Home > Consumer Reviews > Cambridge SoundWorks 730 Radio (Black)

I purchased this for my parents. It fits perfectly on their night stand and easy to use. They love the dial knob instead of the little buttons to press with normal radios. I would highly recommend this product. Plus too, it sounds great!

I just got this radio a couple days ago and wow! It sounds so good, I am so excited. I took a chance because I had never heard of Cambridge before, but I am glad I did. This thing sounds better then my stero.

I am returning this "puppy." Some previous reviewers that noted the FM radio reception was poor were dead-on correct.

Short story: The refurb'ed Model 88 I bought years ago from Cambridge SoundWorks last week bit the big one, so I read all the reviews, checked to make sure I couldn't afford a 'Wave,' and ordered the '730 from Amazon.

It arrived packed in the usual Amazon fashion, in the bottom of a big, poor-quality-cardboard box with sparse air pillow padding thrown on top. So, dear reader, do not rule out shipping damage as a factor in its performance.

While waiting for it to arrive, I disassembled (What did I have to lose?) my venerable Kloss '88, looked for burned components, tightened plastic connectors, and reassembled it. The darn thing again began working!

I performed "A-B" tests on the Cambridge SoundWorks 730 in the same spot, with the same FM stations and external antenna, a C. Crane dipole, I had used with the '88.

My conclusion was that possibly the 730 was damaged in shipment; or it had a design flaw in the FM receiver where it had selectivity issues, generated internal birdies that affected reception, simply had a poor receiver, or all of the above. I could see, given vast differences in working environment how reviewers could rave about reception or complain.

In my case, the radio, though with more amenities than my old Henry Kloss box, is lacking in the "radio" department. Amazon gave me the choice to return it or sell it to someone else. I could not in good conscience sell it.

I bought this product based simply off the reviews. I did not want to shell out the type of cash they were asking for the Bose Wave Radio. I have listened to the Bose Wave Radio numerous times and while the sound is quite good, I could not justify spending that much money for such a small system. Then I came across the Cambridge SoundWorks 730; the reviews seemed good and the cost was far less than the Bose, so I decided to give it a shot. I have a relatively small living room that I needed some music in and simply did not have room for a component system. Believe me when I say, this little unit puts out some serious sound for its size. The bass response is excellent, far better than that of the Bose, and the mids and highs are very nice as well. I could not be more pleased with this product. The radio reception is a little weak without an antenna but with an iPod connected, you've got some serious sound coming from a very compact unit. Fully pleased with the Cambridge SoundWorks 730. I do not believe you can find a higher quality compact radio at this price. Sound is every bit as good as that of the Bose Wave Radio for far less!

I purchased this item hoping for the quality I have seen in Cambridge Soundworks speakers in the past.
I was not dissapointed. I had the opportunity to put this unit beside a higher priced table radio that we have all seen heavily advertised and the Cambridge unit blows it away. Yes, it's slightly larger in size but the sound difference in both depth and accuracy is startling. If you have any friends with the other brand show them your Cambridge and ruin their day.
The auto dimming display is a nice touch though I wish the little indicator lights for alarm and stereo also dimmed. Additionally the volume can be set independently for the alarms and is not tied to the volume of the radio when you last had it on.
In short if you want a table radio instead of a micro system this is as good as it gets.