Home > Consumer Reviews > Rio EX1000 Executive Microsystem

At first this system was flawless. Then the light panel went. After that, the connections to the speakers went. I sent the unit back and after two months, they sent a replacement which was also defective. They promised to send another replacement but now their e mail and cust service numbers have been disconnected. I did a Better Business Bureau search on this company and the results are listed below:
Here's your BBB file:
Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the

Bureau.Specifically, our records show a pattern of non-response to consumer
complaints brought to its attention by the Bureau.

The following data concerns complaints processed by the BBB since the firm's
file was opened or over the last 36 months, whichever is less. Sonic Blue
Inc has had 107 complaints. 24 were closed as Resolved. 57 were closed as
Assumed Resolved. 1 was closed as Adminstratively Judged Responsible.25 were
closed as No Response.

The company's size, volume of business, and number of transactions may have
a bearing on the number of complaints received by the BBB. The complaints
filed against a company may not be as important as the type of complaints,
and how the company handled them. The BBB generally does not pass judgment
on the validity of complaints filed.

I got this system as a gift for my birthday, and after reading many reviews saying it wasn't up to snuff for them, I'll have to disagree.

The look:
For a girl, this system, to me, is very sleek and modern looking. The LCD display changes colors, which I like because I get sick of one after a while. The volume dial also has a lit blue ring around it that blinks when you use the remote. The brushed aluminum and frosted teal glass make it look like it cost a pretty penny. The tape deck is located on the top of the system, which I don't mind since I don't use tapes anyway. The speakers are laminate wood and the covers have stretched fabric over them (feels like pantyhose). The main unit is big and heavy, a tank as I like to call it. But I don't mind the bulk; to me it just seems durable.

The technology:
One thing I absolutely love about this system is it supports MP3 CD/CD-R/CD-RW playback. This means I can take a rewriteable cd and keep adding new tracks as I please. When you first put an mp3 CD in the player, it loads for a few seconds; this is because it rearranges the tracks alphabetically according to ID3 tags. When you play a song it scrolls the artist and song name...once. This is something I don't care for; I wish I could set it to scroll the name in the middle of the song. But I think this is a petty thing to care about when it can do so much.

The hook-up:
On the back of the main unit there is an AUX input (I hooked my stereo up to my computer) 2 standard clips for the 2 speaker cords with wires, 2 plugs for the subwoofers, and input for an AM and an FM antenna (included). Many people complained that there isn't enough power going to the speakers, which I don't notice since this unit isn't in a big room. But I also put 2 huge speakers attached to those clips, so I have 4 speakers running off a main unit that supposedly can only support 2 small speakers. And I have yet to see any problems and I have had this stereo on every day, for about 5 months. This unit isn't as weak as people are saying. My other 2 speakers are 3 foot tall 120Ws and this stereo hasn't showed any signs of not being able to handle them.

The remote:
I love this thing. From the remote you can set the clock, set an alarm, set the equalizer, tape deck controls (including automatic rewind) CD controls (with a skip forward 10 tracks button) am/fm controls, and volume. The max volume is 30, with 3 bass settings (1, 2, and 3) and at 30, and max bass my windows rattle. Some people have noted that at volume 15 a fan comes on, but with the volume that high I don't understand how they could hear it, I sometimes do when I press stop after playing songs for about an hour, but it's not loud enough to annoy me.

I love this stereo, the good things about it far outweigh anything that is lacking. If you don't think this unit is for you, wait a while until the technology gets better.

Being a HUGE fan of my RioVolt SP-250, I figured I couldn't go wrong with the EX-1000. Boy was I wrong!

As soon as I hooked it up, I put the batteries in the remote, and the blue light around the volume dial started flashing away. The blue light flashes whenever a button is pressed, meaning that the remote was broken... which it was. I couldn't do anything with the remote unless I held down one of the upper tier buttons while pressing the button I wanted to use. So, that was my first disappointment.

Second disappointment, I put in some audio CD's I burned, several of them have loud pops at the beginning of each track. I was also dissapointed that there was no CD text on the screen. The manual boasts CD Text playability.... I should also say the problem discs play fine everywhere else, including my RioVolt SP250. Most of My MP3 discs display garbage for the titles, I don't know why... my RioVolt 250 has no trouble with the names..

What bothers me the most is the EQ/BASS settings... I wish they could be used simultaneously... there's not enough BASS on the Rock or Classic EQ, and not enough treble on the Bass Boost settings. Also, the salsa and samba EQ settings reverse the stereo channels... Sonic Blue said this shouldn't happen, but I've had 2 units (returned the first) and it happens on both.

It also drops some of the files on some of my MP3 discs (like 1 disc with 101 songs, it only shows 100, but the RioVolt shows 101).

The reason I'm keeping the unit is the sound. Despite the EQ anomolies, like forgetting the e=settings, etc... I think it does sound very good overall. I do play with the EQ settings alot. And I DO like the fact that I can pop one disc in and listen for several hours. The radio gives pretty good reception also.

I think Sonic Blue needs to do a lot more work with the software, as there are lots of bugs in it.. (You can fast forward infinitely through an MP3 file, and when you stop forwarding, the file plays from somehere in the middle of the file --- EQ settings don't always stick or are not always accurate --- Salsa and Samba settings reverse the channels --- MP3 file names don't always display properly, etc.) Too bad there's no firmware upgrade path.

I bought this stereo and at first was very pleased with it. The color display is great, sounds great etc. For whatever reason though my mp3s burned onto cds were split into about 6 sub-tracks and there was skipping in between each one. This was very annoying. Its not supposed to happen so i emailed tech support. After a while I got a response and she asked if i was using direct cd... I said yes and since then there has been no reply (about 2 weeks) I also tried calling tech support and someone told me there was nothing able to help my problem but he would email if he found something. Also the titles display for the songs only shows the number of directory rather than actual song... ON top of that about a week later the color display stopped functioning properly. Instead of the 10 or so default colors there were only about 4 that worked properly. The others flashing a combination of many different colors or none at at all. It might of just been bad luck with the player but there companies tech support makes me never want to go through them again...

Out of all shelf systems that play MP3's, this is the best thus far!!!
Unlike any and all Philips products, The Rio EX 1000 reads mp3's at a fast pace and quickly displays titles.
I originally bought the FWR55 from Philips(not worth the paper the ad is printed on) and had nothing but slow reads and horrible quality not to mention poor customer service. Those factors prompted me to return it to Amazon.com for a refund. Philips needs to go to MP3 school!!!!
Then I heard about the RIO EX 1000.....and have not been disappointed..
This system has only a couple of minor drawbacks:
1.Could use a little bit more power as well as true surround.

2.Did not like the speaker connections; esp to the sub-woofer..

All in all, The Sonic Blue team is the BEST when it comes to MP3's as they make their product with firmware updates(Philips has no such thing and probably is not capable of thinking outside the box).
A major recommended system if you want to play mp3's... You will not be disappointed!!!!!!!!