Dirt Cheap Audio Review: Insignia CD Boombox with AM/FM Radio

This compact radio / CD Player combination from Insignia is the go to sound system in my home office.  According to Best Buy, this is a CD Boombox with AM/FM Radio (Model NS-BBTCD01).  However, it is pretty slick for a boombox.  To me, it looks like a modern table-top radio.  The unit has Bluetooth connectivity, a USB input, and accepts an auxiliary input via a male-to-male 3.5mm AUX connection cable.  The CD player is a top mounted unit that you simply push to open and lay the CD in.  The radio antenna is retractable and easy to access.  Overall, the unit is sleek, provides decent sound, and is a budget-friendly alternative to a Bose radio.

The design of this Insignia product is a strong feature.  It looks like a modern piece of electronics and it fits in with sleek minimalist design principles.  It simply doesn't look like a boombox.  However, it has a carry handle that folds down into the body and is not noticeable for everyday use.  When I flip it over, I see that it has a battery bay for six C-size batteries.  As a "boombox," some Best Buy reviewers find it a little short on bass and boom.  It's really meant for use within a single room or office.  It does have pre-set equalization settings for Flat, Jazz, Pop, Classical, and Rock music.  A sound button on the left just below the bluetooth symbol cycles through them easily.

When considered as a conventional radio, the only drawback to this product is that it isn't designed as a full-fledged alarm clock.  There is no clock functionality.  The LCD display is bright when the unit is turned on and playing a CD and it seems like it would have been a no brainer to add a clock, alarm, and snooze button.

I bought this Insignia radio at a thrift store for about $20.  New, it is still available for $59 at BestBuy online.  Even at that price, I would consider it money well spent.  If you are looking for a nice simple radio and CD player for an older relative, I would also consider this to be a good choice. Another nice Bose alternative might be a bookshelf stereo system. They have been getting smaller and more compact.