Creative CD740

Author's product rating:   

How is the Sound Quality?	Excellent
How is the Look & Design?	Excellent
Range of Features	Above Average
Durability	Excellent
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Stunning sound, small and discreet, great value
Disadvantages:	lack of proper equalisers

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Having read many good reviews of this product elsewhere I decided that it was time to go for it. At first I was excited but as the day of delivery drew ever nearer I started to get anxious and nervous - could this system really sound as good as the reviews suggest?

Anyway, opened the box and lifted it out - quick setup, i.e plug it in, and off we go. Now I'm no audiophile but I like my music to sound clear and crisp and there is no disappointment on that front.

The first CD in the slot is Rodrigo Y Gabriela and I am immediately blown away - the clarity is superb and even when turned up a few notches, the sound remains consistent with no distortion. I try a few more albums, Live at Leeds by the Who and Amy WInehouse's Back To Black and again the sound is superb - it is now so easy to pick the individual parts of the song apart. This really is a top notch sound box!

My dad has a Bose Lifestyle system which cost a lot of more than this and I'm sure the real professionals could pick out the differences but to me and my family their was no difference on the back to back to testing - this may sound a lofty claim but seriously, this is the real deal.

2 of the great features that really stand out for me are;

1) The ability to create a disc of mp3's arranged by album in folders and played is excellent. Scroll through the folders and choose the album you want to listen to, great! I have 15 albums on one disc meaning I can put in one disc and have a whole evening worth of great music!

2) There is a very simple but useful function called adjust loudness - 1 press instantly reduces the bass making the sound more appropriate for listening late in the evening. A great idea and something I have not seen before.

The only downside for some will be the fact that beyond a simple bass and treble adjustment there is no equalisers for adjusting the sound but personally I have not felt that I need to make any adjustment anyway.

So then, you've been thinking about buying this but can't hear a demo anywhere and are wondering if the sound can be as good as described - well, the answer is fear not, be brave and order this incredible feat of engineering - you'll discover a whole new side to your music collection and wonder how such a small box costing £180 can create such a vivid sound that brings the music alive.