Sound quality: The Aiwa's EXOS-9 would have had a very good sound quality score except that its volume setting drifted frequently dropping the score to fair sound quality overall. Bass has good impact but is somewhat prominent and boomy and the deepest bass is lacking. Midrange is even but is somewhat hazy, congested and a bit dark. Treble is fairly extended but lacks treble air and upper treble is slightly subdued. Does a decent job recovering room ambience, sounds somewhat congested and is lacking in detail. Bluetooth and wired sound quality are similar. Provides a decent volume level in a large sized room. When two units are used as a stereo pair sound remains somewhat hazy and congested, it can get louder but since two separate speakers are used the sound stage can be made wider depending on placement and room ambience remains decent, sound quality would have been very good except for volume fluctuations scoring good as a stereo pair.
Ease of use: We found the Aiwa EXOS-9 ease of use to be very good overall. Volume control knob is prominent but not labeled and lacks index, graphical and numerical markings for volume level. Analog (line-in) and wireless volume control action and features are the same. Bluetooth pairing is excellent. Switching between sources involves plug and unplug - The line input has priority over Bluetooth when plugged in with slight or no delay, unplug for Bluetooth playback. Unambiguous. Has low contrast aux in labeling.
