Features:
- Measures 21.3 by 13 by 3.8 inches (W x H x D) without pedestal
- Detachable 2-way speakers
- 5 watts per channel
- 10-key direct-access remote
- SureWake for a graduated wake-up level
Description:
When fashion is as important as performance, the Fisher Slim-1500 compact stereo proudly steps to center stage. Catering to real-world fashion ideals, the Slim-1500 is true to its name, offering a CD player, a digital AM/FM tuner, and detachable two-way speakers--all with a profile less than four inches thick.The unit's pedestal is perfect for placement on top of a desk or cabinet, though other setups work as well. Using the included mounting bracket, you can hang the Slim-1500 like a picture, or you can dispense with the pedestal, unhook the speakers, and enjoy a more discreet appearance and wider stereo separation on a bookshelf or cabinet. (Click on the "See more pictures" link at the top of this page to view the stereo with detached speakers.) If you want the wide stereo effect without the wider speaker array, you can use the Slim-1500's surround button, which generates a more spacious and reverberant sound to simulate a wider stereo spread. The Slim-1500 is certainly no heavyweight in the sound-quality department; physics take a fast toll on sound quality when you start reducing the available speaker space. If the looks of the Slim-1500 appeal to you, though, the tradeoff is probably a favorable one--the sound is by all means decent, if a little flat, and the bass and treble controls provide some latitude for tailoring the sound to your preference. The unit can play fairly loudly, but bass-heavy material such as rock music will audibly distort at lower levels than you might expect. Fisher implements a number of thoughtful design features in this system. For starters, the Slim-1500 doubles as an alarm clock (with either radio or CD) and offers a feature called SureWake. SureWake lets you set a low listening level to fall asleep to at night (with automatic shutoff after 10 to 90 minutes) and also works with the alarm by gradually increasing the volume to room-filling levels at wake-up time. Especially cool is the inclusion of a pair of front-panel RCA-type jacks that, at the touch of a button, you can switch to serve as either inputs or outputs. This flexibility permits you to record from the Slim-1500's CD or radio to a cassette or minidisc recorder; you can also simply listen to your cassettes through the Slim-1500 when it is hooked up to an external deck (though we can't help wishing that the Slim-1500 included a cassette deck). The unit even includes a subwoofer output in case you want to jack up the low end with an external powered sub for more visceral musical involvement. The Slim-1500 also includes more typical features, such as 20-track programming for the CD player and 30-station presets for the tuner. On the downside, while the blue LCD screen shows CD track numbers and timing, actual time, and radio stations, it doesn't show volume level or bass and treble settings--even when you're adjusting those features. And since the tone controls are plus/minus buttons rather than knobs, you have to adjust tone controls by ear. While most of the Slim-1500's operations are intuitive, its method of loading CDs is not. You must set discs in the opened tray; when you close the tray's door, the discs pop into place. (Don't attempt to mount a disc directly on the black spindle.) The Slim-1500's remote is easy to use and well laid out, though take heed: its AA batteries are not included. --Michael Mikesell Pros:
- Stylish appearance
- Independent bass and treble controls
- RCA input and output
- Subwoofer output
- Intuitive layout
- Large volume knob
- SureWake offers flexible nighttime/morning programming
- Intro scan (for CD)
- Detachable speakers/pedestal
- Well-designed remote
- Spacious surround effect
Cons:
- No cassette deck
- No display for volume, bass, or treble settings
- Confusing disc loading
- Batteries for the remote not included
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