Customer Reviews

Philips AZ2555 CD Boombox with USB PC Link

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

OK, just to clarify. The AZ2555 does NOT play MP3s burned onto a CD, only via USB cable streaming from a PC. There is a newer virtually identical Philips "Expanium" model (AZ2558) that is exactly the same except for the fact that it can play MP3s from CD. Unless you looked very closely for the "Expanium MP3-CD" logo on the front of the boombox and on the product's box, you wouldn't know that they were two different products.

USB PC Link: software has not yet passed xp logo test as of july 03, but is a cool idea, you play your music through musicmatch, your whole computer can store music to listen to.

gameport: works great with ps2, the gamecube doesn't really work. MOH: frontline was so loud and the attack scene in the movie pearl harbor was great.

mp3 cd support would have been nice... :(

wOOx: this is cool, sounds great for bass, it moves when it is kranked up loud, real neat.

nice controls, nice remote. looks very cool.

not to bad sizewise left to right, but very deep, little klunky.

overall, good sound, good looks, good product, 5 stars.

I've only been using the AZ2555 for a couple weeks so I can't comment on reliability. I was aware when I bought the box it did not play MP3's. MP3 capability would be nice but all the MP3 boxes I listened to in this price range did not have the sound quality of this unit (which is very important to me). It was the great sound and features that sold me. For example, it provides complete control over EQ which was not available with the other boxes I looked at. The speaker system provides deep smooth response and low distortion (I haven't played it extremely loud or outdoors). The tuner is also very good. I really like the side handles as they don't get in the way and make carrying the box (one side up) easier. I'm thinking of buying another one for my workshop.

I won this boombox off of cokemusic.com last year, and although I didn't have to pay for it, I am very glad to have taken the time to enter into the drawing for it. At the time, I was looking around at boomboxes in this class, because I am an active person and my home stereo system wasn't portable. Although this is a big boombox, it produces high quality sound and for the price you can't go wrong. This component is unique in that you can plug it into your computer via usb, and not only use it as a set computer speakers but actually select and control the tracks with the boombox as if it were playing an mp3 cd (which contrary to popular beleif, it can't do). So you can use the remote that comes with it to select tracks on your computer through your boombox. The only setback with this is that you have to use musicmatch for this feature to work, which is a good program once you have used if for a while (the transition from windows media to music match takes a while). This boombox also has deep base and usually plays well at high volumes, although there have been incedents when distortion is present. The tuner is good, and the auxilary option makes it possible to play almost any audio type if you have a player of that type. For example, the boombox doesnt have a cassette deck, but if you have a portable one with the proper cable and a headphone jack, you can plug it into the boombox. So far I have no real complaints with this device, apart from its bulk and weight when it has batteries in it. Feel free to email me at Litdboy@yahoo.com with any questions you may have as I would be happy to answer them.

this radio went everywhere i went for 2 years

it was recently stolen but recovered at a pawn shop, no remote now. This is the best boom box i have owned and have used it in every set up imaginable and it has never let me down, i run my denon cd player thru it, cdn1000, its a dj cdplayer with high end rca cables and that really let the radio shine, more clarity than the stock cd player with much higher signal to noise ratio. i dont care much for the tuner or cd player but the speakers can get much louder with an external source with the higher voltage pro audio line levels. its just a great performer and because i just moved i cant take my whole system so i am running the cd player thru a xover and running the philips for my temprary high end with my 1000 (real)watt 8in Velodyne subwoofer, i wont even consider using the 3 way sony speakers from my girlfriends bookshelf system, i can talk about this piece of hardware all night! By the way, does anyone know the part number for the remote? please e-mail it to me

If you are looking for a portable CD player that sounds really good, then this attractive, but rather unusual styled, product is the machine to buy.

Even without the dynamic bass boost system operating, music played on this system is very "rich", and about the best I have ever heard on a portable Radio/CD player.

I was a little disappointed with sound quality from the FM tuner. Mine suffers from slight distortion and just noticeable background hiss, even when tuned to strong signals. But you have to listen pretty carefully to hear it.

The "Power Meter" is a bit of a gimmick as it displays "internal" signal strength, and not the output power to the speakers.

I have owned another Philips potable Radio/CD/Tape player for a long time, and the only problem I have had with it is some of the mechanical slider switches and equaliser controls are starting to wear out. This model doesn't use sliders, so I am expecting to be as reliable as all my other Philips equipment.

I am impressed for the $$$. Remember people, this IS a boombox, not a home system, so I wouldn't buy this as your home entertainment system! I would recommend for anyone for their apartment/dormroom, garage workshop, patio/deck, office, etc. Great sound for a boombox and a great deal for the $$$. Great wOOx bass, easy to use, cool looking. The only negative is that it is a little bulky. There COULD be a little distortion if you try to turn the volume all the way up and depending on the CD/type of music, but this is true with most boomboxes. Very Solid.

I bought this boombox about a year ago and it is wonderful! The features on it are great. I took it on vacation and used it as a surround sound system, it also doubles up as pc speakers. The only thing I would say bad about it is, it is kind of bulky.

I bought this unit because I wanted a portable boombox I could lug between my kitchen and my laptop in the bedroom. For the price, the sound quality is as expected, and quite decent, which is the most important point of any piece of audio equipment, so no complaints there. I have the az2558 "expandium" model that plays mp3 CDs. Therein lies one complaint -- it ONLY plays .mp3 CDs. My entire collection (over 1000 cds) is ripped with Windows Media Player in the .wma format. There's no reason why the machine couldn't play a variety of formats, but it doesn't. My second complaint is you need to use MusicMatch software to enjoy the remote control features if listening off your computer. I use Windows Media Player, I have no urge to change to MusicMatch and I'm deathly afraid it will re-tag my collection, so I'm afraid to even load it. It would have been nice to have some templates for different popular software packages.

Overall I can't complain. It does what I ask and sounds ok. Right now I can't figure out if it sounds better through the USB link or the regular audio cable, but perhaps I'll figure it out.

I bought this boombox on April 11, 2004 at Meijer for $89.97. What more could you ask for in a boombox. This one sounds great with its patented wOOx technology that gives you rich and accurate bass. You can connect an auxiliary source such as your game system, DVD player, etc., if you desire. When you crank up the music, you can see the miniature wOOx subwoofer vibrate. How awesome is that! If you want a great sounding boombox with rich and accurate sound with low distortion, this one's for you. Good luck if you are shopping for a boombox that is right for you.