Sony CFMA50 AM/FM Radio Cassette Recorder

Rating:
Summary: BOXY
Review: MY KID HAS THIS PARTICULAR MODEL,SHE LOVES IT! I HOWEVER HAVE BORROWED IT AND FOUND IT TO BE CLUNKY.......RATHER BOXY.........GOOD SOUND ..GOOD PRICE I PURCHASED IT FOR MUCH MORE ..I STILL THINK CASSETTES ARE COOL......

Rating:
Summary: Think of it as the Sony-ES of portable radios
Review: The Sony CFM-A50 has a lot going for it. First and foremost, its construction quality is significantly better than everything else in its price range. It feels very solid, and the controls convey a real sense of precision and durability.

The radio reception of the CFM-A50 is much better than a typical boombox. Of course, being mono helps FM. On the AM band, reception is definitely well above average -- comparable to the GE Superadio III (which I also own), but quieter and with vastly more precise tuning than the GE.

Although it doesn't take as many turns of the knob as the Superadio to go from one end of the dial to the other, there's a tuning light on the CFM-A50 that gives a good indication of signal strength. There's also a backlight that comes on for about five seconds at the push of a button.

The speaker in the CFM-A50 could be bigger, but its sound quality is about as good as it gets for the size, with no fake bass emphasis. Like my Superadio, there is no residual hiss when the volume is turned all the way down (maybe just a teensy, tiny itty bit). That's a real rarity these days, and it helps justify the somewhat high price.

At first I thought the tone control, which has a very unusual effect, was a gimmick. But then I found it useful for cleaning up some muddy-sounding tapes of old radio shows. The tape mechanism is SO much better than what you get on a $40 boom box there's just no comparison, although so far I haven't needed the "slow-motion" playback button. (Maybe for somebody who needs to transcribe lectures?)

The surprise highlight of this product is the "ear-bud" style earphone, which can be stored in a snap-out compartment. The sound quality is truly excellent, especially for voices. I was so impressed with the earphone that I bought a second CFM-A50 to leave at work, so I could listen to the radio without disturbing anyone else. And because it's mono, my other ear is free to use the phone.

Finally, it's worth emphasizing that the CFM-A50 is a very attractive product. Normally, I'm not a fan of fake wood grain, but here it looks very nice. The sealed FM antenna adds a touch of elegance. Battery life has been good so far, but the power cord can't be stored inside.

So that's it! To sum up, the CFM-A50 is a compact, solid product with some unique features, some of which are more valuable than others. If you can live without stereo, and you want something special that's priced at a premium for its class, but is still a cheap buy, the Sony CFM-A50 is for you.