Sony is sort of the default at our house. Not really because of any electronic or sonic or economic virtues. They're just what everybody seems to have when we are in the market for audio equipment. We're certainly not audiophiles at our house but we've always been satisfied with them. Their durability seems to be OK. For 500 English pounds you could buy an entire mini/small/bookshelf (whatever they're now called) system here in the states.