Really though, the subwoofer makes all the difference, the sound is clear and does not saturate at high volume. The remote control is handy. The unit is compact while providing quality sound. These speakers Altec Lansing replace my old who dropped out after almost 15 years of faithful service, I hope they will have the same lifetime. The design is simple, classic yet elegant. Small detail, contrary to what the photo suggests, the speakers are completely black and not gray and black. They are "Designed in USA-Made in China" for information. I would add a caveat, the power button is behind the caisson, which is really not convenient to access.