# How come no one makes these? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-no-one-makes-these/167573 "2003-04-09T16:36:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-no-one-makes-these/167573/1 "2003-04-09T16:36:45Z")
I’ve been looking for a boom box that will play mp3 CDs. You can get DVD players that play 'em. You can get personal CD players that play 'em. You can get car stereos that play 'em. How come I can’t find a boom box that that I can take camping and listen to 'em without headphones? I found one once, but it didn’t really work so I had to take it back. Anyone know??? Is it a conspiracy??? (ha) ---
**Author:** ![oceans\_11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b2d939/32.png) [@oceans\_11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oceans_11)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-no-one-makes-these/167573/2 "2003-04-09T16:53:09Z")
Like [this](http://www.epinions.com/Sony_ZS_X3CP_S2_Sports_CD_Radio_Tuner_Portable_Audio)? ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-no-one-makes-these/167573/3 "2003-04-09T19:47:19Z")
I bought mine off the shelf from Best Buy for ~$50. I forget the brand although it was definitely not a major brand name. It works fine but they neglected to install a headphone jack so it’s not useabke at my office like I intended. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-no-one-makes-these/167573/4 "2003-04-09T20:17:25Z")
BTW, the Sony model that **oceans\_11** listed is also a good outdoors/camping model - my husband and I bought that for use when we go camping. It’s water resistant (not waterproof - don’t dunk it but a little bit of rain shouldn’t hurt), sturdy, and the subwoofers on the back double as rubber-padded feet when storing it upright. I forget if that model has a headphone jack or not. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2003, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-no-one-makes-these/167573/5 "2003-04-09T23:42:42Z")
I have one, too. Mine is a Sharp and has a 3-disc changer. It cost $150, and I got it at Costco. I like it a lot. ---
**Author:** ![hocow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hocow/32/4112_2.png) [@hocow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hocow)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-no-one-makes-these/167573/6 "2003-04-10T02:52:42Z")
I can’t see why you’re having trouble finding one, I have a boom box i got in 1995 and it plays mp3 cds just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-no-one-makes-these/167573/7 "2003-04-10T03:30:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Krys92gp \* > \*\*I can’t see why you’re having trouble finding one, I have a boom box i got in 1995 and it plays mp3 cds just fine. \*\* I think you’re confused. We’re talking about a _data_ CD containing MP3 files, not a _music_ CD created by converting MP3s back into CDA format. The real MP3 craze didn’t begin until the advent of Winamp in 1998. Before that, very few people had MP3s, and fewer still had the CD burners necessary to burm those MP3s onto a CD to put in their boombox. There would have been no incentive at all to create a boom box that could play MP3s at that time.