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Classy compacts: high-end CD radios
John Falcone
John Falcone
Senior associate editor
Chances are, you have an ancient CD boombox or minisystem sitting in your bedroom, office, or kitchen. For a lot of people, it's a trusty old Aiwa with dual cassette decks--maybe even the same one that graced your college dorm room. But now that you already have an HDTV, a surround-sound home-theater system, and an iPod, it's time to bring your equipment upgrade to your secondary systems. While the phrase luxury tabletop radio used to begin and end with Bose, there are now a handful of high-end models from competitors such as Boston Acoustics and Cambridge SoundWorks. In addition to providing excellent AM and FM reception, each plays standard and MP3 CDs. Even better, each model includes line-in connectors so that you can listen to your iPod or any other audio source, such as a DVD player. Each one will set you back $350 to $500--but you'll be getting sound quality that is discernibly better than the Reagan-era model you're replacing.

Looking for even more features? Consider holding out for Polk Audio's I-Sonic. Due in the first quarter of 2006, the company's first tabletop audio system adds DVD playback, support for digital HD Radio reception, and--with a special antenna attachment and subscription--XM satellite radio.

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Product name Boston Acoustics MicroSystem CD
Boston Acoustics MicroSystem CD
Cambridge SoundWorks Radio CD 740
Cambridge SoundWorks Radio CD 740
Bose Wave Music System (platinum white)
Bose Wave Music System (platinum white)
Polk Audio I-Sonic
Polk Audio I-Sonic





Review date May 3, 2005 December 1, 2003 November 8, 2004 August 28, 2006





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Review summary Boston Acoustics' sublime-sounding MicroSystem CD is a better value than the identically priced Bose counterpart. Cambridge's feature-studded SoundWorks Radio CD 740 now plays CDs. Bose's Wave Music System improves upon the original in both design and performance. While its built-in DVD player is going to disappoint videophiles, the Polk Audio I-Sonic sounds impressive for its size and offers a bevy of cool features not found on competing tabletop audio systems.





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Basic Specs
  • CD player
• None
• 24
• None
• Micro system

Full specifications
• 11.9 lbs
• -1
• 1 year warranty
• 14 in x 9.9 in x 4.9 in

Full specifications
• CD / MP3 player
• None
• 12
• Right/left channel speaker
• Platinum white
• None
• 8.6 lbs
• Stereo
• Audio system
• 2

Full specifications
• CD / MP3 player
• 30
• Right/left channel speaker , Right/left rear channel speaker
• Graphite gray
• Stereo
• Mini system
• 4

Full specifications