Customer Reviews

Boston Acoustics Microsystem AM FM CD Black

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

From opening the box to room filled with sound in minutes! The sound of the bass response was awesome! The FM radio pulled in stations with just the short wire antenna, my other panasonic unit missed. The remote control is stright forward and easy to use. The fit and finish of the unit matches the incredible sound. I believe the sound quality is superior to the bose units I have heard in two of my friends homes. Nice to buy something that exceeds your expectations.

I purchased the Boston Acoustics system in July 2005, and it worked fine until March 2006 when the display quit working. Fortunately, the warranty was still valid, so I returned it, receiving a new unit. Aside from minor problems with the display, this unit worked fine until November 2006, when I became familiar with the e-4 code. (I look e-4 up in the owner's manual hoping for helpful advice and find that I have a jammed CD. Well, I already had that figured out.) Sometimes the unit takes CDs, sometimes it doesn't. When it takes a CD, sometimes the unit ejects the CD, sometimes it doesn't. I've found tweezers to be quite helpful in these situations. The radio has consistently worked fine, however. My experience, then, is similar to that of other reviewers. When it is working properly, the Boston Acoustics system is a fine product. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work properly. Was this product rushed to market? I've owned Boston Acoustics speakers over the years, and they have always worked fine, but I'm going to be hesitant about purchasing additional Boston Acoustics products.

This Boston Acoustics system is to the Boston Acoustic Receptor radio what the similarly configured Tivoli Audio Hi-Fi is to the Tivoli Model Three or One, except without the wood finish and pricing at a hundred or more less. The features of both the BA and Tivoli "glorified" clock radios are practically identical, so if you decide one of these is for you, it comes down to style, sound, personal preferences. The Tivoli has a bare top (room for a telephone, iPod or magazines) with numerous buttons on the front face that require patient learning; the BA is much the same, with the controls on the top. (Either one comes with a remote control, which seems oxymoronic given its practical use as a bedside radio.)

The BA has sound resembling that of the Bose, more likely to impress the first-time listener; the Tivoli, while sporting an extra, down-firing woofer, initially seems less spacious, less bass-heavy. But it's a pleasing, balanced, "tighter" sound that may appeal to, say, a non-rock music listener over the long haul. The BA does have an extra input on the front, making for a handier iPod connection.

For my money, the BA Receptor is the outstanding value among similar radios made by Tivoli, Sangean, Eton and even BA itself. It's the most compact, the easiest to tune, the most versatile, and the 3-inch speaker is capable of putting an orchestra's entire double-bass section in your bedroom. As for the deluxe models--this one, the Tivoli, and the Bose--you're giving up flywheel tuning and adding more digital settings to fool with. If you think you can adapt to the 15 tiny, poorly labeled push buttons on the face of the Tivoli Audio Hi Fi, it's the machine of choice--style, dependability, and the "truest" sound, with very little "enhancement," a real monitor unit, or standard of reference.

I haven't heard the Cambridge units, but the company is responsible for the audio coming from the new iMacs--the best sound I have ever heard from a computer's internal speakers. So good, in fact, that I can disconnect my computer from my component stereo and feel not the least deprived. For that reason alone, I'd look into the Cambridge line as well.

The Boston competes with the Bose Wave Music System and the Tivoli Audio Music System. Whereas the Boston is available for $350, the Bose costs $500, and the Tivoli $600-$750. I had no opportunity to listen to any of them before buying. I chose the Boston over the Bose because the Bose can only be operated by remote, which would have been inconvenient for me. I really wanted the Tivoli with the high-gloss walnut cabinet, but $750 was more than I could afford.

I'm happy with the Boston. The unit seems well built and has funcitoned flawlessly now for about two months. My only complaint is the quality of the bass. On the back of the unit is a bass-adjustment knob. At any but the lowest setting, the bass is overpowering and boomy, overwhelming the higher frequencies and thus impairing clarity/definition. That boominess is held in check at the lowest setting, but the bass is still one-note.

Otherwise, this unit sounds very good. The headphone output is also very good. Headphone outputs from cheaper units I've owned have been unusably noisy, but this one is very quiet, and the music sounds tight, fast, and full-bodied. No boomy bass, either.

As I said, I had no opportunity to listen to the Boston, the Bose, or the Tivoli before purchasing the Boston. Still, I'm happy with my purchase and have no regrets whatsoever.

I bought this since I wanted audiophile sound and didn't have a lot of room in the bedroom. Also the unit had other good features: strong FM reception, alarm clock, MP3 capability.

I ordered the black one, but got the white one instead. Turned out that was a good mistake, the white one looks less geeky, and has scores higher on the wife-approval factor.

The unit is exceptionally well thought out, very simple, intuitive controls, things just work as you would expect. All details are very tastefully done, in stark contrasts to the monstrosities that I see in this category. The instruction booklet is very thin, but without missing anything. I wish all products were designed this way.

OK, so why 3 stars in the rating? Simple: in spite of all this, I returned the item, eating the shipping charge I paid. It simply didn't sound upto the level of what I would expect from a 500 dollar system. Its somewhat better than a boombox, but can't hold a candle to a decent shelf system (I have 500 dollar Spica TC-50 speakers, you can't even begin to compare the sound). The bass is good, probably the best part.

Ended up buying a Panasonic SC-PM19 instead. Not as stylish, but sounds better (you have to turn the equalizer completely off to get decent, natural sound), and no alarm clock. But it compensates by giving MP3/CD changer and a cassette deck.

Apart from the sound, which was very good, the quality of the engineering and workmanship on this Boston Acoustics product was well beyond what I thought I would get. Yes, it is expensive, and yes, it is worth it.

The Boston Acoustics radio is absolutely the best sounding system we have ever owned. Prior to purchasing this system we had a BOSE system. The Boston sound is so clear and crisp that you think the musicians are playing their music in your home. I would recommend this system over the Bose system!

The radio looks good but I don't know how it sounds yet. J&R sent me one with a nice large dent in the speaker mesh. Hmmmmm.... $399.99 with a dent? Glad I used my Amex. Also they want me to pay for return shipping?!?! Not my idea of good customer service. What is Bose's phone number?