The Volvo of Electronics! (Sony ZS-D5)

Member Name: bwana.mdevu

Product:	Sony ZS-D5
Date:	23/04/01 (645 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Dead easy to use

Disadvantages: It`s not free!

A highly respected and trusted brand-name , Sony for me represents the "Volvo" of the electronics world. Probably unexiciting products that are nevertheless very reliable .They will continue to do the job assigned to them for many years with little or no trouble and with a great deal of satisfaction to the consumer.

I`ve recently come back to Sony after dallying with other makers products for the last 15 years.Sony went through a bad patch for some time but a few years ago they began to re-establish their name in the world of Hi-Fi and Electronics.

I bought this Sony stereo radio c.d cassette unit at Christmas and am so far very pleased by what I`ve got.It`s sleek,compact,modernistic and clean-cut looks with steel-grey metal finish would not look out of place in any home,no matter how contemporary.

The controls are unobtrusive and well-positioned,with those for the c.d.,radio and cassette arranged vertically above and below one another.
The c.d. unit can be programmed for up to 20 track repeat/random play functions. The radio (LW.MW.FM)has lots of easily set pre-sets and it`s simple to scan from one frequency to another,either fast or slow
The tape will play in either direction with auto-reverse that allows you to play either one side of a cassette ,both sides one after the other or in a continuous loop for the masochists amongst us who can`t get enough of their favourite band!

What about its capabilities?As far as volume goes and sound quality produced you`ve got 2 x 4.5 W speakers and 5 different sound modes to choose from,giving you various mixes of bass,treble and mid-range frequencies.
Rich clear tones are produced from tape or c.d. and F.M. radio reception is excellent.The obligatory mega-bass is also present.
I`ve done some superb recording from c.d. to tape to use in the car - synchronised dubbing especially with auto-reverse makes it easy t
o do.The quality of tape made is almost indistinguishable from factory generated tapes ,even if you could still get them.

Digital recordings are possible for it has a m.d socket providing an optical-digital output to minidisc or c.d.recorders.
Its clock can be used to play or record at certain times .There is the usual sleep function as well as using the clock as a...well ..clock!
Of course no self respecting system would be complete without a remote and all the controls are duplicated on it.

All in all it`s a very easy unit to use and I can heartily recommend it to any average user.
The price ? You should find it on sale for between £110 and £130.Well worth the investment.

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