Sharp SD-PX2

CNET editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Design : 8.0
  Features : 7.0
  Performance : 6.0
  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Steve Guttenberg
• Edited by:
  David Carnoy
• Reviewed on: 10/25/2004
• Released on: 05/15/2004

Unlike most bulky A/V receivers that take up half your equipment rack, Sharp's lean-profile SD-PX2 receiver/DVD player is just 4.5 inches thick and 14.5 inches wide. In fact, it's designed to be hung on the wall next to your flat-screen TV using the included all-metal mounting bracket (a table stand is also included). The high-tech aesthetic extends to the front panel's unbroken lines. All of the SD-PX2's controls are located on its right side, next to an illuminated clear plastic frame. While it doesn't have quite as much sex appeal as Bang & Olufsen's wall-mountable components, this gorgeous little system costs a lot less; we found it for less than $400 online.

The SD-PX2 plays CDs, Super Audio CDs, DVDs, and DVD-Audio, as well as most flavors of home-burned DVDs. Lacking a conventional loading tray (because the system has a vertical orientation), the disc compartment's door automatically slides out of the way when you press the open/close button, and you have to pop a disc onto the waiting hub as you would with a portable DVD or CD player. To retrieve the disc, you must reach into the bay and pry the disc off the hub, which can turn into a minor hassle for the less dexterous among us.

If we were judging the SD-PX2 as a home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) component, we'd be reasonably happy with its meager connectivity suite and modest power specs (Sharp's 1-bit, all-digital amplifier technology delivers five 35-watt channels). However, by midrange ($400 to $600) receiver standards, neither is great--though given the built-in universal disc player, we're a bit more inclined to be forgiving. On the output side, you get component/progressive-scan, S-Video, composite video, one analog stereo, and just one optical digital audio connector. Inputs are limited to two sets of analog stereo and two digital audio jacks--one optical, one coaxial. The cheesy spring-clip speaker-wire connectors represent a questionable cost-cutting move. And it's also worth noting that the rear panel's headphone jack won't be accessible if you wall mount the SD-PX2 instead of setting it on a stand or a table.

Continue reading

Compare prices for Sharp SD-PX2

This product is currently not in stock at any of our online merchants.

Email me when this product is available

Recent user reviews

• Average user rating: 0 stars Not yet available
  Back to product review
• My rating: 0 stars Write review

• Showing 2 of 2 user reviews

• 4.5 stars

  1 out of 1 people found this helpful

  "dump your clunky boxes,has style and all the bells"

  by yankeewhaler on August 1, 2005

• 3.0 stars

  ""The shape of things to come""

  on January 31, 2005

• See all 2 user reviews Write review

Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest

• alaTest.com

  Editors' rating: 77

  Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 19 reviews of Sharp SD-PX2 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 85/100 and users 82/100. Comparing these reviews to 31725 other Receivers & Amplifiers reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 77/100 = Good.

  Read full review

• newbie.org

  Editors' rating: 100

  Read full review