Audio Reviews

I searched through all the mp3 cd players at amazon and a few other places too. This player has the best reviews. I mainly use it to listen to audio books converted to mp3's. It works perfectly and never skips while walking or jumping around. Rechargeable batteries last about 10 to 12 hours. I'm very happy with this product. Save yourself the time of sorting through the mix of different brands and features; buy this one.

Originally purchased a memorex MP3 player MP8507 - great on paper, but skips too easily in practice. Was not a keeper. See my previous review.

In reading reviews, we noticed that many MP3 players have skipping problems. After the Memorex, this became our number one concern in finding a replacement. In short, this Philips player has solved the problem - NO SKIPPING!

When this unit arrived, we put it through the test of orientating the player in all directions, running up and down the stairs, fast walking. No skipping at all! At last something that has an ESP that works! (We did not try the snowboard test)Works with all CD-RW's, CDRs and Silvers we have - even handles the DirectCD format.

To top things off, the sound was significantly better than the Memorex (which had a low level static sound). The ear plug headphones gave a very nice sound for their size.

Only missing feature was ID3 tag support that the Memorex had. This is not missed too much since there is no load delay when CD is inserted.

Note that some places claim that this unit supports WMA files - this is not the case. It does support AAC files which is a better format. ACC is not practical for us at the moment since our DVD player supports MP3's and a free ACC encoder (decent) could not be downloaded for the PC.

Using NiMh batteries, this player is lasting well over 4 hours for us - not a problem.

For the extra $... over the Memorex, we have ended up with a player that will be hassle free - well worth the extra money for us. The Philips also comes with an AC power adaptor and belt clip (removable from the player). Lastly, the sound is excellent - even with the provided plugs. Use market headphones for even better sound. Enjoy!

This mp3 player is a good buy. Lightweight, sleek design,
and multiple features make it the leading product in its
class.

If you want a high quality, easy to use 5-CD changer, you can't go wrong here. Front panel is comprehensive yet easy to use. An excellent choice if you want to upgrade from a single CD player (put in 5 CDs and press "random" and you will be all set). If you're building a DVD library as well and have some extra money to spend, consider investing in Onkyo's 5 DVD/CD changer. Otherwise get this.

The JVC XL-FZ258BK has a decent array of features, considering its price. Many inexpensive CD players that have a remote do not have the features accessible from the front panel, which is very bad if you ever lose your remote (or it just needs new batteries). This CD player has the controls you need on the front panel (as well as the remote), and they are large enough and spaced well enough for them to not be annoying.

True, the Technics SL-PD8 has more features for the money, but ergonomically it is undesirable (see my review of it for more).

In short, it has enough features to satisfy most people, and the controls are better than most (all that I know of) in its price point. If you have significantly more money to spend, then I would suggest something better, but I do not think you can get anything better for this price.

And the sound quality is fine, of course.

After purchasing the FZ158BK 5 cd changer and returning it because it didn't come with a remote control, I decided to try the next model up. The FZ258BK is very easy to use and the sound is very clean and tight. I have purchased other JVC brand audio/video equipment and this item was definitely worth the money. It is an excellent addition to our component system and would highly recommend it.

The JVC RX9000 has impressive specifications, but is so poorly designed as to largely render them moot. The RX9000 may be adequate, but I expect much more from a performance receiver in this price range.

Both composite and S-video input connections are available for most video sources. However, connections must be homogenous. The RX9000 does not support mixed input connection types. This subtly documented feature necessitates employing a least-quality connection scheme catering to the least capable of your video peripherals.

The RX9000 documentation is among the poorest, and most incomplete, that I have ever read.

I question the 100 / 120 W power rating specification on this unit. My returned unit may have been defective, but I found it to deliver considerably less power to my speakers than the obsolete 50 W stereo amplifier it was to replace.

The well-designed RF remote, clean sound, and integrated sub-room stereo speaker control were positives in the RX9000, and contributed heavily to my rating.

...I could only recommend this unit at a deep discount, if you do not mind poor video routing design, useless documentation and potentially anemic power.

JVC packed a lot of features into this receiver, at a reasonable price. Many of these are seldom used, like the DSP "concert hall" type filters. Others have subtle limitations, but most work as advertised.

The sound quality is great, especially from digital sources. The remote is nice, once you get used to the layout. There is a "one touch" mode that remembers the settings for each input; this is a very nice feature, as you generally don't listen to your CD player with the same settings as your television. The unit itself is very sturdy and visually appealing. You can enter call letters for AM/FM stations, so rather than "92.5" you see "KQRS".

Now, the problems. After it warms up, say after an hour or two of use, it no longer responds to IR remotes (specifically, my TiVo remote using JVC codes). The RF remote still works, though. The FM receiver is quite weak; stations that were easily picked up by my antique Kenwood without an antenna require a powered antenna with this unit. The S-VHS and composite video inputs are not mixed, as other reviewers have noted. The volume control resets to "30" (a very low level with my setup) if you turn it off at a level higher than that, although some people may consider this a feature...

Balancing the flaws with the many features, and factoring in the price, this unit is a good value for the money. None of the flaws are fatal, and the unit generally performs as advertised.

My receiver arrived yesterday and had it installed and running in approx 45 mins. Very impressed with the sound quality. Further, it has a 4 speaker stereo mode, which I have not had the luxury of having on any of my previous receivers (Harmon Kardon , Pioneer, Onkyo). This receiver replaces a Pioneer 906s and I must say, it is truly an upgrade. The only thing that I am unhappy with is the remote because it is not backlit.

I have had the pleasure of owning this JVC product for almost a year. What caught my attention was the progressive scan technology and the DVD-Audio feature along with the slim and sleek updated gold "high tech" appearance. JVC is one of a few handful of companies willing to give the owner a decent and legible on screen guide for video/audio set up complete with nifty and colorful graphics (love that picture in window screen display so you don't miss the action). JVC's earlier DVD models did have some serious lock up issues as I was the unfortunate owner of their big bulky model XV-501 ( had to have that one repaired in less than 3 years due to laser/motor burn out and lock up disfunction). It looked very expensive and sported a video fine processor feature which allowed you to really sharpen the picture detail quality by a large noticeable degree, which is simplified in the newer models.
On the XV 75 model, while the user can really fine tune color, tint, etc. without having to go through the tv's own picture controls, tweaking the picture to complete and preferable sharpness cannot be done to noticeable extremes like the older models. It allows for some sharpness but there is very subtle change or differences to make the viewer go wow ! Overall, the picture produced is very clean and substantially detailed on my 27 inch RCA (the poor man's Sony Wega) analog set, though. I have not had the luxury of trying the progressive scan feature on a high def set, yet (that's another item for my Christmas or B-day gift list of things I want BADLY !)...

The DVD-Audio decoding portion takes awhile to get used to (though it claims to be high resolution and of higher calibre than regular 2 channel stereo, the sound is rather soft).The dedicated .1 bass is wonderful when connected to the right sub (Velodyne, JBL, Infinity, anyone ?)Excellent DVD Audio discs to audition for the aural workout are The Blue Man Group Audio Surround Mix, Sting's Ten Summoner's Tales in DTS and a limited JVC Free dvd audio sampler ! Again, don't expect the earpiercing highs or mids. The sonic characteristic of DVD Audio is meant to have a "soft" and warm almost high resolution analog sound rich in deep bass (unlike that heard or felt with normal stereo). And the different effects or instruments to be heard placed around you will blow the mind (hopefully not the eardrums). The new DVD Audio format is indeed a new venue that requires getting aurally accustomed to. Also, heed my warning, YOU MUST HAVE A DECENT SUBWOOFER CONNECTED for the .1 LFE bass; otherwise you will get a very hollow soft sound not worthy of trading for regular stereo. Also, another major important ingredient is a voice matched and powerful center channel (3 way preferred). You will be amazed how many dvd audio recordings put the singer or instrumentalist dead center (another debate for another time). One drawback is that you cannot use a graphic equalizer on these newer digital receivers that must accompany dvd players like the JVC Dvd-audio player; you shouldn't need to, the sound produced by this new digital equipment is almost sonically perfect !

The reason for the 4 stars is that the laser can be sensitive meaning that if there is a microsopic scratch that is ignored by other players it may be picked up by this one and cause lock up or major macro blocking/tiling. I found this out with my Chasing Amy dvd which has a flaw on it's surface yet plays that same flawed section effortlessy on another dvd player.This may be due to the player's small or limited correction error buffer circuitry. Also, when I first bought the machine the system would lock up and not start up again or shut off unless i unplugged it (rebooted ?). Must have broken in properly because the problem has disappeared !

Overall, this JVC player wins my vote of approval in both video and audio processing functions. Remember, this player is packed with all sorts of goodies that previously were only exclusive to the Denons, Yamahas, etc. etc....

This player is the best I've run across. It plays just about any disk media, and does a superb job. I have a JVC TV, and a JVC VCR. Connecting them with AV Comu-Link lets me put the disk or tape in and sit dow. The televion turns itself on, selects the proper set of inputs and plays.
The picture quality is excellent,( you can really tell a bad transfer to disk ). I don't have a HDTV, so I can't vouch for the progressive scan, the regular picture is plenty fine for me.
The DTS/ 5.1 outputs give you beautiful surround sound. Even through a small system like my AIWA bookshelf set-up- it is the only one I've seen with 5.1 inputs (but that's another review).
The set-up menus are easy to navigate and very user friendly.
The zoom and angle features are great, and the "strobe" button lets you see things fram by frame- AWESOME!
A terrific player and a great price.

I am going on nine months with this player and could not be more pleased. Honestly if it froze up on me tommorow I would still give it high marks simply because it has performed so well and offers so much for the money.

My main reason for purchasing this player was to get a DVD-Audio player without breaking the bank, reasoning that I would rather spend my money on DVD-A software. I also wanted a progressive scan player to go with my HDTV for excellent video playback quality, again at a reasonable price. With the XV-SA75 I got it all for the incredible price of $...! I see no-frills VCRs selling for more.

DVD-Audio playback is EXCELLENT. I have it matched with the JVC RX-8020VBK AV Receiver (another excellent buy) and the sound from the 24-bit/192kHz decoders from this player is nothing less than stunning. It sounds like it should cost $1000 or more. Really, I would pit the sound quality of DVD-Audio from this player against a high end CD player from a $10,000+ system--and probably blow it away. I know it sounds like an exaggeration but believe me it's not. DVD-Audio when properly set-up is THAT GOOD. Like most DVD-Audio players, this one does not offer bass management for DVD-Audio playback. You will need five full range (or close to full range) speakers and a decent subwoofer (10"+) to maximize your listening experience. But with the money you save you can invest in a set of good speakers. Preferably floorstanding, from good speaker makers like B&W, Dynaudio, Energy, Paradigm, PSB, etc.

Progressive scan DVD playback on this player is excellent also. Movies like The Fellowship of the Ring, Star Wars Attack of the Clones, actually almost any well made DVD movie look incredibly sharp and theater-like on a high definition/widescreen digital TV. Combined with the Dolby Digital EX or DTS ES capabilities of the RX-8020, I get 6.1 surround sound and stunning progressive picture quality for a truly movie-going experience--in my living room. It never fails to impress my friends & neighbors, who think I spent a fortune on this system. If they only knew the truth.

As for the downside to this player, there are very few. I don't particularly like the CD playback quality with this player because on certain lo-fi quality CDs I will get an occasional drop off in sound during playback. I use a dedicated CD changer for CDs so this is not an issue for me. I think this saves on the wear and tear of the DVD player and I personally think this is the way to go anyway. This player also plays MP3s, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs for maximum flexibility. It really is amazing all the things this player can do. The only discs it won't play are Super Audio CDs (SACD) and DVD-Rs.

You will also need to invest in a LOT of cables for this unit, what with six analog connections for DVD-Audio, digital (coax or toslink) connection for DVD-Video sound, component cables for progressive video... but of course this would be the case for any DVD-Audio/Progressive Scan player.

I really can't say enough good things about this player. Other JVC DVD players take hits for laser problems and lock up issues, but so far this player has performed like a champ for me. The best investment I have made in a piece of electronic equipment by far.

short version is that this is a nice mp3 player. Expansion slot for SD, solid construction (battery cover is a bit flimsy though) battery life is long. etc. etc.
Biggest drawback that negates all of the above is that they DRM crippled the little thing. It was so nice up until you find out you have to use TDK's proprietory UniFi software. Which unifies nothing. It "allows" you to copy mp3s from you system to it. And then they are dead. You can't copy them back, you can't transfer them to anything else. And here's the best part, Windows does not recognize the device unless you install the software.
It is all the software as well, if you merely remove the SD card you can move and copy MP3s to it via a reader and the mojo plays them fine. But obviously this doesn't work for the main flash memory. And you need the software to make it work... so unless someone reverse engineers the program, don't buy this.

I was quite excited when my Mojo 256 arrived. Had no trouble loading it up with music via the TDK Unifi app or via RealOne Player. Controls are simple to figure out, and the buttons are easy to control by "feel" without having to look at them. Sound quality was great, I liked the "lock" feature for jogging around the neighborhood. However, after 1 day of use, the unit locked up right after I used the RealOne Player's "Format internal memory" feature on the unit and then loaded some songs onto it. It really looked as though the RealOne player had somehow erased the firmware on the unit, as it became completely unresponsive via USB or the LCD; the unit displayed only the battery life indicator, and could only be powered off by taking out the battery. TDK tech support told me that this is impossible as the firmware is on its own ROM chip. In any case, I'm exchanging the defective unit through Amazon with no problem. I have high hopes that the replacement will work fine, as it's a very nice player for the price.

I am surprised how well it does everything. I paid $150 and was expecting mediochre performance for that money. I use it mostly for recording voice and it is very good for this and has hours of recording space and more if you add an SD card.

Only problems so far: had to cut a hole in the carrying case for the mic, no provision for an external mic, plastic case fit and look are a let down, software on PC sometimes doesn't recognise the player (shut-down and try again.)

This gadget is great-- light, cheap, upgradable, good battery life and data, voice, mp3, FM radio all in one. Hard to beat.

I purchased Philips MC70 about 2 years from Amazon.co after an extensive research on the internet (which meant staying up a few nights and reading all the reviews on this product). When I started listening to my music on this stereo, I was quite satisfied with the sound quality. However, from the very begining I was uneasy about the loud CD changing mechanism, which led me to believe that this sytem wasn't going to last too long. (if there was anything I learned from majoring in mechanical engineering is that anything with rotating mechanism is bound to go wrong some day) I do listen to a lot of music, which means a lot of CD-changing myself any given day. After 2 years, lo and behold, now the tray mechanism is all messed up. Every time I put in my CD in any tray, it gets jammed inside with annoying sound, and spit the CD right back out. I would then have to reinsert the CD a few times to see if the tray will rotate to the right position to read the CD. If i'm lucky, I am able to listen to my favorite CDs. If not, oh well. Sometimes, when i hit "play" it will give me a ridiculous display like "Open Tray 2", which leaves me all frustrated. This means then I have to unplug the main power to start from scratch to undo the messed up internal software command. Don't get me wrong, this system has a very good sound, but the 3-Cd exchanger tray mechanism is something you should definitely stay away from. It lasted 2 years with me. It's about to be shelved away forever because it's just not wortH it to have someone to fix it for me (i can try to take it apart myself "for fun" at least to get an idea what went wrong). This has taught me a valuable lesson on CD-exchanger systems. I'm definitely getting a new audio system soon with a single CD tray system.

After an extensive search for a new system, I broke it down to the following criteria:

1. Sound: must fill a large room (master bedroom or living room) with full quality and good bass tone
2. Looks: wanted something with classic look and good fit, i wasn't looking for an entertainment center, but a piece of furniture that sounds good
3. Multiple disc, easy to use: must be non-tethered (easily swappable discs) without loud changing noise and quickly changes CDs

The MC-70 fills all of the above and then some. The sound quality is outstanding, I recommend if you are getting a mini-system to not go less than about 80-watts, you really sacrafice sound quality in the low tones. The wOOx is awesome, I don't even have it on the highest setting. Sound is not distored at all and has great volume range.

The appearance is better than expected, it's go a sleek silver base with warm blue tones that make it look more expensive than it costs. the wood grain speakers with the glass on top are great. I'd recommend getting a mini-shelf stand as well, it completes the look very well.

The three disc changer is great. separate ejects for each so that you can two switch while the third is playing. Switching CDs to play another CD is quick (2-3 seconds to start playing the new CD). The only drawback at all is the slight noise while changing trays, but it's really good compared to others i've heard and so short you don't really notice.

I also checked out several AIWA systems and SONY systems in the 60 - 300 watt range and this one rocked. Go for it.

I agonized for a month over which system would be perfect for me. I was worried that if I purchased a smaller system the wattage wouldn't be enough to provide the sound I desired. I also wanted a system that looked sleek. I narrowed it down to three systems by Phillips (MC-70, FWC-870, FWP900). All three of them were 299.99 and they all had the desired sleek look of silver. The only difference was the size of the system. I finally decided on the MC-70 assuming that I'd be getting the same quality of sound regardless what size I chose. Upon receiving the system I was assured that I had made the right decision for the following reasons:

1) The system is small and fits in practically anywhere. Especially in a dorm room.
2) Sound is not compromised for size. (wOOx is incredible!)
3) The display lights up with a soft glowing blue.
4) The IS (Incredible Surround) sound feature.

I am definitely pleased with my investment and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a system with the above qualities as well as the basic features (3-CD changer, AUX input, etc.).

You can't go wrong with these set of speakers. I'm using it for my PC. These match my setup perfectly with the silver and black color tones. The subwoofer has a low deep bass sound for how small it is. Fit's nice under my corner desk. Like the specifications state, there is a sub volume on the back of the subwoofer, which I have at the lowest posible point and it still is boomy. Satellite's are crisp and clear, and the right speaker has an on and off switch with a green light that is lit when it is on. The headphone jack is also on the right satellite.
The only complain I have with these speakers is that when your using the headphones, the volume control on the right satellite speaker does not control the volume of the headphones, unlike what the instruction say. I have also verified this with Logitech over their technical support line. Not such a big deal, but you have to use the master volume on the PC or the particular application your running to adjust the volume. Now these speakers come with a patch cable to hook up a video game system like the X-box or PS2 also, but I wonder if you wanted to use the headphones, how you would control the volume?

Hey, they're 50 bucks. What do you expect for that price? For this price, they provide decent sound, play loud enough for most environments, have good bass response, and decent highs. It's hard to criticize for the price. If you think you're an audiophile, you shouldn't be buying $50 speakers anyway. Break out some serious greenbacks and buy something that is designed for your "discriminating ear".

logitech does a nice job of creating the x-220's. I first learned about the logitechs excellent sound when my brother had purchased the Logitech Z340's and MAN did they sound good! these speakers are the new versions of Z340's!

The speakers are very well made there not so big a bulky such as other sound systems. They have a unique look to them unlike some sound systems how they all look the same. The subwoofer on these have a total of 20.4 watts JUST In the SUB
The satalites have a total of 11.6 watts. Which is a total of 32 watts. The sound is very clear thats the 1st thing you will notice about the system. You have the option of turning the bass down/ but not off! the bass can go down a very good amount. The sub woofer is made of pure solid wood which makes for good sounding entertainment. Logitech also throws in a game adapter which allows you to play xbox,gamcube,ps2,and ps1! the satelites are wall mountable which means you may place them up on the wall if you dont have space on your desk.

Creative and logitech have been long rivals for there awsome sound systems. When I purshased my Logitech's at best buy I had a hard time choosing between the logitech x-220 and the Creative T2900. The logitech I personally thought were much more appealing and stylish. The sub on the logitech's have 20.4 watts as the creative T2900's only have 17. Satelites the creative had 12 watts total while the logitechs had 11.6 total. But all together the x-220's from logitech has 32 watts while creative has 29 watts! the output power was also more powerful than creative. The x-220's had 64 watts of output power while the creatives had 60 watts. And sound quality the Logitechs price and sound cant be beat.

This is ONE excellent sound system! I'm tellin ya the performance is incredibile. The only problem is the logitechs sub like ALL subs as a rattleing sound! I dont know why but when there are certain beats the sub rattles. But the Creatives T2900's sub has been known to just BLOW OUT!!!! which is a heck of alot worse.

Logitech x-220's are WELL worth the money due the high performance, style, and the adapter. You can connect these speaker to almost anything that has a head phone jack! Hope you choose to buy these amazing speakers you wont be dissapointed!

I have a huge DVD collection. So I decided to buy this
DVD changer. And for about a year or so I was in heaven.
Not having to search for A DVD around the house was great.

The only problem with this changer, and most people
will not have this problem, but alot of people have.
Is it just randomly stops reading your DVD's.

So I would keep that in mind before purchasing this dvd
changer.

I have had a Pioneer carousel FV727 in a master and slave configuration for about 3-4 years now. About once a year the slave looses all of it's programming. I have to go back and enter all my DVD titles again in the second unit. They stay in there for about a year or so, and then dissapear. Please help.

Scott

I first purchased a Toshiba 3109 and then a Panasonic 220. Both units had typical dvd sound and picture quality and were fairly easy to use. But some of the features that I wanted were either missing or difficult to use. Also, I am very lazy, and when I had an occaisonal whim to see a portion of of a movie that was not already loaded, I usually did not bother. The Pioneer more than satisfied any disatisfaction that I had with the other players. With 300 + 1 discs available, a quick touch of the shuttle made any disc immediately available. The display menues are incredibly versatile and easy to use compared to other DVD players. And finally the picture was equal to the others, but the sound quality was MUCH, MUCH SUPERIOR. The price may be higher, but dollar for disc and overall quality and features make purchasing this Pioneer DVD a no brainer.

Monster could sell ice to Eskimos

I do agree that cables make a difference when electronis devices are involved, however a fibre optic cable will not make one iota of difference to the sound quality when compared to another - no questions, full stop.

An illustration of how some people will buy anything is the crazy guy who said his picture improved!

Enough said

Alot of people say that Monster Cable is overrated. True, they are expensive. I use Monster Cable accessories because I know what kind of improvements to expect from them. Often times, the people here who have issues with Monster Cable, or any sort of a/v cable for that matter, often times do not have high performance a/v equipment. While I'm far from one of those theaterphiles who get paid to test new equipment in specific soundrooms, I do know enough to be able to distinguish what I (emphasis on I) sounds/looks better for my specific needs. Bottom line, Monster cables are a step up from the cables you'll receive with your equipment and will be more distinguishable if you have the right components. I use these digital cables because I have surround sound speakers and a Samsung receiver. If you're someone who does not have or plan on using surround sound, then you probably don't want to shell out money for this digital cable.

If you haven't spent a decent amount of money on your sound system, don't buy optical cable. I hear many people complain about how they can't tell the difference between RCA and optical, but when I see what they're using for a receiver and speakers, the problem is obvious. You're stereo system is only as good as its weakest link, and optical cable is intended for high-end stereo equipment. It's that simple. If you're balking at the price you're spending on optical cable, you probably haven't invested enough money into your stereo equipment for it to really make a difference.
That said, if you do decide to go optical, Monster is an easy choice. Although I'm sure they hike up the price a bit on name alone, they do make some of the best audio cable out there, optical or otherwise. I've noticed marked improvement in the sound quality from both my DVD and even MP3 player. If you want to take a chance with a less known brand for a cheaper price, good luck, but I'm willing to spend a little more for quality.

Monster could sell ice to Eskimos

I do agree that cables make a difference when electronis devices are involved, however a fibre optic cable will not make one iota of difference to the sound quality when compared to another - no questions, full stop.

An illustration of how some people will buy anything is the crazy guy who said his picture improved!

Enough said

Alot of people say that Monster Cable is overrated. True, they are expensive. I use Monster Cable accessories because I know what kind of improvements to expect from them. Often times, the people here who have issues with Monster Cable, or any sort of a/v cable for that matter, often times do not have high performance a/v equipment. While I'm far from one of those theaterphiles who get paid to test new equipment in specific soundrooms, I do know enough to be able to distinguish what I (emphasis on I) sounds/looks better for my specific needs. Bottom line, Monster cables are a step up from the cables you'll receive with your equipment and will be more distinguishable if you have the right components. I use these digital cables because I have surround sound speakers and a Samsung receiver. If you're someone who does not have or plan on using surround sound, then you probably don't want to shell out money for this digital cable.

If you haven't spent a decent amount of money on your sound system, don't buy optical cable. I hear many people complain about how they can't tell the difference between RCA and optical, but when I see what they're using for a receiver and speakers, the problem is obvious. You're stereo system is only as good as its weakest link, and optical cable is intended for high-end stereo equipment. It's that simple. If you're balking at the price you're spending on optical cable, you probably haven't invested enough money into your stereo equipment for it to really make a difference.
That said, if you do decide to go optical, Monster is an easy choice. Although I'm sure they hike up the price a bit on name alone, they do make some of the best audio cable out there, optical or otherwise. I've noticed marked improvement in the sound quality from both my DVD and even MP3 player. If you want to take a chance with a less known brand for a cheaper price, good luck, but I'm willing to spend a little more for quality.