Make Sound Decision On New CD Portable -- Managing Your Money

Portable CD players, like home CD players, have achieved a high standard: All can produce uniformly excellent sound, given the right set of headphones. But CD portables are far from uniform in price. Some players tested by Consumer Reports cost only $70 or $80, and others cost nearly $300.

Shop carefully; you may not really need some of the extras found on pricier CD portables. For example, some players have a memory buffer that offers additional protection against a momentary loss of sound caused by bumps. But that feature is useful primarily if you plan to play your CDs in a car.

While CD players are capable of superb fidelity, the headphones that come with most models seriously limit their performance. (Most of the players' headphones are of the on-ear style, preferable to the ear "bud" style.)

If you need only a good, all-around CD portable, go for the top-rated RCA RP-7913, $86, or the Panasonic SL-160, $92. Both are Consumer Reports' Best Buys, both use batteries efficiently. The Panasonic even has a built-in battery charger and, unlike the RCA, has a jack that allows it to be connected to a stereo system. Both portables are pretty good at resisting bumps - although neither has the memory buffer that helps to assure skip-free sound in a car.

Other players may be better for some particular uses. Here are models to consider:

-- For the car. What you need is a combination of very good bump resistance and a memory buffer. One of the least expensive models to meet those criteria is the RCA RP-7926A, which costs $125 and includes a car kit of the two adapters needed for use with your auto-sound system (RCA's 7925 is $10 less and also meets these criteria). This player also has a lighted display that's handy for night driving.

Other portables well-suited to a car: the Panasonic SL-S290, $134, and the Panasonic SL-S490, $195. Both lack a car kit; you'll have to buy adapters separately.

-- For travel. Light weight and long battery life are especially important here. The Aiwa XP-33, $94, is low-priced and ran for a lengthy 11 hours with alkalines (only the more expensive Aiwa XP-559 ran for longer). However, the Aiwa XP-33 is a few ounces heavier than either of the Best Buy players, which both ran for 8 hours on a set of batteries, and the Sony D-141, $89, which ran for 8 hours.

-- For a home stereo system. Portables that offer some of the programming and display features of a home player often come at a high price. But there are exceptions, including the Aiwa XP-33, $94, which has such conveniences as a display showing the remaining time for the track that's playing.

The Kenwood DPC-951, $263, came with a wireless remote control - a handy home feature.

For the typical portable CD player, expect:

-- Excellent sound quality.

-- Headphones whose sound is weak on bass notes and somewhat uneven or harsh at treble frequencies.

-- AC adapter.

-- A weight, including batteries, of 11 to 17 ounces.

-- Digital, liquid-crystal display.

-- Play, Pause, Stop, Track-select, Resume, Hold, Shuffle-play and Program functions.

-- Automatic power-off when Stop button is pressed.

-- A one-position (on-off) bass-boost switch.

-- Output jack for connection to a receiver.

-- One-year parts-and-labor warranty.

Copyright 1996 by Consumers Union, Inc.