Rockville TM80B Black Powered Home Theater Tower Speakers, Dual 8" Subs

I bought this as a replacement to a Vizio surround system that just recently had the mid ranges blown out while I was playing around with an equalizer app on my phone (thanks, Neutralizer). As I like listening to my music in good quality speakers, meaning, speakers that work the way they were intended out the box and not necessarily high end or expensive stuff, I wanted to buy another system stat. (And needless to say, I learned a valuable lesson about playing with equalizer apps. I will now only use said apps with speakers that do not come with one built in, and whatever sound I pick first go around is stuck until the unit fails.) I want to start with the good before I get into the ugly. Oh, and this review is eating up schoolwork time, so it won't be edited. We're getting this review done in one take — no revises or edits. I'd first like to speak of the Bluetooth connectivity. Smooth and difficult to interfere with. Now, I have read some reviews speaking about the shoddy Bluetooth connection (bad potential consumer first impression), but I have yet to experience it. In fact, I had worse connection on my V-series Vizio surround system before upgrading to the M-series, and even then, the M-series still had some connectivity issues. The Rockville TM80 has yet to cause me any connectivity issues (good personal impression). This can certainly be chalked up to phone compatibility. I have a Motorola Tracphone specifically for music. Maybe Vizio has a difficult time staying connected to cheap phones? I don't know. All I know is that the Rockville TM80's Bluetooth hasn't caused me any issues yet. Next, I'd like to speak about the aesthetic. A freaking +. This system is a beauty and a beast (we'll get to that soon) all in one. She's a rough and tumble, sleek and robust, ragtime gamine of a gal, and she'll steal your heart (men, women, and non-binaries alike). This system looks so great — especially cherry (the one I purchased). That's where the good ends. Onto the meh and the frustrating. The remote is horrible. There is some kind of delay from when the buttons are pressed and the system response. Not only that, but you have to hold the remote in a specific way if you want it to work JUUUUUUUST right. It's annoying... Then there's the sound. It's not bad. Not bad by any means. But it's apparent this unit is a bit of an acquired tase in the sound department. There is a lot of bass, like, for days. The built-in equalizer only exacerbates the speakers' odd sounds. In fact, when I first started playing with equalizer, I wondered to myself if perhaps it was three or four bands instead of the self-reported 8 in the user manual. I like to get my music to where I can hear the highs, mids, and lows in a ratio that give me goosebumps and the tingles. Unfortunately, that is not possible here with this unit because of the system's innate sound. Swap from country to jazz preset and the mid ranges get REALLY soft. Swap from NOA to AOC and the highs nearly fall off completely. Presets just seem to drag sounds forward and push sounds back (I mean duh, that's what equalizers do, but this is to the extreme). And as an aside, there seems to be one speaker that cannot handle certain frequencies on the NOA equalizer preset SPECIFICALLY: it's weird. It's fine on every other preset, yet distorts when in NOA... Again, weird, but not a fatal flaw. I just chalk it up to the built-in amp, since a metallic ring (you know, that old school speaker metallic ring that should be a thing of the past) seems to be coming from this one top speaker and the same on the other speaker, though, assuming again, I believe the other speaker does not distort due to hitting handling different frequencies(?). Finally, since I've rambled long enough. THE WEIGHT. She. Is. A. Beast. I'm thirty years old, live alone, have 115LBS to my name during summers and 125LBS (on a GOOD day) during winters, and I'm only 4'11". This unit was heavy. I'd go so far to say it was heavier that the self-reported 40 something in the user manual. I can lift 50 pounds relatively fine. That's not really an issue. But these speakers almost blew my backout, and they didn't even offer to wine and dine me first. Now, this is only a personal pet peeve, and by no means is this a part of my review, so to speak. But they were heavy enough to the point where I considered returning them. Thankfully the postman was there, and even a neighbor was there, to help me put the box on a cart and haul to the elevator. But I prayed and prayed the thing would work right out the box, because it was so heavy that I had a difficult time removing it from the box. Welp, it's set up, it works, and it looks nice. So, I guess that's all that should matter. Despite all the cons I mentioned, however, it is a good system overall. Can't speak to its longevity at the moment, as I've only had it a few days (oh, but boy did it come way, way earlier than expected). I can't speak to the connectivity of the RCA or coaxal inputs, as I am only using Bluetooth, since my blown-out midrange Vizio system has since been delegated to TV duty. But it is an overall great sound system, albeit with a few kinks that need some ironing out. Rockville has the potential to be a heavy hitter if they only upped their quality assurance. I can see them being my first pick alongside Vizio. Do I regret branching out from Vizio? No. But would I ever buy from Rockville again? Maybe. Depends on if they ever decide to dial their quality up to eleven, so that they have fewer unfavorable reviews on Amazon and everywhere else for their products. You can do it, Rockville! Just look at what the competition is doing and do it better or in an interesting and fun way.

Product Review: [TM150 & TM80 Speaker System]I ​Overall Impression ​Right out of the box, I was immediately impressed with the appearance and overall fit and finish. These speakers have a classy look and a premium aesthetic that will complement any home décor. While the build quality is somewhat modest—the MDF is thinner than I would expect—the phenomenal sound quality completely makes up for it. For the price point, this system is an absolute winner. ​Sound Quality and Performance ​These speakers are loud with very little audible distortion, delivering an excellent acoustic experience across the frequency range. ​Highs & Mids: The dome tweeter and mid-range drivers deliver crisp, clean highs, ensuring clarity in dialogue and effects. ​Bass: The built-in subs produce deep, rich bass that is impactful and powerful. ​Home Theater Application ​I am currently using this system in a 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos home theater configuration, utilizing a pair of TM150s for the right and left fronts and two pairs of TM80s for the surrounds and rears. My center channel also utilizes a powered sub (from a different manufacturer). I have 2 12 inch powered subs for the lowest frequencies. After setup and calibration, I tested the system with the 4K movie Final Reckoning. I was absolutely floored by the sound quality. The separation was distinct and noticeable, the highs were sharp and crisp, and the deep rumble of the bass was enough to shake the windows, completely surpassing my expectations for a system at this price. ​Features and Versatility ​The system is highly versatile, offering great standalone features that add to its value and fun factor. ​Bluetooth Connectivity: The Bluetooth connectivity was seamless and straightforward to set up. The signal was strong and provided good range. ​FM Radio: The FM radio plays as expected, also with a good, strong signal reception. ​Karaoke: The karaoke feature was loads of fun. Connecting a separately purchased microphone and pairing a tablet via Bluetooth (using Amazon Music for music and lyrics) allowed us to mirror the lyrics to the big screen for a group activity. ​Noted Issues ​I did encounter one minor manufacturing issue. I accidentally plugged RCA cables into the wrong input on one set of the TM80's Aux 2 terminals. When I pulled the cables out, the terminals pulled right out with them. I had to use a pair of pliers to separate them from the cables. Fortunately, this did not affect the use of the other terminals, and all other functionality is still intact. Sending the speakers back for such a small issue would have been more trouble than it was worth. ​Final Verdict ​Hardcore audiophiles might scoff at a budget system like this, but for the average person looking for great, powerful sound without breaking the bank, this system is highly recommended. It is versatile, powerful, and aesthetically appealing—a perfect standalone system for great sound on a budget. I was unable to add a video and pictures. I kept getting an error.

Finally got my speakers . I was hesitant because I've never used Rockville products . When I took them out of the box I was extremely impressed with the look of them . They are easy to hook up and connect very easy . Let me tell ya im an old school guy that loves his music and have always had systems in my car and home . When I got these going I couldnt believe my ears . They sound amazing and to have a 8 inch sub the bass is unreal . If you have a lot of stuff that runs in Bluetooth it picks up the signal a lot . My cameras refresh a lot on their own and it picks it up and you get interference . So I just switched my TV to a cable and its fine . But if you are wanting to set up a sound system for your home I very highly recommend these . I will be a Rockville guy for all my home stereo needs . Maybe one day ill try their car audio but for now Im a Kenwood and Orion guy . Lol

These speakers sound great and deliver really clear stereo audio. The bass is punchy and the mids/trebles are crisp. Sound equally good for movie audio and playing music. The 1/4" inputs with dedicated volume and reverb controls are a nice plus, they work great for electric guitar or bass as well as microphones. The volume is loud enough for home viewing of movies in a living room but probably wouldn't really fill a larger space I don't think. Physically they are very attractive speakers (we got the "Cherry" wood finish) The only reason I am giving four stars instead of five is they are a little old fashioned in connectivity - no HTML connections. The optical audio works fine to get clear audio from your TV but this will not allow you to control the volume of the speakers with your TV or streaming device remote, you have to use the dedicated speaker remote to change volume. Also worth noting this only supports stereo, not any of the Dolby audio formats

I bought the Used ones for less money . What the heck I thought, at any rate , they shipped quickly. When I received, I kept think I smell cigarette smoke, which I loathe. Then the cable that pairs the speakers together was missing. I was pretty pissed. I called to return but the woman I spoke to was very nice and apologized. So I decided to keep and wait for the cable to arrive. In the meantime we listened to music thru the one speaker and we liked what we heard. It did take like 2 weeks to get the cable and I was jonesing for it to hurry up. Cable finally arrived and we hooked up the second speaker. We loved them. Great price and they’re Bluetooth. We have them hooked up to our projector tv as well. Plus FM/AM, karaoke. We’ve had them like 5 months now and still love. Oh, some reviews say they hum when in stand by, we don’t hear anything.

Update: August 23, 2020- This system just died on me and within 4 months of getting it. I sent a message to the seller (Audiosavings) to see what I need to do to get it replaced. With all the bad reviews, I did buy the extended warranty from Amazon to cover myself so if Audiosavings won't do anything, then I'll go through Amazon. I've had this system set up for just under 2 months. The sound is great and thumps for dual 8 inch woofers. I wanted the 10 inch system but it was out of stock at the time. The optical connection is nice to connect your TV without having to buy adaptors and cables like the other Rockville system I got. The FM radio sucks because it tunes in way too many stations of static/bleed overs, just like the other Rockville system I have so you have to go through way too many stations to find clear stations. The remote is pretty good since it doesn't need to be exactly in line of site; unlike the other Rockville system I have and the remotes are almost identicle. 1 bad thing about this is every time I turn it on, it comes on full blast. I haven't been able to figure out how to keep it at the sound level when it's turned off. If Rockville would make a dual 12 inch/1,200 watts and/or 15 inch/1,500 watt system exactly like this, I would definitely jump at the chance to buy it to really make the house thump. I did buy the 3 year extended warranty after reading so many bad reviews so It's just a wait and see to see if it will last but it's now set up in my bedroom and not blasting music/movies like when it was set up in my TV room.

I received the set of speakers in pretty decent package 5 days ahead of the original estimate. The units inside were reasonably well packed - zero damage from shipping. Simple connections and power on without any glitch. Bluetooth pairing was effortless and so was the FM radio auto tuning. I tried the microphone inputs to satisfy my ego to my empty house audience with YouTube karaoke music in through aux port - worked better than I expected (I mean my singing talent). The Optical port and RCA ports when connected to my DVD player playing variety of music from Pink Floyd to Giorgio Moroder respectfully rendering the real sound (vs my voice). Now to sound quality : i believe the sound quality of these speakers are pretty consistent to the intended goal - all in one in a mid size floor standing mdf speaker box pair within $175 - yes that is pretty sweet to me. I will not attempt to compare this to any other speakers beyond this price category. After 4 weeks, the speakers are slowly getting their tones stabilized (breakin), the overall range of main drivers is not to fill an auditorium but they are prefect for my living room. The subs have decent punch which can be adjusted with remote (so is the treble). I use these speaker mostly for playback of songs from my iPod (hey they are lossy MP3 stuff) and internet radio. I stressed these speakers with some blue ray discs of Santana and Chick Corea,and some older Philip Glass, Chris Rea CDs - yes I am happy still. What I am not happy about these speakers ? Ok - do not forget it is a $175 per pair speakers with total 4 full range (sounds more mid range), 2 tweeters and 2 sub woofers -> the exposed speakers without a protective grill, unlike subs, though looks elegant attracts a lot of dust and small cute fingers to feel the sound. It would have been nice to have protective covers/Grill for the front speakers. The second item is the blinking standby mode LED display in the front panel. Instead of blinking LED segment, at standby the unit could display Time? Or nothing ? The last one where I felt opportunity to improve is the need for custom wiring/connectors between two units - for a small room it is ideal but it is limiting the placement by he available length of the wire. Well, hey this is not a Daly, or Klipsch or Elac or Polk. It is music to my ears at this price point.

These speakers each have a subwoofer pointed on the side, so the bass is absolutely fantastic. The highs and midrange are also excellent. Given these speakers include a built-in amplifier, bluetooth and even a microphone input for karaoke, they are also built well and look great. BUT! My speakers emit a hum even when they are off. The hum sounds like its coming from the amp inside of the left speaker only. When connecting or disconnecting the bluetooth, the audio connection sound is LOUD! There is no way I have found to adjust the connect sound volume. These speakers randomly disconnect and reconnect to the wifi, about once or twice a day or, some days, not at all. The volume control on the remote is located on the RIGHT side of the remote. Every remote I have ever had (typically for a television) has the channel select on the RIGHT and volume on the left. No idea why they put this backwards. What would normally be the volume button on this remote is the subwoofer adjustment. This should be the other way around. I need to control the volume much more often and my muscle memory after decades of remote use has be automatically go to LEFT side for the volume control! If you have small, curious children or some wild pets, please be aware there are no speaker grills protecting the cones on the speakers! Kids and animals just love pushing the cones in. While this doesn't really hurt the sound much, it looks awful and requires a full speaker replacement to correct unless you are very handy. Adjusting the volume on my phone DOES adjust the volume on the speakers as well. Speakers have a nice amount of volume and bass, and for the money, they offer great sound, great bass and look and feel like they are made from very nice materials. I may try to find an electrical ground loop to solve the hum issue. For now I have to physically unplug the speakers to get the hum to go away. The speakers are way too big and have to ship back and I have also recycled the big box they came in, so I will need to find a resolution to this hum because it's slowing driving me insane. UPDATE: 01-16-23 I purchased a ground loop hum eliminator and it made no difference. The default bleeps and blips of the bluetooth connecting and disconnecting randomly combined with the hum and severely degraded sound quality suggests to me that inferior electrical components were chosen for the power and logic boards. Hence, that would explain why the unit sounded better and had no background hum for the first month or so of ownership. I have decided to replace these speakers with something entirely different from a name brand manufacturer (that is also bluetooth with a subwoofer.) Because these speakers are large and a bit heavy, it makes no sense to try to ship them or return them under warranty. Instead, I think I will put them in the garage and one day, when I have time, open them up and take a closer look at the logic and power circuit boards to see if I can determine which component or components is faulty. Its likely affecting many people based the reviews I am reading here. When and if I discover the cause, I will post another update so you will know, too.