Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

TL:DR version: Good as an Office, Bedroom, or Secondary stereo. As a main stereo for watching movies don't bother ---PROS--- -Pretty affordable -Decent out-of-the-box speakers -Pulls in FM Radio stations like nobodys business (read: good radio reception) -Powerful Class-D TDA-7492P Amplifier rated at 25 REAL watts per channel -Bluetooth is easy to use -CD Player controls double as Bluetooth remote controls -Has two aux jacks, 3.5mm on front, RCA on Back (NOTE: this is only on the newer ITCDS-5000a Model) -Cool 70s look with working VU meters -Can use your own set of speakers provided they're efficient and 8OHMS impedance ---CONS--- -Fake midrange driver on the speaker set (the speaker in the middle is plastic) -Tweeter on provided speakers can be bright sometimes -Some functions like setting FM presets cannot be done without remote - Bass and treble controls only do +/-3db -Does not play MP3 CDs but who cares nowadays anyway -VU Meters are actually power meters (more on that below) -Remote is kinda flimsy The stereo I got is a newer revision (its listed as the ITCDS-5000a) that fixes some issues the earlier version had like a failing CD Player and added a second RCA jack aux hook up on the back. the CD player is a more robust version that's a lot less flimsy than the older version and all the circuits apart from the power supply have been condensed to two boards instead of four. As for the sound its actually quite powerful and clear, when i got it i thought it was going to sound tinny but the speakers that came with it actually had a surprising amount of bass! though the tweeters on them are real the midrange is not, its made of plastic and is only there for cosmetic reasons. The actual receiver itself has a silver brushed aluminum front that's actual metal and it has four big knobs on the front along with a set of chrome push buttons for all the other functions. I find myself using the Bluetooth feature the most and I hardly touch the CD player, only when there's a CD i haven't ripped do i use it and it works as a CD player should. Now the only gripes i have with this is that the VU meters aren't really VU meters at all, there more like power meters because when you have the volume low they don't really move, they kind of twitch a little. But when you have the volume past 18 or so they start to liven up and when the volume is at max (which is 30 btw) they start pegging in the red. Another thing is the speakers that came with this set had a FAKE midrange driver, this is the first time Ive ever seen something like that. I mean the do sound good and the enclosure is made of wood and its also ported but they could have done without the fakie midrange and maybe put the bass reflex port up front instead of in the back. But what do I care anyways since you can connect other speakers to this receiver provided that they are 8ohms and kinda efficient. Right now I have a vintage passive KLH 2.1 set hooked up to it and the power output out of this little receivers class-D amp is more than enough, the bass is solid and deep the highs are clear but the midrange is a bit forward at times but still clean sounding. Besides the fact that it has a cool 70s baby marantz like look its all in all a solid stereo set.