Sony D-EJ 360 > Reviews (8)

CD-Players have been around for a long time now, and are still going strong. CD's have both strengths of being small and holding large amounts of data (around 700MB worth).

By now you'll probably be aware of the other types of walkman besides the portable CD-player; Those being the MP3, Minidisc and Casette players.

---How do CD-Players compare?---

Unlike Minidisc players (which often go into 3-digit price-tags), CD walkmans can be picked up for a considerably lower price, making them much more appealing to the casual listener.

Unlike MP3 Players, you do not need a PC to utilise it, nor do CD-players require any installation of anykind. Also, you do not run the risk of being chased by RIAA officials for downloading Copyright-breaching MP3 files, if you buy the legitimate CD's at stores.

Finally, Unlike Casette walkman devices, CD walkmans read media that is actually modern. Casettes lack the sheer storage size and quality to compete, despite being smaller in most cases.

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After reading that, you're sure to agree that for the moment, CD's are the mainstream music media in today's world. You can stroll into any Record shop and find stacks upon stacks of them, so your CD-player is spoilt for choice.

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Why then, is the DEJ-360 Sony Walkman a good choice?
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For a start, By featuring just 9 clearly labelled buttons on the front side of the player, simplicity abounds. Within seconds you can do everything on this Player by the sense of touch alone, as opposed to extracting the CD player from your coat pocket or bag.

---Sound---

Sound is quite obviously one of the most important qualities of a Walkman, and Sony have a reputation for delivering among the best clarity available.
Bass comes in three levels; None at all, Partial, and Full. The Bass within this walkman is superior to all other walkmans I've tried, which is good for me as I love the atmosphere carried with great bass.
There's no crackling or noise with this walkman, which is yet another advantage, becomes sometimes the digital or CD noise sticks out like a broken nose with other walkmans.

---G-Protection---

Secondly, this player is a real fighter against skipping - A dominant problem throughout every CD player created. Not with this one.
I'd Shake and Jig all I could, but the CD player shrugged it off, and not a single skip or problem occured. The DEJ-360 even offers a G-protection feature, for the real vigorous activities - yet even without G-protection activated, this player copes extremely well.

Knowing how annoying the skipping problem is (my previous player was terrible at this), Such a strength is well-received.

---Battery Life---

Being a bit of an aggressive nut music-wise, I want volume, and lots. Admittedly, this player doesn't go as loud as I would have wanted, but at least it explains how the battery life between the two AA's is extended to an astonishing length(the instructions supplied claim a maximum of 40 hours life, cutting down running costs of buying batteries by a LOT). Unfortunately, this was a niggle that couldn't be ironed out, unless I purchased a 'Boostaroo' amplifier, or similar device.

The Batteries are concealed underneath the lid of the player, as shown by one of the pictures. This reduces size by quite a bit - this player is much smaller than my previous brick.
When batteries are running low, sound will not crackle to a stop. Instead, the player will halt and a short beep will let you know that you need to replace the cells.

---AC adaptor---

The DEJ-360 has a socket for standard AC adaptors, so you don't need to use batteries near a mains plug, but as this is the 360 model, it isn't supplied with it. Choose the DEJ-361 for that.

---Headphones---

The Headphone Jack on the player is a small socket located on the side of the player. However, the appearance of this is very misleading, as a black panel covers a small area to the side of it, and I was led to believe it could peel away. How wrong (and stupid) I was.

The Headphones supplied with the walkman are the standard issue black earphones

similar to each other sony product. However, these stock phones can be replaced by any other - I had the need to buy the MDR-EX71SL earphones, and they work a charm.

---Durability---

I purchased my DEJ-360 Walkman at the beginning of the school term in the early days of september, and it continues to live to this day, despite frequent use at school, amongst battling kids and corridor stampedes, and this beauty sat in my backpack and didn't care for the thrashing about it took all the time.
Although almost entirely encased in plastic, it's a very tough-feeling object.
One characteristic of the design that i didn't realise was so good at first was the LCD screen position. It's very well shielded as it 'sinks' into the player. I'm surprised to see that not a single scratch or impurity has appeared on the plastic window, or anywhere else in fact, despite being through all those things mentioned earlier.

---CD-RW---

This Player Plays CD-R and CD-RW. Though this isn't exactly true. Sure, it plays them, but at a severely hindered volume level. Stick to the legitimate CD's, folks.

---Conclusion---

So, to wrap it up, I say that this CD player is good for the average user, but might not be ideal for the brutally-discriminating music enthusiasts.
It's a player with no fantastically unique features, but does everything above standard, which is all that most people want from a CD player.
Nonetheless, it'll last through it's OAP years and keep on playing. It's relatively cheap too.