Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony D-FS601 S2 Sports CD Walkman Portable Disc Player

I have owned lots of Sony portable CD players in my time, and this has to be one of the best. This CD player has both TV and weather bands, although both have limited channels and limited range. But, the FM and AM reception is one of the best in its league, far excelling Panasonic CD players with the same capabilities. Additionally, the CD player is well-designed for the hand and for the back-pack. The "play" feature using the thumb is quite a good feature, for runners and back-packers. Also, the G-Protection for this CD player is adjustable; there are two levels of G-Protection available. The sound quality is not very great on G-Protection on Level 2, but it's good. The water resistance of this CD player as well as the latch is perfect. Although the latch LOOKS plastic, the latch is actually very sturdy. I had to get a new CD player because it was broken and not functioning properly, and the previous Sony CD player kept popping out my CDs during my exercise outside. The latch is well-done for this CD player. There are only two major faults with this player: 1) the addition of a water-resistant remote; and 2) the CD player could possibly be slimmer and lighter.

I have used this CD player for my trips and vacations. I have been astounded by its durability and design (although the price is a bit too much). A must-buy? It truly depends on what your lifestyle dictates.

What's so great about this CD player for me is that it is by far one of the most sturdy, rugged players in the market. I'm a klutz, and I've dropped the thing upwards of 20 times from some pretty high heights over the past year that I've owned it and it still works as well as it did when I first bought it. The thing is like a friggin' rock.

The fact that it has BOTH and FM and AM band is great, given that most players offer only FM. For a news/talk radio fan like me, that's important. Other features, like the G-Protection that ensures that the CD will never, ever skip because its jostled, or the fact that it's designed so that the entire player can be operated with your right hand make it one of the best CD players I've ever owned.

I purchased this great looking cd player and just loved to stare at it on my hand with the supplied handstrap. It was so attractive! I mean, just futuristic looking, clean, shiny white, just NEW! I loved it. Even though it was larger than the psyc model I had just returned, I was in love with the additional features and, did I mention, it was so good looking!

Anyway after two nights of listening, I began to notice a distortion in the bass when the unit was played at low sound levels. I mean, really low sound levels--even though this unit doesn't include a volume display in the lcd readout as does sony's other models, I would say the volume was around 1 when I noticed the distortion in the bass response at that level in all of my cd's. I assumed my model was defective and decided to return it for another.

However, when I listened to the store's display model, I heard the same distortion. By the way, I was using Coldplay's Politik as my track tester, because the bass track at the end of the song where the drum is played repeateadly was where I first noticed the distortion at home. To my horror, I realized that it was probably a limitation of this particular model. To confirm my suspicions, I listened to the same song on the Sony dfj210, with the volume low and did not hear the distortion. I was crushed and forced to decide between a beautiful, attention-grabbing unit with a sound distortion at low levels, and an ordinarly looking unit with no sound distortion. Even though I am a true audiophile, the decision was hard and I debated for about 15 minutes before deciding that sound quality above all is what i purchase electronics for. So I exchanged it for the dfj210. But oh, how I miss the look of the sports model. My message to Sony is to cure the problem in the sports model, I believe it's something with the amp that's powered for higher volumes. Adjust it so I can return to my great-looking preferred model.

I bought this CD player on and impulse, I didn't regret it except it did drain my wallet, considering I'm a 14-year old kid with no income.
The earphones that come with it are pretty good, they are flexible and aren't bulky. I guess the behind the neck earphones are popular now-a-days but these are different and kinda unique. I went jogging with this Sony CD player and it DOESN'T SKIP. It can skip but you have to shake it ferociously for a while to make it. This comes with TV, weatherband, and FM, and AM radio. I love the options it gives you. This player is a must for active people, considering the amazing water-resistant design. I must say that I'ts obvious the people of Sony carefully considered the shape and desgn of it. It's hard to explain but here goes: There is a band that you slip your hand through and you can completely change songs with your thumb. I know that sounds confusing but basically you can hold and control your CD player with your left hand, but don't worry, it's good with your left hand even if you are right handed. I carry it around everywhere and it doesn't slip! Trust me the design is ingenious, very, very few are like this one.I know it costs a lot, even I can't really afford it, but really worth it. But if you don't need the features I guess you don't need it.
Overall, I'm glad I bought this and it's something thats an amazing quality.

First off what more reputable company to buy from than from Sony. The Sony D-FS601 S2 Sports CD Walkman Portable Disc Player is by far one of the best out there. Now then say it isn't waterproof but the fact is that it is. I swim with it (it gets boring swimming 3 miles so that's why) also they say it's durable so what better test than to throw it down a set of hardwood stairs and it survived that. So basicly the chances of you accidently breaking it are slim.

Good Stuff
1)Metal Lock/Clip to hold the CD cover in place and keep your CD's from popping out when dropped.
2)Never Skips. It has to settings 1 and 2. 1 is supposed to give better quality music compared to the never skip 2 setting but I can't tell the difference between quality and it doesn't really skip on eiether setting.
3)LOT's of presets
4)Batteries last a long time.
5)Reflective screen-although LED backlit is preferable you can use the reflective screen in any light except total darkness.
6)FM,AM,Weatherband(only works in areas where there is constant bad weather), and TV 2-13.
7)CD control stick on the top means that you can change songs with one hand easily.
8)IT READS CD-RW!!
9)It has great sound quality when you plug in some desent headphones.
10)Hand Strap-Slides on your hand securely and can slash seconds off you front-crawl and backstroke.
11)batteries are located inside under the CD so no water there!

The Bad:
1) It's a little on the heavy side but the performance out ways this.

2)Comes with the worst headphones sony sells. But it's some kind of unwritten rule that you can't get desent headphones on a player.
3)No remote control-Hey you're paying a hundred dam dollers you deserve it!(only major flaw)

Overall I think you'll be over whelmed with the quality of this player and the best part is practicly no one else owns it.