Sony CFDG505 CD Radio Cassette Recorder Boombox - Black Review

It may seem like this is just another boombox in a never ending list of products whose faces change each year. On the surface this unit has cheap plastic parts, a big ugly 'X', and a silly little display that is about as exciting as a clock radio from 1982. The parts such as the CD door could easily be destroyed by a one-year-old (meaning, the child would not find it very difficult at all).

So, why would anyone want this $100 hunk of plastic? And why was the unit I purchased the very last one on the shelf? And why in the world is it missing features like "MP3 playback", and includes archaic features like "cassette deck"? You've got me! Fortunately, none of this matters.

For the purpose I bought it for--plugging in a portable music player--this is the box that puts all the others to shame. For such a low price I doubt there is any product in the world that delivers this kind of power and bass response. Featuring 2 4" speakers AND a 4" subwoofer this unit is ready to churn out a wide range of hip-hop, dance music, and much more.

To put it bluntly this 20 watt system (4W + 4W @ 3.2 ohms, 12 W @ 4 ohms) sounds huge and is a perfect companion for a device such as an iPod. I consider this product fierce competition to some of the weak sounding speaker systems alluringly sold along side iPods. With a simple cable (1/8" stereo to 1/8" stereo, NOT INCLUDED) you can plug any portable audio device into this boombox.

Sony has successfully filled this corner for years, offering cheap boomboxes with good bass, and the very important "line-in"! Oh, and it comes with a remote control, plays CD's and CDR's, and has an AM/FM radio. It's fairly heavy and has a deep footprint: 20 13/15 x 12 7/8 x 9 1/2" (530 x 327 x 241mm). Despite any oddness, for this price I can't imagine being happier.

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Product Description:
Aggressive Power Drive Design - represents high quality and power with a new aggressive look

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iLive Portable Music System with CD Player and Dock for iPod (Black) Review

I think this is quite a bit over-priced for the quality. Almost all the radio stations come in with a lot of static, whether the volume is on low or high. At first I thought I could live with this, because I really bought it for the iPod and CD playing capabilities. Those actually work fine and the sound comes in quite clearly - much better than the radio stations. The iPod can be controlled with both the Boom Box controls and the remote, which I really like. What is a deal-breaker for me though is that I wanted to use this to listen to books on CD, with the ability to unplug it from one room and plug it back into another room as I move about the house. I thought that if I had batteries in it, it would keep playing when I unplugged it. That is not the case. As soon as I plug it back into an electrical outlet, it shuts off and I have to start from scratch locating my spot on the disk. If I were just listening to music tracks this wouldn't be a big deal, but with books the tracks are very long, and trying to fast forward to the spot I was at is too tedious. There isn't a counter to help me know where I was either. I haven't run into any problems yet with using the iPod and it seems to be great for that.

Some funny design flaws that may or may not bother people have to do with the carrying handle. When the handle is down, it blocks the radio antenna. In order to pull out the antenna, you have to first lift up the carrying handle, and then you have to tilt the antenna to the back in order put the handle back down, or you have to leave the handle up. But when the handle is up, it blocks the CD player from being able to open. In order to open the CD player cover to insert or remove a CD, you have to make sure the carrying handle is down. This is something one can live with, but it may annoy some people.

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Product Description:
Here's a great CD player and iPod dock with a boom-box form factor. Play and charge iPod your iPod. Listen to CDs or your favorite AM/FM radio stations, or connect virtually any audio device. Control iPod, CD, and radio from across the room with the full-featured remote. Flip up the handle and take your music anywhere.


A CD player and iPod dock with a boom-box form factor. Click to enlarge.
Run on batteries for use anywhere.
Remote included.
Play and Charge Your iPod
The IB319's Universal dock plays and charges most docking iPod models. While docked, your iPod will receive a charge, so when you're ready to go, so is your iPod.
CD Player
There are plenty of us who still have large CD collections in addition to our iPods. The IB319's top-loading CD player will play your CDs and burnt CD-R/RW discs, complete with programmable tracks, repeat play, and other standard controls.
AM/FM Radio
The digital-tuning AM/FM Radio lets you enjoy your favorite programming, and station memory presets let you quickly access particular stations.
LCD Clock Display
Keep track of time with the white-backlit LCD Display.
Aux Input and Headphone Jack
Connect external audio devices such as MP3 players with the auxiliary input, and enjoy private listening with the headphone jack, which bypasses the unit's stereo speakers.
Full-Function Remote
The included remote control controls docked iPods and the CD player.
Fully Portable
The IB319 is AC or DC powered. When you're near an outlet, use the included AC cord. On the go? Insert eight C batteries and you're golden.
What's in the Box
IB319, Detachable AC Cord, Remote Control, Brackets for iPod Players

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