So the Podium's are no longer the bargain of the century they were touted as when they were your 'this one's a keeper' system a few months ago..?

I was astounded at how many were wiling to pay $1000 for a 130W Bose Compact system a while back, but $600+ for something that is rated 2X15W? Yikes!

How many different systems do you have now, Fran? And how many have you let go over the last five years or so? Bet they were all 'keepers' during the first flush of ownership... And, what does it matter how many hours it runs on batteries? You got a single decent arranger that runs on batteries to put through it? Didn't think so..!

Tell us this is a 'keeper' AFTER you have 'kept' it for six months and used it regularly (that is multiple times a week). Right now, it is as much a 'keeper' as the E600 (was that the model you raved about?) and the other plethora of gear that turned out to not be the 'keeper' it was described by you as...

Don't get me wrong, this may turn out to be a great piece of gear, but perhaps we could keep the 'keeper' tag off until after you actually HAVE kept and used it for a while? There are many that take these kinds of reviews seriously, and spend hard earned money on what is actually just an initial impression. We owe it to them to be less hyperbolic in our praise until the gotchas and real life experiences have accumulated, don't we?

Or, at least, those that read them should be aware just how much 'keeper' stuff you no longer have?

Personally, a 200W+ system with a big subwoofer from Logitech for $140 US or a $600+ 2X15W Roland sytem, I'd want to know why I would pay 4X more for something a LOT less powerful..? Battery power seems a pretty much useless feature for an arranger player.

I'd be interesting in hearing about a head to head between the Roland and a pair of those Podium 10"s, especially when cranked up (or at least, a 'pro' level of deep bass at a medium distance or so). That is, if you still have those 'keepers'