Classic Home Theater System (EDR700S)

Rating:
Summary: Some words of advice about Classic
Review: I purchased this Classic Home Theater System from Ames Department Stores in May 2002 (...). Pros: the most and diverse blend of A/V inputs/outputs you'll find in a home theater in a box...perfect if you're connecting a lot of equipment, nice sound for the price, includes some cool games you can play with the remote, easy set-up, nice sub. Cons: DVD/CD player functions poorly, player has difficulty reading discs and often drops audio from DVDs, manual is poorly written (but by no means is it the worst I've ever seen), once the system breaks there is no fixing it (no parts available, customer service is virtually non-existent, no electronics repair shops will work on Classic brand products). I'm writing this next part for anyone that owns this system and needs help tracking down Classic because I've done the leg work. This unit is manufactured in Hong Kong/China (ChangHong TVS sold at Ames are manufactured by the same company), imported by a company in California called EMI Global with service issues handled by a Michigan company called FDM (Factory Direct Marketing). The phone number in the back of the manual is useless. Contatct EMI Global in Newport Beach to start the help process. My system recently stopped working and at the end of a long and tedious process I was able to send it back to FDM with a money order for $70 and then EMI will send me a new system. They, along with all repair shops, will not service Classic goods so they just replace for a flat fee. Shipping for the 53 lb. box cost me $20 so I'll end up with a new system (perhaps the Classic latest which is different than the EDR700S) for about $100. I also have the schematics for this system if anyone is interested.

Rating:
Summary: Some words of advice about Classic
Review: I purchased this Classic Home Theater System from Ames Department Stores in May 2002 (...). Pros: the most and diverse blend of A/V inputs/outputs you'll find in a home theater in a box...perfect if you're connecting a lot of equipment, nice sound for the price, includes some cool games you can play with the remote, easy set-up, nice sub. Cons: DVD/CD player functions poorly, player has difficulty reading discs and often drops audio from DVDs, manual is poorly written (but by no means is it the worst I've ever seen), once the system breaks there is no fixing it (no parts available, customer service is virtually non-existent, no electronics repair shops will work on Classic brand products). I'm writing this next part for anyone that owns this system and needs help tracking down Classic because I've done the leg work. This unit is manufactured in Hong Kong/China (ChangHong TVS sold at Ames are manufactured by the same company), imported by a company in California called EMI Global with service issues handled by a Michigan company called FDM (Factory Direct Marketing). The phone number in the back of the manual is useless. Contatct EMI Global in Newport Beach to start the help process. My system recently stopped working and at the end of a long and tedious process I was able to send it back to FDM with a money order for $70 and then EMI will send me a new system. They, along with all repair shops, will not service Classic goods so they just replace for a flat fee. Shipping for the 53 lb. box cost me $20 so I'll end up with a new system (perhaps the Classic latest which is different than the EDR700S) for about $100. I also have the schematics for this system if anyone is interested.