Price Paid:  $180.00 from best buy

Summary:
Great sound. I got it at Best Buy when they were getting rid of them because it's now discontinued, too bad. The sub is amazing. The overall sound, is at the same quality i've heard 500W systems.

Strengths:
5.1 decoder, sub

Weaknesses:
none

Similar Products Used:
old aiwa

Price Paid:  $199.00 from Wal-Mart

Summary:
Bought this system at Wal Mart with the sub included. Compared to other brands with subs and 5.1 included (not ready) this Aiwa in in a league of its own as far as price. Other systems up to 4-500 dollars. Sound is great on this system. Did not take long to tell the difference after toying with all systems on the shelves. Gets very loud and very crisp. Bass is very good and even better with the sub. Rear speakers are somewhat small, but work good in 5.1 mode. Very clean highs and mids levels. Great CD player too. Front speakers will make the parents mad...and thats a good thing. Great with video games as well. All and all you can't go wrong with this shelf system. Has all you need til you can afford some "serious" equipment.

Strengths:
Nice sub, 5.1 built in, very clear stereo and 5.1 modes. Tons of speaker mode options. Optical input.

Weaknesses:
Not much at all. Needs more A/V jacks. Better Prologic mode would have been nice.

Similar Products Used:
Sony, Sharp, and Panasonic.

Price Paid:  $205.00 from Sears

Summary:
i really liked it becausa i dont have to turn it loud to hear it and the sounds great although deaper with a bigger sub. would kick ass

Strengths:
all the different types off speakers

Weaknesses:
not much

Similar Products Used:
rca sony emerson

Price Paid:  $200.00 from Best Buy

Summary:
I was deceiding between the Aiwa and a system from Sharp. After listening to both there was no comparison. The Aiwa had a much better audio quality. The bass rocks and the highs get high enough. The 3 c-d changer works smoothly with much less noise then the Fisher i had that broke down in just over a year. The Awai changer is rotary which i feel makes less noise then the drawer type changers. There was a Sony unit i was looking at, but for more money it wasn't any better.

Strengths:
Audio quality is subperb. Set up and operation is simple. Bass will vibrate the walls if turned up.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Fisher

Price Paid:  $250.00

Summary:
This is an awesome system. I looked around for several months, several times a week comparing both shelf systems and full-on home theater systems, and this unit was the one that beat out all the others for cost/features. I paid $249 for mine and got the optional subwoofer (extra). compared to all the other shelf systems up to $500, the DS50 is the ONLY ONE with BUILT-IN Dolby DIGITAL 5.1 decoding. (the rest are Dolby Digital Ready only or Pro Logic) This beats out all others and it's features beat outmost full home theater receiver systems up to about $400. I checked Sony, Panasonic, KLH, JVC, Pioneer, this AIWA was the best. So, when you buy your DVD player you don't have to spring for the extra $$ for one with built in Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding. (Saving you about $100. Just be sure you get a DVD player with a DIGITAL OPTICAL AUDIO OUT since that is the connection on the DS50 and the only way you can get the Dolby 5.1 playback.

Note: The rear surround speakers give the impression that they are poor. Three things:
1) They perform better in Dolby Digital 5.1 mode (for DVD's).
2) If you use Pro Logic mode (TV & VHS) you must use the setup to adjust the speaker levels so the rear surrounds are not 'drowned out' After making my adjustments. I was much more satisfied.
3) With the subwoofer installed, the Low Frequency Effects (bass) are removed from the surround output providing better clarity on the LF, RF C, and Rear channels. (Plus the extra 60 watts of 'oomph' increases the theater effect 10x.)

For the money, there isn't a better unit available. Buy it!

Strengths:
Sounds incredible for it's power output.
The Price.
It is one of the few Shelf Systems with built-in Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding.

Weaknesses:
Only has 1 Digital Input (optical).
Could have used additional A/V jacks.

Similar Products Used:
Nothing compares