AIWA XR-EM70 Micro Stereo Audio Minisystem

Rating:
Summary: customer service?
Review: I bought this Aiwa microsystem back in August and was inititially quite impressed. The sound was crisp and clear, even at high volumes. The stainless steel finish and wood speakers added a touch of elegance to the unit. My problems really began in October when the stereo simply DID NOT TURN ON ONE EVENING. I called AIWA and was shuttled to various service centers throughout the New York area. In the end, a local repair shop forwarded the stereo to the "main" service center in Syracuse. After ONE MONTH (!), the unit was returned to the local NYC shop without being repaired (and without anyone, including myself or the local repair shop representative, being notified)! The service center in Syracuse said that there was internal damage that was "not consitent with a manufacturing error:" a completely subjective assessment, open to much interpretation.
Hence, AIWA refused to honor their warantee. Making things worse was the fact that the AIWA staff were inredibly rude, cold and unhelpful on the phone. I was shuttled around from one "customer service representative" to another, to no avail. The supervisor was the least helpful of them all. I literally spent hours on the phone dealing with these people, not an easy task for a busy, hardworking medical resident. Now I am out $200. In the end, I bit the bullet and bought another microsystem, the Panasonic SA-PM27. Although I have only had it for 1 week, the sound is equal, if not superior and the 5 CD changer, as oppsoed to Aiwa's one, is an added bonus.

CONCLUSION: THE AIWA XR EM70 WAS A DECENT SOUNDING UNIT BUT IT BROKE WITHIN TWO MONTHS AND THE AIWA STAFF WERE INCREDIBLY UNHELPFUL. BUY AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Rating:
Summary: GREAT product, but missing something...
Review: I consider myself an audiophile. As with any purchase I make, I spend a considerable amount of time in research to find the best "bang-for-the-buck". I wanted a small unit that sounded BIG. I think I came close with the AIWA XR-EM70. It provides the flexibility of the CD, cassette, and AM/FM radio. Both the CD and cassette are single motorized drawer-type mechanisms that are quiet and appear well built. No complicated multi-function features that can break. It looks very professional and has easy-to-use audio controls. The quality of the cassette sound will surprise you, even without Dolby-B. Unfortunately, the sound does not feel balanced. The highs and lows are great, but the mid-range tone got lost somewhere. The D.I.N.A. trademark amplifier extenuates these tones, but leaves the mids behind. Also, the CD signal-to-noise ratio is only 88dB (I have 105 dB in my car). All-in-all, for a critically frugal audiophile, this system looks great and sounds good. A good buy!

Rating:
Summary: GREAT product, but missing something...
Review: I consider myself an audiophile. As with any purchase I make, I spend a considerable amount of time in research to find the best "bang-for-the-buck". I wanted a small unit that sounded BIG. I think I came close with the AIWA XR-EM70. It provides the flexibility of the CD, cassette, and AM/FM radio. Both the CD and cassette are single motorized drawer-type mechanisms that are quiet and appear well built. No complicated multi-function features that can break. It looks very professional and has easy-to-use audio controls. The quality of the cassette sound will surprise you, even without Dolby-B. Unfortunately, the sound does not feel balanced. The highs and lows are great, but the mid-range tone got lost somewhere. The D.I.N.A. trademark amplifier extenuates these tones, but leaves the mids behind. Also, the CD signal-to-noise ratio is only 88dB (I have 105 dB in my car). All-in-all, for a critically frugal audiophile, this system looks great and sounds good. A good buy!