Originally Posted by albatross
I always thought those were the "pingers" and that all data was contained within the CVR FDR boxes themselves.
Nope.
Different brand, but with reference to this picture:
The small shiny cylinders are the pingers, which are attached to bigger red cylinders which contain the actual data memory--and some appreciable shock mounting and armoring. The main electronics are in the L-shaped rectangular boxes, which don't actually need to survive, as they are finished with their function by the time serious disruptive forces arrive.
Disclosure: I'm not a pilot. I am an electrical engineer, with a few degrees from MIT.