At Abt, we carry a variety of Mini-Systems for all of music lovers. When shopping for a Mini-System, be sure to know what size system you want. Also be aware of any special features you might be interested in. We have created a Glossary to help with questions you might have on many Mini-System features. For any other information needed or missing you can always contact our knowledgeable sales staff.

Nowadays, many people are turning toward mini-systems to provide them with the highest quality sound when viewing movies or watching television. When shopping for a Mini-System, be aware that many mini-systems aren't so "mini" anymore. Some systems come with a complete surround sound package including Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic and DTS. These systems also include five to six speakers including subwoofers for deep bass.

You should be aware that Mini-Systems come in different sizes and each size is classified differently. The different classifications are bookshelf, floor-standing/tower, wall/ceiling-mounted, a multi-speaker home-theater package. Each manufacturer will refer to the size of a mini-system differently.

Bookshelf systems are small yet pack great sound. These systems are also lightweight and can actually sit on a bookshelf. Speaker sizes vary on each model as well as special features. Bookshelf systems can also be classified as compact mini-systems.

Floor-standing systems are larger systems that can be placed on the floor. The speakers often come with stands to compliment the receiver unit of the system. Features for floorstanding systems vary per model.                

Wall/Ceiling-mounted systems can actually be hung on a wall or ceiling.The speakers and output vary on each model as well as special features. These systems are used to save space and are available for customers who want a more modern look to their audio equipment.

Multi-Speaker home theater package systems bring theater sound into your home. Most systems include Dolby digital or DTS sound. These systems are used for theater entertainment at home. Multi-speaker systems come with 6 to 7 speakers, usually one of those speakers being a subwoofer. The wattage per speaker varies per model. These systems are great for surround sound and for any one who likes really loud music.

All Mini-Systems include detachable speakers, weather it be two or seven speakers no mini-system comes with attached speakers.

Some Mini-systems include Mini-Disc players and are also CD recorders. These are just some features you might want to consider when purchasing a Mini-System.

CD-R (Recordable)
Unfortunately, CD-R discs are non-erasable. Once recorded, a CD-R disc can be played back on any conventional CD player.

Karaoke
This allows a user to sing along with special cassettes or compact discs. Such discs typically have vocals on one track and instrumentals on another. By selecting the music-only track and plugging in a microphone, the user can add his or her voice in place of the original.

Relay Cassette Play
In systems with multiple cassette decks, this feature will automatically play the next cassette once the first cassette is finished.

Rack Programming
Most CD and mini-disc components offer basic track programming. With this feature, you can make your own playlist by programming the sequence of tracks to be played back from a single disc or multiple discs.

CD Cartridge Changer
A compact disc changer that can store and play back multiple discs. These are loaded via a magazine cartridge into which the CDs are placed. Discs can be permanently stored in these magazines and the cartridges usually can be used with compatible car-audio CD changers. There are also Mini-Systems on the market that play multiple CDs but load via a carousel type mechanism for easier access to the discs.

Surround Sound & A/V Inputs
The system that includes surround-sound capabilities and audio/video inputs are useful for home-theater use. A/V inputs are handy for connecting various video devices (one or more VCRs, videodisc player, DVD deck, etc.) to the main system, and use it to select which source to view via the television's corresponding input. This is a good feature if your TV set includes only one set of audio/video inputs and you own more than one external video source.

Virtual Surround Sound
Some players offer "virtual" surround sound, which manipulates standard 2-channel audio to add depth and separation. This is a great feature for those without six surround speakers or a 6-Channel Decoder (Dolby Digital or DTS).

Disc Capacity
This is the number of discs a Mini-System is capable of holding at one time. Most Mini-Systems can hold 1, 3, or 5 discs but others can go up to 50.

Dolby B Noise Reduction
Since cassettes can be noisy on their own, tape decks usually include some level of Dolby noise reduction to decrease the background "hiss". Dolby B reduces background noise by 10 dB, but it is the oldest, least efficient noise reduction system. Dolby C and Dolby S are the newer, better noise reduction systems.

Dolby HX Pro
This is a form of signal processing during recording that prevents self-biasing of the signal.

Disc Capacity
This refers to the number of discs the Mini-System is capable of holding at once. Most Mini-Systems can hold 1, 3, or 5 CDs.

Type of Speaker System
This refers to the number of cones that are used in each of the two main speakers. Full-Range speakers use one cone.

Brand
At Abt, our Mini-System brands include Sony, Panasonic, Bose, Denon, JVC, Nakamichi, Onkyo, and Yamaha.

Equalizer Presets
Equalizer (EQ) presets slightly alter the amount of bass and treble in the music to give a customized sound. EQ presets can always be turned off.

Full Logic Cassette Controls
These are electronic controls (commonly referred to as "feather touch" controls) that endure less wear because the functions (play, fast forward, etc.) are initiated electronically.

Music Scan
Music scan is a feature on some cassette decks that will automatically locate the beginning of a song when you're fast-forwarding and rewinding.

Play Exchange
This feature enables a user to change the discs that are not playing without interrupting the one in play mode.

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