Devices

Audio Playback Equipment

This section is limited to audio playback equipment that has been specifically designed for use by visually disabled persons.

The trend is to move from analogue systems, including standard cassette recorders and players to digital ones that play CD's, MiniDiscs, MP3 files and DAISY files.

For products that create DAISY formats see DAISY Systems.

Table comparing audio playback products and prices

American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Avenue, PO Box 6085, Louisville, Kentucky 40206-0085, USA.
Tel: +1 502 895 2405
Fax: +1 502 899 2274
Email: info@aph.org
Web: www.aph.org/

Book Port
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Book PortTM is a flexible book reading device that consists of a small, portable unit with a keypad and earbuds, plus accompanying software. It features both text-to-speech capabilities and digital audio support. This means you may read electronic files (with synthetic speech) or digital recorded books (with human speech). The unit contains state-of-the-art hardware such as a universal serial (USB) connector and a CompactFlash card slot for removable mass storage. Book Port also acts as a recorder, letting you take audio notes on the material you read. The included software and cable lets you use your PC to transfer material to Book Port. You can then disconnect Book Port and take it anywhere you go. Requires: PC with USB connections, Windows ME or higher and CD-Rom drive.
Ref: 1-07440-00
Price: $395.00
Last updated: 28/11/2007

Handi-Cassette II
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Compact talking book tape recorder/player. Features include: Digital Pitch Control (DPC); 2-track or 4-track play at either 1 7/8 inches per second or 15/16 ips (Talking Book speed); Built in mono speaker and microphone; Stereo playback through included headphones; tactile symbols on controls and touch checking of tape movement. Powered by electrical outlet, rechargable batteries or regular batteries.
Length: 171mm Width: 110mm Height: 57mm
Weight: 0.68kg
Ref: 1-07085-00 (US model)
Price: $170.00

Ref: 1-07085-01 (International model)
Price: $160.00
Last updated: 28/11/2007

Table Top Cassette Tape Recorder/Player
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Listen to Talking Books or commercial cassettes with this portable table-top unit. Features include: Digital Pitch Control; Play and record on 2 or 4 tracks and at 1 7/8 inches per second or 15/16 ips (Talking Book Speed); Built in mono speaker and microphone; Stereo playback through optional headphones; Tactile symbols on controls and touch checking of tape movement; Powered by electrical outlet or rechargeable battery pack.
Length: 11 1/8" Width: 9 3/8" Height: 3"
Weight: 4 1/4 lbs
Ref: 1- 07150-00 (US model); 1-07150-01 (UK model); 1-07150-02 (European model)
Price: $225.00
Last updated: 28/11/2007

Attainment Company Inc
PO Box 930160, 504 Commerce Parkway, Verona, Wisconsin 53593-0160, USA.
Tel: +32 2 465 56 94
Fax: +32 2 465 67 11
Email: info@attainmentcompany.com
Web: www.attainmentcompany.com/

StepPAD
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Works like a tape recorder and is ideal for recording step-by-step instructions. Users press “play” to hear the cue as often as needed. Press “forward” for the next step or “rewind” for the previous one. Instructors can change one step without affecting others within the sequence. Total 72 seconds of recording time. Batteries and clip included.
Length: 88mm Width: 52mm Depth: 12mm
Ref: AT-S01W
Price: $29.00
Last updated: 28/11/2007

Voice POD
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The VoicePod is an inexpensive digital recording and playback system ideal for photos, language cards and communication symbols. The VoicePod features 36 reusable, two-sided sleeves, each with an ID strip to access recordings. There can be up to 72 messages stored. Put the information you want in the sleeve: Language cards with words, phrases or sentences; symbols with text for talking PECs; or photos that tell a story. Slide a sleeve into pod and record up to a nine-second message by pressing REC button and talking into MIC. A record/lock feature prevents accidental erasures. Remove sleeve and put in clear plastic storage box. Student plays corresponding message by sliding sleeve into pod. Replay the message anytime the sleeve is in the pod by pressing PLAY. Attach the PRESS/PLAY bar for easier access to messages. Erase or re-record a message as many times as you like.
Ref: VP-10W
Price: $59.00
Last updated: 28/11/2007

Bones GmbH
Zentralstrasse 68, CH-8212 Neuhausen, Switzerland.
Tel: +41 41 726 42 70
Fax: +41 52 672 28 24
Email: info@bones.ch
Web: www.bones.ch

Milestone 311
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A portable all-purpose voice recorder, MP3 and Daisy player. The credit card sized player has been designed to be simple to use and has a black face with five large contrasting ivory colour tactile control buttons. It has excellent sound quality, plus audio and voice announcements to aid navigation. Features: full navigation features and controls similar to a Daisy CD player; USB 1.1 interface for direct connection to a personal computer running Windows XP, 2000, (Windows 98 USB driver available), using Windows Explorer or Mac 0SX for file transfer and data backup; supplied with battery charger, lanyard, USB cable, printed manual and a 2 Gigabyte SD memory card; direct ''go to'' the end and beginning of books. Time jump forward and back in 5-minute intervals; insert, use and remove up to 120 bookmarks per book. History function will go to the last 15 places you were reading from.
Last updated: 28/11/2007

GaiShan Technology Pte. Ltd.
1 Goldhill Plaza. #03-35, Goldhill Plaza, 308899, Singapore.
Tel: +65 984 895 03
Email: enquiry@gaishantech.com
Web: www.gaishantech.com

TellMate
It has a one gigabyte memory and can be used as a music player, radio, clock, talking book player, voice recorder and label reader. The TellMate uses RFID tags that can be attached to, for example, different food items in a kitchen cupboard. Each label transmits a low-powered signal to the device which then plays the audio clip that has been recorded and associated with it. The labels can be re-used by recording a new audio clip.
Last updated: 05/12/2007

HumanWare
11 Mary Muller Drive, PO Box 3044, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Tel: +64 3 384 4555
Fax: +64 3 384 4933
Email: nz.info@humanware.com
Web: www.humanware.com

Victor Reader Stream
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This DAISY, MP3 and NISO player has a removable SD card for storing books, e-text files, music, and voice recordings and audio bookmarks; Ability to play NLS download books and NLS book cartridges; Built-in human sounding text-to-speech (Nuance Vocalizer ); Voice recording capability via built-in microphone or external microphone; Playback through stereo headphones or secondary small speaker; USB port to transfer books and music from your PC; User replaceable rechargeable battery providing 15 hours playtime; Built-in battery charger (four hours for full recharge). Advanced DAISY book features include: Four-arrow keys for navigation by chapter, section, page, and bookmarks; GOTO features to jump to a specific page, heading, book or bookmark; Browse bookmark list; Allows navigation of multiple books, MP3 folders, and voice notes; Audio bookmark with recorded voice note.
Price: £190.00 (excluding SD card)
Last updated: 18/10/2007

Victor Reader Wave
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Victor Reader Wave is a sophisticated DAISY talking book, MP3, and music CD player. Blind and low vision users will enjoy the familiar telephone-style keypad, tactile zones, and audio feedback for controls and navigation. Learning-disabled users will benefit from the large-screen display of navigation commands, book title, and section headings. Audio message and visual progress bar for reading position. Audio and visual indicators for volume, speed, and battery level. Variable-speed playback with auto-pitch compensation. Supports all DAISY navigation levels: Go to chapter, section, page, paragraph, or custom bookmarks. Supplied with: Earphones, power adapter, carrying case and rechargeable batteries. Batteries can be charged within the unit. Also runs on standard AA batteries.
Length: 148mm Width: 138mm Height: 29mm
Weight: 260g
Price: £195.00
Last updated: 18/10/2007

Plextalk
Shinano Kenshi Co., Ltd., 6-15-26, Chuo, Ueda-shi Nagano-ken 386-0012, Japan.
Tel: +81 268 28 8009
Fax: +81 268 22 5476
Email: info@plextalk.com
Web: www.plextalk.com

PlexTalk Portable Recorder PTR2
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PTR2 plays DAISY and various other digital audio book formats.Can also play music CDs, MP3s and Ogg Vorbis burnt into CD or memory card. Variable speed searching. Can record and edit audio files. Voice guidance will guide you to operate all functions. Other information such as elapsed time, remaining time, total time of the audio book, and possible recording time on the media are available on voice guidance. And also key describer function, which you can hear the function of each key is available. About 8 hours of recording and playback is possible under battery operation. Includes timer and caluclator functions.
Length: 205mm Width: 167mm Height: 50mm
Weight: 940g
Last updated: 28/11/2007

PlexTalk Player PTN1
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Features include: simple interface for ease of use; play music CD (CD-DA), MP3 and DAISY 2.0/2.02 audio books; slot-loaded CD drive; built-in sound speaker; bookmark; page/time jump; digital playback speed control without changing the pitch (50% - 300%); tone control; sleep timer.
Width: 220mm Height: 172mm Depth: 56mm
Weight: 1.2kg
Last updated: 28/11/2007

PlexTalk Player PTN Pro
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Features include: simple interface for ease of use; play music CD, MP3 and DAISY audio books; slot-loaded CD drive; built-in sound speaker; bookmark; page/time jump; digital playback speed control, tone control; sleep timer. Rechargable batteries give up to 5 hours of playing time.
Width: 220mm Height: 172mm Depth: 56mm
Weight: 1.2kg
Last updated:28/11/2007

PURE Digital
Imagination Technologies, Home Park Estate, Kings Langley, Herts WD4 8DH, UK.
Tel: +44 1923 277 488
Fax: +44 1923 265 748
Email: sales@pure.com
Web: www.pure-digital.com

Sonus-1XT
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SONUS-1XT is a DAB digital radio with iVOX™ voice feedback technology. It has a clear graphical white on blue display, station selection and volume knobs and push button controls for IVOX, presets, display-settings and power. It talks through available DAB stations, the time, alarm settings, and all aspects of setting up the radio and display information. Speaks with a real human voice and enables the user to switch off the speech. Features include easy to operate alarms and a backlit night time clock display and talking clock. A USB connector to keep the SONUS-1XT up to date by downloading software upgrades from an internet-connected PC. The clock updates automatically. Accessible sleep button turns the radio off automatically after a selectable period of time. Supplied with a mains power adaptor, telescopic aerial and an audio CD version of the user manual.
Width: 209mm Height: 143mm Depth: 87mm
Price: £109.99
Last updated: 15/08/2007

Sensotec NV
Gistelsteenweg 112, B-8490 Varsenare, Belgium.
Tel: +32 50 39 49 49
Fax: +32 50 39 49 46
Email: info@sensotec.be
Web: www.sensotec.be

Reporter BASIC
Basic user level high speed reading machine allows user to convert text to speech. Press 1 button to activate. The Reporter automatically detects paper size and text layout. Reads in 8 languages. Full functionality: move forward and backwards in the text, spell words out, ask the time and date, adapt the read and scan settings. Read and store texts on USB memory stick, floppy or hard disks.
Length: 530mm Width: 285mm Height: 120mm
Weight: 8kg
Last updated: 27/11/2007

Telex Communications Inc
12000 Portland Ave S, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337, USA.
Tel: +1 952 887 7498
Fax: +1 952 887 5595
Email: info@telex.com (general information); international@telex.com (enquiries outside USA) dtbooks@telex.com (DAISY Player enquiries)
Web: www.telex.com

ezDaisy Digital Talking Book Player
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The simple-to-use ezDaisy was designed to be portable, easy and have basic functions to make reading accessible for all. ezDaisy digital talking book player will play DAISY, Niso, MP3 and CDs.
Width: 133mm Length: 152mm Height: 40mm
Weight: 0.3kg
Ref: EZ DAISY 301329-XXX
Last updated: 27/11/2007

Professor
The Professor® desktop audio system is an all-in-one player for DAISY, consumer CDs, National Library Service (NLS) and consumer audiocassettes. It features an accessible radio with voiced buttons and audible station identification. The familiar ten-key phone pad allows consumers to enter radio station call numbers, place bookmarks or surf to chapters or pages or sublevels in talking books. Each button announces its function when active. High quality speakers produce stereo sound and an earphone jack provides a private listening option.
Width: 28mm Depth: 25mm Height: 17mm
Weight: 2.95kg
Last updated: 27/11/2007

Scholar Digital Talking Book Player
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This DAISY CD Player also accepts standard CDs and MP3s. The Scholar is lightweight and sleek in appearance with the primary controls easily identified by their larger size and tactile rubber construction, while secondary controls are smaller and feature a chrome finish. The player will provide instant access to specific page numbers and chapters in the DAISY structure, and includes a full numeric keypad with book-marking feature. An LCD screen displays disc details for "at a glance" teacher monitoring, and lightweight headphones are included.
Last updated: 27/11/2007

Tutor
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A portable player/recorder. Plays NLS formatted cassettes at 15/16 ips and consumer audio cassettes at 1 7/8 ips. Records both speeds in two track format. Push buttons are identified with variable size, tactile feel and all operational controls are accessible from a single orientation. Features include alkaline battery, AC adapter operation and dual headphone listening. (Headphones included).
Last updated: 27/11/2007