Bose Wave music system (graphite gray)

Pros: Sound quality is unsurpassed...sleek design...alarm function is top notch

Cons: No bass or treble control...no buttons...doesn't scroll the songs when playing mp3 CDs

Summary: This is an absolutely fantastic desktop radio. At first, I was a bit dismayed when I realized this sounded as good (if not better) thank my large surround sound stereo system in my living room! That was until I realized a similarly priced Bose system would be about $4000. But I digress.

It's unbelievable that such rich, deep, and impressive sound can come from such a small radio. Everything sounds amazingly clean, no matter what the volume is. The light of the clock will automatically dim in low light (so it's not emitting this blinding light in a dark room). The alarm is great: you can set the time, wake mode (FM, AM, or CD), and alarm volume. The alarm comes on at a very low level and gently rises until it reaches the volume you specify. There is an AUX jack in the back, to which you can connect any type of component (TV, DVD, mp3 player, etc.).

There are only minor issues: no bass or treble controls, the lack of buttons on the player itself (relegating all use to a remote control), and the fact that the song names do not scroll in the display when you are playing mp3 CDs. The first two, however, are relatively insignificant. The sound is such that you won't adjust the bass or treble anyway if you could (perfect setting). And let's face it: this unit is $500. If you have that kind of money to spend on a unit like this, you are probably a grown adult. Which means this: take care of your remote like a grown adult and don't lose it. Simple as that. However, I would recommend paying an extra $40 and springing for the backlit remote that is 3 times larger than the original.

The sound of this player, the sleekness of the design, and the alarm function make this the best possible desktop radio/CD player you could buy.