The XL-HP700's hefty 100 watts per channel will make your CDs sound great in small to medium-sized rooms, when you're cranking them up and when you're playing them quietly; an overshadowed benefit of high power is that you get full sound, even at low volumes. You can listen straight through a disc, set the player to repeat, or set it to play random selections.

Load up to 3 CDs (including audio CD-R and audio CD-RW) at a time and listen to them continuously, in random mode, or one at a time--you can even swap out 2 of the discs while the third is playing. The system's 2-way speakers are magnetically shielded to allow distortion-free placement near TVs or computer monitors. Detachable grilles expose the speakers' generous 5.875-inch woofers, dome tweeters, and bass-enhancing ports.

The single-well cassette deck offers full-logic controls and auto-reverse playback for hands-free extended listening. The 30-preset FM/AM digital tuner automatically scans available stations for easy programming. Use the X-Bass circuit to boost the speakers' bass output, or choose from 5 preset equalizer curves to tailor the sound to your preference.

A dedicated subwoofer output facilitates hookup with an external (and optional) powered subwoofer to fill out your music's bass frequencies, while stereo RCA analog-audio inputs accommodate an external device like a DVD player, MP3 player, voice recorder, or VCR. Want to listen in private? Plug a pair of headphones (not included) into the unit's .125-inch headphone jack. This system is Energy Star-compliant, meeting all guidelines for energy efficiency.