessly.

While regular CD tracks can be programmed on this unit, MP3's cannot, which was a bit of a bummer. It does however, allow you to set a timer to turn the machine off. This is a great feature if you plan to use the unit to play MP3s in the evening or as you go to bed. Otherwise, the MP3s will play for hours.

I do not notice any noise between MP3's or when the machine turns off. Sometimes, there is a distinct spin-type squeaking noise when listening to MP3s at the end of a CD. I have not found this to be a problem though.

I'll admit that the unit took a little bit of getting used to, but now I find it to be a spectacular player at an excellent price. I would definitely recommend this player for anyone interested in a lightweight, low cost MP3 player, particularly for Old Time Radio playback.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars RCA-128 Good Buy for the Bucks!, May 28, 2003

By 

Greg A. Shreeve (Portland, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: RCA RCD128 Portable CD/MP3 Player (Electronics)

Being a collector of Old Time Radio in the CDR-MP3 format, I wanted a player that I could use at home or with a small group of people. The RCA-128 fits the bill with pretty good sound reproduction in an economical unit that works well at home or with a group such as at a nursing home. So far, it plays all the bit-rates that I've thrown at it and often makes the sound "appear" better than on the computer's playback from the same CDR. Some I record on my own and others I have purchased or traded for and there's no real standard bit-rate established for this stuff. This "new" technology in the RCA-128 makes the "old" technology sound real good and it cost much less than a hundred bucks! A real good buy for my perposes!