I've been curious about these new cheap Chinese boxes with the SD slots that have been popping up here and there for the past couple of years. For under $50 I couldn't help but give a couple of them a shot.

Far from real boxes, and they won't be winning any awards, but they're not as bad as you'd probably think; especially for the price ($26 and $34).

There is no tone control on either of them at all, and they're not exactly a killer old JVC or anything of the sort, but they're not unpleasant or shrill at all.

I very much like the idea of being able to play MP3 files though speakers, and that's the appeal of such a thing. I also find the combination of new and old technology compelling.They're about as basic as basic can get (no display), but functional.

The radio on the small one is about average, and the FM on the one with the tape deck is fairly good. The AM and shortwave bands on it aren't so great. Whatever local stations are around swamp the dial. Also for some reason they decided to mount the AM loop antenna like this:

I don't know what they were thinking, but that was a really bad idea. I tired moving to someplace else, but it doesn't really matter as the circuit isn't that great to start with.

 The tape deck works quite well though it was slightly fast.

Despite the lackluster AM and SW on the one, I'm quite happy with both of them, especially for the price. Of course they're far from the best, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that they're not complete junk and well worth the money.

Besides, there's just something about getting a new box that I just can't resist; even if it's not  "the real deal".

I plan on trying out a few more over time inculding one that sort of looks like a GE clone.

agree --these are all real nice tries -

the sound is no big thrill  --not bad , though,,

price is very low -

and its great to have brand new tape decks

a few months ago -

for some very short $$ -

got this one -

like the clasic //  basic bb look

I just kept seeing these things, so I couln't resist. I swear to you that's it's almost like an addiction. Can you ever really have enough radios? And yes, it's fun to get something new sometimes.

you profile location says ' centerville '

is that centerville of cape cod - usa ?

You're quite welcome. To be honest I didn't think anyone would be interested in such a thing, but I figured I'd take a chance.

I was looking at those too. I really like the design and overall look.

No, that's really just a take on an old Frank Zappa record. Truth be known I'm in Tampa, Florida.

Centerville.
A real nice place to raise your kids up.
Centerville.
It's really neat!

Churches.
Churches, and liquor stores.

i am down here in sunny florida also --

east coast -

bout 60 miles north of miami

lots of florida folk 'round here!

you too ??

i think the Innovative Technology one you have in the back has allot bang for the buck for its size and features...most of all i liked how they paid attention in securing your ipod in there...i had one and sold it...but if i had to buy it again i would...

If Apple would just put some half way decent firmware in their iPods I'd love that box. The only thing I don't like about it is that lack of tone control. You can mess around with Apple's almost completely useless pre-set "eq", but that's it. I loaded an older one with Rockbox, but unfortunately the box doesn't like it.

Fortunately you can run another player through the line-in jack, so it's not that much of an issue.

As far as storage goes I  do love the idea of being able to keep 120G of stuff loaded into it and ready to go, but the interface drives me insane as does the mindbogglingly awful, unintuitive, and bloated iTunes program. I'm thinking about scoring a Cowon X7 and just selling the iPos.

As you can probably see the door fell off, but (even though it looks a bit goofy that way) I'm glad it did because I can get to the controls now without having to open it every time.

You're right. That clamp does come in quite handy. Not only will it lock down on an iPos but just about any other player you want to put into it. Now I just need to find or build a one inch 1/8 to 1/8 cable.

I'm also tempted to put some bigger speakers in it..