Coby CSP96 300-Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System (Black)
Review by R. Carpenter : Step up from tv speakers

This system arrived as ordered. The system looks good, and performs way better than my TV speakers. While I do not get real surround sound (see below), having speakers all around the room definitely makes you feel in the movie, game, show, etc. I don't get real surround sound because I do not have an amp/receiver or DVD player with separate outputs for each speaker. I just plugged the system into my TV with the dual cables. I don't have the resources to buy a nice receiver with an HDMI input/output (My TV is 1080i HD capable).

I do get great stereo sound quality, which with two left/right speakers gives a surround sound quality to whatever I am watching (less so on TV shows).

Just on the internal amp I can get these speakers loud without distortion. The bass is weaker than I would like, but I am in an apartment complex and have neighbors below! Although, I was in my dining room working on paperwork when I started listening to my fiance playing a PS3 game (Ratchet and Clank) and the bass quality sounded great. The bass also sounds great when watching action movies with gun fire (ex. Live Free or Die Hard). But the bass will not shake your windows, if that's what you are looking for.

The cords for the rear speakers are long enough to go under my rug/coffee table, under my couch, and up on the window ledges behind me. The speakers are also able to mount on the wall. What I was upset about was the length of the front Left/Right speaker wires. With the bass next to my PS3 on the ground, the speakers barely reach the top sides of the entertainment center (which isn't very big, I only have a 32 inch HDTV). I might be able to reposition them to get better stereo sound at a later date.

Having no remote is also a bummer, but for the price... whatever.

Overall the speaker system is a great upgrade for those looking for "false" surround sound in a smaller room. The speaker sound is crisp and clear. If you are looking for true surround sound (using HDMI cables, for example) this home theater speaker set may not be for your. But if you aren't picky about your surround sound, are light on cash, and want something better than your TV speakers, this just may be for you!

Thanks for listening! Will let you know if anything happens with the system that warrants immediate attention!

Coby CSP96 300-Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System (Black)
Review by Cowboy : Questionable at first......

I ordered this product because my HDTV speakers sounded terrible and I wanted and external source. When I received this product I immediately hooked it up. Everything was hooked up, I turned it on and nothing. I tried everything contacted, Amazon, Coby, and Toshiba (tv manufacture) no one had a cure. Amazon was willing to refund my money, Coby said to contact Toshiba and Toshiba told me how to increase and decrease the volume on the TV (DUH).
I got curious because everything seemed to be in perfect order, the satellite speakers were humming. The Power light was on but still nothing. So I disconnected everything, unplugged it from the power source and unscrewed the back panel which I discovered a wire that wasn't plugged in. Everything is working now and it sounds OK.

I do not recommend unscrewing the back panel, which might void the warranty, user discretion advised. Problem solved.

Coby CSP96 300-Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System (Black)
Review by Zaf9670 "PC and Gaming enthusiast" : Don't let the 300 watts fool you

Overall, I am happy with the product for the price given. However, I think some of the other products available that were within a $30 range of this set would have been better. Now on to the review.

The speakers were actually smaller than I had expected. I had a set of 125w speakers before that were much larger than these and actually seemed louder as well. The quality on these is probably comparable to the other set but they were also around $50 and 5.1 speakers as well.

One thing that should be noted is that these are NOT computer speakers. I was under the impression that they were since they came with no kind of DVD player or built in decoding. However you can buy RCA to Stereo cables and resolve this issue easily.

One thing I do not like is that these speakers have a trade off on quality depending on the sound level. When you want the speakers to be louder, they seem to distort the quality of the sound if you adjust the source to maximum sound. However, if you adjust the speakers to a higher level while leaving the source around a smaller level, you hear a faint white noise sound when there is little to no sound. This is something that can get a bit annoying.

Now onto the 300w of power. I was under the impression that I would be able to get at least as loud, if not louder, than my previous system. However, it seems that they fall short in this department as well. Being able to individually control the treble and bass is a plus but you cannot change the balance between the front and rear speakers.

The last problem with these speakers is that you have no remote for the system. Everything must be controlled from the subwoofer knobs on top. If you plan to use this for a TV or DVD player and do not plan on the subwoofer being beside you, then you have to readjust manually by getting up. Also the speaker wires can be quiet short as well (around 10 ft for the rears).

Overall, the price is the selling point of these speakers. They would be great for a small bedroom or dorm but probably not well suited for a mid-sized living room, especially if you plan to keep these far away from the seats.

I would only suggest these speakers to anyone who really wants 5.1 but doesn't feel like its worth $100 or more. Otherwise, don't skimp out on these and go for a pricier pair even if the wattage is smaller.

Coby CSP96 300-Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System (Black)
Review by LateBloomer : Coby Home Theater Speaker System

I was anxious to get it because the sound on my computer/TV was so bad. I've never owned a home theater speaker system but I've seen a few of them in other people's homes. I've had the Coby ststem for almost 2 months.

For the price Coby does a decent job. The sound, tone and volume are adjustable. I was able to get the tone I like. The sound quality could be better. But like I said it didn't cost much and it's good for the price.

It was a lot more complicated to set up than I thought it would be. It's not exactly plug-and-play but it wasn't rocket science either. I don't like that I have to turn them on and off manually. I'm not sure if there's a way to configure them that makes manual operation unnecessary.

The speakers are attractive. They fit in with my decor very well. I'd like to see longer wires on them. It's a little difficult to position them so the sound surrounds due to the short wires.

Overall I'm very pleased with the Coby Home Theater Speaker System. It's contributed to an increase in enjoyment of my computer (which is also my television).

Coby CSP96 300-Watt 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System (Black)
Review by R. B. Duncan : Good for the price

This is NOT a pro-quality Home Theater Speaker System. Don't expect to get pro-quality for $50!

That being said, this does provide a decent sound (albeit not great bass) for the price. If you are looking for an inexpensive speaker set for your home theater, then I would recommend this.

As mentioned in other reviews, the included speaker wires are fairly short (and also thin). If you're using it directly from your DVD/Blu-Ray player, then the volume knob on top of the speakers is really the only way to control the volume.

There is a slight hum in the speakers when no sound is coming out, but hardly noticeable.