Sony MHCEC98Pi Mini Hi-Fi Shelf System with Digital Media Port and 530-Watts RMS (Silver) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I did not purchase this from Amazon, but I wanted to write a review anyway.I have been looking everywhere for a stereo system that has clear sound, great bass, an iPod hookup and cd changer.If it had a cassette deck, that would be even better, but I could deal without one.I really liked the idea of an extra subwoofer.I wasn't going to purchase this system because it only has a 1 disc tray for cd's, but I figured that's where the iPod comes in for continuous music, and I should at least try it.Needless to say, I bought this stereo and hooked it up immediately (set up was a piece of cake).

I was immediately disappointed when the wires for my speakers were extremely short.Maybe only about 3 1/2 feet long.I like to spread out my system a little so I can get the best sound.Now, I'm not talking about placing speakers all around the room - they wouldn't even extend to the edges of my entertainment center.

The worst part of all, and the main reason why I am returning this system, is the sound is muffled.Even when I changed the preset EQ settings, the only one I was somewhat happy with was the "MP3 SURROUND"... but it still muffled my music.I could barely hear "s" sounds in the vocals... when I could, they sounded more like an "f".I should say, I am also very picky when it comes to electronics, but when I'm spending $200 + dollars, I think it's allowed!All I am asking for is crisp sound.

So, here are my pros to the system:
--Very nice looking stereo system
--DSGX feature really boosts the sound, along with the subwoofer
--LOVE the included iPod dock, which also charges
--7 different EQ settings for sound (my old stereo had 4)
--530 watts for loud sound

My cons, which severely outweigh the pros for me:
--Muffled sound.Vocals and music bits are not clear at ALL
--1 CD playing capability
--Wires and chords aren't long enough to spread out components to my liking
--Expensive for the things it is lacking

Hopefully this review will be helpful - I wish I had one that was this detailed when I was looking.Mind you, everyone has their own taste.

I would not recommend this system to anyone who is looking for crisp, clear sound.But if you like a nice strong bass and a lot of power... you may want to take a look.

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Product Description:
Sony MHCEC98Pi Mini Hi-Fi Shelf System with Digital Media Port and 530-Watts RMS - Silver .

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Sony LBT LCD77Di Shelf Stereo System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)My AWIA tanked a while back, and I was forced to get a new unit. AWIA was gonna be a tough act to follow. I'm not someone paid or 'encouraged' to write this either.

This is a pretty good unit. I hope it gives me lots of good years of service. It has a good, rich sound that fills my living room nicely. I have high ceilings and wood floors and the sound is good, not 'tinny' or high pitched. iPod, USB, aux. inputs are great. I like the audio controls O.K. but still want more than 3 layers/bands of an equalizer....The video screen is cool. GREAT picture. But it really has no appreciable function. Unless your in a dorm room maybe, but most folks probably have a laptop that has a much bigger picture anyway. It woud make for a decent digital picture frame, but it's still kinda small for that, and since it's sitting on a shelf or cabinet it's probably not gonna be in a great position to watch. At least that's how it is in my home. Still the picture is Very good.

SONY. All the bells and whistles on the unit, and no RDS?!?! (Radio Disply System) like on my cars radio?? How come that's not on here?? And why not a HD reciever? Those 2 things would have put this unit at 6 stars for me! And why not an option for some decent screen savers while the radio is on? If it's gonna have a screen saver, and the potential for great pictures! How come those LAME images? Since we can't play/see anything else while the radio is playing!

Forgive my whining...Those are just my ideas for improvements. For the money though, this is a good unit. It seems difficult to find a decent stereo these days, and this one fits the bill fairly nicely. Hope this helps. I'm satisfied. Oh and by the way. The distributor, and UPS got this there to me before the scheduled delivery date, and at Christmas Time!

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Product Description:
Karaoke: Karaoke-PON/Multiplex/Key control/Song Reservation/Scoring/Vocal-Vocal select (Only DVD Function)

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Personal Six-Station Listening Center, Gray Review

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(More customer reviews)When teachers have to buy their own supplies and equipment due to the poor economy, we need good value and prices.This listening station is just the right thing for my classroom.It works well, the price was wonderful, and it came in such a short amount of time, I was able to begin using it right away.I have always had excellent results when ordering from Amazon, whether it be items for my classroom or personal items.Keep up the good work. Thanks, Amazon1
Teacher in Florida

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Personal Six-Station Listening Center, Gray

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Yamaha MCR-230BL Micro Component System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been a big fan of Yamaha receivers for many years. If you buy towards the top of the range, you won't be disappointed. I still own a DSP-A3090, an R100, and an MCR-E300GLC mini-system. All have performed heroically over the years with virtually no problems. When I saw the MCR-230BL advertised, the USB and iPod inputs were the draw. I assumed that since it was a Yamaha product, it would have intuitive controls and at least one aux input (shame on me for not checking this out beforehand). First of all, the controls are a mess. To make very basic adjustments in tone, you have to dive into a menu system that should be an example to designers everywhere of how to frustrate your customers. I suspect 80% of people that buy this will never figure out how to adjust bass and treble. There should have been dedicated knobs for this but I understand the necessity of controlling cost. Regardless, there are many examples of good menu driven controls. In this case, the controls are awful. Secondly, there are no aux inputs. Forget connecting anything else to this other than an iPod and usb device. Thirdly, this is available with or without the speakers. I was intrigued by the unusal depth of the speakers so I bought these as well. Save your money. The speakers lack any semblance of realistic midrange, bass or smooth treble. I've owned many speakers and understand these are basically throw-aways but was hoping Yamaha might have produced a diamond in the rough among cheap speakers. No such luck. So what's to like? The iPod functionality is good. The remote controls most anything you will need to control in the iPod. It has an output for a sub. The usb input is cool. I've connected several flash dives and a 40Gb portable, usb powered hard drive. All worked well. I finally ran a mini-jack to rca cable from the headphone output of this to my other Yamaha mini-system so I get the better sound quality and controls. If you are considering buying this, I'd look at something a little more sophisticated from Yamaha or Denon, something you will be happy to use for many years. If you want iPod connectivity with controls, there are many iPod docks that can be connected to any receiver, some of which have remotes and other nice features but all of which will cost far less than this unusual mis-step by Yamaha.

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Product Description:
Yamaha MCR-230BL Micro Component System (Black)

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Panasonic SC-HC40 Compact Stereo System Review

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(More customer reviews)For a CD player with decent sound with an iPod dock for a small to medium sized room, this piece will work. I really like the size of it (very compact, smaller than I thought it would be) and the design of it. It's very sleek and looks great in our living room. The remote control is also better than I would expect for a system of this size. And, considering how strangely difficult it is to find a CD player with an iPod dock at a reasonable price, I'm glad I have this.

I only dock it down a few stars because of the sound. The sound is average. Despite some minimum controls like bass and treble, the unit just doesn't produce a crisp, sharp sound. It can definitely fill a room, which is great, but for true audiophiles and stereo-quality sound, I'd advise to look elsewhere (and probably at a higher priced unit). My wife loves it and thinks it's great. I, however, can tell the sacrifice in sound quality. It's not bad by any means, just a few notches below the best out there.

It's also more difficult than it should be putting in and taking out CDs.

For us, in its particular room, function (size and design) wins out a bit over quality. When I buy a bigger home with multiple rooms, I'll upgrade to a more traditional stereo system.

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Product Description:

Designed for iPod and iPhone users who want to enjoy their favorite songs with high quality sound at home, the compact Panasonic SC-HC40 home stereo system features a dedicated iPod dock that allows quick, easy connection of an iPod without the need for a cable. The remote control can be used to select music stored in the iPod, and music on the iPod can also be used for the wake-up timer. It's designed with a center sliding door, in a sleek glossy finish, and the motorized door slides opens, allowing the user to insert a music CD or an iPod.

The compact Panasonic SC-HC40 stereo system with integrated iPod dock (shown with no iPod below).

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Philips MC235B Flat Wall Mountable Micro Shelf System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I just picked this up and it's a very nice shelf system. It's not going to shake the walls at high volume, but if you were looking for that much power, you wouldn't be looking at a shelf system to begin with. The true test of quality sound comes at the lower end of the volume knob. Here is where this unit excels. No hissing or crackling noise and the bass is rich and pure and sounds dynamite. I played a burn job from mp3 files and I was stunned at just how good this unit really does sound! Mind you, this system does have a wee bit more power than comparable units, so you can crank the volume up loud enough for most people's tastes and there is no sound distortion at the high end, either. It's also pretty easy to mount on the wall, if so desired. It does come with a stand, which suffices well enough, if you don't feel like drilling into your walls. I only have one complaint and it's a minor one. While the speakers attach to the unit as seen in the pic, Philips should have also enabled you to be able to mount the speakers onto a wall, apart from the unit, to achieve a much better stereo sound. I have a speaker on the nightstand on each side of the bed and when I lie down to relax with some good tunes, it sounds simply fantastic. So, sound like a good deal? It is, and for a great price, too! Just make sure you have some extra speaker wire handy, as there's not that much attached to each speaker to begin with. Trust me on this. For the price being asked, in my opinion, sound byte for sound byte, this is one of the best shelf units out there. I listened to a lot of small systems in the up to and a little above the one hundred and fifty level and this system won hands down every time. A nice added bonus feature is that it was also the most eye appealing, too!

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Product Description:
The vividly chic Philips MC235B Micro Shelf System gives you dynamic sound performance packed in a sleek design that can be mounted on your wall.This micro audio system plays both CD and CD-R/RW discs.Digital Sound Control and Dynamic Bass Boost allow you to custom tailor your listening experience.The Philips MC235B also features a sleep/wake timer, as well as a digital AM/FM tuner with 40 presets.

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Panasonic SC-HC30 Compact Stereo System Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this sleek Panasonic Stereo System primarily to use with my IPOD and the IPhone that I have pre-ordered. I am using it in the kitchen and it takes up very little space on the counter since it is only 3-4 inches deep. For it's size, it produces a rich sound and the clarity of the speakers is superb. It has a full-function remote with buttons for many features that I'm sure I'll never use that others might appreciate. In addition to the remote, there are buttons for the main functions on top of the system that can be easily memorized (by placement) and accessed.

After attaching the AM and FM antennas, the various stations were easy to preset and sounded good.I have yet to play the CD player, however with the IPOD, I don't really plan on using it much.The system can be mounted to the wall if you want to put holes in your walls and have the power chord hanging down from it, however it takes up so little space, I didn't really feel the need.

The system looks high-tech and it sounds great.The bass sounds much better than you would expect given the slimness of the speakers.It has an AUX-In port on the back of it if you have an MP3 player as well.The only minor negative is accessing the IPOD dock.The first thing you need to do is hit the IPOD button which slides the front panel to the right exposing the IPOD dock.Once open, it has a lever that needs to be pushed and then it tilts out toward you for easy removal.While not difficult, it all takes time which I'm a little concerned about when I get my IPhone and I hear it ring. If you leave the IPOD dock open the silver CD portion of the front panel covers more than half of the right speaker and there is a noticable difference in sound.

All in all, I'm very happy with it and when not in use, it just sits there and looks cool!If you are only concerned about the quality of sound, I'd suggest a boom box with larger speakers such as the Sony MHC-EC69i Mini Hi-Fi Shelf System which is much cheaper, has an additional 60 watts and has a deeper bass sound that fills up a room (I have one of these as well).

7/19/10 UPDATE: Received my pre-ordered IPhone 4 and it is not compatible with the dock in the Panasonic.It displays "NODEVICE" despite being snuggly fit into place.Plan B: Buy an IPOD dock and an audio cable and plug it into the AUX port on the back of the unit.Still sounds great!

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Product Description:

Designed for iPod and iPhone users who want to enjoy their favorite songs with high quality sound at home, the compact Panasonic SC-HC30 home stereo system features a dedicated iPod dock that allows quick, easy connection of an iPod without the need for a cable. The remote control can be used to select music stored in the iPod, and music on the iPod can also be used for the wake-up timer. It's designed with a center sliding door, in a sleek glossy finish, and the motorized door slides opens, allowing the user to insert a music CD or an iPod.

The compact Panasonic SC-HC30 stereo system with integrated iPod dock (shown with no iPod below).

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GPX HM3817DTBLK Vertical Home Music System with CD Player (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I ordered this as a Christmas gift for my tin-eared octogenarian father to listen to his Lawrence Welk (yecch) CDs. I boxed it up less than 5 minutes after it arrived, so it can be returned.

The sound is so screechy it hurts your ears right down to your toes. Absolutely no bass response. Can't think of one music genre that would sound even mediocre on this system.

It looks cool, can fit on a shelf or be hung on the wall, and it has a smoked plastic door over the CD that rises via a motor, so I generously gave it two stars. However, the things that look like speakers on the outside of the grilles are fake, just inert hunks of plastic made to look like tweeters. Shame on GPX.

Please don't waste your money. Buy a system that you can listen to and inspect in a B&M store.

I ended up buying an iSymphony micro-system from Radio Shack for a similar price, but it has a remote control, bass boost, and a surprisingly rich sound for the price. Dear old Dad was happy beyond belief at how great his "music" sounded on it--he stares at the unit while the music plays the way folks watched their radios in the forties...spooky, but he smiles all the while. That made my Christmas merry!

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Product Description:
GPX HOME MUSIC SYSTEM

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Sony CMTBX20i Micro Hi-Fi Shelf System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had this system since early January '09, and paid $129+ tax. I am, overall, very satisfied with the purchase. There were no surprises. It looks and performs as represented on the Amazon page. I rate it a B+, or an 8.5/10 overall compared to similar priced bookshelf systems.

PRO:

*Great looking in basic black, fits (style-wise and otherwise, it's also quite small) into anyone's living/bed room or office. Nice bright, clear, easy to read display.

*Solid Sony construction and quality. Materials and assembly are first rate.

*Operation is straightforward and relatively simple. I learned basic functions in 5 minutes, and seldom needed to consult the fold-out style minimalistic manual.

*Sound is clear and accurate, and volume is ample enough to fill a typical room. Very little distortion or clipping even near top volume.

*Has controls or all basic functions on top of unit as well as remote, so you can still use it during times when you can't find your remote. Remote operation is intuitive AND logical. No stupid gimmick functions no one ever uses to get in the way, but does what it needs to do from across the room

*iPod mounts atop unit (unit charges iPod whenever connected). Slides in easily. Easy to view iPod display. Position is practical; iPod does NOT tend to get in way or fall out as they do on a number of other like systems/docks. There is another jack for additional input (like connect to an Apple Airport Express/Extreme to run Airtunes and listen to Pandora/streaming or tracks in non-iPod formats).

*Plays custom MP3 CDs, including displaying ID3 tags. This means (if you burn the disc correctly) that playing an MP3 CD, you will see artist/album, and then track name. I find this a nice feature, though I guess its becoming pretty common.

CONS:

*Limited bass response, with no provision for connection to external subwoofer. Most of the time not really noticeable, but for heavily bass driven music, you miss feeling the beat. Bass is there though, and is accurate and proportional. EQ is simple +/- separate treble and bass controls. Use of standard iPod EQ profiles has little effect on sound, though custom settings imported from iTunes DO work better.

*Speaker grilles not removable. Wiring passes through part board enclosures, and no strain relief mechanism, so it would be both a pain to replace speaker wires and over time more likely to need it. Wires are long enough for now at about 8 feet, and you could always splice more length in if needs be. Thats not ideal, as would be if you had easy access inside enclosures. I haven't tried the unit with other speakers, since the system impedance is 6 ohms and the various speakers I have access to are all 8 ohms (which is, or was, the standard, isn't it?).

*CD player recognizes only MP3 or CDDA/AIFF format discs/tracks. It really wouldn't have raised the production cost noticeably to include AAC, WAV, WMA, and most of all FLAC/ALAC.

I recommend this system to anyone looking for good sound (quality and quantity) on a budget, with the reservations mentioned about bass response. Likewise, its a solidly made unit that will last for years of use. I think it may be the best overall of its kind for use with iPod, at least until you get up to the Bose, Harman-Kardon, Denon, Bang/Olufsen class models (all of which retail at $350 and [way] up).

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Product Description:
Amplify the mood of any room. Unleash your favorite tunes from your iPod® music player with the CMT-BX20i micro hi-fi shelf system. Just plug your iPod into the dock and enjoy rich sound--perfect for adding music for parties are just relaxing around the house. A remote control with full iPod functions is included to manage your music from the comfort of your sofa.

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Panasonic SC-HC20 Compact Stereo System Review

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(More customer reviews)I was looking for an IPOD dock and found so much more in this little stereo system. I couldn't find any reviews on this but I own other Panasonic products and thought I'd give it a try and am glad I did. It has a recharging dock/player for an IPOD or IPhone, a CD player, a radio and a clock! Its sleek and good-lookin', small enough to fit on my dresser but has the power to send music throughout my second floor. I'm very picky when it comes to sound and was kind of worried that since I didn't spend over $100 that I wasn't going to be able to find something with great sound but this doesn't disappoint! Clear and crisp - I've heard layers of music on this that I don't hear from my bigger, much more expensive stereo system. This is a great little multi-tasker!

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Product Description:

Designed for iPod and iPhone users who want to enjoy their favorite songs with high quality sound at home, the compact Panasonic SC-HC20 home stereo system features a dedicated iPod dock that allows quick, easy connection of an iPod without the need for a cable. The remote control can be used to select music stored in the iPod, and music on the iPod can also be used for the wake-up timer.

The compact Panasonic SC-HC20 stereo system with slide-out iPod dock (shown with dock closed below).

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Sony MHC-EC709iP Mini Hi-Fi Shelf System Review

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(More customer reviews)I brought a Thievery Corporation CD to Frye's and tested every system in there. This had the best sound for the money BY FAR. I like my music to have powerful base and thought about getting the same system with the sub woofer, but the highs and mids were not clear on that one. This unit had great comprehensive sound--clear mids and highs with great base. All of the other systems in this price range couldn't handle high volume and had around 150-170W, but this one maintained good sound as loud as I could turn it because of the 360W. The only drawback is that it's a little bigger than I wanted for a shelf system.

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Product Description:
Experience room-filling sound with 360 watts (RMS) of power with the Sony MHC-EC709iP Mini Hi-Fi Music System. Features bass reflex speakers which allows for more powerful, accurate, responsive performance and the ability to charge, play and control your iPhone or iPod. Listen to CDs, AM/FM radio, or connect to other devices, from PCs, MP3 players and more.

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Coby CX-CD377 Micro CD Stereo System with AM/FM Tuner with Digital Display and Line-in Input (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Sorry, but this is not a good investment. Even at 40 bucks.Poorly designed and speakers are junk. Offer better speakers and adjust price downward, because fidelity is not good. Unit is just too big for what is does. In my view it has questionable electronics. Has a hum when nothing is coming out of it. May be a suspect power transformer...who knows?. It has an input for MP3, but no line out for perhaps better speakers.No headphone jack. Not very versatile. As far as I'm concerned, this is not a true microsystem. Has Limited capability. Pay the extra and get a SONY.

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Product Description:

The affordable CX-CD377 Micro CD Stereo System features a stylish vertical loading CD player. Its multi-function backlit LCD display shows track numbers and station readout for the AM/FM tuner. The full-range speaker system offers Dynamic Bass Boost and will fill your room with music.

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JVC UX-PL5 CD Micro Component System Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this unit as a Chanukah gift for my 8 year old grandson. He loves it and it is easy to use, his finding and using the many features it offers. I put one of my classical cd's into the unit and I was amazed at the sound quality this inexpensive unit provided. I am a connosseur of music owning top of the line stereo equipment in my home and I can assuredly say that this unit gives you much bang for the buck.

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Product Description:

Play all of your music--from CD to iPod--with the JVC UX-LP5 micro component system, which features 70 watts of total power and a retractable flip dock places your iPod front and center. In addition to music playback, the JVC UX-LP5 also includes a composite video output, enabling you to connect the system to your TV or compatible computer monitor and view video stored on the iPod.

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