All,
I am looking for a compact all-in-one type system for my kitchen as a gift for my wife.

Requirements are that it has radio, can play CD's and has an auxiliary jack in (preferably digital) and of course sounds good given the limitations of a compact system.

No plans for a sub with this - it's for background music in kitchen while cooking/entertaining.

So far the thing that keeps surfacing (and please don't flame me here ) is the Bose Wave systems. Please suggest some other options!!!

Thanks in advance!

Wire some inwalls in there and make it zone 2

Seriously. That's what I did.

Great signature line Tom!

Zone 2 is a good idea but not an option for me. Wiring will be difficult now and my wife likes to hit one button to get radio on. However that's why I want the Aux input so the device can have access to our complete digital music library, Napster etc...

Dan, for a good, inexpensive compact system consider the Onkyo CS-325 . Here's a Canadian source.

Well, there's always Audiobytes, but you'd of course need a source with those.

I don't have this Onkyo system, but I have an Onkyo micro system (CR-n1) that I have used for years for a computer system. It is great, and has Burr-Brown DACs. (While that may make zero difference, I think it indicates that Onkyo built this unit with some aim at quality rather than just re-badging a random Chinese product, ala Sony.) My unit does not have i-Pod controls, but ifyou can find a newer version (such as the one John shows) with IPod control I would recommend it. Very good sound for small spaces, and in small package.

Good info, thanks. I did not know Onkyo also made compact systems.

Tivoli is another brand that was suggested to me. At least I now have options beyond Bose to start exploring.

Boy I love shopping for audio equipment, even when it's not for me (and yes I am sticking with that story! )

Don't forget Denon:

http://www.ca.denon.com/ProductDetails/3379.asp

http://www.ca.denon.com/ProductDetails/3378.asp

It doesn't meet your current specs (no 'physical' CD player.) However, if you believe, like me, that technology should free you from having to load 1 CD at a time, you could consider the Logitech Squeezebox Boom

Rip all your CDs to your PC, which you may have already done (itunes) and play them all without ever searching for or scratching up a CD again. Also brings in Internet Radio, many online music services and you won't need to run any wires if you have a wireless computer network at home already.

Also note: I own just a regular squeezebox hooked to an amp and M60s so I can't vouch for the sound quality of this self contained unit. Reviews seem to have been positive so far though.

Good call, Murph.