I'm no audiophile, and this is my first home theater system, but I think the sound from this Aiwa 590 is superb. Further, all of the components come in a single box with a nice manual and all required cables. The system is very easy to setup. It is extremely flexible and has a built-in dolby digital decoder for use with a DVD player... or you can use your player's decoder if you have one. For the best sound, I'd recommend using your player's optical out, with a fiber optic cable connected to the aiwa. The cable is pricey, but worth it, as you can be sure there is no signal degradation between the player and the receiver.

The subwoofer that comes with the unit plugs in separately and also has a separate (manual) volume (intensity?) control, as well as a power button. This is useful for fine tuning the bass -- which will really knock your socks off.

The surround sound from this unit is superb. My speaker placement is less than scientific, but I still feel like I'm in a real movie theatre. I'll just say that watching a movie like T2 is an entirely different experience with this system hooked up than with just the TV speakers. Another thing I find is that I often cannot tell the difference between the phone ringing in a movie and in my house. I've actually gotten up to answer it... then felt pretty foolish.

I'd have to say that the biggest drawback to the unit is the remote control. The buttons are in a strange configuration and the thing is kind of ugly. Also, I've always wanted a receiver with a motorized, lighted volume control... this one is neither.

Overall though, this unit is a great buy, and I'm told that the stores are having trouble keeping them in stock. If you can find one, grab it.



Recommended: Yes