This compact system is a very good buy
I thought I'd save a few bob by buying a refurbished unit (with a 1-year warranty). I wanted to compare it with my Roberts MP53 which has provided me with sterling service since I bought it back in 2011. If the Cello proved to be better, fair enough, I would sell the Roberts. If not, then I'd only have spent a modest amount and could sell the cello instead.
Well, the cello on the whole sounds better than the Roberts, and of course has features not available in 2011. The one I like is the TFT screen, which is a vast improvement on the Roberts display. I should note that I mainly use both units for MP3 playback -- all my favourite music on one USB stick, and I can add more to the cello because it seems to be able to take larger capacity sticks (at least up to 32 GB).
What I loved about the Roberts was its bass, which was tremendously "bouncy"; but actually, the cello's bass sound, though somewhat different, was tighter, and it was obviously better in the midrange and treble. And in truth, the bass is more tailorable; the Roberts, even on the lowest setting, does seem a tad bass heavy.
All in all, a good buy, and even at full price, it is cheaper today than the Roberts was 9 years ago. I would recommend it to anyone seeking a convenient and compact music system with a pretty decent sound -- not audiophile, to be sure, but surprisingly good for the price, and with plenty more features than being an MP3 player.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Refurbished