Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This Stanton S.300 Tabletop CD Player with MP3 Compatibility is superb in every way.
Last week I purchased a Stanton S252 DJ Table-Top CD Player with Fader Start and Digital Outputs with which I am also completely satisfied (I refer you to my review of the S.252 for details of its features, controls, etc. which, as they are quite similar to this model, I shall not repeat here; see below for a few differences) but this S.300 is even better in that it also plays MP3 discs as well as CDs. I have a number of audio books, on multiple CDs, which I have converted to MP3 files and placed on single CD-ROMs. I have also done the same with some opera recordings. I prefer to take these copies when I travel (leaving the multiple-disc originals at home); it is much more convenient (much less to carry) and safer (if I lose or damage a copy, it's not a tragedy!).
Other than the MP3 capability and one change of a control button (a very welcome change: instead of a [redundant] Loop button there is now a +10 button which jumps 10 tracks, very useful for MP3 discs), the S.300 player operates essentially the same as the S.252. The display is slightly different on the S.300 (and somewhat better, in my opinion, but the difference is minor) and the 'default' is to play the entire disc rather than, as on the S.252, to default to playing just one track (the selection of disc playback, single track or continuous, is easily changed, with but one 'click,' on both models).
The build-quality is apparently the same on both - and is absolutely, positively, first-rate. And so is the sound quality produced.
(Obviously, however, at this time I cannot comment on longevity; should one or both fail prematurely, I shall report that here.)
I also cannot comment on how a disc jockey (for whom these are primarily designed) would appreciate or use these players nor can I say which he/she would find 'better.' I can only say that, for me, an ordinary music listener, they are both superb players and this one, the S.300, has the advantage of being able to play MP3 discs (NOT MP3s from an external or thumb drive; there is no USB or other audio-in port). Of course it has the disadvantage of being considerably higher in price than the S.252 so, if MP3 disc playback is of no concern to you, I recommend that you consider the S.252.
Both are excellent 'travelers' to take on vacation (they are quite robust) and both models produce sound quality far superior to the so-called portable CD players (the 'cheapies') which you find at Best Buy, Radio Shack, et al.
As for me, I VERY MUCH like them both, I'm glad I bought both, and I highly recommend them both (though, to tell the truth, I myself prefer this S.300 because of its MP3 capability).
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Update: April 25, 2011
There is almost always a pause between tracks when playing MP3 files. If the tracks are between individual songs or individual movements of a piece, this is not a problem.
But when the tracks are split right in the middle of a musical selection, the pause can be very noticeable (and annoying).
This player has just a barely noticeable pause between tracks. In most cases you would have to be listening very carefully in order to hear it.
This is better than even my computer and makes listening to longer symphonies, chamber works, etc., which often do have several tracks within each movement, much more pleasurable.
This is a bonus - and a happy one at that!
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Stanton S.300 Tabletop CD Player with MP3 Compatibility
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