Ok... I bought this system when I was a sophomore in high school (2000). What I really wanted was a custom built component system but this was what I could afford. I took it home, plugged it in, and put it to the test. I have owned 8 stereos (Onkyo, Panasonic, Technics, etc... ) over the past ten years and eventually sold every single one except for this one. Some of the others have had better sound, but never by much. This stereo has packed the best bang for buck and it has never let me down. (currently 2010)