Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)My wife and I had been looking at under the counter, space-saver CD/radio units for some time, with mixed results.They're not found in stores except around the holidays, and we received one such unit as a gift.I don't mind telling you that the gift, a GPX, was possibly the worst piece of garbage ever.Neither the CD nor the radio on it worked out of the box.Further investigation of Amazon reviews found some troubling trends among better-name manufacturers: while the sound was OK on these under the counter units, the reliability looked spotty at best.
We decided that maybe a simple countertop CD/radio unit would be the best bet after all.But again, we found little satisfaction at retail outlets.Finding a compact player for under $100 that sounded nice turned out to be trickier than one might expect.With the cornucopia of electronic stuff out there today, you'd think we'd be tripping over nice combo units at every step, but no...The problem with the ones at our price point was either that they were "mini-systems" that took up too much room (and too often looked garish and geared toward adolscents), or the bass response was nonexistent, or if the bass was there the treble and midrange sounded boxy.There was just no winning.
Credit to my wife for a little Internet research of her own.She found the Teac SL-D80 and liked it based on its looks.But we couldn't find it in stores.What they carried was the D90 unit, which came at twice the price.We tracked one of those down, liked the sound, and took a chance on the D80 being comparable.
We were wrong.The D80 is actually superior to the D90 in several regards, not the least of which being price.I assume the D90 is being rolled out as the new model, so I would suggest getting the D80 sooner than later.The D90 had some minor changes to the CD loading mechanism and the tuner and volume knobs, none of which we thought an improvement.We actually hesitated to order the D80 because the D90 CD loader stuck on the in-store models.No such trouble here.The volume and tuning knobs are straightforward analog knobs, and the "upgrade" knobs seemed kind of goofy and hard to handle.
What really stands out with this unit, aside from its sleek retro styling that fits with mod decor as well as older style, is the great sound (for the money).Don't expect some fabulous sound system.What you get is a unit that has a very even balance of bass, midrange and treble, with enough volume for a kitchen or small room.I popped on a copy of Van Morrison's song "Moondance," because it has bass, piano, guitar, and vocals, and I figured that song would give me a decent picture of the Teac's range.Not only was the bass forceful without overpowering, the upper range was fully represented and not at all boxy.Beyond the natural sound reproduction, I even noted that the instruments were well spatialized.That is, the instruments all sounded crisp and distinct, and sounded as if they emanated from different spots in the room.
That's the kind of performance you really don't expect from a unit at this price.No, you won't rattle the windows with this Teac, and it's not going to sound like a thousand dollar system.But at the price, I most definitely recommend it, especially for a kitchen or den.And get it before it's phased out entirely.
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Product Description:
Relive the era of sock hops and soda jerks with this classic Teac '50s-style stereo system. The SL-D80 combines a mid-20th-century aesthetic (witness the jukebox-like front panel and classic chrome highlights) with a modern touch (a top-loading CD player), letting listeners tap into their CD catalogues while fondly remembering when 45s were all the rage. The system also includes an analog AM/FM tuner with a rotary dial and a pair of integrated stereo speakers. It's the CD player that steals the show, however, as it not only plays your favorite tunes, but also offers 20-track programming and shuffle play functions, letting you create a custom soundtrack or mix up your selections depending on your mood.
Though the SL-D80 offers stereo sound, listeners can opt instead to connect a pair of headphones through the 3.5 mm headphone jack for private listening. And thanks to the built-in digital clock--which comes with its own alarm--listeners can wake up in the morning to either the radio or the CD player. Additional features include a sleep timer with 30-, 60-, and 90-minute settings; a rotary volume control; and a four-digit LED display. So whether you need a good tabletop stereo for listening in your basement bar or you're a nostalgia nut that needs a reliable CD system, the SL-D80's blend of classic and contemporary is an ideal choice.
The system measures 11.69 by 6.81 by 7.09 inches (W x H x D) and also comes in black, jade green, white, and red colors.
What's in the Box
SL-D80 stereo, user's manual.
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