This system packs a punch, but it won't beat up your bank account.
Written: Jan 16 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great all-in-one Home Theater system for an unbeatable price.
Cons: Some options require ingenuity in finding them. Remote sucks.
The Bottom Line: Well worth it. Every movie you watch will feel like you just bought it when watching with 5.1 surround, no matter how many times you've seen it. Great experience.
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| androoos's Full Review: Aiwa HT-D590 Home Theater |
A home theater system with everything you'll need in one box? $200? Unheard of! Not with this system. 5 speakers, a powered subwoofer, a 5.1 Dolby Digital/DTS receiver, cables, remote. Too good to be true, right? Nope, its true. When I first decided that I wanted a home theater system, I was looking at Sony systems. I could have gotten a Sony system that did the same as this Aiwa for three times the price.
Setting this system up is a piece of cake. The speakers all come with mounting holes on the back, and a bracket mount nut if you have brackets. All speaker connections are clearly labeled.
As for inputs, there are plenty of options. Of course there are the mandatory Aux, CD, Phono, Video 1 2 3 inputs. There is a Coaxial digital input and an optical digital input as well. Curiously, the coaxial digital input is directly linked to Video 2 and the Optical input is linked to Video 1. On other receivers that I have used there is not a direct correlation to inputs and the mode of which it has to be in. I don't find this to be a problem, its just something that is different.
All speaker wire is included as one large spool. You can cut it to lengths that are appropriate for your setup. I strongly recommend wire strippers...doing it with a pair of wire cutters was strenuous.
The speakers themselves are very small and they put out amazing sound for their size. The subwoofer is more than adequate, especially with its own volume control, once you get it working (more on this later.)
Now to the remote. The remote is the one downside to this system. It sucks, plainly put. It touts itself as being able to work with DVD players, but reading more in the manual, it only supports Aiwa DVD players. So much for consolidating the number of remotes in your living room. The remote's functions aren't labeled well, and sadly, there are options on the receiver that can only be used if the remote is used to set them. This is where the Subwoofer being turned on came into play. I couldn't switch the sub on from the front panel of the receiver. I was getting discouraged to the point of taking the system apart and sending it back. Then I checked some options on the remote, mainly the "Manual Function" button. Voila, there is the option for SUBW On/Off. Now the system works beautifully.
As for options for the receiver...here goes. There are many DSP effects (Movie, Hall, Arena, etc.) that can be set for different viewing preferences (TV, VHS movies, etc.) As soon as the receiver detects a Dolby Digital (DD from now on), it automatically sets itself into 5.1 DD mode. The same process is done for DTS, although the receiver doesn't tell you that its in DTS mode. As for setting up the DTS, you will probably have to set the DTS "language" in the DVD movie itself. The receiver will detect it and you will hear the movie in DTS audio.
Other options are your basic left-right front-back balances and fades, along with center channel and surround sound decibel boost, along with millisecond delays. I recommend using the remote to change these options, but the "jog dial" on the front of the receiver will do it for you as well. I haven't had the system but for a few weeks, I don't think I have discovered all of the different nuances of it yet. So far, it has been a great purchase, it is everything I ever wanted in a home theater system. I picked this up at BJ's wholesale club for $200. I realize it is more in other places on the web, but if you have a BJ's near you, go sign up for $30. You'll still save more than $50 on the system, and thats not including shipping if you order it online.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
androoos
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Member: JC Andrews
Location: Chesapeake, VA
Reviews written: 70
Trusted by: 19 members
About Me:
Great job-check. House-check. Wife-check. Dog-check. Kids? Uh-oh.
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