Small Stereo, Small Sound, Huge Price...
Written: Feb 09 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Looks Good, Very Easy To Use, 3-CD Changer...
Cons: Expensive, Poor Quality Changer, Bad Sound
The Bottom Line: Read my 'Verdict'
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| soupcraze's Full Review: Aiwa CDS-MD50 Portable CD Player |
I was looking for a small gift for my grandparents. They were looking for a home theater system to connect into their KP32SF12. What i noticed was that they hand no stereo system in their room. Their rooms is filled with antiques, so I decided to buy a stereo that would match the room. I looked into Nakamichi and Sony at the Sharper Image. The Nakamichi was a little expensive ($1000), and the Sony CD player was $299, but it was single CD and was very small. So, I looked into other systems. I actually went to Radio Shack and checked out a couple of Optimus Systems. I still wanted quality, so then I came across the CDS-MD50 at a store. I called a friend of mine who has an Aiwa system, and it also happened to be the CDS-MD50. What luck! I asked a couple of weeks later if I could borrow it for a week when he was going on a business trip. So I took the system, and I put it into my grandparents bedroom, where I'd be spending a week. Here's what I found with the CDS-MD50:
Price:
The CDS-MD50 comes in at around $400, and you can probably also find it for less too. Personally, I don't think this is worth it. There are other larger systems that go for the same price. They come from Sony and Panasonic. Aiwa isn't nearly as good of a brand as Sony or Panasonic. This system really does cost a lot, $400. An arguement that some people can say is that it has a 3-CD changer! Well, I've seen some Sony 6-CD changers with huge speakers go for $200. They also have monster sound. The Aiwa CDS-MD50 doesn't compare in power at all. You can get a 5-speaker Sony mini-system for around $450! Loaded with powerful speakers and a whole lot of features. Another great system is the Yamaha GX-70 which costed $700 with its production price, it's no longer made, and I have seen a couple go for $400. You can get those really cheap now if you can find them, they all outperform the Aiwa CDS-MD50. The Aiwa CDS-MD50 isn't worth the price of $400, it lacks the features of other systems in the price range, and it's also pretty poor quality.
Warranty:
The Aiwa CDS-MD50 is backed by a 2 year parts&labor warranty from Aiwa. This warranty allows you to replace the system (hence durability problems) and return them. The warranty is well worth it, it really can save you.
Installation:
Installing this machine is no problem. Plug it in and you're all set! Setting modes or applying features is easy. This is much easier to use than a larger system, that's why it'd be good for my grandparents.
Looks and Styling:
One thing that attracted me to the Aiwa CDS-MD50 was the wood finish styling. It looked great in their bedroom. It matched the wooden antiques surrounding it. The main part of the system looks pretty high quality and sophisticated. This system really looks great, it can loom great in any room.
Durability:
Here's a problem of which many people suffer from. Aiwa really has problems with their CD changers. Andrew, my friend who owns this system said that the first night he played it, it was fine. Then, his CD changer couldn't read CDs at all. This happens actually with some Aiwa systems. But if it's still under warranty, it'll be replaced. Another problem that he suffered was that after HOURS of continous playing, it would release funny smells because it's burning, then it shuts off. But for the average player, that may not happen because he kept it for many hours straight. The Aiwa CDS-MD50 actually does overheat easily, and when it did that sometimes, it wasn't playing CDs correctly. I had to turn it off for around an hour to let it cool down. This doesn't happen with every system, but it's NOT uncommon with some Aiwa systems. If you want a stereo that will last, Sony and Kenwood have great systems in this price range. If you want to go a step higher, then Sony's upper end models and Yamaha are the best systems.
Sound:
The Aiwa CDS-MD50 really has problems here. The sound quality is downright poor. The system has two 25-watt channels, which gives 50-watts of total power for this system. Those kind of speakers in a system for $400? Not quite, it's very sad. The sound is the worst in its class I think, the Aiwa CDS-MD50 has no power. The sound ends up sounding very bland, and a lot more like a .MIDI file. This can barely fill up a room with sound, it's just terrible sound. How can a $400 have sound like this??? The Nakamichi and Sharper Image systems are a whole lot better than the Aiwa CDS-MD50! Even an Optimus system can outperform the Aiwa CDS-MD50. What were they thinking when they built this system? Ok then, I decided to put some classical music into the Aiwa CDS-MD50, something quieter than my classic rock. I put in Motzart... It didn't sound powerful, nor did it have that 'alive' feeling that some stereos have. I tried Gershwin and Vivaldi, and the sound was terrible throughout. Jack it up all the way, it won't bother your neighbors... This thing is just weak! The sound will disappoint you.
Bass:
No good bass, nothing here. The system can't make anything at all vibrate. The system's actual performance with bass and sound combined are very dissapointing.
Ease of Use:
The Aiwa CDS-MD50 is a very easy to use stereo. The buttons are very large, and all the features and settings are easy to apply. There shouldn't be any problems at all with using this system. Even my grand parents can use it! It's that easy to use.
Features:
The 3-CD changer is the only noticable feature I can think of. The CD changer itself is poorly built, both structurally and the way it works. You can expect to find a whole lot more features on a Sony system.
The Verdict:
The Aiwa CDS-MD50 is a good looking system which is very easy to use. I don't know if the quality is all that great, and the sound is just terrible. If you're going to spend $400 on a mini-system, go for Sony. The Aiwa CDS-MD50 is a terrible system, it has terrible sound, bass, and build. Stay away!
Recommended:
No
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soupcraze
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Member: Soup Enthusiast
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Reviews written: 488
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I enjoy many of life's passions... Music, medicine, people, and life itself.
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