CFDS50 Portable CD, Cassette & AM/FM Radio Boombox

This is a Sony boombox that includes a CD player, a tape deck, and FM/AM radio. It can also take in sound from an external source through a 3.5mm audio-in jack in the back. Sound quality is good for the most part, especially for the price, although expectations shouldn’t be too high. The bass is a little weak for me even with the "Mega Bass" on. I tried headphones and it did a lot better. The unit's about a foot wide and about 3/4 foot deep, which makes it a good fit on a desktop.One thing I like about the CD player is it can play CDs with mp3 files burned onto them, in addition to playing regular audio CDs. It's also got features like repeat and shuffle tracks, and even lets you create your own "playlist". Some of the controls were not obvious so I actually had to read through the manual. Such as, on an mp3 CD, you can change the folders with the Tune +- buttons. You can fast forward and fast reverse songs by holding down the track change buttons (the double arrows). The CD player does not have a recording capability.On the other hand, the tape deck can record sound from the CD player, radio, or the audio-in. The tape deck has one shortcoming in the lack of auto-reverse. This was not a deal breaker for me however, since tapes are becoming obsolete and I'll not be using the tape deck a lot anyway.I was able to play music coming off my phone connected to the boombox’s audio-in jack, but the volume was so low it had to be cranked way up. It’s also got a 3.5mm headphone jack in the back alongside the audio-in jack. The radio offers both AM and FM with 30 presets. The unit can use 6 C batteries if you are planning to take it on the road.Other than that, the boombox doesn't really come with bells and whistles. No remote, no USB port, no equalizer, no clock. One thing I wish this unit had was those flashing LEDs that some of other boomboxes have. They could actually be nuisance for some people, but my 2 year old son used to love the LEDs on our old boombox that kept him entertained. For the price of $49.99 however, I think you can do a lot worse. Compared to other boomboxes in the same price range, you can't go wrong with this one.

If you are looking for a new boombox that is lightweight, easy to carry around and picks up radio stations really well this is a good option. I was able to preset my favorite radio stations, play old tapes and enjoy new CDs. The tape player is simple to use and tapes sound like they were made for stereo sound.I'd rate the speakers about an 8 out of 10 because they are better than other boomboxes I've owned and sound nearly as good as my AKG headphones. Whether I'm playing classical music or pop music the sound is clear and mellow even with the addition of the mega bass. I mostly use this in the bedroom to listen to music while I'm reading or going to sleep but it is also easy to move it around the house. I like playing music while I'm cooking in the kitchen. You can turn the volume up enough so you can hear music all over your home.Life is just more fun when you have music to listen to. My old boombox broke and would not play CDs anymore so I definitely needed to buy this. I'm very happy with it and hope it will last a long time.~The Rebecca ReviewP.S. This has started to malfunction so it didn't last a year.

I purchased this to replace a 30+ year old Panasonic. It had every feature I needed except a CD player, but that was easily remedied with a Walkman-type and a cable. I used the tape recorder feature quite a bit: I am a musician and used it for practice. When looking for a replacement, I found that they just don't make 'em like that anymore! This Sony is adequate and meets my needs, although it isn't quite as convenient to use (tape feature doesn't have auto-search, for example). Now to review the Sony on its own merits and not comparing it to my old Panasonic: It's compact and easy to move around. The controls are clearly marked and it's easy to figure out how it works. I like the fact that the controls are on the top which makes it easy to use when its sitting on the floor. The sound quality is adequate. I usually use it with ear buds or headphones, though. Bass response is a little weak even with the MegaBass turned on. If you're a fan of rap music, this isn't the machine for you. (I'm keeping my Panasonic for when I need to use the radio in a whole-room environment - like Christmas morning when opening gifts!) If you're looking for a compact, portable machine with CD, cassette, and radio, I don't think you'll be disappointed so long as you're not expecting more than these little guys are meant to deliver.

Arrived on first expected day. Even though "used" it looks buffed. And yet the most important thing is that it WORKS -plays cd & cassette tape. It fits on my shelf just like my old one which lasted 10 years. I like that can listen with my porter-pro earphones or not. I like the sound, but my hearing isn't very fussy. Mainly I keep it beside my desk, but it'll be easy to move if needed elsewhere. It's good advice to unplug it if not in use for a long time and during storms. May this one last ten years or more.