Aiwa NSX-AJ10, Ehm, Rocks
Written: Mar 20 '01 (Updated Mar 20 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great sound and features in a system that won't break the bank.
Cons: System sometimes pops back on when power is manually killed.
The Bottom Line: Sound quality is definitely worth the money for this compact system.
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| deliciae's Full Review: Aiwa NSX-AJ10 Digital Audio System |
A confession: I still have the same trunk I had in college (now an entertainment unit), the same alarm clock I had in college, and up until a few months ago, the same bookshelf stereo system as I had in college. Unfortunately, the CD player on the stereo started to die on me sometime toward the end of last year. Since I primarily listen to CDs when at home, this wasn't cool. I needed a new system that would deliver great quality sound, without huge speakers that would overwhelm my studio apartment. The Aiwa NSX-AJ10 was the perfect choice.
Aiwa has packed a ton of features into this bookshelf system. Along with the three disc changer, double cassette deck, and digital AM/FM tuner with space for 32 preset stations, this system also includes a T-BASS bass boost system with three settings, and a graphic EQ with three preset EQ curves. In addition, there is an optical CD output (to DAT deck or MD recorder), and an Auxiliary jack to hear video, TV, or other devices through the system speakers.
The CD changer allows for a disc to be changed while another disc is still playing, a feature that any picky audiophile would love. Another detail that rocks my world is the CD-RW capability of the CD player. I love to listen to CDs that I burn myself, because the order of the music really DOES matter. My last system couldn't play these home-burned CDs, but this model doesn't skip a single note. And for the nights I am feeling restless about my music, this system allows for programmable CD play of up to thirty tracks. Thirty of my favorite songs, played MY way? Oh yeah, THAT'S a party.
Another cool tweak is the AI (Artificial Intelligence) Edit recording capability. The stereo will automatically calculate the total track length of a CD you are recording, and will switch the order of the tracks so that no track gets cut off on the tape. Additionally, you can add tracks from other CDs to the calculation as well. I haven't tried this feature yet, but plan on making my first mixed tape of this kind from a combination of Thievery Corporation, Amon Tobin, and Massive Attack CDs. Can't WAIT to check that one out.
Two of my favorite features of this system involve the timer. I need some kind of light ambient sound to sleep, like many other people I know. With this system, a sleep timer can be accessed through the remote, which allows you to choose a setting between 5 and 240 minutes for the sleep timer. Once the timer is engaged, the display dims, which is very pleasant when trying to sleep. The other cool timer feature is that you can have the unit turned on at the same time every day. I use this to wake up in the morning: setting the timer so that the stereo comes alive at the same time I do is very helpful to a decidedly NON-morning person like I am.
The speakers are not the highest quality I have owned, but are perfect for the small space in which I live. While they sound alright, I have a definite preference for the sound of speakers encased in wood cabinets, and the plastic/resin that encases these speakers definitely distorts the sound, to my ears. That being said, they are not bad for bookshelf speakers and do an admirable job of delivering decent quality sound.
Finally, the remote puts complete system control in a nicely laid out design. The keys are not too small, and once you get the hang of the labels, easy to work with. There is a "shift" key on the remote, so the functionality is doubled without doubling the number of buttons on the remote in kind. It took me a bit to get that at first, but once I had it down, I began to be able to operate the remote by feel, and now I am an old pro at it.
I've been a fan of Aiwa products for years now, and this stereo system has simply solidified my long-standing opinion. I would say this stereo is perfect for anyone looking for a versatile system within fairly stringent budgetary constraints.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
deliciae
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Location: New York, NY
Reviews written: 24
Trusted by: 22 members
About Me:
same bat time, same bat channel...
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