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Rating: 
Summary: Super Value Low $ System
Review: Bought this to replace an older (1984) higher-end home audio system, but I kept my little Koss M-80 speakers and rigged the FWC380 to play thru them.Got to admit that after living with it for over a month I feel absolutely spoiled. The remote is a sensible size and easy to use. No equalizer req'd with Optimal Sound Mix (OSM) for lower volume settings, and the INCREDIBLE SURROUND feature is just the ticket if you have small speakers and you want Bose-like room-filling sound that sounds like much larger speakers when you crank it. The AUX jacks in back have my older TV plugged in for excellent sound, and for those looking for home theatre on a budget there's a subwoofer jack for "earthquake", etc. enhancement. Negatives? Sure, but they're minor. No FM mute for weaker stations, and noise reduction for the tape deck would be nice. The "Las Vegas" style display format is kind of cheesy but the different moving mode displays are well designed and logical. And wouldn't it be nice if shelf system manufacturers had regular connectors installed in the back of their speakers instead of consumers having to settle for pre-installed, small gauge, not-long-enough speaker wire (are you listening, Philips? I still haven't auditioned the speakers that came with the system...a golden opportunity awaits)? To wrap up...I'll use this primarily for playing CDs and TV/VCR audio, and for those purposes this system's performance exceeds my expectations. Well done, Philips.
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular sound and value
Review: I recently purchased this system at what I consider a superior value. The system is simply an incomparable value in its price range. As noted by other reviewers, the Optimal Sound Mix button provides the best range mix regardless of the source--tape, CD, etc. The system is easy to operate from the unit itself or by remote control and the 3-way bass reflex speakers (yes, they ARE 3-way rather than 2-way....another plus) provide near studio-quality sound reproduction throughout the volume range. I compared the system to others ranging from $100 to over $150 from other common and high-profile manufacturers, and if sound quality is your number one priority over feature bells and whistles, there is no better value, and it "feels" more solid and sturdy than others, like when you close the door on a quality vehicle and know that it's solid in comparison with others. Secondarily, whereas other manufacturers frequently offer 1-year parts with 90-day labor warranties, Phillips provides a full-year warranty for the labor as well.......a strong indication that you can expect NO problems. Two thumbs up for this quality powerhouse!
Rating:
Summary: Lots of great features!
Review: Lots of great features for a lower priced system. I really like the Optimal Sound Mix button which allows me to hit one button and get the best setting for my music. The remote control is very easy to use and the set up went pretty smooth too. Great value in a stereo system!
Rating:
Summary: Buy Now
Review: Nice little system for the price. Sounds great and looks great.
Rating:
Summary: What a deal
Review: One word, wow! This system is amazing! I never thought a shelf system could pack a punch for such a good price!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Sound, Not Enough Bass
Review: When I bought this system I was looking for a great value, and I got one. I have had this stereo for about six months now. Setup was easy with the quick setup guide. Just plug the speakers and FM antenna into the receiver, plug it into the wall, and press play. Then, all FM stations are then preset into the system. It has an AM loop antenna too, but who listens to AM now days anyway? I have been a little surprised of how well this it has held up. The only physical damage to it is from me. The end of the FM antenna wire that snaps into the system has had to be restripped, mainly because I snapped it in and snapped it out so many times. The FM was very good at the start but then got worse because of me. It has a dual-logic tape deck on the bottom of the receiver. Dual logic means you can control the tapes by the remote control. I haven't used any tapes yet, but I'm sure it works fine. Then there is the quality 3 CD changer, oh it's just great. I put my CDs in the tray, sit back, and then press the number to the CD I want to play from my remote. There are some things that are only one that remote, or only on the receiver. The repeat, sleep, and shuffle buttons are only on the remote. The clock/timer, tape options, dim mode, and program buttons are only on the receiver. I don't know why this is. The sleep can be set for 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes to shut off automatically. The timer is like a really loud alarm clock except for this one you can pick what you wake up to; CD, tape, or AM/FM. You can even program what track on the CD you want to wake up to. I have also hooked my system up to our satellite system with a cheap RCA cable through my system's AUX IN jack. Wow, from one dinky speaker to two huge speakers was a great improvement. Using my stereo's Cinema feature with its Incredible Surround made it just like surround sound without the extra speakers, and the Cinema mode is just right for watching movies. As sound quality goes, this system can get pretty loud. I can play music and my room and then go around the house still listening to my music. It's not loud enough to bother the neighbors though, I can hear a little when I'm just outside our house. I am going to fix that problem by adding a powered subwoofer to my system. It has a subwoofer out jack and also a digital out jack for recording onto a CD using a CD recorder. I guess that about sums it all up, thanks for reading.
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