What Hi Fi Sound and Vision
10 JAN 2006
Sony CDP-XE370
A decent performer for the money, but a few more pounds buys a significantly better performance
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You should know by now that our star ratings are given on a performance-per-pound basis. So, in many ways, the cheaper product has a better chance of picking up a higher rating than its pricier rivals. That's the case here – provided the CDP-XE370 has the performance to back up its ultra-competitive price, that is.
This is a decent-enough machine. The build is what we'd expect at this level – a little lightweight and basic – but it still has a hint of the Sony class about it.
When it comes to clarity and crispness, the Sony compares well to its pricier rivals: there isn't quite the resolution or dynamic finesse to worry the best, but neither does it disappoint.
The Sony's major problem is that it lacks authority. Bass is lean and insubstantial, and this means it can't deliver basslines with the kind of solidity we demand. Large-scale symphonies, for instance, suffer and come across with less conviction and, consequently, less emotional impact than they can elsewhere.
If your budget is tight, we'd recommend saving a little longer and buying something that costs half as much again. £50 is £50, true, but – boy! – is the difference in sound quality worth it. This is pretty good stuff, Sony, but no cigar.
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