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Review: Boston Acoustics Solo AM/FM Tabletop Radio

Cool Style, Cooler Sound

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Review: Boston Acoustics Solo AM/FM Tabletop Radio

Boston Acoustics Solo AM/FM Tabletop Radio

Boston Acoustics
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If you're like a lot of people, listening to the radio is a common pastime. Whether you're listening to news and traffic in the morning, music and talk during the day or sports later on, radio seems ubiquitous. And there's always a need for a good radio in the kitchen, den, office or bedroom. Check out the Boston Acoustics Solo for uncommonly good sound and contemporary style that will fit just about anywhere in your home.

The Basics

The Solo is a very cool-looking AM/FM tabletop radio with a 3.5-inch speaker powered by Boston Acoustics' BassTrac audio processing that belts out surprisingly good bass from such a compact unit. The clock face with its radio controls and blue LCD display rotates so the radio can be placed vertically or horizontally. The Solo's AUX input makes it easy to connect a portable player or other audio device and a front headphone jack is included for private listening.

Dual alarms and a handy 'snooze bar' make the Solo a welcome addition to a nightstand. The gradually increasing volume of the alarm tone or music gently awakens a sleeper - you can even connect your iPod or music player to the AUX input and awaken to your favorite tunes (be sure to set the iPod alarm for the same wake-up time). Grab an extra ten minutes of sleep by gently touching the '360-degree snooze bar', a metal rim around the Solo's speaker grille.

The radio's controls are somewhat confusing at first, but easier if you adhere to one of my basic credos: If all else fails, read the instruction manual. I applied this principle and consulted the manual once or twice to get the hang of alarm times and settings; you'll find it easy after you try it a few times.

Spice it Up!

The Solo is available in two finishes, Midnight (dark gray) or Mist (white), but you can jazz it up with a new front grill to match room décor or color. Boston Acoustics offers seven grille colors for the Solo, available on their website for $9.99 each.

Crank it Up!

It's not a stereo component system, but Solo's big sound certainly belies its small size. Smooth sound and rich bass sound great with music – even AM radio sounds good and the Solo beats the heck out of a screechy clock radio or a thin-sounding portable player. When placed against a wall, the radio's rear port does a nice job of enhancing bass response. Boston's BassTrac processing sounds just right - full bass but not too heavy. The Solo's 3.5" speaker delivers great clarity and overall very balanced sound quality.

The built-in AM/FM tuner performed well, even pulling in a few hard-to-get stations and my iPod sounded great when connected to the Solo's AUX input.

The Boston Acoustics Solo is a great choice anywhere you need a tabletop radio or clock radio. It's a handsome piece with surprisingly robust sound quality and it won't bust your wallet. Check out the Boston Acoustics website or click Compare Prices link.

Features & Specifications

  • AM/FM tuner with 20 station presets
  • 3 1/2” full-range speaker
  • BassTrac® audio processing for rich, clean bass
  • Auxiliary input for portable devices
  • Stereo headphone jack
  • High contrast LCD display automatically adjusts to ambient light
  • Dual independent alarm clock with sleep timer
  • 360-degree snooze bar (touch-sensitive outer trim)
  • Time and settings are saved (no battery required)
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): 8-1/4" x 5-1/4" x 6-1/4”
  • Weight: 4 lbs.
  • Optional interchangeable grilles
  • Price: $99.99
  • Contact: bostonacoustics.com

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