Music has never been as portable as it is today. Technology like MP3 encoding has allowed vast amounts of music to be stored on a single audio device. These music players are generally no bigger than a pack of cards, but can hold thousands of songs. Today's portable audio players let people rip musi

Exclusionary tacticsListening to records is cool.  People who have bothered to accumulate a sizeable collection of vinyl tend to have high standards in music and sound, often scouring the internet and thrift stores for their ideal turntable.  Considerations like brand, preamp, speeds,

What are they?Defining mini stereo systems is a tricky process.  Configurations number in the hundreds, and size, ostensibly the main characteristic, varies greatly.  But for our purposes, assume mini stereo system to mean at least a CD player and speakers aiming at big sound in a small pa

Mini stereo systems are compact CD players that usually come with a pair of speakers. The entire setup is quite small, which makes it perfect for a crowded office, kitchen, or bedroom. Mini stereo systems are designed to provide a lot of power and quality in a small package. Most mini stereos have h

If you still have some cassette tapes that you cherish like happy memories, perhaps it's best to leave at least one outlet available for rocking your dated pop tunes.  Pick anywhere from six to 16 compact discs and throw them in the trunk, then stow your cumbrous case of cassettes on the passen

Do you feel like life without some tangible documents and images accompanying a musical collection seems lacking in artistic expression?  And while most listeners may be willing to sacrifice the seductive flipping of an LP for a more compact CD, shouldn't there be at least some reverence for a

A CD changer can be thought of as a device that holds a magazine of CDs. The CD changer compactly stores dozens of CDs, ready to be switched at a moment's notice. It's similar to a jukebox, only a fraction of the size. CD changers work by hooking up to the car stereo, and can be controlled remotely.

Crawling towards obsolescence Deciding what to do about the compact disc, digital music's lame duck, is a befuddling issue.  Twenty years ago, when Dire Straits swayed reluctant rock masses by releasing Brothers in Arms on CD, many thought this technical innovation would defy history and f

Going Dutch Not so long ago, Klass Compaan, Dutch physicist and unwitting cornerstone to the current music industry, dreamt up a method for storing digital sound recordings on a tiny, circular glass.  With the help of technologically pioneering companies like Philips and Sony, his innovati

Audio technology has come a long way since the late-80s, when the first CD players hit the market. Today's CD players offer more features, richer playback, and more versatile options. Even better, CD players have never been so inexpensive! The sound quality of CD players alone has reached greater he