Sony CMT-CP100 Audio Shelf System
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- Included Accessories: Remote Control
- Playable Disk Types: CD (Audio)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Sound Type: Stereo
- Functions: CD Player Radio Tuner Cassette Deck
- Output Power: 70 Watt
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Small but powerful
Pros
All the features you need at an acceptable price
Cons
No equalizer, no balance setting
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
If you simply want a full-featured system which is small, powerful, looks good and doesn't cost much, this one's perfect for you.
Update July 6, 2001: There is now (at least in Europe) a newer model from Sony which is very similar to the CMT-CP1, called CMT-CP100. The main differences are that the new unit now has bass and treble controls, although it still lacks a balance control. It also has a window through which you can see the CD in the drive and the design has changed a bit. Unfortunately, there are also negative points: The CP100 now only has one AUX input and switching the inputs is now done by a rotary knob instead of buttons. All in all, I won't sell my CP1 to buy the new one, but you may consider buying this instead.
There are two types of audio systems on the market these days: Micro systems, well-designed but usually overpriced and lacking some features (tape decks, AUX inputs etc.) and Mini systems, which are cheaper and have more features but are usually of lower quality and look like they aren't exactly designed for adults. I think that the CMT-CP1 is a good compromise between these two categories.
For a start, it has not one, but two AUX inputs. These are labeled MD and VIDEO, but of course you can connect them to anything you like - your computer, video, TV, sat receiver etc. I personally have set the system up on my desk beside the computer (it doesn't take up much space). As you can imagine, it sounds much better than the usual PC speakers. One other feature is that it does NOT have a CD changer. Nowadays it's almost impossible to find a mini system without a CD changer and from my experience, these break down quite quickly. Except for that, although it's called a micro system, the CP1 has almost all the features of a mini. All it lacks are the flashy LEDs and useless gimmicks. The one big complaint I have is that, except for the DSG button, it lacks any kind of equalizer. Of course, it sounds quite good, even without being able to adjust the sound. The volume is powerful enough, which is surprising for such a small system. I seldom set the volume over 15, but it can go up to 30. If you really want to annoy your neigbors, you can add DSG, which enhances the bass and the treble and turns the volume up quite a bit.
The CP1's bigger brother, which is called CMT-CP2 as far as I remember, has a second tape deck, more powerful speakers and bass and treble controls. It's up to you to decide whether this is worth the price difference of about 50$. Both the CP1 and the CP2 are however lacking a balance control.
The CD player has repeat, shuffle and programmed playback and an illuminated tray, which may be useful in the dark. Oh yes, maybe it is worth mentioning that the CD player HAS a tray, unlike many other micro systems which have top-loading or vertically mounted CD units. The tuner can receive AM and FM programs and has RDS (in Europe). You can preset 30 channels, 10 AM and 20 FM. There are two aerial connections at the back of the unit, one for each frequency band. An FM wire antenna and an AM loop antenna are included. The tape deck is full logic and has Dolby B noise reduction and auto reverse (i.e. it can play the tape in both directions so you don't have to turn it around). The window of the tape deck doubles as a backlit LCD display. In tape mode, the lighting comes from the back of the cassette, so you can clearly see how much tape is left. In all other modes, the window itself is lit so the tape is completely hidden. This is a nice feature, but the numbers are quite small and thin so they're hard to read from a distance. At the back, besides the two AUX inputs, it has a line output and a digital fiber-optic output from the CD. It has a sleep timer and a clock, which is displayed when the unit is turned off. When you unplug the unit, it forgets the time, but fortunately it remembers the preset radio stations. Still, couldn't they include a battery back-up for both? It can be used as an alarm-clock, waking you up with radio, CD or tape. You can also program it to start recording from the radio at a given time. This only works with the radio, not with the AUX inputs, so programming it to record from sattelite radio stations for example is out of the question.
Some functions (like setting the clock or the timer) are only accessible via the remote control, so don't you lose it! Other functions however are NOT accessible using the remote. For example, if you connect it to your TV and switch to radio during ad breaks you have to go to the unit to switch it back to AUX. Other than that, the remote is well-designed and powerful. You can use it pointing in almost any direction and it still works.
To sum up, the CMT-CP1 is a really nice unit. The few drawbacks are outweighed by its qualities. In Germany you can find it for around $250 if you shop around a bit. If you have a small flat, if you want to put it beside your computer, or if you simply want a full-featured system which is small, powerful, looks good and doesn't cost very much, this one is perfect for you. If you need the second tape deck or the bass and treble settings, the CP2 might be worth considering.
There are two types of audio systems on the market these days: Micro systems, well-designed but usually overpriced and lacking some features (tape decks, AUX inputs etc.) and Mini systems, which are cheaper and have more features but are usually of lower quality and look like they aren't exactly designed for adults. I think that the CMT-CP1 is a good compromise between these two categories.
For a start, it has not one, but two AUX inputs. These are labeled MD and VIDEO, but of course you can connect them to anything you like - your computer, video, TV, sat receiver etc. I personally have set the system up on my desk beside the computer (it doesn't take up much space). As you can imagine, it sounds much better than the usual PC speakers. One other feature is that it does NOT have a CD changer. Nowadays it's almost impossible to find a mini system without a CD changer and from my experience, these break down quite quickly. Except for that, although it's called a micro system, the CP1 has almost all the features of a mini. All it lacks are the flashy LEDs and useless gimmicks. The one big complaint I have is that, except for the DSG button, it lacks any kind of equalizer. Of course, it sounds quite good, even without being able to adjust the sound. The volume is powerful enough, which is surprising for such a small system. I seldom set the volume over 15, but it can go up to 30. If you really want to annoy your neigbors, you can add DSG, which enhances the bass and the treble and turns the volume up quite a bit.
The CP1's bigger brother, which is called CMT-CP2 as far as I remember, has a second tape deck, more powerful speakers and bass and treble controls. It's up to you to decide whether this is worth the price difference of about 50$. Both the CP1 and the CP2 are however lacking a balance control.
The CD player has repeat, shuffle and programmed playback and an illuminated tray, which may be useful in the dark. Oh yes, maybe it is worth mentioning that the CD player HAS a tray, unlike many other micro systems which have top-loading or vertically mounted CD units. The tuner can receive AM and FM programs and has RDS (in Europe). You can preset 30 channels, 10 AM and 20 FM. There are two aerial connections at the back of the unit, one for each frequency band. An FM wire antenna and an AM loop antenna are included. The tape deck is full logic and has Dolby B noise reduction and auto reverse (i.e. it can play the tape in both directions so you don't have to turn it around). The window of the tape deck doubles as a backlit LCD display. In tape mode, the lighting comes from the back of the cassette, so you can clearly see how much tape is left. In all other modes, the window itself is lit so the tape is completely hidden. This is a nice feature, but the numbers are quite small and thin so they're hard to read from a distance. At the back, besides the two AUX inputs, it has a line output and a digital fiber-optic output from the CD. It has a sleep timer and a clock, which is displayed when the unit is turned off. When you unplug the unit, it forgets the time, but fortunately it remembers the preset radio stations. Still, couldn't they include a battery back-up for both? It can be used as an alarm-clock, waking you up with radio, CD or tape. You can also program it to start recording from the radio at a given time. This only works with the radio, not with the AUX inputs, so programming it to record from sattelite radio stations for example is out of the question.
Some functions (like setting the clock or the timer) are only accessible via the remote control, so don't you lose it! Other functions however are NOT accessible using the remote. For example, if you connect it to your TV and switch to radio during ad breaks you have to go to the unit to switch it back to AUX. Other than that, the remote is well-designed and powerful. You can use it pointing in almost any direction and it still works.
To sum up, the CMT-CP1 is a really nice unit. The few drawbacks are outweighed by its qualities. In Germany you can find it for around $250 if you shop around a bit. If you have a small flat, if you want to put it beside your computer, or if you simply want a full-featured system which is small, powerful, looks good and doesn't cost very much, this one is perfect for you. If you need the second tape deck or the bass and treble settings, the CP2 might be worth considering.
