Killer look, killer sound
Written: Mar 13 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Clear sound, great and portable design, nice display, big volume control, sound boost option
Cons: Not strong enough for hard parties, remote control is cheapish, time settings are confusing
The Bottom Line: SONY has done it right again. CP100 gives you very good sound and stylish look in a very affordable package.
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| ivgin's Full Review: Sony CMT CP100 Stereo Micro System |
I bought this unit, because I needed a hi-fi with tape recorder, radio and input/output capabilities... I liked it's metallic look and easy to use controls. The small wooden speakers produce really impressive sound for their size. The whole unit looks and behaves solid. In a way, it looks like a desktop tower computer box - it has the same layout, only the ventilation holes are on top.
So, the central unit consists of three connected parts made to look like one:
1. Cassette deck / LCD Display. Features soft-eject mechanism and auto-reverse play. You can also play and record continuously (auto-reverse).
The really cool orange-backlit display becomes semi-transparent, when the tape is playing, or solid orange, when the radio or the CD is on. It also displays radio station names and says GOODBYE, when you turn the system off.
2. Radio Tuner / Common controls. Finds and reproduces both AM and FM stations. Has some 25 record positions, but since the remote control doesn't have number buttons, it's much easier to seek the stations, instead of saving and remembering them. The unit has RDS, which shows station names... I don't know what else it can really do. The unit has a big volume control, which gives you ability to set the strength of the 35W speakers from MIN (0) to MAX (30). A very small thing I don't like - the transition between 1 and 0 volume is too big, so when you listen to music at night and it's very quiet, 1 may be too strong for you and 0 is just muted.
3. CD Player. Well - you know, it plays CDs. Two really good design ideas have been implemented - a system of mirrors displays the CD, so you know if there's a CD, without having to open the tray. Another nice touch - if you have the tray open, and decide to turn off the system, it automatically closes.
In general the system works very smooth, plays the CD without a skip, recording tapes is a pleasure, once you read the manual. My only problem is with the clock/alarm - it resets every time I unplug it (not enough outlets) - and re-setting the settings takes some mental effort... Connecting it to a computer for continuous MP3 playback is also very pleasant. The phones jack is on the front side of the unit, where it's easy to reach.
PS. When you go out to hunt a hi-fi system, always take a favorite CD with you, so you can be sure you choose the right product for you.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ivgin
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Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 0 members
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