The term "portable MP3 player" takes on a new meaning with the Panasonic SV-SDO5, which is a headphones-only device that manages to squeeze 64MB on to a SD storage card.
While its light and hands-free design is welcome, there are a few notable drawbacks, including the inability to see the display while wearing the player. With a price that outstrips its novelty value, the SV-SD05 isn't at the top of our purchase list.
Until now, every portable MP3 player on the market has had one thing in common. No matter how small, it always had to be carried separately from the headphones, and the wire connecting the two parts can always got in your way. Now Panasonic has gotten rid of the wires by creating a light and comfortable headphones-only player. But the advantages of such a device come with trade-offs, some of which make us question just how useful this player is.
The biggest advantage of the SV-SD05 is comfort. The player is light, and the single AA battery and the included 64MB SD card (there's no onboard memory) add virtually no weight to the unit. Knowing that you wouldn't be able to substitute your favorite headphones, Panasonic generously padded the earpieces.
Comfortable as the SV-SD05 is, it doesn't fit too snugly against your head. It falls off with not-too-vigorous head movements and, thus, might not be the best choice for sports use. This is too bad, since the light weight and lack of wires make it otherwise perfect for joggers.
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