Sharper Image MC502 Theater System
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Beautiful small system. Consider this before buying JVC or SONY
Pros
Extremely high quality for the price. True 3-way speaker systems. DVD PLAYER TOO!
Cons
Could use bass boost at low listening levels.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Buy this high-end performing micro system and then buy a new recliner with the money you'll save! For the price, it is unbeatable. Excellent quality.
I recently bought the Sharper Image MC-502. This system is referred to as a Bookcase system, but is almost small enough to be called a micro system.
The whole system measures only about 12-inches wide by 11 inches high by 11 inches deep. The Main unit is very narrow, measuring just slightly over 2-inches in width.
I bought the MC-502 from Sharper Image's Outlet Store. I paid only $101 for a reconditioned item. It's normal price is $249. As with all reconditioned items I've purchased from Sharper Image, this one came looking almost new. Except for a slight scratch on top of the main unit, I could not find anything else wrong. It works perfectly. It came with all the accessories one would find with a brand new unit.
Its accessories include a full function remote control, a pair of stylish stands to properly stand the main unit, a FM and AM antenna, A/V cables for connection to your tv or audio system, and a set of batteries for your remote.
This system played all my burned CDs. I have not yet tried a DVD.
After listening to this system for a while, I would have no hesitation to compare the sonic quality of this system with much more expensive systems such as the JVC micro system with "wood" speaker cones. Keep in mind, that JVC system costs about FIVE times what I paid for the MC-502!
This system has a Digital Tuner and plays CD and DVD! It can be connected to your main audio system and will deliver Dolby Digital 5.1 sound to your main system via Coax cable. This system also features standard line -in jacks and Dolby Digital Down Mix (2.0) line-out jacks. Composite, S-Video and Component Video out-jacks. Progressive Scan. This system also has a Subwoofer-out jack. A headphone jack is conveniently located in front, where it is easily accessible, not in the rear as it is sometimes located on micro systems.
I played this system at moderate volume levels and it sounds very clean and extremely well defined. In fact, comparing this system to my Onkyo system, this little unit sounds surprisingly close, especially in the critical midrange and treble.
This system's speakers are excellent. I am amazed at how well they are built for this price. There is a front mounted good quality "poly" tweeter, and a side-firing woofer, approx 5 1/2-inches. The woofer is a long throw type with a large foam or rubber surround. What really surprised me is the front 3 1/2-inch speaker is a true midrange. It is a sealed-back type with some type of special cone material, silver in color. Inside the speaker cabinet I found a true L-C crossover. That is far superior to the general capacitance crossovers used in many lower priced systems. There was even damping material in the cabinet. These speakers were designed for higher quality sound, that's for sure. The cabinet finish is like a fruitwood tone, I would guess. It is lighter than Cherry but darker than Oak. I believe the finish is a laminate type. The speaker enclosures are wood, not cheap plastic.
Amplifier power is rated 25 watts/channel RMS into 4-ohms. It is also rated 150 watts maximum, but I don't know what that means. That could be a useless PMPO rating, I imagine.
There are adjustable Bass and Treble controls, +/- 12dB, which I much prefer over preset tonal adjustments.
The Radio reception is very good from what I tried. A simple FM wire antenna is included which just plugs into the back of the main unit. I didn't even unwind the FM wire and I already picked up many FM stations.
The display is bright blue backlit.
The Volume control is a rotary knob type. The front face of the Main unit is an aluminum look, very modern.
There is very little I don't like about this system. For the price, it is exceptional, in my opinion.
It could use a loudness control or bass boost. Bass is very good at moderate levels, for its size, but tends to disappear at low volumes.
The display is hard to read when you aren't too close to it. That's a problem with many of the blue backlit types, I've noticed.
The DVD player will not play DTS, as far as I know. However, I did not try a DTS DVD either. I've noticed that many manufacturers are omitting DTS, which is too bad, because DTS offers such distinct channel separation in a multichannel system.
This is a very nice system at a low price. It's 3-way high quality speakers outperform the tiny full-range types found in some more expensive systems. If you are looking for a second audio/video system, this unit both sounds great and will look great in your office, study or bedroom.
The whole system measures only about 12-inches wide by 11 inches high by 11 inches deep. The Main unit is very narrow, measuring just slightly over 2-inches in width.
I bought the MC-502 from Sharper Image's Outlet Store. I paid only $101 for a reconditioned item. It's normal price is $249. As with all reconditioned items I've purchased from Sharper Image, this one came looking almost new. Except for a slight scratch on top of the main unit, I could not find anything else wrong. It works perfectly. It came with all the accessories one would find with a brand new unit.
Its accessories include a full function remote control, a pair of stylish stands to properly stand the main unit, a FM and AM antenna, A/V cables for connection to your tv or audio system, and a set of batteries for your remote.
This system played all my burned CDs. I have not yet tried a DVD.
After listening to this system for a while, I would have no hesitation to compare the sonic quality of this system with much more expensive systems such as the JVC micro system with "wood" speaker cones. Keep in mind, that JVC system costs about FIVE times what I paid for the MC-502!
This system has a Digital Tuner and plays CD and DVD! It can be connected to your main audio system and will deliver Dolby Digital 5.1 sound to your main system via Coax cable. This system also features standard line -in jacks and Dolby Digital Down Mix (2.0) line-out jacks. Composite, S-Video and Component Video out-jacks. Progressive Scan. This system also has a Subwoofer-out jack. A headphone jack is conveniently located in front, where it is easily accessible, not in the rear as it is sometimes located on micro systems.
I played this system at moderate volume levels and it sounds very clean and extremely well defined. In fact, comparing this system to my Onkyo system, this little unit sounds surprisingly close, especially in the critical midrange and treble.
This system's speakers are excellent. I am amazed at how well they are built for this price. There is a front mounted good quality "poly" tweeter, and a side-firing woofer, approx 5 1/2-inches. The woofer is a long throw type with a large foam or rubber surround. What really surprised me is the front 3 1/2-inch speaker is a true midrange. It is a sealed-back type with some type of special cone material, silver in color. Inside the speaker cabinet I found a true L-C crossover. That is far superior to the general capacitance crossovers used in many lower priced systems. There was even damping material in the cabinet. These speakers were designed for higher quality sound, that's for sure. The cabinet finish is like a fruitwood tone, I would guess. It is lighter than Cherry but darker than Oak. I believe the finish is a laminate type. The speaker enclosures are wood, not cheap plastic.
Amplifier power is rated 25 watts/channel RMS into 4-ohms. It is also rated 150 watts maximum, but I don't know what that means. That could be a useless PMPO rating, I imagine.
There are adjustable Bass and Treble controls, +/- 12dB, which I much prefer over preset tonal adjustments.
The Radio reception is very good from what I tried. A simple FM wire antenna is included which just plugs into the back of the main unit. I didn't even unwind the FM wire and I already picked up many FM stations.
The display is bright blue backlit.
The Volume control is a rotary knob type. The front face of the Main unit is an aluminum look, very modern.
There is very little I don't like about this system. For the price, it is exceptional, in my opinion.
It could use a loudness control or bass boost. Bass is very good at moderate levels, for its size, but tends to disappear at low volumes.
The display is hard to read when you aren't too close to it. That's a problem with many of the blue backlit types, I've noticed.
The DVD player will not play DTS, as far as I know. However, I did not try a DTS DVD either. I've noticed that many manufacturers are omitting DTS, which is too bad, because DTS offers such distinct channel separation in a multichannel system.
This is a very nice system at a low price. It's 3-way high quality speakers outperform the tiny full-range types found in some more expensive systems. If you are looking for a second audio/video system, this unit both sounds great and will look great in your office, study or bedroom.
