GB17g

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $179.00 from Direct from Cambridge

Summary:
Great sound for size and money compares very well to bose system, better soundings than the new Boston Acoustics system, but not as good looking. Radio section only fair to good in my area. Would like cd player to begin at point in which you stopped like in a car system. Overall a great secondary system for the audio enthusiast and all most other folks would need.

Strengths:
Deep base far beyond typical table radio. With a broad sound. Remote control nice,but don't need it to operate unit. Headphone output.

Weaknesses:
Would like to have more than one aux input, and having an audio line output would be a plus. Lost right channel a few months into having it. Had to send it back to company for repair. It will be 3 to 4 weeks for return. For that long of a wait, it would be nice to have a loaner or at least for them to extend the original warranty for that period of repair.
05-06-05 Just a follow up to my first review, it turned out to be about two weeks for the return of my repaired unit. Not the 3 to 4 weeks I was told. So thumbs up for a fast turnaround.

Similar Products Used:
Sony boombox, Bose, Boston Acoustic system

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
After much research and positive reviews I eagerly awaited the arrival of the 88CD. I have never been more disappointed with an audio product. First the sound: I expected decent sound, but nothing over the top - I mean let's be reasonable, it's only a $300 boombox. When I put in a cd (Jacintha's Here's to Ben), I couldn't believe what I heard...on certain upper mid-range notes the speakers sort of warbled. I turned the bass down low -- but still the same impact. I couldn't believe it. Second The Radio: I live in Metro Atlanta and tuned into the MAJOR AM station here -- the static/radio noise was horrible. Tried to move the radio around as CSW recommends. A little improvement but only if the unit faced the wall. I really wanted this thing to work so I tried it in several rooms and positions. Just couldn't get rid of the static and radio noise. That means I couldn't listen to the AM station if I kept the radio. My $10 Sony radio gets better AM reception. No kidding. Then I tried some FM stations, with CSW's little FM antenna attached. This was better, but it had trouble pulling in several major stations clearly - that's right, $300 and I get static on major FM stations. I tried all sort of postions. I even hooked up the unit to my Monster Power Supply to see if that helped. Nope! It is obvious that the unit will need an external FM antenna to work properly on FM. And yes, my little $10 Sony again pulls in all the FM stations just fine. So how come this radio costs $300? Conclusion: This thing is going right back to CSW. I'm assuming that the speakers have a defect, so bad is the sound on some CDs at certain notes. But given the awful reception on AM (there is no way to attach an external antenna for AM), and the poor quality of FM without buying an external antenna -- remember that my $10 Sony has better reception-- I see no reason to try to get a replacement unit. If you are lucky to get a defect-free unit, make sure you also purchase an external FM antenna and be ready to not listen to anything on AM. Then you too can write a positive review as have the others here.

Strengths:
The positive reviews written by people who didn't get defective speakers on their radio and must live right next to radio station transmitters. Then perhaps the unit will work out for you.

Weaknesses:
bad quality control -- role the dice and pray all day and you might get a working unit. Awful, awful, no worthless, AM reception Poor FM reception unless you buy an external antenna.

Similar Products Used:
My $10 Sony has MUCH, MUCH better AM and FM reception. Go figure.....

Price Paid:  $200.00 from CSW mail order

Summary:
I haven''t been to this site for awhile and now noticed that all of the unfavorable reviews that were posted for this product have magically disapeared! How can a forum be educational if bad reviews are deleted? In any case, I own one of these radios and after working through the quality control problems am satisfied with it. The first radio had a defective woofer that rattled when playing cds, even at very low volume levels, and later rattled on all program material. The unit was replaced under warranty but I had to pay to send it back to CSW. To this day I have not been reimbursed for the shipping charge. The woofer on the replacement unit also rattles a little when playing certain cds so I avoid playing any bass heavy discs on the model 88. The tuner doesn''t cause this affect, however.

Strengths:
Excellent and sensitive FM tuner. Fair to good AM tuner. Wide function effectively widens the soundstage on program dependent sources if one is seated directly in front of the radio. Warm, rich sound that emphasizes the midbass. Suprising overall bass response from such a small unit. Turning down the subwoofer control a third of a turn flattens out the response. Far better sound then the Bose wave radio at less than half the price. Attractively styled and good remote.

Weaknesses:
Poor customer service when exchanging defective product. Suspect quality control: all of the previous reviews that complained about quality problems have vanished. Woofer that is not self protected against overloads.

Similar Products Used:
Proton clock radio, Bose wave radio.

Price Paid:  $149.00 from hifi.com

Summary:
wanting to downsize the equipment in my bedroom but not sacrifice too much sound, i listened to the bose wave radio in a bose store and was impressed. bought one, brought it home, was impressed with the size and the ability to bring in stations that my other tuner struggles with. after two days i had decided it lacked the bass, so i ordered a Cambridge Audio Model 88 (for half the price) and am much happier with the bass. while the bose case was more appealing AND the clock/alarm was a plus, in the end, the bass notes and the price for the model 88 won

Strengths:
nice sound from such a small box. good price for such sound and size. a battery was included from the factory for the remote (also a great small size). the ability to connect a cd player, tape deck or tv (and headphones) was a selling point. i think it is a better buy than the bose wave radio.

Weaknesses:
none really. it is what it is.

Similar Products Used:
bose wave radio

Price Paid:  $149.00 from Hifi.com

Summary:
The CSW Model 88 is the best table radio you can find anywhere. My family has owned the Bose Wave radio. I was looking to see if there was anything that could match the sound of the Bose. I read all sorts of stereo reviews online, and found the Kloss 88 to be very competitive with the Bose at a better price. I decided to dive in and get one, and I was more than pleased at what I got. Never before have I heard clarity and room filling sound from such a small radio. If you're looking to get a table radio, this is the one. Some say the lack of a clock is a draw back, but I wasn't looking for an alarm, I was looking for a radio, and I got that and more.

Strengths:
Superb sound, style, and value.

Similar Products Used:
Bose Wave Radio