Mini stereo system suggestions?

[Daniel L. Bateman]

I'm looking for a small system with good sound, FM radio with presets,
and an auxilary input. Playing CDs isn't important, and cassette
isn't either. I'm thinking a system like that should be around $45,
but I haven't found one yet. Any suggestions?

[MINe 109]

In article >,
(Daniel L. Bateman) wrote:

> I'm looking for a small system with good sound, FM radio with presets,
> and an auxilary input. Playing CDs isn't important, and cassette
> isn't either. I'm thinking a system like that should be around $45,
> but I haven't found one yet. Any suggestions?

If you could stretch that budget, look at tabletop radios from Tivoli,
Koss, etc.

Not stereo and no input, but you're in GE SupeRadio land price-wise.

Stephen

[RPS]

> > I'm looking for a small system with good sound, FM radio with presets,
> > and an auxilary input. Playing CDs isn't important, and cassette
> > isn't either. I'm thinking a system like that should be around $45,
> > but I haven't found one yet. Any suggestions?
>
> If you could stretch that budget, look at tabletop radios from Tivoli,
> Koss, etc.

Besides cheap clock radios and portable radios (ok for speech, such as
news, but not music), you don't have good choices at this price. I
would suggest waiting and saving a little more.

Tivoli Model 1 ($100) is very good but doesn't have presets. If yo
umust have those, look at the Boston model, around $150.

Otherwise look at these at J & R:

SANGEAN RCR-2 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio
SANGEAN Q RADIO Gold
SANGEAN WR-1 HiFi Table Radio

Good luck.

[Mr. Stabby]

RPS > wrote in message >...
> > > I'm looking for a small system with good sound, FM radio with presets,
> > > and an auxilary input. Playing CDs isn't important, and cassette
> > > isn't either. I'm thinking a system like that should be around $45,
> > > but I haven't found one yet. Any suggestions?
> >
> > If you could stretch that budget, look at tabletop radios from Tivoli,
> > Koss, etc.
>
> Besides cheap clock radios and portable radios (ok for speech, such as
> news, but not music), you don't have good choices at this price. I
> would suggest waiting and saving a little more.
>
> Tivoli Model 1 ($100) is very good but doesn't have presets. If yo
> umust have those, look at the Boston model, around $150.
>
> Otherwise look at these at J & R:
>
> SANGEAN RCR-2 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio
> SANGEAN Q RADIO Gold
> SANGEAN WR-1 HiFi Table Radio
>
> Good luck.


Those are interesting radios, but I really wanted something stereo.
What I want is something to sit on my desk and feed my computer MP3
output into, and also has an AM/FM tuner.

Something like the JVC FS-H100, but it would be nice not to have the
cassette taking up space and I don't listen to CDs either. I just
wish that instead of $100 for one with CD and cassette I could find
one for less money without those uneeeded features.

Thanks for the reference to J&R, I'd forgot about them.

[RPS]

Mr. Stabby > wrote:

> Those are interesting radios, but I really wanted something stereo.
> What I want is something to sit on my desk and feed my computer MP3
> output into, and also has an AM/FM tuner.

In terms of sound quality I think your best option is Tivoli Model Two
(the stereo version of Model One). However, it does not have presets.
If you mostly listen to one or two favorite stations that's no big
deal, but if you flip around among ten stations, that's different.

> Something like the JVC FS-H100, but it would be nice not to have the
> cassette taking up space and I don't listen to CDs either...

I know what you mean. However, one thought is that if this or similar
unit comes with a remote, then it can be stashed some distance away.

JR is good but it doesn't carry everything. Look around at other
retailers' sites. Also manufacturers (Sony, Philips, etc). Basically
you need a radio with two speakers, presets, and an input. Again, if
you can live w/o presets, Tivoli 2 is a great solution.

[Kalman Rubinson]

On 21 Oct 2004 07:41:30 -0700, (Mr. Stabby) wrote:

> Those are interesting radios, but I really wanted something stereo.
>What I want is something to sit on my desk and feed my computer MP3
>output into, and also has an AM/FM tuner.

Why not just a pair of powered speakers or an amp+speakers running
off the computer. No radio but there's always radio over the
internet.

Kal

[N]

(Daniel L. Bateman) wrote in message >...
> I'm looking for a small system with good sound, FM radio with presets,
> and an auxilary input. Playing CDs isn't important, and cassette
> isn't either. I'm thinking a system like that should be around $45,
> but I haven't found one yet. Any suggestions?

Suggest you look at local pawn shops, flea markets, and at eBay.com
for a used stereo receiver. Might be bigger than you like, but would
fit your needs and budget well.

Do you need speakers also? Then look at the same places as the above.
Keep in mind that with eBay, you'll need to pay shipping to.

[Daniel L. Bateman]

That was me too, apparently I or Google Groups is confused as to my
e-mail address and nickname...

[N]

(Mr. Stabby) wrote in message >...
> RPS > wrote in message >...
> > > > I'm looking for a small system with good sound, FM radio with presets,
> > > > and an auxilary input. Playing CDs isn't important, and cassette
> > > > isn't either. I'm thinking a system like that should be around $45,
> > > > but I haven't found one yet. Any suggestions?
> > >
> > > If you could stretch that budget, look at tabletop radios from Tivoli,
> > > Koss, etc.
> >
> > Besides cheap clock radios and portable radios (ok for speech, such as
> > news, but not music), you don't have good choices at this price. I
> > would suggest waiting and saving a little more.
> >
> > Tivoli Model 1 ($100) is very good but doesn't have presets. If yo
> > umust have those, look at the Boston model, around $150.
> >
> > Otherwise look at these at J & R:

I'll add a few comments. From memory, so I could be wrong:

> > SANGEAN RCR-2 AM/FM Atomic Clock Radio

Not familiar with this model.

> > SANGEAN Q RADIO Gold

No aux input. Mono speaker. Has stereo headphone output you could
attach to stereo PC speakers or to stereo amp or receiver.

I don't have a Sangean dealer I can the above at, but it looks good
and has good reviews on the web. Probably the best of these Sangean
choices and I think I've seen it for maybe $80 on the web, with some
searching.

> > SANGEAN WR-1 HiFi Table Radio

Not sure it has aux input. Mono. No presets. Appears to be mostly a
copy or the same idea as the Tivoli Model One radio ($100).

> > Good luck.
>
>
> Those are interesting radios, but I really wanted something stereo.
> What I want is something to sit on my desk and feed my computer MP3
> output into, and also has an AM/FM tuner.

Yet another way to go would be to add some powered speakers to your PC
and also connect the headphone output of a radio to those speakers.

AM/FM radios are small and cheap and if the radio has a stereo
headphone output, that would give you stereo FM at the very least.
(Stereo AM radios will be harder to find, assuming you can receive and
need to hear stereo AM broadcasts.)

> Something like the JVC FS-H100, but it would be nice not to have the
> cassette taking up space and I don't listen to CDs either. I just
> wish that instead of $100 for one with CD and cassette I could find
> one for less money without those uneeeded features.

You might be able to find a used minisystem locally that would suit
your budget. Or buy a used receiver and maybe speakers too, if you
need those.

At $45, what would I do? I'd buy PC speakers and connect them to both
my PC and the stereo headphone output of a portable radio.

Or I'd buy a used receiver and cheap headphones and not bother with
speakers.

> Thanks for the reference to J&R, I'd forgot about them.

[[email protected]]

Have a look at Target stores and look at the Emerson Simplicity NR-31.
It's a copy of a Tivoli Audio Model Two. The Emerson is only $29.99 the
last time I checked and has all the features that you requested, except
for presets, in your original post.