Let's Make Things Audible. Review on Philips FW 399 V

As Diwali is nearing its high time for all Electronics goods sellers. Everyone wants to cash on the event with attractive offers giving extra software, financial schemes to support the buying. I wonder if Philips stays behind in the race. No point for guessing but Philips is coming with loads of offers on their audio system. FW V795 competitor of Sony is rushed in the market, which has a whooping output of 7000 Watts PMPO. To add to the misery of Sony it has a mp3 playback. I feel Sony is proved to be a Jackass. I can’t imagine a 38000 Rs. music system not having a simple mp3 playback. I still curse my cousin for buying a Sony, which does not have this. He regrets the decision but still loves Sony like nothing. I’m sorry if I have hurt feelings of Sony fan club but this isn’t wise from a Audio System Giant.

It has a Double Cassette Recorder. High Speed dubbing can be done with the recorder. What amazed me is the sound quality with the cassette player. I usually hate cassette players (including my Walkman) for the noise rich sound qualities. Though having a low output it gives crystal clear sound with cassettes. Equalizer setting gives you an option of selecting the right frequency combination for song types. Separate buttons are provided for BASS enhancement. One Problem is that the speakers don’t support extreme low frequencies and sound tends to vibrate and distortion creeps in.

As you all know Karaoke is facility associated with an audio-visual system that plays an accompaniment to a song performed by following the words on a video screen or the performance of such music. To sing with Karaoke turn the MIC volume knobs to minimum plug into MIC jacks and turn on microphone switch on. With a little experience you can adjust the amplifier volume to balance the voice against music. Also you have MIC volume control to adjust the microphone volume. Some time we get a loud noise out of speakers suppressing this is because of the loop formation. Noise from speakers get in to MIC and is amplified and again it is entered. So it forms a kind of a loop. Just take care by adjusting position of the MIC, so that it is away from speakers. You can also record your voice with the help of tape recorder.

With on screen display every operation you perform with VCD and MP3 CD can be seen on you TV screen. Pressing the ‘Display’ Button will display the time on screen. Entering a VCD or MP3 will display a menu on your TV Screen. Menu includes various options from Play, Stop, Selection, and Forward etc. Choose options on screen. Entering MP3 CD displays list of names of file tracks. Track timings are also indicated. 10+ buttons can be used to select track numbers above 9. Cool Green colored On Screen LED Display displays every operation you perform with the CD. Menu includes various options from Play, Stop, Selection, and Forward etc. Choose options on screen.

The sound quality is great just like Sony and Aiwa. You ought to hear it to believe it. Rests of the features are same as in any MP3/VCD/ACD player. The 1200 W output is well heard. Dynamic Bass Boost only makes it better. This mode is suitable for party lovers. Bass is not a thrashing one like 6000 W but enough for a small apartment party.

I like this player for its sound quality. What I don’t like is its prize. It is prized 6 thousand more and that our own Indian Videocon with similar specifications (I don’t need to mention Akai). The price is 16000 Rs. Akai even comes below 10K with an exchange offer. Do check out current offers in the local outlets. They are also giving free CDS with the system. Don’t loose the chance go grab your FW 399 V today!