However, if you’re looking for a classy bookshelf stereo with excellent sound quality and a variety of features, like CD, AM/FM, USB, NFC, and Bluetooth support, the CMTSBT100 makes for a great buy. Although not necessarily a dying breed, bookshelf stereo systems have been declining in popularity in the past few decades.
We tested the CMTSBT100 to see if it meets the needs of both fans of legacy and today’s audio formats, and what (if any) compromises have been made along the way.
Fortunately, Sony created an extremely attractive design with the CMTSBT100, with mostly black coloring and silver accents. The front of this unit is split between a clear upper half that features a blue LED display that sits above the silver-backed controls, CD tray, headphone jack, and USB port. Each black speaker, which attaches with an included cable to the rear of the center console, is housed in an all-wood enclosure. Although the fold-out operating instructions that come with the system are intimidating, with their detailed component, remote, connection, and function diagrams, the actual setup is pretty simple. The remote is chunky and looks out of place with the sleeker design of the main unit, but it does allow easy access to far more features than is possible from the controls on the center console.
As stated, there’s a lot of detail provided in both the operating instructions and on the remote control, but it’s only as complicated as you want (or need) to make it.
If you place a compatible device that has an NFC-compliant app on the top of the N symbol above the Sony logo on the front of the center console, it should automatically connect over Bluetooth. On the plus side, despite the small size of the screen, because of the nature of this display technology, it’s clearly visible and very easy to read even from across a room. Audio tests across all inputs produced excellent results, which were obviously dependent upon the quality of the source material.
We had similarly excellent results playing music over Bluetooth with our Apple iPhone Xs Max. At $200, the SMTSBT100 is not inexpensive, but it does offer good versatility and a nice feature set if some of its obvious limitations don’t affect you. Paired with its classy design (only dented slightly by the chunky remote), this sound system should definitely satisfy for the money. With excellent sound output of its own, the KEiiD stereo system is worth a serious look if its own mix of positives and negatives are more in line with your needs.
Customer Reviews: Sony 50W Bluetooth Micro Music System Black CMTSBT100
I really wanted AM and FM radio and easy access to a single cd player. While this is not perfect, it pulls in the most AM and FM stations of any radio I tried, which includes a borrowed $1,000 Onkyo receiver.
Additionally, the CD player works well, Bluetooth is quick to connect, and there is a USB input on the front of the unit.
I love the retro, brushed steel look with the large volume knob, but it is actually plastic. The remote control is a little chunky, but it fits in your hand well and is well laid out. I don’t think I would have paid $199 for this, but it offers more features and better performance than other more expensive stereos.
Sony CMT-SBT100 HiFi System Review • Audiostance
Their headphones and speakers are especially popular incorporating Sony’s XB or Extra Bass feature. Each speaker features a 4” low-frequency driver with a 1½” tweeter driven by the receiver’s amplifier at 25W Peak per channel.
This is due to Sony S-Master Digital Amplifier technology which produces bigger sound using less energy. While the CMT-SBT100 isn’t part of Sony’s XB range, it does have a bass boost feature.
The mid-range and high-frequencies are clean and clear with a decent balance across the frequency spectrum. There is nothing particularly interesting about the system while at the same time it isn’t imposing with any fancy colors or features.
The headphone output and USB port are conveniently located on the front of the CMT-SBT100 making them easy to access. The CMT-SBT100 features Bluetooth version 3 which is a little outdated but for this system works just fine and supports AAC and apt-X.
The built-in AM/FM radio enables you to program up to 30 presets (20 FM and 10 AM) of your favorite stations.
These buttons include power on/off, input function, Bluetooth pairing, stop, play/pause, track skip/radio tuning, and CD eject. The remote allows you to adjust all of the above functions but includes a separate button for each input making it quick and easy to switch between these. This is largely due to its affordable price point and incredible sound quality the CMT-SBT100 produces.
The speakers are just not big enough and you’ll be pushing the system to hard which will shorten the lifespan of the drivers. For small to medium-sized rooms and playing background music, the CMT-SBT100 will work just fine.
Voor 23.59u, morgen in huis
Alleen de Sony sets met een letter B zijn voorzien van DAB/DAB+. Streaming vanaf je tablet/smartphone met Bluetooth of NFC gaat prima.
Met mijn Nexus 7 raak ik de Sony even aan en dan is er verbinding.
Weinig hoog, blikkerig, en het laag is boemerig.
Wil je van FM-zender nummer 1 naar nummer 6 gaan dan moet je vijf maal >> drukken, en dan moet ook de goede FM-modus gekozen zijn.
Before 23:59, delivered tomorrow
Only the Sony sets with a letter B are equipped with DAB/DAB+. Streaming from your tablet/smartphone with Bluetooth or NFC works fine.
The unit is not fast when turned on or when inserting a CD.
If you want to go from FM station number 1 to number 6, you have to press >> five times, and then the correct FM mode must also be selected. Pieter Kleinjan | 23 November 2013 | Automatically translated from Dutch
CMT-SBT100 / SBT100B Reviews & Beoordelingen
Bluetooth verbinding maken vroeg een beetje meer geduld om te realiseren, maar werkt prima.
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