Great system for it''s time, sound is still good compared to current systems.

CD player is terrible, I''ve tried cleaning it. I''ve always tried getting it repaired, but the repair would cost more than a new system these days.

This was a great stereo when I first got it. The CD player is useless now (skips, refuses to play CDs) but everything else works. I can''t afford a new stereo, so I run a discman through the AUX input.

subwoofer output

no dolby prologic

Awesome unit, has taken much abuse from me. Offers good sound volume, and offers more than acceptable sound quality for the money spent on it.

Good Sound Good Reception

CD changer stops working. Luckily you will be able to play one CD at a time. Rubber buttons start to melt on hot and tropical areas like Rio de Janeiro. Surround Speakers almost useless

I bought this Aiwa in late 1995 and it was a little expensive but I might say it completely differed from what was available back then (3cd changer etc ). The CD player tray is horrible and stoped working within a year. I had it repaired but it broke again and the cost of repairing for a 2nd time will almost reach a the cost of a new one. I think Aiwa make their products not to last long. Keep a CD and k7-tapes inside the minisystem to help avoiding dust fall out over the lenses.

Similar Products Used:

Sony - also with CD changer problems

see below

see below

I bought this shelf system many years ago, and it has aged well. $500 is WAY too expensive for anything like this available now, but it was appropriate back then. This was just about as good a shelf system possible back when I got it. The previous reviewers should remember how new CD technology was when these were first made, and understand why there are shortcomings compared to later products.

I have had this for 7 years now and it has aged wonderfully. The CD player started skipping last summer, but I had the machine cleaned (for the first time in six years) and I have not had a problem since. Everything else works as well as or better than) you would expect from a system this old. I'm giving it 5 stars simply because of how well this system has aged.

It has no bass, but I solved that by running a pair of 2-way tower speakers (w/ 8" woofers) out of the same outputs as the bookshelfs. No, you're not really supposed to do that, but it's been this way for about three years with no problems. Now I can crank this baby up for parties with 100+ people and every single one of them admires my "stereo system" with the "awesome subwoofer."

Yes, the included surround speakers are absolutely worthless. So is the karaoke feature, unless you really like that sort of thing. I have not had any problems with the tuner reception quality. The CD changer is fine, but I chose to run a 200-disc changer through AUX inout and it has performed beautifully.

I wouldn't suggest buying this system now, as newer systems are cheaper and better, but I also can't willfully give this system anything less than 5 stars because it was exceptional for when I got it and it has lasted for 7 years with no deterioration in quality.

I am now moving on to a full home theater surround system (Onkyo receiver, Infinity 5 spks, Cerwin-Vega sub), but I'll have fond memories of my AIWA. :-)

none

rear surround speakers are useless... good sound at lower volumes, but don't crank too high

I bought this thing in 1995/1996 and I still have it. Cost quite a bit new back in the day. Rear speakers were useless and stopped working within 3 months. Never took it in to fix since they were useless anyway. Sound is ok at lower volumes. Not for home theater, probably the best thing it is good for is as a computer speaker system.

NOT MANY

CD/RECEPTION

AFTER LISTENING TO THIS SYSTEM OVER THE PAST YEAR I MUST SAY THE SOUND AND DYNAMICS ARE PRETTY GOOD. CRANK IT UP AND IT STILL HAS DECENT SOUND THOUGH THE BASS STARTS TO MUZZLE OUT. THE CD CAROSEL IS CRAP-NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AFTER 3 MONTHS OF USE TILL IT FINALLY BROKE DOWN. RECEPTION IS ALSO POOR UNLESS YOU PUT THIS THING OUTSIDE NEXT TO COMMUNICATION TOWERS. TO MUCH BUCK FOR THE BANG!

This is the biggest piece of crap anyone could buy! You'd do better to buy a JVC boom box. I had this thing on eBay! and it wouldn't sell for $100.

Good sound, but the weaknesses by far override the strengths.

CD player skips profusely. I exchanged the system three times. Originally I bought a slightly different model and the CD player skipped badly only after a few months. They gave me another model and the same problem occurred. Then, they gave me this model, which was a "better" model. Again the CD player skipped. I am convinced that AIWA products altogether are bad, and I would never purchase another AIWA product! The sight of them in stores nauseates me.

I have to say that the sound is great, but if you can't listen to the CD's because of constant skipping, the sound really does not count. Had the CD player worked properly, the system would have been great overall. Unfortunately, the CD player ruined it for the whole system. It has been very discouraging to purchase new CD's and can't enjoy them because the CD player skips. The FM radio is fine, but I can't get any reception on AM. I would not recommend that anyone purchase an Aiwa product due to my experiences with this stereo (and the previous ones that I returned). I am now looking for another stereo and it will definitely not be an Aiwa.

Similar Products Used:

The other Aiwa mini stereo (that was exchanged for this model.)

The power, the sound, surround, convenience, size

None worth noting

This unit is probably the best I have had yet. The sound is phenominal! I cannot get over the bass that comes out of such small speakers. It's amazing! 100w+100w not counting the surround is pretty good for a stereo of this size. The dsp and eq settings are great which is hard to find. Nice cassette operation. everything is great. I wish I would have purchased this when it was new. This was worth the $500 that it was when it came out. You can't find em like this anymore.

The best sound ever, small, dsp, good value

Cd player needs to cleaned about every three months

I don't know what the other reveiws are talking about. This tiny stereo has better sound than any in its category. If you take care of it it should be fine. The are problems with the design however. The reason that so many people had the same problem with the cd laser beam is because it collects quickly. Every couple months I have to take the back off and clean it myself (it's easy to do). Anyway it was pretty expensive, but not for 1996, and certainly not for what you got. A great system.