I was just wondering , is there an Aiwa high end cd player you would recommend ? I already own one , i bought it a few monthes ago but it doesn't sound good at all... It's an XP-V831 ,nice little thing with remote but sound is not enjoyable ,is there an equivalent to the amazing HS-JX walkman series wich sounds sooooo good ?

I don't know about AIWA, but I bought a Panasonic SL-CT800. It plays CD/MP3/WMA tracks, has a seriously long battery life of 80 hours, in line remote control with indi-glo display, S-XBS, SPDIF digital output as well as regular analogue line out and also headphones. I liked it so much I bought another second-hand as a spare in case my first one broke.

I suppose it sounds very good ? Is it a vintage player or not ? Does is sound as good as Aiwa high end walkmans ? I'd love to own a great Aiwa discman because i love this brand ,i used to have a very good panasonic cassette player(only) but it went broken , not solid as Aiwa(s).

Vintage? Well that depends on your definition of vintage. It is certainly discontinued. I bought my original one brand new back in 2002. It is quite well built and is very slim in design. I don't know how it would compare to an AIWA discman in terms of sound quality but it would most certainly beat it (and quite a few others) on battery life. It would be unfair to compare CD to tape, but for general audio listening purposes, it has a good sound.

You should be looking for Vintage Sony Discmans, like the Z555, which reputed to be one of the best sounding and complex models ever made. (Some others that seem to pop up are D25,35,303,150,777). Some Vintage Sony machines may use rechargeable batteries that are no longer available. Look out for superior stuff like a multibit DAC as well.

The Z555 is a rather beautiful looking machine too, with a similar design language to the JX505. Unfortuntely, I do not think they are cheap at all.

Now I do not own any of these, but I barely hear any good things about Aiwa Discmans as most of them are based on mid 90s/2000s Sony low end/mid range models. I do read some nice things about the XP-33. (On a side note for some strange reason there are loads of XP33s around the flea market here. Might pick one up.)

As to one that SOUNDS like a JX505/707, I do not remember off the top of my head any Discman that had a BBE chip in it. However, you may be interested in a Cowon D2, which has BBE (I believe implemented in software). Some of these high-end DAPs have a very good reputation too.

Most of the vintage PCDPs with a reputation seem to cost quite a bit, but there are some more modern Sony machines that will cost less, but apparently do not sound as good.

Thanks for the advices ! I will read about those models , what i'm looking for is something not too vintage(should still read disc today...) ,not too big , standard batteries feature.I remember the Sony design you talked about. The Aiwa looks like... a SONY ain't it ?? I know i have an old Aiwa catalog (JX-303 time) i should check what nice discman Aiwa used to sell at the time.

Well i've read some about Sony players , these seems to be the best ,especially old ones , some too old with seemingly no anti-skipping wich would become an issue for me, i'm looking for a trans-portable ,some are too expensive with no standard battery feature.The Aiwa XP-33 seems small enough for me but eat for AA batteries while my actual needs only two,yet i could manage with it with recheargeables.

The nice Panasonic does not feature any LCD screen albeit on the remote ,and i don't like the fact i must use the remote...

For the Panasonic PCDP you don't "have to" use the remote control as the unit is capable of being operated from the controls on the main unit, and normal headphones can be plugged direct into it. So you lose the ability to know what track you are listening to, so what? How do you cope when listening to tape not knowing what track number it is? Unless it is a CD with 200 MP3s an audio CD will only have probably 20 tracks maximum on it.

The only other thing you would lose is the ability to set the S-XBS. Provided you don't completely flatten the batteries it will remember the S-XBS setting previously set via the remote control. Personally I leave S-XBS off.

In terms of battery life the Panasonic is the longest I have ever seen for a PCDP, the maximum life is 120 hours* with both the 2 gum stick NiMH and 2 AA batteries attached via the external battery pack.

Edit : * 120 hours with MP3, 80 hours with CD audio.

Yes you're right but just a small screen on the body would have been so nice... Why wouldn't it be fair to compare with a good Aiwa walkman(including the radio) ? It doesn't sound as good ?? I suppose X-SBS is a bass booster ? I usually never used these features , a good machine should be good when "flat" wich is the case of a JX303 or a JX849 and the like.It seems hard to find , there is one used on amazon but $125 ... I don't know the original retail price(may be you remember?) but this too high for a used discman i think ,i'm not sure it was a $500 unit like some high end Sony.I will wait for one to pop up on ebay unless you could find one for me ?

I bought mine new in Hong Kong in December 2002. I paid $1080 HKD, which at the time I think was about 1GBP to 14 HKD. Panasonic threw in a few freebies with the original SL-CT800. I later bought one on eBay in 2005 (I think) for about 20GBP. It came with the remote controller (no headphones - but to be honest they are crap anyway), a soft carry bag, and the two NiMH batteries. It would be hard to find one fully complete and boxed nowadays.

From what I've read on the 'net there appears to be different versions. One with combined analogue line out and optical line, one with just optical line out, and one with just analogue line out. Both SL-CT800 I have, have the analogue/optical line out. When I was in USA nine months later I saw one in a blister pack and it did seem to be packaged without the freebie extras from the one I bought in HK.

I'm quite sure it shall sound very good , knowing you're an high end walkman lover ,you would'nt loose your time with crap. I've tried mine again with the pipe-phones provided but it remains crappy... like a $15 boombox.... oh the sound is clean ,there is no issue with it,that's just the sound has nothing fantastic even with my sennheiser PX-100.Fortunately i just paid it 8€ to a girl not far from me.

Here are photos of the one I bought from HK with close up of it and the UK one as well.

Thanks for the photos ! What is the black thing to the left on one photo , It seems to be the battery holder but why is it straight like this ??

That is the external AA battery holder. It is designed that way to slip into the soft carry bag. (There is a separately stitched compartment for it and or the headphones/remote control).

OK i see , in fact it is not attached like our Aiwa walkman but simply "wired" to the unit.

Wich one should i choose ?? Those come both complete ,yet i don't know if the 800 is boxed or not ,only €5 difference ,i find the 810 better looking ,those seems to be the same thing.

http://www.leboncoin.fr/image_...24613135.htm?ca=12_s

http://www.leboncoin.fr/image_...227427228.htm?ca=1_s

It's a tough call. The CT800 is cheaper and seems to have most accessories. If my french is correct, I think the external battery pack is included but not pictured. It does seem to be missing the soft carry pouch and the internal batttery carry case.

The CT810 is a very nice unit indeed. It has a higher rated play time. 188 hours MP3 and 120 hours for CD Audio. It also features D. Sound DSP along with the S-XBS if you ever want to use it. I can't tell exactly from the photos, but it does seem to also have a line out feature of some sort too. 

If it were me, I think I'd go for the CT810. It has the longer play time and extra DSP. But I'd also seriously consider the CT800 too I like how with the CT800 you can see the CD spinning inside.

810

 CD MP3/WMA PANASONIC player, complete with batteries, main adaptor(magnetic), batteries holder (if needed)
Extra-slim (14 mm)
excellent condition because barely used.
soft carry pouch.
original box.

800

good condition

Accessoires :
- remote
- main adaptor(magnetic)
- headphones
- external batteries carry case
- 2 batteries rechargeables au nickel-métal hybride
- 1 user's manual

I've asked if the box is provided or not.

I prefer the 810 design ,i think i will go for it.

I've read both reviews and it was very positive in terms of sound.

By the way is there a volume button on the unit ?

It seems you're seeing an extra jack on the 810 you don't seem to have on your 800 is that it ? Could also be a digital output no ?

edit: what is that blue translucent thing below the batteries on your photo ? It looks like a battery carry case.

On both my CT800 there is a white socket next to the headphone socket. This is a combination analogue and optical line out. I noticed there is a similar socket on one of the photos for the CT810. So it maybe has a combination of both or of at least one line output method. I have read that the North America models do not have this line out socket at all!

The CT800 has digital volume control on the main unit and also on the remote control. Volume level readout is via the remote control LCD.

The blue translucent box is for carrying the internal gumstick NiMH batteries.

Thanks!

I've talked to the seller of the 810 , he told me the batteries were dead so he gave me a €5 reward , he also told me it was the most high end player at the time ,i should receive it in a few days ,i'll then give a little feedback about it.

Who wants my Aiwa XP-V831 ?

I had a similar problem I thought at first. However it turned out to be corrosion on the battery contacts due the batteries being left in place for too long. I cleaned the contacts using Brasso metal polish and then I was able to charge the batteries again.

Alternatively replacement NiMH gumstick batteries are available and reasonably priced. The CT810 was 130GBP here in the UK when new, so €25 is a good deal for a hardly used example.

Thanks for the advice , hope it is the case for the batteries ! Yes it's a good price since it is complete and like new , he couldn't remember but he paid it more than €100 for sure , £130 is the launch price yes. Then do you think it is the same issue for our PB3 or S5 ?? I've kept my PB-S5 but unfortunately i've recycled the other one... I've even recently dismantle the PB-3 charger however i hope i still have the parts somewhere...

My little player arrived yesterday ! What a nice little thing ! The sound is much better than the Aiwa so music is enjoyable now. One gumstick has leaked a bit ,i'll have to clean one contact ,i've seen many for sales very cheap ,that's good news ! The unit still miss an LCD screen(if you don't want to use the remote) but due to the small size that's understandable. What i dislike is that "tail" ,it would have been better to have a small attached thing like walkmans... Albeit i'm very pleased with it , Aiwa walkmans still sound better. There is a line out jack combined with optical , but i don't know if this uses a standard jack or not ?

Get the internal batteries working and you won't need the "tail". These CD players from Panasonic are so power efficient, you will get a decent run time on the internal NiMH batteries alone.

The analogue line out socket uses a standard 3.5mm stereo jack. To use the optical element, you can connect a 3.5mm optical jack and the laser activates on connection.

A good cleaning later... guess what ?

I guess that the internal batteries are "magically" working again.

Exactly ! Full charge !

Same thing happened to mine

Finally the more i listen the more i like it.

Some photos of my unit , the photos miss the pouch(i'm washing it...) and the batteries.

I should receive an Aiwa XP-3 in the coming weeks , i don't know how will it sounds , i thought it was an high end model but i don't know , have just seen after it was the little brother of XP-6 and XP-7 , all of them beeing the firsts Aiwa PCDP ,born 1992.

http://blog.roodo.com/thomaswo...chives/15432751.html

The fun thing is that the first picture was used in the auction ,i don't know if this is it or if the seller googled the photo... It's new in box.

http://tiiduka.blogspot.com/2010/04/aiwacd.html

As you can see, it's a .... Sony... I'm wondering which is the corresponding Sony model ??

I did not found many feedback about it ,just one saying it was the best line up Aiwa(or Sony?) made along with it's brothers. Well , just have to wait to receive it now and i'll tell you.

http://d.hatena.ne.jp/bukiyoub.../20100916/1284640568

I dunno , i can't find any photo about it , are you sure about its name ?

Ok i've found it ! Nice player , looks like a Sony.

I've also find this one wich looks nice.

edit:seeing those caps Aiwa logo , i beleive XP-3,5,7 were not the firsts produced by Aiwa.

edit:any idea if those old players are "movable" ?

I want to hang it to the belt for a walk , possible or not ? I'm not sure there is an anti-shock system on this 1992 player. Well of course not to jog with it but just a walk or moving in my house.

Aiwa XP-3 received some days ago , very enjoyable sound ,i'd say better sounding than the panasonic although full plastic but nicely designed ,the good thing is that the neutral position(DSL) is more linear(less bassy),the bad point(but due to age) is the lack of anti-choc sytem but i've oftenly read that's an issue to sound quality... All in all ,closer to Aiwa's quality than the crappy late one i had before.I wonder if it's fully Sony inside(as it looks) or Sony and a bit of Aiwa technology ?