> My question to the group is whether anyone knows of a very
> simple, but low maintenance, playback system which could be
> used on a continuous basis. Ideally a CD based system that
> could be powered up at the opening everyday and loop
> continuously should be more than adequate.
Hi,
We sell music and natural sound recordings in our store. Our store
is open 6-10 hours a day (depending on season and day of week) seven
hours a day, the whole year except for Christmas and Thanksgiving. We
have two overhead CD playback systems in the store (there are two pretty
much separate sections, so they don't conflict) and they run the whole
time we are open. It is very important that our systems deliver good
sound continuously or we don't have much of an income.
So far, the best sounding and most reliable system has been a
Panasonic RX-DS260 connected to a nice set of speakers - the kind with
the base unit on the floor and the two mid/upper range speakers mounted
high on the wall with redirectable tweeters. The RX-DS260 is an older
boom box with removable speakers. We just unplugged the speakers and
plugged the nicer ones into it. It runs in continuous loop mode and,
being an ordinary boom-box, everyone knows how to use it. I know it
sounds pretty low class but it sounds really good. It is very common
for people to ask us what kind of equipment we are using in this room.
The other system had a very high quality amplifier and CD changer.
On that side we've replaced two Teac CD changers and an expensive Sony
one which held 100 CDs, and the amplifier is being replaced this week.
The boom box just keeps on going and has been in constant use since
about 1995 and intermittent use from about 1991 until then. They
probably don't make that exact model any more, but the point is that you
can have a very reliable and good sounding player without spending a
bunch of money. You do have to push the start button manually, but ours
stays in loop mode even when powered down.
--Brian M. Godfrey
Wild Bird Shop, Cannon Beach, OR
www.wildbirdshop.com
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