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Review on 🎧 Immerse Yourself in Superior Surround Sound with BEFREE SOUND BFS-520 Home Stereo System by Kesha Walker

Revainrating 2 out of 5

What you really need to know

I've had 2 of these machines. The first was hit by an electric shock. After that, the noise disappeared every time the power was turned on for about an hour. I can't fault the device for that, as it survived the power surge but occasionally turned on spontaneously even before this event. Instead of replacing the unit, I always left it on with the volume turned all the way down, which of course was before the peaking problem. This product is made in China. I suspect that as with most products, there will be defective units in every batch. After the power surge, I discarded the first block and then bought a replacement. The replacement device works well without accidental power supply. First the cons: 1.) Oddly enough (for a 5.1 surround sound device) its FM capability isn't stereo. 2.) Bluetooth capability - from your audio source to the device, NOT from the device to its speakers. All 5 speakers are connected with cinch cables. The device has RCA connectors on the back. 3.) If you have other IR control products made in China, it is likely that this unit's remote control functions will affect them or vice versa. Many of these unbranded products from China reuse the same sets of IR codes. I have encountered this issue with no fewer than 3 other Chinese-made products nearby while using this device due to this circumstance. .) Many functions can only be operated with the remote control. So don't waste it. 6.) Each input has its own IR remote control button, but there's no single "source" or "enter" button to toggle between them, although oddly there is a button on the front of the unit to do this . Also note that if this unit's FM tuner is not already tuned to a soft station, be prepared for loud sound or noise when switching between inputs using the front panel button. 7.) The default display brightness is set to a low value whenever there is a power failure. It can only be reset to brighter settings with the remote control. 8.) No universal remote control that I know of recognizes this device because the brand is too unknown. To solve this problem, I would recommend teaching this remote to a learning remote instead. However, if you decide to do this, be careful as most so-called learning remotes can only learn about 5 buttons. Few manage this device effectively. I am using an Inteset learning console to solve this problem. These can learn a few dozen key functions.9. ) No adjustable EQ, just a 6 band EQ meter slightly affected by low level line noise. 10.) No entrances marked "TV" or "Game". The rear cable inputs are limited to "AUX" and "DVD" only. Advantages and disadvantages. 1.) Despite the various shortcomings, it is a really good device if you can live with it, which is why I bought a replacement after the first device. failed. If you're looking for a truly feature-rich, high-end system, you probably have too high expectations to be satisfied with this device. Just keep an eye on it, it's $100 a unit. Both devices I've had sound great and look great. I have no regrets about the investment as it was minimal but I use it primarily as an amp with other more versatile, higher quality and feature rich gear (to make up for its shortcomings). simple, sounds good and loud, I can control it remotely. 2.) It has USB and SD card slots on the front, which is great if you want to quickly hook up some tunes. 3.) It has a sleep function, although I've never had to use it. UPDATE: Shortly after this review, my second unit suffered the exact same error (no sound on power up, then eventually distorted sound). Another spike? May be. but hardly. I don't even live in the same place where the first unit went down. Also, after that first squirt, my other electronics survived. At the moment I have the impression that the service life of these devices is around 18 months. 18 months for $100 isn't a huge loss, but even at that price, there's a lot of hassle and inconvenience. For this reason, I am taking another star from 3 to 2 stars in my rating. I refuse to buy another one of these blocks. Instead, I spent a little more to do something in Japan. I replaced a second Be Free BFS-520 with a Sony STRDH190 for only $60. I wish I had done that from the start. This is a great brand with solid build quality and lots of good reviews. It looks great and sounds great. My conclusion: save yourself the headaches and problems I encountered. Spend extra money on Sony. It's worth it.

Pros
  • Always liked
Cons
  • I won't say anything