TEAC?! Who would've "thunk" it?!!

For several months, my wife and I hunted for a CD shelf system that met the following criteria:

1) Compactness
2) Wall-mountability
3) Good bass output
4) Attractive appearance
5) Low cost

At first, we tried a wafer-thin system from Philips, but the remote proved to be problematic and the sound was tinny, at best. Next, we tried out another system from Brookstone that featured clear (!) speakers, commendable bass, and an overall sleek look. However, this system proved exceptionally problematic, even after trying out three different stereo systems (for more details, read my review at http://www.epinions.com/content_185373462148). After the Brookstone debacle, my wife and I were discouraged, seeking to settle for anything...ANYTHING that would suffice.

Then, one day, while shopping at Costco, we happened upon a CD shelf system manufactured by TEAC. TEAC?! Isn’t TEAC up there with Emerson, Memorex, Sylvania, and COBY as companies that are infamous for manufacturing cheap, semi-cheesy products easily found in Big Lots, Ross, and other discount stores?! Would anyone buy a system from TEAC if they had enough money to buy a Bose, Harman-Kardan, or even a high-end Sony system? As I pondered TEAC’s questionable market name, I then realized that, like TEAC, Brookstone was also a relative “no-name” brand when it came to CD shelf systems, and we had previously settled for one of their systems. Therefore, it seemed perfectly reasonable, after abject failure with the Brookstone system, to try yet another no-name system. After all, we so enjoyed returning that piece of Brookstone flotsam THREE times! (note: I’m being sarcastic… I just wanted to clarify).

Anyway, my wife and I decided to purchase the TEAC MC-DX20B CD Shelf System, since it appeared to meet all of our criteria. First of all, it was exceptionally inexpensive at $125 -- $40 cheaper than the Brookstone system. Secondly, the large sub-woofer included suggested good bass output. Thirdly, the system (with its thin speakers and narrow profile) looked ideal for a shelf system, taking up only a modest amount of dresser acreage. Plus, the unit looked sleek and modern, with a vertically-loading CD player and large LED display, AND was wall-mountable! All of the criteria were met for only $125! It was too good to pass up!

However, was the TEAC MC-DX20B CD Shelf System too good to be TRUE? Well, we’ve owned the system for two weeks and, so far, we have had virtually NOTHING about which to complain . The system has thus far performed magnificently. As far as sound is concerned, the system features clear treble sound with good bass from the relatively massive sub-woofer (which can rest on the floor). The sub-woofer does seem to favor the lower end of the bass range of sound, which makes for subtler bass (which I wish could be boosted), but the stereo does make adequate use of the sub-woofer. If anything, any user can simply adjust the two-setting equalizer with high bass and “zero” treble to get greater bass output…

As far as operation and use is concerned, the TEAC system has proven to be straightforward, much like the Brookstone. All buttons are responsive, and you can start CD play immediately after unit power is engaged – something that the Brookstone stereo had difficulty executing. The “repeat” functions work as they should, and the seek and scan buttons do exactly that – seek and scan. Moreover, the remote control is very responsive, though the usage angle relative to the shelf system seems narrow: I would surmise that the unit responds to the remote if the remote is within 25-30 degrees to the left or right of the unit’s centerline, which is narrow. Nonetheless, remote range is good – it worked 10 feet from the unit, which was good enough for me.

Besides operation and sound, the TEAC system is compact and pleasing to the eye. Its wafer-thin profile suggests a technologically advanced unit, though the unit is also heavy and metallic. The weight of the system inspires confidence in its build quality, with plastics limited to the CD loading door and system buttons (as far as I could tell). Interestingly, the narrow profile of the speakers may have originated from the NXT sound technology used in their design: NXT technology supposedly ensures that the speakers will have a larger “sweet spot,” meaning that sound will emanate outward at broader angles. This may be technobabble, but I mention this point because the Brookstone unit also featured NXT technology – an intriguing relationship between the two systems.

Okay, okay, what about reliability and build quality? Unlike the Brookstone system, the TEAC system is not plagued by intermittent clicking sounds or “whirring” sounds coming from the CD laser lens moving across the CD. TEAC has manufactured a winning system that has weight, solidity, and no extraneous buzzes or clicking.

There is one issue I have with the TEAC unit – the LED display. One function that would have been helpful for this unit would be the ability to deactivate the LED backlight. Unfortunately, if the system plays any music at night in an otherwise dark room, the LED will illuminate the room, much like one may expect from a nightlight. This is easily remedied by placing a CD jewel case in front of the square LED display, but this is still a nuisance. Also, upon closer examination of the LED display, I could see several small white dots appearing on the display that should not be there. These single-bit artifacts are stable and do not seem to be increasing in number, though I am keeping my eye on the display…

Despite my minor quibble with the LED display, I have been more than impressed with the TEAC MC-DX20B CD Shelf System. I am elated with this system, which seems to be a quality unit from a “no-name” brand. TEAC has hit a home-run here, and I would not be surprised if TEAC ascended into the pantheon of big-name stereo manufacturers, if they continued to produce shelf systems like this one. Regardless of the low price of $125, I have yet to find another system that meets all of the other aforementioned criteria. My advice: run out to Costco (or to wherever it is sold) and buy this system before it gets gobbled up by unwitting consumers who buy it just to save money. Don’t just buy this system to save a buck or two – buy it because it looks and sounds like a system that is at least $40 more, AND has a build quality that is worth even more than that.