View source for Boombox Portable MP3 Player That is Not an iPod Dock

'''Portable MP3/CD Audio Players''' - NOT iPod

A boombox is a portable stereo, typically with a handle on top, two speakers, one on each side, and as a single unit.  They are typically under 3" wide.  They originally accepted audio cassette tapes, and later compact discs.

With the popularity of MP3 digital audio, people have been looking for a boombox that will play MP3 files.  The market was flooded with units that looked like a boombox but were designed for iPod players to dock to them.  Wise consumers that haven't bought into the overpriced iPod fad were not impressed.  One should not have to own an iPod to use a portable mp3 playing boombox.

Finally, 10 years later companies are starting to introduce boombox models that play mp3 audio from CD and even better, from SD card.  One should not even consider a boombox that only plays mp3 audio from a CD.  The SD card option is a must!  The capacity of the SD card is x10 of a cdr.

Here is a list of boombox models that meet the following criteria:  
* does not require an iPod & no iPod specific dock (F!-ipod)
* play mp3 audio directly from an SD card 
* at least 1 aux audio input so you can hook up your android phone and play music from it if you like.)
* looks (at least remotely) like a boombox (prefer no ugly space ship looking contraptions)
* prefer no archaic tape player
* AM/FM tuner optional
* prefer it has USB input (can connect a usb flash drive)
* prefer a shuffle option (random vs just playing music in order)

This list was started in 2012.

== Boomboxes! ==

=== Naxa ===

* Naxa Portable MP3/CD Player with Text Display, AM/FM Stereo, USB/SD/MMC Inputs [http://www.naxa.com/portable-mp3-cd-cd-audio-players/portable-mp3-cd-audio-players/portable-mp3-cd-player-with-text-display-am-fm-stereo-radio-usb-input-sd-mmc-card-slot-91.html Model NPB-250]  The Naxa Electronics NPB – 250 Radio Boombox is a small to medium size electronic device weighing about 5 pounds. It has an AM/FM radio and a top- loading CD/MP3 player. A USB plug can be found on the front of the boombox along with an SD/MMC card slot.  Other inputs include an auxillary jack and headphones.  DIMENSIONS: 13.8 x 8.5 x 5.1 [ L x W x H ] at 4.0 lbs


* Naxa Portable MP3/CD Player with Text Display, AM/FM Stereo Radio, USB Input & SD/MMC Card Slot [http://www.naxa.com/portable-mp3-cd-cd-audio-players/portable-mp3-cd-audio-players/portable-mp3-cd-player-with-text-display-am-fm-stereo-radio-usb-input-sd-mmc-card-slot.html Model NPB-256]  DIMENSIONS: 17.5 x 9.5 x 7.0 [ L x W x H ] at 5.9 lbs<BR>'''Our 2012 Pick''': Best mid sized mp3 boombox of the year.<BR>
[[File:NaxaNPB256.jpg]]
<BR>review:  This is an excellent unit for the money and should be a model for other manufacturers.  This unit plays variable bitrate mp3 files as well as CBR (both VBR and CBR).  You can play traditional music cd media as well as mp3 media from a CDR, SD, and thumb drive.  You can load up a regular SD or SDHC card with thousands of mp3 files (the best option) which for most people is their entire music collection, and have them available to play.  PRO's: best boombox available supporting all 3 media storage mediums, no archaic cassette drive waste of space, good sound quality, plays all current mp3 encoding types.  This unit also has a radio and an axillary input jack.  CON's: aesthetically it looks alien, a more traditional box form factor would be preferred.  Does not recognize or utilize .pls playlists.  Small simple LCD makes music navigation cumbersome with large music collections.  No song search feature.  Final Thoughts:  If they would beef up the music management capabilities and add a larger more capable LCD display, along with the ability to utilize .pls playlist files that users could create ahead of time on a PC, and a traditional box shaped design, this would be an ideal machine.  For 2012, this unit is the absolute best portable mp3 player boom box available for the money.  I hope this unit is popular so other companies take note and start manufacturing mp3 boom box portable stereos, as the market is currently slim pickings as of late 2012/early 2013!   

=== Quantum FX ===
* Quantum FX J-30U (''cannot locate company web site'')
* Quantum FX J-114U AM/FM/SW1-SW9 Radio USB/SD Player (''cannot locate company web site'')

=== Lasonic ===
* [http://www.lasonicstore.com/p-151-bi931btq-high-performance-systemb.aspx p-151-bi931btq] Ghetto Blaster w/EQ, BlueTooth and AM/FM tuner, 3.5mm stereo auxiliary input, USB input and SD card reader for direct MP3 playback. Two powerful 15w speakers

=== SuperSonic ===
* Supersonic [http://www.supersonicinc.com/Products/fuseaction/ViewProductDetails/productVia/2/ProductID/3,3914509 SC-1395] Portable Audio Player/boombox with Usb/sd and Am/fm Radio (''may not have a cd player'')
* Supersonic [http://www.supersonicinc.com/Portable_DVD_Player/fuseaction/ViewProductDetails/productVia/2/ProductID/3,3860446 SC-149TD] 7'' LCD Display Portable Micro System with DVD/CD/MP3, AM/FM, USB & SD Card Slot  DIMENSIONS: 11.5 x 8.5 x 5.75 [ L x W x H ] at 3.65 lbs
<BR>Warning! These appear to be about half the size of the Sony boombox they are made to resemble.  These are small units.

=== Jensen ===
* CD-750 Jensen - Portable CD Player with AM/FM Stereo and MP3 Encoder/Player



[[Category:Electronics]]
[[Category:Consumer Electronics]]