I fell into this radio as I was looking for something to play my Ipod Mini through, and the accessory speaker systems were all more $$ than this unit. Why not buy this and get the utility of the radio also? Besides, the Bose add-on speaker for the Ipod, while great-sounding is $300, and it serves no other purpose but to play for your Ipod. The Bose Wave Music System and Cambridge Soundworks Radio System cost more $ and don't sound any better in my opinion. This could be one of the best-kept secrets in the world of home audio.

Ease of setup

It couldn't be much easier to set up. Everything was packed carefully and in an easy to open format. Adding an external antenna was a bit of a challenge as there is no provision for an AM antenna. The internal AM antenna works OK. You should be careful in positioning the radio. I have it in our living room near a solid wall, but ideally it should be close to a window for reception. Playing the IPOD through it is as simple as plugging in a "mini-to-mini" plug into the Ipod's dock and into the aux jack of the radio. For the best stereo separation, move the radio and its separate speaker as far apart as you can. You'll have 15 feet of wire to work with.

Sound

It sounds GREAT. It really does a great job of filling the room with warm sound. The true test for me is that it sounds great at low volume and also doesn't distort at high volumes. I have it on a classical station and you can hear everything. With the Ipod it also sounds wonderfully. The stereo separation is very good, and the highs and lows sound very natural. Lots of "punch" from a very small form factor. There is an optional subwoofer that I did not purchase, as it was another $79 and it didn't seem to make a huge difference in the store. There was also a CD player module for $199 (ouch) but it doesn't play MP3s, a big drawback in my opinion.

Why would you buy a Bose Wave Music System or a Cambridge Soundworks Radio System when you can have this for a lot less? And it looks great in the room!

Bottom Line

I highly recommend this unit. It has a wonderful warm sound, and it also has a nice "old school" look about it. If you want to fill a room with music, this is the way to go. A great alternative to shelf systems and the like.

Recommended:
Yes