Works like a charm

Does exactly what is. Works perfectly streaming from lap top or mobile. Much easier that Wi-Fi streaming or using a squeezebox.

A budget system with great features let down by poor picture quality

I bought this home cinema system to replace my ailing 4 year old Pionner 303 system, attracted my the compact and discreet size of the speakers and its impressive 850 RMS output. I was delighted when my Sony dealer made it multi-system by pressing a few buttons on his own special handset.The system is easy to set up, and the auto-calibration system means that you can exactly balance the 6 speakers to your viewing position. It plays all sorts of discs, and even remembers your last viewing position after you have removed the DVD. There is no sound distortion even when cranked to maximum volume of 32 thanks to the digital amplifier but there is not a great deal of rumble from the subwoofer and CD's sound thin and somewhat tinny. The overall sound quality is good rather than excellent. However what really lets this system down is the drab picture quality, even through a high-quality scart to scart connection. For all my tinkering with the colour, contrast, brightness and tone controls on my TV I have just not managed to get a picture quality that matches the TV picture.

Good value for money

It works very well, and for the price is very good value for money.

The radio reception is good, and the speaker is perfectly acceptable.

If I was being critical, the styling is a bit 1980s, and next time round I may be inclined to purchase something a bit less retro looking.

My biggest complaint is the switch to set the alarm on/off - it's a slider, and the notches are all very close together. It's quite a fiddle to select the one you want, and practically impossible trying to do it in the dark. And there is no illuminated feature to show whether the alarm is set or not. So if your other half has gone to bed before you, you have to put the light on to check whether the alarm has been set or not.

Quality sound and stylish design

I shopped around a lot before buying a new stereo because I was looking for good sound without having to spend a fortune on separates. After looking on the sony website and seeing this one ’for sound enthusiasts’ I decided to buy it and it didn’t disappoint.

Excellent service from Amazon, as usual - item was delivered in 2 working days and it was easy to set up. The system is small and stylish and the sound is great, really good quality with adjustable bass and treble. The alarm set up is useful, you can set it to record the radio at a cetain time, and it does several other things I haven’t got round to trying out yet! There is no draw or tacky top-loading cd tray either- you just push the cd in like a in car stereo.

Overall, it is a brilliant little stereo, perfect if you want a small hifi but quality sound.