I have never have anything but the audio come from the stereo speaker on my tv , and I be blow away the first time I hear this system . I buy this system brand new off of eBay for $ 250 total in late February 2004 and have be completely satisfied since .  i like to relax in my room now and crank that sub all the way up untill my window rattle and the picture on the wall shake . it do take I a couple hour to get set-up becuase I go crazy in get everything just perfect in the setting . this system can get as loud as you would want for a small to medium size room . one of the main reason I get this be for pro Logic II decode on my Gamecube game , and wow it be awesome to hear on game that support it . but the real treat come when watch dvd in Digital or DTS . for the first time I experience true surround in my room and it be incredible . I recommend try Saving Private Ryan dvd in the first beach-landing scene with the bass crank all the way up to feel the explosion .  the receiver be pretty straight-forward and easy to use if you read the manual first . some of the setting do not change the overall sound that much . I use different mode when I be listen to sound from different equipment ...  Audio CDs - Dolby pro Logic II MUS mode dvd 's - cstex b movie mode Gamecube\/Radio - Dolby pro Logic II MOV mode  overall a excellent budget system -lrb- a Sony too ! -rrb- . I recommend .