Home > Consumer Reviews > Philips FWC380 Compact Stereo System

Bought this to replace an older (1984) higher-end home audio system, but I kept my little Koss M-80 speakers and rigged the FWC380 to play thru them.

Got to admit that after living with it for over a month I feel absolutely spoiled. The remote is a sensible size and easy to use. No equalizer req'd with Optimal Sound Mix (OSM) for lower volume settings, and the INCREDIBLE SURROUND feature is just the ticket if you have small speakers and you want Bose-like room-filling sound that sounds like much larger speakers when you crank it.

The AUX jacks in back have my older TV plugged in for excellent sound, and for those looking for home theatre on a budget there's a subwoofer jack for "earthquake", etc. enhancement.

Negatives? Sure, but they're minor. No FM mute for weaker stations, and noise reduction for the tape deck would be nice. The "Las Vegas" style display format is kind of cheesy but the different moving mode displays are well designed and logical. And wouldn't it be nice if shelf system manufacturers had regular connectors installed in the back of their speakers instead of consumers having to settle for pre-installed, small gauge, not-long-enough speaker wire (are you listening, Philips? I still haven't auditioned the speakers that came with the system...a golden opportunity awaits)?

To wrap up...I'll use this primarily for playing CDs and TV/VCR audio, and for those purposes this system's performance exceeds my expectations. Well done, Philips.

Lots of great features for a lower priced system. I really like the Optimal Sound Mix button which allows me to hit one button and get the best setting for my music. The remote control is very easy to use and the set up went pretty smooth too. Great value in a stereo system!

Nice little system for the price. Sounds great and looks great.

I recently purchased this system at what I consider a superior value. The system is simply an incomparable value in its price range. As noted by other reviewers, the Optimal Sound Mix button provides the best range mix regardless of the source--tape, CD, etc. The system is easy to operate from the unit itself or by remote control and the 3-way bass reflex speakers (yes, they ARE 3-way rather than 2-way....another plus) provide near studio-quality sound reproduction throughout the volume range. I compared the system to others ranging from $100 to over $150 from other common and high-profile manufacturers, and if sound quality is your number one priority over feature bells and whistles, there is no better value, and it "feels" more solid and sturdy than others, like when you close the door on a quality vehicle and know that it's solid in comparison with others. Secondarily, whereas other manufacturers frequently offer 1-year parts with 90-day labor warranties, Phillips provides a full-year warranty for the labor as well.......a strong indication that you can expect NO problems. Two thumbs up for this quality powerhouse!

One word, wow! This system is amazing! I never thought a shelf system could pack a punch for such a good price!