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forum thread Posted by emazur • Nov 3, 2024
forum thread Posted by emazur • Nov 3, 2024

Aiwa Flashback Wireless Kit: Bluetooth portable CD player + Bluetooth headphones + wired earbuds / $19.99 / Staples in-store

$20

Staples
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Model is AI9004-BLK
Staples item number is 021331126214 and the regular price is $29.99
There is no information on Staples or AIWA website about these

Example use cases:
- car doesn't have CD player but want to play CD immediately after purchase (thrift store haul) via Bluetooth instead of going home > rip to mp3 > copy to phone or USB stick
- already have a portable CD player but car lacks line-in jack
- already have a portable CD player and car has line-in jack but prefer wireless Bluetooth connection
- don't have a portable CD player now and don't care about car playback, just want a low cost CD player and Bluetooth is a plus

Also, the CD player has an internal rechargeable battery (doesn't use AA batteries). This could be good or bad depending on your point-of-view

There's an older AIWA portable CD player out there that looks similar but has FM radio and lacks Bluetooth, so don't get confused.
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Model is AI9004-BLK
Staples item number is 021331126214 and the regular price is $29.99
There is no information on Staples or AIWA website about these

Example use cases:
- car doesn't have CD player but want to play CD immediately after purchase (thrift store haul) via Bluetooth instead of going home > rip to mp3 > copy to phone or USB stick
- already have a portable CD player but car lacks line-in jack
- already have a portable CD player and car has line-in jack but prefer wireless Bluetooth connection
- don't have a portable CD player now and don't care about car playback, just want a low cost CD player and Bluetooth is a plus

Also, the CD player has an internal rechargeable battery (doesn't use AA batteries). This could be good or bad depending on your point-of-view

There's an older AIWA portable CD player out there that looks similar but has FM radio and lacks Bluetooth, so don't get confused.

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Sr. Moderator
Nov 3, 2024
4,378 Posts
Joined Dec 2004
Nov 3, 2024
missiethegal
Sr. Moderator
Nov 3, 2024
4,378 Posts
this is the best bit of info I can find on the player:

https://device.report/aiwa/AI9004
Nov 3, 2024
1,222 Posts
Joined Aug 2005
Nov 3, 2024
desidude2000
Nov 3, 2024
1,222 Posts
If you're really looking for a walk back into the past, checkout eBay with Song and Aiwa portable cassette players. Look for the Aiwa stuff that was made in Japan in the 80s and early 90s. Solid stuff.
Nov 3, 2024
242 Posts
Joined Mar 2012
Nov 3, 2024
jonhohle
Nov 3, 2024
242 Posts
This is a somewhat interesting device:
  • Bluetooth out
  • Internal speaker
  • Playback from usb

https://device.report/manual/13427120

We use a Trettitre CP9 with mixed results in a 2021 Toyota. That one also has FM transmit and SD card support (CDs can be dumped to SD on the player). That one doesn't have an external speaker, though.
Pro
Nov 3, 2024
9,701 Posts
Joined Nov 2011
Nov 3, 2024
deelseaker
Pro
Nov 3, 2024
9,701 Posts
Quote from missiethegal :
this is the best bit of info I can find on the player:

https://device.report/aiwa/AI9004
"CD playback frequency range 31.5Hz-16kHz±3dB"
"CD signal to noise ratio ≥50dB"

I understand this is not a Hi-Fi device, but these are a tape deck kind of specs. If they aren't just made up or poorly copied, they are very bad for a CD player. Universally, CD player specs should be 20Hz to 20kHz / 90dB+.
1
Original Poster
Pro
Nov 3, 2024
788 Posts
Joined May 2007
Nov 3, 2024
emazur
Original Poster
Pro
Nov 3, 2024
788 Posts
Quote from deelseaker :
"CD playback frequency range 31.5Hz-16kHz±3dB"
"CD signal to noise ratio ≥50dB"

I understand this is not a Hi-Fi device, but these are a tape deck kind of specs. If they aren't just made up or poorly copied, they are very bad for a CD player. Universally, CD player specs should be 20Hz to 20kHz / 90dB+.
For what it's worth, I did a short test this morning with this Aiwa compared to my 2 other portables (I haven't looked at the specs for these) with Senheiser HD 202 headphones:
Koss CD3002 (from 2001)
Magnavox az6832 1701 (from 1995)

With bass boost off, they all sounded fairly similar though the Koss comes in last place b/c a higher level of hiss / background noise. The clarity on the Aiwa was good. A comparison with bass boost on (which the Aiwa doesn't have) the Magnavox easily sounds the best, Koss #2, and Aiwa #3. Without bass boost, none of them had impressive bass.

Testing the internal speaker of the Aiwa, I was expecting it to sound like a tin can with zero bass but actually it's not bad and has much more bass than expected but don't expect high volume levels.

Also I should mention there's no indication of read-ahead memory / anti-skip technology so that brings it down a notch or two for car use. I have a Pioneer head unit with CD / DVD playback so this doesn't affect me now (next car could be a different story)
Pro
Nov 3, 2024
9,701 Posts
Joined Nov 2011
Nov 3, 2024
deelseaker
Pro
Nov 3, 2024
9,701 Posts
Quote from emazur :
For what it's worth, I did a short test this morning with this Aiwa compared to my 2 other portables
I am not hating on it. It is what it is with today's low cost / low quality manufacturing. 90% of people wouldn't care or be able to hear the difference anyway.
1
Nov 3, 2024
714 Posts
Joined Oct 2014
Nov 3, 2024
n3f3libata
Nov 3, 2024
714 Posts
This is very unusual to not be any info on the website. So we just have to go to the store and hope for the best? My kid very much wants a portable CD player, but I feel like without anti-Skip the slightest tap or movement will prevent it from being usable.

Edit: I went anyways and saw they had it at my Staples and got it. I will test it out when I get home and update again. Anti-Skip is a very much needed feature so if it's really not up to par the next viable version I have in mine is about $40. So it would be nice if this is OK as is.
Last edited by n3f3libata November 3, 2024 at 01:36 PM.

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Nov 3, 2024
1,926 Posts
Joined Feb 2004
Nov 3, 2024
porky
Nov 3, 2024
1,926 Posts
LOL! Aiwa brings back memories.
I guess the owners sold Aiwa to the Chinese a while ago.
Nov 4, 2024
2,678 Posts
Joined Sep 2017
Nov 4, 2024
JayM3585
Nov 4, 2024
2,678 Posts
The reason why we're seeing this as I watch a couple of people on YouTube. Japan has a big resurgence for first tapes and now CDs so there's a lot of people going around Jeff Japan with old-fashioned Sony Walkman, and CD disc men. I'd love to stay in for one, but actually, I still have my Sony Walkman and I still have my Sony CD player that I've also used frequently. Lolol
Nov 6, 2024
2,344 Posts
Joined Jul 2014
Nov 6, 2024
bert90987
Nov 6, 2024
2,344 Posts
I wonder if the apple super drive would be a good cd player (I know it's not portable), but it might be one of the few brands that still makes a cd players?

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