CD/MP3 Table Radios

Table radios with integrated CD players

Although Bose helped to define this market segment with its original Wave Radio, reviews say the Cambridge SoundWorks CD 745i boasts comparable sound quality, with a front-loading CD/MP3 player, 32-character radio station/CD/MP3 display for song titles/artists, automatic nighttime dimmer and sixteen station presets, all at a price tag that is $150 lower than that of its main competitor, the Bose Wave Music System (*Est. $500).The Cambridge SoundWorks table radio also includes an external iPod dock that lets you play music from your dockable iPod through the radio. The Cambridge SoundWorks 735i (*Est. $250) is the same radio with a connected iPod dock, but without a CD player.

We found several reviews that directly compare table radios from Cambridge and Bose, though few of these reviews compare the most recent versions. However, neither company has changed the basic design in years, so older reviews from the Wall Street Journal and Wired Magazine for Cambridge (SoundWorks CD 740) and Bose (Wave Radio/CD), still have some validity. In these reviews, the Cambridge table radio came out on top. The Wall Street Journal raves about the subwoofer in the Cambridge SoundWorks table radio, saying it beat out the Bose Wave Radio/CD in sound quality. However, PC magazine's Bill Howard assesses that the newer Bose Wave Music System (*Est. $500) sports slightly improved quality and features when compared to the older Bose Wave Radio/CD.

The Music System is akin to the Cambridge SoundWorks CD 745i, with a remote control, front-loading CD/MP3 slot, automatic display dimmer, song title/artist display and twelve station presets. The big difference is that the Bose system lacks an iPod dock. However, there is an auxiliary input jack, so you could hook up an MP3 player with a minijack-to-minijack cable. In reviews, experts say that the Bose Wave Music System continues the trend of great sound expected from Bose products, but it is hard to ignore the huge price difference between the similar Bose and Cambridge products. CNet.com wraps up their in-depth, complimentary review on the Bose by saying, "While you'll be overpaying for the right to own one, you won't feel terribly ripped off." Reviewers also seem puzzled over the fact that the Music System doesn't include a treble/bass control.

Boston Acoustics also competes with the above Bose and Cambridge table radios with the Boston Acoustics MicroSystem CD (*Est. $500). This table radio looks a lot like the Cambridge and Bose radios. Due to their equivalent price points, we found the MicroSystem CD most often compared to the Wave Music System. Reviews that compare the two seem to like the Boston Acoustics model a bit better, but the Wave Music System still receives more overall positive critiques. Editors of T3 -- The Gadget Magazine state that "Boston has beaten Bose at its own game," citing superb sound quality and radio reception. They also like the fact that you can control the MicroSystem without the included remote, unlike the Bose radio. CNet.com recommends the MicroSystem as well, calling it a better value than the Wave Music System. Aesthetics and connectivity are both mentioned as superior features. The only listed negatives are those that apply to both the Bose and Boston Acoustics table radios: high price and no satellite radio support.

A budget offering in this class of table radios is the i199 from iLuv (*Est. $155). Playlist Magazine's Mathew Honan says that you can't go wrong with this "well-rounded, iPod focused alarm clock." Audio quality is "mostly-great" with rich lower frequencies and clear midrange and high notes. However, a downside is that bass distortion occurs when the volume is maxed out. Perhaps most impressive is the i199's included feature set: a front-load CD player that also plays MP3s, Bluetooth capabilities and a built-in iPod dock with support for iPod video output. No EQ settings and lower sound quality when streaming with Bluetooth are some negatives, but CNet.com's Jeff Bakalar says that "you'll be hard-pressed to find (these features) on any other tabletop audio systems at this price."

If you are interested primarily in speakers for your iPod, and don't need radio or CD-player features, see the companion ConsumerSearch report on iPod speakers.