Home > Consumer Reviews > Philips FWP900 Home Theater Compact Stereo System

This product manufactured by Philips, is an outstanding audio shelf system. It's 300 watts are optimal for surround sound use, either with a DVD system or another entertainment system. The sound and precision are clear and crisp, and the cd player delivers powerful options for excellent sound. The product lacks a little bit in symplicity, as some of the options are considered to be a little to advanced. Over all, this product is an outstanding buy, and is worth every dollar spent.

I ended up buying this system from Best Buy, Amazon couldn't get it for some reason. Very easy to set up but if you are an electronic novice, the features can get a bit confusing. I didn't have a problem, but someone else might. The sound is great but the best part is the surround sound. Philips gives you more than enough wire attached to the speakers for a bedroom or small living room. I watched "Das Boot" (having just read the book) and was amazed by the sound. The dripping water, the explosions, all there, all real sounding. And that is kind of an older movie, the sound being edited for DVD. I can't wait to see what a newer movie is like.

The only negative aspect of the product is that it uses the antiquated "bare-wire in a slot" system to plug the speakers into the unit rather than the now common RCA jacks. This means no switching to Monster Cable or something like that. The supplied subwoofer does use an RCA jack. The good thing is the clip system they use to hold the wires in is better than the 7 year old Sharp I replaced with this system.

Other than that, I am more than pleased with my purchase. I was able to test out some of the comparable models from Sony,Aiwa and Panasonic while at Best Buy.

The Panasonic felt cheap and didn't sound as good as the Philips. The Sony was nice, but it certainly wasn't worth the extra $... The Aiwa, well, for one thing, we've never had a good experience in this family with Aiwa products. The Aiwa didn't sound as nice, the display was too busy and the subwoofer was an extra $... The other systems were more powerful, but the sound wasn't as good ( except for the Sony)

If you already have a DVD player and just need to upgrade your sound, you don't have a lot to spend or a lot of room, buy this system, you won't be disappointed.

I purchased this system over 2 years ago and have been pleased. Evidently this item is no longer carried by Amazon.com but if you are considering looking elsewhere this review may be helpful.

The system is good but not great. In the power department it delivers. The stereo sound is good as is the surround sound system. I am no expert in adjusting sound levels and so some movies I and my family watch seem to be a little loud in some speakers and soft in others. You can adjust the sound levels for the 3 front speakers but the rear two speakers have to be adjusted together. The cd player holds 3 cd's and plays CD-R's. The dual tape deck works fine but can get a little confusing since there are no push buttons to control playback or recording for each deck. You have to use the same buttons for each deck and while fliping back and forth between decks it can get confusing.

Now that the system is 2 years old the minor flaws then seem like major flaws now. The fixed wires for the surround sound speakers limit the positioning of the speakers. I must admit that the lines are at least 15 feet long but depening on your room layout that can still not be long enough. With wireless speakers becoming more and more popular these speaker wires seem really outdated. Next, the cd player does not play MP3's. MP3 recordings are quickly becoming the preferred way to store audio material. The inability of this unit to play MP3's instantly marks it as an outdated model. Lastly, the surround sound speakers are large and clunky. I don't care for some of the small things technology promotes, like minature cell phones and micro sized universal remotes. However, I do like streamlined and small speakers. This unit speakers take up too much space and can clash with the decor of the room.

It may seem as though I am bashing this unit but I'm not. It has served our family well and delivers what it promises. I purchased a transition item that was on sale. I saved quite a bit of money and for me the savings out weighed the negatives I mentioned above. This system may not be for the serious stereo/home theater customer but it may do well for the beginner who needs a good system at a good price.

THIS SI THE BEST STEREO IN THE WORLD TRUST ME I OWN ONE. ... I WILL EVEN TAKE IT TO COLLEGE SOMEDAY! THANX AMAZON.COM!