I recently acquired an Asaro and was pleasantly surprised. It seems like a solid reel. This one was new (meaning unfished) but required a few minor tweaks. But now I'm not sure the spool is spinning exactly right. (The other problem had nothing to do with the spool or internals at all.) I have no line on it, but when I spin it, the spool seems to stop rather quickly and also spins backward a couple revolutions at the end.

So, for anyone who owns one, do you recall how freely your naked spool spun when you first got it? 

Also, they are supposed to have an audible Star Drag, right?  This one does not.  Thanks

I owned one for a while and I don't believe it's supposed to have an audible drag star. Mine didn't have one, anyway.

As far as the spool goes, mine would spin for a long time. It's possible that you wound up with an older one that needs the old grease cleaned out of the spool bearings.

It's a very solid reel, and comparable to all of the other ~$100 baitcasters out there. It just doesn't get the press it deserves.