The Sony CFD-E100WHITE is an unusually shaped boom box with a style all its own. With its vertical-loading CD slot and squat, compact design, the words "cute" and "odd" come to mind. Whether or not you like the exterior, the CFD-E100WHITE is a simple but capable portable boom box.

The CFD-E100WHITE combines a CD player, AM/FM tuner and a cassette player/recorder. The disc player is compatible with CD-R/RW, but it won't play MP3 or WMA files. The usual shuffle and repeat modes are present, and you can program a playlist. For easy dubbing, the cassette starts recording as soon as the CD player begins to spin. The cassette can also record directly from the radio.

The CFD-E100WHITE has a pair of 4-inch full-range speakers, although the close spacing doesn't allow for a very wide stereo image. Switching on the Mega Bass enhancement boosts the low-frequency performance, but the overall audio experience is average at best. The internal amplifier provides 2.3 watts of power per channel, which isn't much, but it proves sufficient for a system of this size. With six C batteries, the CFD-E100WHITE runs (FM playback) for up to 20 hours.

A convenient remote control is included, and it will control the CFD-E100WHITE as well as a compatible Sony TV. The sound quality won't win any awards, but if the unconventional design appeals to you, some handy features make the Sony CFD-E100WHITE a respectable boom box.


Pros:  Design can be considered cute, handy remote control
Cons:  Design can be considered odd, unimpressive audio performance

Warranty
90 days labor, 1 year parts