Boomboxes Best Price!

   

NAXA NX-249 Portable MP3/CD AM/FM Stereo Radio Cassette Player/Recorder w/ Subwoofer & Remote Control
From NAXA

   

New Portable MP3 CD Player Boombox USB SD MMC Input NR
From NAXA

The NX-250 is an easy affordable way to provide hours of music listening entertainment. It features a top loading programmable CD player (which is MP3/CD-R/CD-RW compatible), an AM FM stereo radio, and two high performance speakers. It is equipped with a USB port and SD/MMC card slot which allows you to use external memory devices which have audio files downloaded on to them. The auxiliary input jack allows you to connect and amplify iPods, MP3 players, DVD players (3.5mm to RCA cable required), or any other compatible audio device. Anti-shock protection guarantees your CD/MP3 disc won't skip when the player is subject to vibration. It has a 20 track programmable CD and MP3 file memory and has all major playback functions.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #66987 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Naxa

NXP SD Boombox review
I'm always looking for SD chip player peripherals. This one has a nice feature set, and sounds pretty good as well in SD chip mode. FM radio mode doesn't sound as good. Cheap analog AM / FM tuner and volume, but that fits the price. The blue LCD display is a little hard to read.

Added annoyance: SD songs can end a few seconds early with a small "pop." Not sure why it happens to some songs and not others.

I'd be willing to pay more for more features, like better radio, better sound, and a dual alarm clock for travel. Add a weather radio band and it would be the perfect traveling companion. I'm hoping this technology takes off because carrying music in the SD format is very convenient, more convenient than fumbling with ipod peripherals.

A shoddy, ill-concieved piece of junk
This has been one of my most regretted purchases ever. The USB socket died after the first month. The MP3 decoder is incredibly buggy -- the many songs (even whole albums) it wouldn't play turned out to be the ones with album art embedded in the tags, and I suspect that the developer had never heard of VBR, either, because some of the songs are cut off and others continue silently long after they are done. Most songs begin with 2-second previews of music from the upcoming song, except in "random play" mode, where there are random chunks of the preceding song between songs. The "random play" mode, by the way, isn't very random; it mixes up the songs, yes, but in exactly the same order every time, and only for the entire CD -- there's no folder randomization.

All-in-all, this purchase was a huge mistake, and has just about convinced me to get an iPod and a dock, next time.

   

Sirius Radio Calypso Boom Box– CLBB
From Clarion

Clarion CLBB Calypso Boombox

• Brand: Clarion
• Model: CLBB
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds

From the home to the car to the family picnic, Clarion's Calypso plug 'n' play Sirius satellite radio receiver defines true portability. The receiver plays Sirius's 65 all-digital satellite radio music channels--including such genres as authentic country, bluegrass, Latin, reggae, and jazz--along with 55 sports, news, and entertainment streams like ESPN, Radio Disney, and E! Entertainment Radio. At the same time, the receiver is small enough to transport handily from the living room (where it can be paired with a Clarion home kit) to the car (via Clarion's car kit). Both kits (at least one of the two is required to use the Calypso) include docking cradles, power adapters, patch cables, and satellite radio antennas. Listeners can even enjoy the satellite streams at the park or beach with the Calypso boombox, which features a docking slot designed expressly for the Calypso receiver.

Navigating Sirius's digital streams is a breeze thanks to the Calypso's 30 station presets and intuitive rotary control knob. The Calypso also lets listeners scan by category, artist, and song title, depending on their mood or tastes. And should listeners want to hear a favorite song, they can activate the S-Seek function, which prompts users when a pre-selected title is playing on any of the stations. S-Seek stores up to 20 favorites at a time.

Cosmetically, the Calypso touts an attractive piano-like finish and a techno-blue dot matrix display. The illuminated display is not only easy to read (with a 128 x 48 resolution), but scrolls artist, song, and channel information across the screen while you listen. It also offers two selectable font sizes for increased visibility, along with auto dimming and adjustable contrast controls.

Adding to the convenience is a built-in FM transmitter with 10 selectable channels. The transmitter makes car connection easy, as all you have to do to enjoy the satellite channels is find an unused FM frequency on your existing car stereo. The Calypso then broadcasts the Sirius stations over the FM dial and through your speakers. If you'd prefer to connect the Calypso directly to a stereo system, simply use the RCA audio outputs on the back of the docking cradles.

Other features include a built-in clock, an adjustable audio output level, and an infrared remote control. The Calypso measures 4.33 by 2.87 by 1.10 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.

Note: You must subscribe to Sirius satellite radio to receive the satellite radio signal.

What's in the Box
Calypso satellite radio receiver, wireless remote control, AAA batteries, user's manual.

Are these supposed to be disposable units?!?
I think the the Clarion Calypso is a nicely designed unit with a great menu system and wonderful features for a plug-and-play satellite receiver. I just wish I could listen to mine more. Like another reviewer here my unit suffers from a defect and getting it repaired is a frustrating affair. When my receiver gets warm it will throw up the "Acquiring signal" warning on the display. Sometimes after several minutes the unit will come back and play fine. Other times it will be out for the day. It is not an antenna problem or a signal problem. There is a defect within the unit itself. During the summer months it is pretty much dead all the time.

They should refer to this as a Sirius disposable radio.

Excellent satellite receiver!
I have to say I'm surprised by the negative reviews.... I have had my Clarion Calypso fo 14 months, and have not had one problem with it. Mine is on for an average of 12 hours a day too. I have been fairly rough with it as well. I start off by listening to it at home in the morning, then I take it into the car, drive to work while it is plugged into my car unit, and then I take it into my office, and plug it into my other home mount there. All in all, I have dropped it probably a dozen times,
but still no problems with it! I got another one for my brother for Christmas last year, and he has his for nearly a year now, and he has had no problems either, and he is a heavy listener of Sirius as well.

This system of buying a couple of different mounts (1 or 2 home mounts for your house and office, and 1 car mount for your vehicle) allows you to buy only one actual radio, thereby avoiding the costs of additional radios AND additional subscriptions. The Calypso has been a perfect fit for me.

One other good thing about this radio... the FM broadcasting of the unit is excellent, and has a very good range, letting me listen to Sirius on any stereo or radio throughout my decent sized home.

Service Great, Company the Worst
I'm now in my 4th year with Sirius. As far as the radio and the daily service, it is absolutely awesome. You will not want to return to regular radio again after a couple days of Sirius. The hardware and product they give you daily is phenomenal.

That being said, dealing with the company itself, specifically over the phone, is an absolute nightmare. The utter incompetence of most of the customer service people is staggering. I'd say the average I.Q. is around 25. Harsh, but it is what it is.

Three of my four years with Sirius, I have been lucky enough where I've had family/friends want to pay for my yearly subscription as a Birthday/Christmas present. The first time a family member called Sirius, paid for the year with his credit card, and we thought it was set. His credit card was double charged, and at the beginning of January when my plan renews, I was also charged. We both called Sirius and the issue was not resolved for more than a week.

The second issue was a similar issue. A family member called Sirius, provided a credit card, and paid for the year. Once again, a few days into January $150+ was withdrawn from my checking account (renewal price). Not happy again, we had to haggle over the phone for a few days to get it rectified.

This brings me to this year. A friend and a family member wanted to pay for my subscription. They both contacted Sirius and asked if there were Gift Cards or Certificates that could be used towards the subscription. Obviously b/c of past issues. Both were told by Sirius operators that the easiest way was to purchase Egift Certificates, which are sent directly to the recipients email with a code to redeem them. That was what they did.

On December 30th I went to redeem them. Problem is they are only good towards Sirius hardware and cannot be used for subscriptions. I called Sirius to take issue. I was disconnected by the first two associates, the third was yawning into the phone, and finally the fourth try I got someone who could help. The associate told me I could use the Egift credits and buy Gift Cards from the Sirius shop and have them sent to me. I stated that my account was set to renew in a few days and this would be a problem. He assured me it wouldn't be, and transferred me to customer care.

At customer care, I spoke with an associate who assured me my account would be frozen, it would go into invoice billing, and I simply had to just wait for the Gift Cards to arrive in the mail. I had a bad feeling but decided to go that route. A week later the Gift Cards arrived.

Before I called Sirius back to redeem them, I checked my checking account. Sure enough once again Sirius charged me already for the yearly renewal. Problem this time, I had just paid a bunch of bills out of my checking and it overdrafted my account. I was furious and called Sirius once again. They admitted fault initially, but then began to change their stance and stated that I never had the Sirius account frozen. Luckily I document everyone I speak to. Sirius even refused initially to refund the overdraft fees from the bank. I finally spoke with a supervisor who agreed to refund the fees and subscription price. To rub extra salt in the wounds, it will take 7-10 days, my checking account is now frozen, and I have no way to use it right now. To top it all off, I still never got an apology from Sirius. So to put it simply, don't ask for your subscription to be paid for as a gift, and avoid dealing with Sirius directly. It is nothing but a hassle that probably will cost you days of problems. This might actually be my last year with them because of this. Good luck if you have to deal with them.

   

Philips AZ1305 AM/FM/CD Boombox
From Philips

Whether in homes, factories, offices, airports, or on the street, it's hard to imagine a place where Philips is absent. What Philips wants is to make your life and work easier - and more fun! And Philips continuously explores new ways to improve products and to offer innovative products to its consumers. Philips. "Let's Make Things Better".PRODUCT FEATURES: Easy and precise control; Digital tuning with presets; Autostore programming; 14-key remote control; Impressive sound; Bass reflex speaker system; 2-way speaker system; Fully featured CD player; CD program/ shuffle/ repeat; CD-R/RW compatible.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #92591 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Philips
• Model: AZ1305

The AZ1305 CD/radio boombox comes in stylish black with blue accents, helping you look cool as you enjoy your favorite music or other programming from CD and FM/AM radio. The AZ1305 comes with a remote control, too, so you'll be able to switch tracks or audio sources even after settling into your favorite listening position.

The unit's CD player is compatible with audio CD-R/CD-RWs, so the box will play your home-brewed music mixes as well as prerecorded CDs. The CD player also offers 20-track programming, random play, and repeat play. At 1 watt per channel x 2, this stereo won't be shaking any rafters, but its ported, 2-way speakers with inset tweeters use their power well, delivering rich, full-bodied sound at modest levels. The AZ1305's digital AM/FM stereo tuner boasts 30 station presets (20 FM, 10 AM) and auto station scanning.

A dynamic bass-boost circuit lets you tailor the sound for listening to various different types of music or in different environments. The AZ1305 offers portable entertainment using 6 C batteries for the boombox and, in home or without, you'll need 2 AAA batteries for the remote control (batteries not included).

What's in the Box
Boombox, an AC power cord, remote control, a user's manual, and warranty information.

Good quality, good sound
For a little boombox, the sound on this system is more than adequate. Like nearly any boombox, I wouldn't want this to be my main stereo for filling a house with sound unless I was in a studio or dorm room, but it's great as a supplemental radio in the bedroom, kitchen, etc. I have had mine for about a month, and it has been a perfect stero for my bedroom. Nice sound (even on low volume), and the remote is very nice to have for a boombox.

While not well known in the American market, Philips is known the world over for making very good products. I wouldn't let the reviewer below, who had a SINGLE bad experience (as could happen with any product), to dissuade people from buying very good products from this company.

THIS PRODUCT IS AWESOME
The person who made the review about it being junk....they probably are not careful about electronics and ruined it right out of the box. THIS PRODUCT IS AWESOME! IT EVEN HAS A REMOTE! THE MOST EXPENSIVE SONYS DON'T HAVE THAT! EVERYONE SHOULD BUY ONE!

Piece of JUNK!
This device is flimsy and cheap. It broke within 1 hour of use. The sound is average at best. The error I got on this CD Player wasn't even listed in the troubleshooting guide.
STAY AWAY FROM PHILIPS MERCHANDISE.

   

Delphi Sa 10034 Skyfi Cd Audio System
From Delphi

The Delphi SA 10034 SKYFi CD Audio System is designed to dock your SKYFi XM receiver. It perfect for enjoying your XM radio at work, the beach, or just about anywhere you want. It also plays CD, CD-R/RW & MP3 and includes a AM/FM tuner.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1272 in Car Audio or Theater
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Delphi
• Model: SA 10034
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 8.50" h x 11.75" w x 21.75" l, 11.24 pounds

Offering surprisingly good sound for its diminutive size, the SA10034 portable audio system from Delphi is a terrific way to enjoy your XM satellite radio subscription and MP3 CDs at home or on the go. The system, just 20 inches across, is easy to carry, easy to position, and hard to turn off, thanks to its impressive abilities and engaging performance. The boombox is designed for use with Delphi's SA10000 XM SKYFi radio receiver, but it will operate independently of the receiver for CD playback or analog FM/AM radio reception.

Delphi uses a clever pivoting center unit that houses an XM receiver dock on one side and a CD transport/analog tuner on the flip side--just spin it backward or pull it forward to enjoy your desired source. As an XM radio interface, the boombox is first-rate. The XM SKYFi receiver locks in securely and the boombox carry handle is flexible but durable.

We were impressed with the bass output from the system's small, relatively flat speakers, and midrange and treble frequencies sounded smoother and more balanced than expected. We listened with ease for hours at a stretch. The system seems to process stereo signals to make them wider and more spacious than they'd otherwise sound from speakers fixed less than 10 inches apart, but the effect is not unpleasant.

Crucially, the boombox--unlike the XM receiver itself--offers a headphone jack, letting you plug the system into an integrated amplifier or surround receiver for listening through your usual speakers. (A minijack-to-stereo-RCA "Y" adapter cable is not included.) Sound from the headphone jack is not processed for wide stereo. XM navigation, wholly the province of the SA10000 receiver, is terrific, and the remote control supplied with the boombox operates both the boombox and your XM receiver, so you don't need both remotes on hand.

The CD transport appears to have been cheaply integrated, resulting in audible electrical noise whenever a disc is spinning or skipping to a new track. Luckily, discs spin only part of the time--just long enough to load the music into a memory buffer. With MP3 CDs, the buffer will hold a song or more. With audio CDs, however, discs will spin for about a minute, rest for 20 seconds, then commence spinning. If you're listening at a loud level to music that is fairly loud itself, you probably won't notice the noise. But with close or quiet listening to jazz, classical, or folk, the sputtering can be bothersome.

The CD player's LCD shows the number of directories (folders) and the number of tracks on a disc at startup. The display does not permit macro folder/file navigation, so if you don't know the folder and track numbers for the file you want to hear, you'll have to browse by ear or by specific file name as you skip through the tracks (folder names are not displayed).

We experienced occasional audio glitches during MP3 CD playback, even during stable indoor use. Still, it's nice to have the ability to listen to or shuffle through an MP3 CD, especially on the go: just load 6 D batteries, dock an XM receiver, and bring the included XM antenna and a single multihour MP3 CD for fail-safe musical enjoyment.

The boombox's XM's satellite reception is great. Outdoors, maintain clear overhead visibility (don't expect pristine reception under a massive bridge, for instance). Every location will be different, but it's worth noting that, indoors, we encountered no XM radio dropouts or service interruptions during our review period, either with the recommended south-facing antenna position or from an east-facing position used for much of our listening. The signal intensity varied, but reception was always solid. --Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Remote control operates both the boombox and your XM receiver
• Rugged design, truly portable
• Cool flip-around CD/XM receiver design
• Plays MP3 CDs, includes FM/AM radio
• Excellent tracking of disc playback while unit is in motion
• Surprising amount of bass from small speakers
• Natural-sounding vocals with clear treble reproduction
• Handle offers thermoplastic rubber grip
• Displays file names for MP3 tracks lacking ID3 tags
• Works with rechargeable batteries

Cons:

• Audio CDs are highly susceptible to electrical noise when disc is in motion or changing tracks
• Slow CD track changes while transport gets up to speed
• Occasional stuttering when playing MP3 tracks
• Does not display MP3 folder/directory names
• Volume up/down buttons rather than rotary knob for CD listening
• XM category up/down buttons hard to access on boombox remote

What's in the Box
Boombox, remote control, 2 AAA remote batteries, an XM satellite antenna, an AC power supply, a user's manual, and a quick-start guide.

Free your XM satellite radio from your car or home stereo with this unique, portable all-in-one boombox system. In addition to acting as a dock to the Delphi XM radio receiver (pictured, available separately), the Delphi SA10034 offers a built-in CD/MP3 player and AM/FM radio. This stylishly futuristic music machine is powered either via the included AC adapter or 6 D batteries, and it features two 2.3 watt stereo speakers with bass boost and an antenna with a 10-foot cord (which is required for receiving the XM radio signal).

Sitting between the two speakers is the SA10034 ingeniously designed audio engine, Just rotate this center component 180 degrees to access the XM radio dock on one side, or the CD player and AM/FM radio on the other. The SA10034's housing is constructed from durable ABS plastic, and it features an integrated rubber carrying handle.

The CD player offers random, programmed (30 tracks), and repeat play, and it is also compatible with CD-R/RW discs and MP3 audio files. The orange LCD will display song title, artist name, and folder number during MP3 playback. The AM/FM radio has a telescoping antenna, and it features a total of 30 presets (18 FM and 12 AM). Other features include a headphone jack, built-in clock, and a sleep and wake timer that can be set to either radio or CD.

What Is XM Satellite Radio?
XM Satellite Radio was the first satellite radio service to be offered in the U.S. It features a state-of-the art Broadcast Center in Washington, DC, two Boeing 702 satellites (providing 18 kW of power--the most powerful commercial satellites ever built), and approximately 800 terrestrial repeaters located throughout the continental United States for seamless transmission. Service is not available in Hawaii or Alaska.

XM Satellite Radio offers 100-plus channels, including 70 music channels, over 35 of them commercial-free, and 31 news, sports, talk and children's channels, broadcast coast-to-coast in digital quality. XM's programming partners include Sesame Workshop, NASCAR, Associated Press, ABC News, CNBC, CNET, BBC World Service and BBC Concerts, Radio One, CNN/Sports Illustrated, Hispanic Broadcast Corporation, Disney, and ESPN.

Nice theory, but don't bother
The mere thought of a combination satellite radio/cd/radio boombox delights the ears. I needed a CD player/radio AND wanted to be able to listen to my XM radio, so I gave this boombox a try. What a disappointment. The main problem is the background noise on the XM radio. The faint high-pitched hum only occurs when listening to the XML radio. The CD player and radio sound fine, however, CDs skip and sometimes hesitate to play. Removing the XM radio takes some practice. You snap the unit into the adapter, which is fine, but to remove it, you have to push on the radio until the unit slides forward. That was my experience.

If you don't already own a Delphi XM radio, consider the Audiophase satellite radio Skybox with AM/FM/CD/MP3 player. Or you could add a receiver to an XM radio family plan,[...].

Pros:
- Radio and cd player fidelity
- Intuitive buttons

Cons:
- Background noise
- Skipping CDs
- Awkward way to insert and remove XM radio
- Garish design

Multi-purpose unit that does it all
Very nice looking unit that plays satellite radio (XM), CD's (including ones you burn), and AM/FM radio. Highly recommended.

This one's going back.
When I hooked up my SkyFi radio in this device and turned on the unit, what I heard was a constant low frequency oscillating sound - the best I can describe it is a "motorboat" noise. I heard the satellite radio, but during quiet passages - especially on talk shows and interviews/comments on radio channels - it was extremely annoying. So, I tried muting the sound and the noise continued unabated at the same volume. You could mask it by turning up the volume, but on some jazz, classical, and talk channels it was always there, annoyingly so.

I tried using headphones, thinking it was a speaker problem, but it was still there. Then, I figured it might be a bad power supply and tried batteries - annoying background sound was still there. So this item is going back - it's a real shame because it's a nice device, but fails miserably in it's intended purpose (at least for me) and that is making satellite radio portable.

I tried AM and FM radio and the performance is surprisingly good. But, the manual is completely wrong as to how to store presets for these modes. The manual says that in order to choose what preset number under which to store the station you should hit the "tune" button. In fact, you hit the "seek" button. Until I stumbled on this, I was going crazy trying to get the manual's instructions to work on my device. Also, the "Menu" button on the remote control does NOT put the satellite SkyFi into menu mode as the instructions say it should. As it turns out I found about a half dozen places where the manual is dead wrong.

I did not try the device with playing a CD - audio or mp3. When I realized the device was useless to me for playing satellite radio, I gave up and decided to use my SkyFi home kit with cheap powered speakers.

A real shame - this had the promise of being a really nice device. By the way, Delphi "tech support" never responded to my inquiries. I understand by looking at other reviews that this is not unusual.