Best Boombox

[hchytd]

Researching boombox options - essentially looking for a portable radio/CD player that is not too large, powered by batteries and/or plug and sounds great. Some suggest the Bose Wave Radio system (but $500 is too pricey for me). Others have rec'd the SoundWorks Radio CD 740 or the MAINstage. Anyone own/hear any of these? Any suggestions/links? Thank you in advance!

 

[markw]

Researching boombox options - essentially looking for a portable radio/CD player that is not too large, powered by batteries and/or plug and sounds great. Some suggest the Bose Wave Radio system (but $500 is too pricey for me). Others have rec'd the SoundWorks Radio CD 740 or the MAINstage. Anyone own/hear any of these? Any suggestions/links? Thank you in advance!

AFAICT, neither the Bose or CSW are portable and operate off of batteries. Most consider them table radios.

 

[Rickster71]

Agree with Mark on this one.

I can vouch for the SoundWorks Radio CD 740, I use it for an alarm clock in my bedroom.

This is $299. http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=aud_radio&item=53CW0320AA000
But as Mark said, it's a table radio

 

[corey]

If plugging in it is acceptable, I'd go with an MP3 player & a set of 2.1 computer speakers.

 

[Exit]

Maybe the docking stations below could be a table radio with the right MP3 player. (I am not sure if any variations of iPod and Zune get radiio stations as I do not own one.) It looks like these MP3 player docks are serious about sound and have a 6" passive radiator subwoofer, two 5" woofers and 2 silk-dome tweeters and 40 watts power.

This is made for iPod

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_20608IK500/Kicker-iKICK-iK500.html?search=ik500&tp=44

This is made for Zune

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_20608ZK500/Kicker-ZK500.html?search=zk500&tp=44

What do you think? I was thinking about getting the iPod dock for my son. Does anyone think these are a good bang for the buck for a 19 year old or are there better similar alternatives?

(Edit: From the first user review it sounds like these docks are not very good, but other reviewers like them. Sorry if I wasted your time.)