Review on Experience Nostalgic Music With KEiiD CD Player Retro Home Boombox: Get The Used-Like New Version For Just $99 by Kyle Fachini

I'm looking to replace a venerable Aiwa boombox that can be operated without a remote, which are easily lost and broken rendering the whole system inoperable. Because KEiiD's most popular product, an in-dash Volkswagen HiFi integrated into speakers, is novel and well regarded, I purchased the KEiiD KD-B01 after they sent me the manual. Upon receiving the unit, I was impressed with the solid build: a nice case and clicky buttons.Though I want to love it, I struggle with a number of shortcomings.The display is large and bright -- too bright for the bedroom at night; it casts shadows, even on dim! Plus, if you turn the display off, it won't stay off. For example, if I use the sleep function to play music for 30 minutes and disable the display, it will turn on again after 30 minutes, illuminating the room just as I was falling asleep. I've ordered some "dim it" film which I hope will help.The display cannot show folder names, music author, or title because its resolution is limited. Also, it can only display 24-hour time. Customer service can provide you with a firmware update that will switch it to 12-hour time.Though the KD-B01 can do much without a remote, it's still necessary. And the remote isn't great. It has tiny buttons, and the next/prev buttons are swapped on the remote. That is, incrementing the volume is the top button of the toggle; incrementing the track number or the volume of an alarm is the bottom button on that toggle. Also, the KD-B01 remote reception is weak and must be pointed directly at the IR receiver -- above and center of the display, behind the cloth screen. Customer service said they'd consider selling extra remotes on Revain. I might buy one of those; I'd also consider the CHUNGHOP L102 learning remote for half the price and which might be a stronger transmitter as well. I wish customer service could tell me if the KD-B01 works with pre-configured codes on universal remotes.The FM radio is decent when I tape up the included dipole antenna into a large "T."The two alarms are perplexing. First, you can't use the USB as a source. But that's okay, I put some wakeup music on the TD/microSD card and use that. Second, if the KD-B01 is off and you lose power for a short period, the time and alarms will be retained (via an internal lithium battery), BUT the alarms will not be shown as active on the display until the power is cycled. Unfortunately, if you lose power while the unit is on, ALL settings are lost. As noted, the sleep function is presently useless because it turns the display back on once done.The sound quality is fine.I wish it had a 5" down-firing driver, but with two 3" 15W drivers, it's good as can be expected without good DSP -- the equalizer settings are poor. I'd say the quality is akin to my smaller JBL Charge 3+ BT speaker. I can't believe that the left and right channels are reversed on my unit, but there's not much stereo separation in any case. Also, the headphone jack is combined MONO, not stereo.With respect to volume, I listen to it in a quiet bedroom and will never exceed a volume of `5`. It'd be nice if there was another gradation of between `2` and `3` as it's a big jump in volume. I'm frustrated that changing the volume on the KD-B01 unit by a single digit is so hard. Long-pressing next/previous jumps two digits or more. Once I long-press and am in the volume setting mode, I should be able to increase/decrease the volume by a single digit by a short button press, but it's not possible.Bluetooth works well.Customer service is responsive; they dearly want a five star rating -- though I refused any inducements and committed to a fair and honest review.With all these nits, you might think I'd return this unit. I might yet, but for its price range, I think it is a good value. The Sony ZSRS60BT boombox is half the weight and 2/3 of the price, but looks like an ugly boombox and has no alarm function. The Sharp Vintage CD-BH20 and Crosley CR3501A-WA Fleetwood both have very flimsy CD trays -- top loading CDs are the most robust. The Sharp was once on sale for $40, but sleep and alarm/timer require the remote. I love that the Fleetwood has a volume knob, but sleep and alarm are remote only. Plus its remote requires a CR2025 disc battery instead of rechargeable AA or AAA. The Yamaha TSX-B235 looks like it could satisfy my criteria, but I see lots of reports of broken CD trays and it costs over twice as much.A lot of people should find a good value with the KD-B01, especially if your expectations are modest and uses are simple.