It would appear that so-called "Compact Stereo Systems" (DVD/CD/Cassette/Radio) are now a defunct product catagory. No one would ever claim that these were audiophile products (how could they be, when they had flashing lights, and a disco booming mode....which I never turned on), but we would all agree that Sony & JVC made the very best ones.
But both of these manufacturers have ceased production on Compact Stereo Systems.
But all audio products have their proper place and usefullness. I've got large, more audiophile oriented equipment for serious listening, but a Compact Stereo System was useful if I want equipment to play while riding my exercise bike, or if i want to do some late night listening at quieter volume levels (so as not to disturb other family members).
My JVC HX-GD8 finally quit after more than 16 years (one of the trays in the disc changer got stuck in the open position, the nearest repair shop was 100 miles away, and there is probably no parts support), so i put it out on the curbside for disposal. There is no present-day equivalent model.
I still do have a Sony LBT-ZX66i next to my bed, and hopefully I'll get more years of use. Sony's nearest Florida repair shop is in Jacksonville (400 miles from where I live)
I question Sony & JVC's decsion to get out of the Compact Stereo system business. Yes, there are still a few unknown, brand X units ion the market, but they are smaller and far less powerful
I guess that I could buy a few separate components to give me the same playback capabilities, but this combination of components wouldn't have the fun factor of a Compact Stereo System. The Compact Stereo Systems may have looked weird, but they were cool.
I hope that someday, the Compact stereo system could reappear in a more modern form, perhaps deleteing the cassette deck and replacing it with an iPOD dock, or a USB input for computer audio, and replacing the CD/DVD player with a CD/DVD Blu-ray player.
I'll miss the Compact Stereo system.