Sony CMT-CPX11 Review

Overall Rating

2x75 watts
Clear compared to my technics ST-HD560
RADIO!

Don't know how to fit other speakers.
Rather expensive.

My first hi-fi review. The Sony CMT-CPX11 micro hi-fi system. I am not dissapointed, it is an excellent hi-fi. For its size, the power is huge at 2x75 watts (European version).

There are other different power versions of this hi-fi, US version at 2x50 watts which is cheaper.

However the speaker jacks are unknown to me and I don't know how to fit other make speakers. If you know how, please do tell me as I would be very grateful.

Thanks for reading my review.

Members' Comments onBomBom101's Review

• refulgent on 14th Jul 2005

  Try a Kyosho race pack connector - £1.39 ea (you need two)from Maplin. You will need to cut off the clip part of the outer cover to allow the pins to penetrate. You simply crimp the connectors onto the wires and push them home into the housing where they snap into place (don't do this until you are sure it's a good joint as you won't get them out again!).
  
  Be sure to check polarity of the cables as these will fit either way around unlike the proper Sony ones, I suggest you mark one wire on each connector if not already done.
  
  Even if you short circuit the speakers you won't do any damage as Sony built in protection and the unit switches off. To re-set it you need to remove the fault, disconnect at the mains and switch on again (see the manual under trouble-shooting).
  
  As you can tell, I've done this as I wanted to extend my speakers and also fit an extension to the headphone socket so I could sit in my comfy chair and plug in. It was during this that I inadvertently shorted the speakers to the headphone socket so know it works!
  
  Maplin have an on-line shop so you should trace the component easily. If not, you may pick up one from a model shop locally.

• BomBom101 on 3rd Oct 2005

  Well I was wondering if 2 speakers rated at 100 watts each would work in this hifi would I need an amplifier in order to listen to them or would there be enough power? Please let me know, thank you very much. BomBom

• refulgent on 9th Oct 2005

  The amplifier is rated at 75 watts per channel at 4 ohms so should have no difficulty driving speakers rated at 100 watts each. The speakers don't actually draw 100 watts, its just how much power they can handle. Just don't try to drive them from the headphone socket, use the speaker terminals on the back of the Sony unit. Also, don't be tempted to drive more than the one pair of speakers unless you know how to connect them up. Finally, make sure you get the polarity correct (ie positive to positive, negative to negative) on each speaker else the sound gets a bit muddied. The speakers should be marked + - or red/black and speaker wire usually has one wire with a stripe so you can tell easily.