RCA RT2360 300-Watt Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had my system for about a year now. It's a good system for the price I bought it at, but there are definate down falls to it. Any movie I watch I pray for it to come in DTS. That's because when watching movies in Dobly Digital, speach from the center channel can't be heard clearly. I have to almost max the volume and turn all other channels down to hear. The only other fall back is the non-powered sub, but you can buy an inexpensive powered sub and plug into the powered sub port on the receiver. All in all I'd recogmend this system to someone just starting out in their Home Theater ventures.

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Enhance your DVD-watching experience with the RCA RT2360 5.1-channel surround system, which turns your living room into a comprehensive home theater for movies, sporting events, and concert films while also making traditional stereo formats come alive. The receiver is outfitted with built-in Dolby Digital and DTS surround decoding, which ensures a remarkably natural sense of ambiance and realism when watching the latest DVD films. Listeners can also simulate their favorite acoustic environments, such as a concert hall, stadium, church, or jazz club, using the Digital Signal Processing technology. Each DSP setting takes into account the natural echoes and acoustics of the live venue, and then translates the sound through the surround speakers.
Adding to the receiver's value is a digital AM/FM tuner with 40 station presets and auto channel scanning. Plus, listeners can connect as many as seven A/V devices--such as a DVD player, CD player, TV, satellite receiver, or game console--to the receiver through the variety of rear jacks, including six analog audio inputs, three composite video inputs, and two S-video inputs. The unit also boasts two digital audio inputs (one optical and one coaxial) that help ensure topnotch sound from similarly equipped components.
Of course, a good surround system is nothing without the speakers, and RCA's delivered here, too. The four satellite speakers and center channel speaker split the receiver's 300 watts of output power--giving music and movies crisp, richsound--while the subwoofer boosts the low-end frequencies to make special effects and soundtracks sound deep and explosive. The front and center speakers are also magnetically shielded to protect against video interference, letting you place them within 2 feet of the TV feet without suffering through static or distortion.
Additional features include a test signal generator that helps you balance the surround channels, a night mode that muffles the audio just enough to keep your kids from waking up, several preset equalizer modes (flat, rock, pop, jazz, classical, and vocal), and a full-function remote control. The receiver measures 17 by 5.1 by 16.5 inches (W x H x D), the satellites are 4.6 by 6.9 by 4.5 inches, and the subwoofer checks in at 6.3 by 14 by 14 inches. The system is also backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box Receiver, remote, two front speakers, two rear speakers, center channel speaker, subwoofer, speaker cables, AM and FM antennas, user's manual.

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Samsung HT-WS1R Soundbar Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been looking at soundbar systems for over a year now. It all started when I decided to add an Xbox360 and a blu-ray player to my home setup. I had a specific setup and a specific list of issues I was trying to resolve and I ended up getting a full 5.1 surround system to go with my blu-ray. It was pretty good, but then we decided to move into a new place and the tv had to go in a cutout above the fireplace. This created a problem because I didn't want to run wires all over the place and there was no way to get wires run out of the fireplace cutout without putting a hole in the wall...so, these are the issues I finally ended up needed to address:
1. I needed something that would sit in front of my TV, but not be too big because it would block the view of the bottom of the screen (the TV is a little high up)
2. I needed something that would generate a better range of sound than my tv's built-in speakers (I often have trouble hearing what people are saying, especially when there's other sounds in the show or if there's background noise like my kids or my dishwasher running etc...)
3. I needed something that would generate more volume than my tv's built-in speakers (again, just want to be able to turn it out without the sound turning to crap).
4. I needed something that would put out some bass.
5. I needed something with a digital audio interface (so either optical audio or HDMI) because analog audio sounds like garbage and picks up a lot of noise from interference.
6. I didn't want to spend $500+.
So, I looked at several systems. Most of the soundbars are small enough to sit in front of my TV without blocking my view, but some of them were very big...so I eliminated them from my list. Almost all of the soundbars had better sound than my built-in TV, but I crossed the cheap-o brands off of my list. Again, volume wasn't an issue...in-store testing revealed that all of the soundbar systems available put out quite a bit more sound than my TV without any loss of quality. And again, any soundbar with an active subwoofer generate a lot more bass than my tv, but I did have an issue putting a sub up on the shelf behind my TV. A lot of these systems have an infrared receiver for use with a remote control, and several of them put it on the subwoofer. For me to use that I would have to put the subwoofer on the floor and run a cable up to the TV/Soundbar...which isn't an options for me. So I narrowed my search to system with a wireless subwoofer. The digital audio interface was a little trickier, several of the soundbars only have analog inputs (either the Red/White RCA connection or the miniplug headphone connection). This is fine if you just to hookup an ipod or something like that, but if you want it to process any digital audio (like PCM, Dolby Digital, or DTS) then you need either an optical connection or an HDMI connection. I crossed a few more off the list. The price was the biggest differentiator...there are a handful of decent soundbars under $300...and then there's a rather big jump to $600 & $900+...I don't see any reason to spend this much money on a soundbar unless you absolutely have to. That much money would be better spent installing a full surround system if you can.
So, taking all this into consideration, I ended up looking at the Samsung HT-WS1R. It is listed at $300 and comes in either Red or Grey. I went in to my local best-buy and they happened to have a Red model open box for $270. I had been waiting a long time to pull the trigger on this decision, and I decided to go for it.
A couple points:
1. The best-buy salesperson told me it was a 3.1 system...it is NOT. It is a 2.1 system, which mean it has two speakers and one subwoofer. A 3.1 system will tend to give you better stereo separation (sound moves from left to right when the car goes driving by on the tv) and the center channel will give better vocal range for voices...but in a small soundbar like this you'd hardly notice.
2. The best-buy salesperson also tried to sell me a $30 optical cable. My friend who was with me told me he had one so I didn't buy one, but when I got it home and opened the box I found that it came with a nice optical cable...so you don't need to buy anything for this to work.
The Results:
So I got this home and had it hooked up in under 30 minutes. Be careful connecting the optical cable...there are little rubber caps on the end of the cable that need to be removed, and on mine they were clear so i didn't see them...might have done some damage if I hadn't noticed.
This unit easily met all of my requirements. The volume is much greater than my TV. It is a LOT easier to understand voices. The sub puts out a lot of good, solid bass (really adds to the drama of movies etc...). It looks good, and it all fits the way I want. I put the sub on the floor next to the fireplace and it's creating great sound. I might move it behind the couch and see how that sounds.
Pros:
1. Good value for the money
2. Looks very nice
3. Easy hookup
4. Great sound (quality and volume)
Cons:
1. Can't adjust sub output. (not directly at least. The soundbar has 3 audio modes, News, Cinema, and Music. It also has Passthrough which just plays it how it gets it from the TV...so you can adjust the levels on your TV if you want)
2. Had some issues getting my logitech harmony remote to control this unit, but got that sorted by programming the remote directly using Raw commands.
3. Doesn't have HDMI pass-through which would be nice if I wanted to connect multiple devices directly to this system, but my TV has 3 so I just use the TV to pass the digital audio to the soundbar and it works great.
So, if you're in my position or something similar this is a great buy. I haven't had any issues with sound quality, volume, or subwoofer cut-out. The reviewers that claim that this puts out less volume than their TV must have set this up wrong because it puts out A LOT of volume...I can't turn it up all the way because it would be way too loud...I turn it up to about 4 out of 8.
If you don't have a universal remote and want to hook a bunch of HDMI devices to a TV that only has one or two HDMI inputs, you should look at the Sony HTCT-100 or HTCT-500. They both have multimple HDMI inputs and the subwoofer acts like an AV Receives, so you can control your inputs using it. But, it is not a wireless subwoofer so it will have to have a physical connection to the TV and the Soundbar.
10/6/2010 Update!!!
Two comments
1. I keep the unit on "News" mode all the time now. It's easiest for me to hear dialogue (I think I have a little trouble hearing in this range) and it keeps the bass at a nice level.
2. A lot of people have commented on the sub going in and out. I have discovered through usage that the sub turns off at lower volumes...specifically when the volume is two click below 4 bars (or lower). I haven't noticed any issues with sound but I hear the sub turn off and on when i toggle the volume at that level...i typically keep the volume right at 4 bars except when i'm watching dvds...the volume output of my blu-ray player is lower than the tv so i typically have to turn it up when i watch dvds.
Otherwise, i'm very happy with this purchase and won't even consider an upgrade until someone puts out a 3-channel soundbar with wireless sub + rear speakers!
End Update!!!


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Sony EZWT100 S-AIR Signal Transmitter - Black Review

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(More customer reviews)Installed this into my STR-DN1000 and tried to link it with a brand new AIR-SA10 and they would just not recognize each other. The wireless strength was zero and the main unit would not pair with the sub. After 30 mins on live chat with Sony they suggested that I unplug the receiver for a minute and try again. Amazingly that worked and the SA10 immediately linked with the receiver without pairing. The install instructions do say to unplug the receiver before installing this transmitter. That is a major deal for me with the way my components are installed into my built-ins, however, it turned out to be the critical missing piece of the puzzle. The instructions don't say 'if you don't do this you will have hours of frustration' so I am writing that here to try to save others from injuring their heads on their walls.
.
Now that it's working, the total investment for the transmitter and the SA10 seems like a good deal when compared to other wireless speakers available at this time, plus the SA10 allows you to switch between whatever feeds are available on your main unit without walking back to the main unit to change it.

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Optimize your S-AIR ready BRAVIA Home Theater system with the EZW-T100 transmitter. This wireless card uses S-AIR technology and allows 8 channels of LPCM (CD quality) audio to be sent from your home theater's main unit to a wireless surround speaker kit (WAHT-SA1) or to a wireless multi-room speaker system (AIR-SA10).

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Samsung HT-BD8200 Blu-Ray Sound Bar Home Theater System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)When my 10 year old projection TV finally died recently, it was finally a good enough reason to buy a flat panel TV. I ended up buying the Samsung UN55B6000 55" LED. Of course once I got it home it confirmed to me what I knew would be the case, the sound on flat panels isn't great. It's just hard to make speakers small enough for a flat panel that are big enough to be good.
So after all of my hunting, I found the HT-BD8200. I thought it would be perfect. I could get rid of the stack of stereo and AV components and replace them with this. In theory it can replace the Radio tuner, CD player, DVD player, Blu Ray player and receiver.
I received it, hooked it up and started admiring it (I discovered rather rudely that Samsung does not put an HDMI cable in the $800 box so had to go buy one). The wireless subwoofer is awesome and I was able to hide it out of view behind the couch. The unit itself looks like it was made for my TV. It's the same glossy black glass look with the red touch of color.
I had visions of wall mounting my TV with the HT-BD8200 wall mounted right under it (it comes with a wall mount kit).
The controls on the unit are super cool touch controls. No buttons, just symbols on the top of the disc drive area that light up. Just touch the glass over the control and a small beep lets you know it's activated.
It comes with a wifi adapter so that you can stream netflix, pandora, blockbuster etc. to it over your wifi network at home.
I could babble on forever about the cool things it does which is why it breaks my heart to have to list the bad things and ultimately why I had to return it.
Once I got over the thrill of having a new toy, I started to notice buggy behavior that makes me think Samsung rushed this out or cobbled it together without enough QA testing.
- "MODE NOT SUPPORTED"
Since I connected the unit to my TV with HDMI, it activated the Samsung "Anynet" feature which basically let's the TV and soundbar talk to each other and activate Samsung specific features. For example, when you put a disc in the soundbar, it'll automatically change the TV to the correct input and start playing the disc so that you don't have to go through the "source" menu on the TV. What I found was that from time to time I'd put a disc in the soundbar, it'd change the source on the TV but then the TV would just display "Mode Not Supported".
Nothing in the manual said anything about this error and a google search came up with a million unrelated postings about the error on various Samsung products. I was able to get around it by switching the HDMI cable to another port on the TV. When the error would come up again, I'd switch it back to the original port and it would work again. Pretty crappy for an $800 product.
- "Misbehaving Night Light"
Like my TV, the soundbar has a small accent light at the bottom of the center of the unit. You can set it to be on while the unit is on, off, or all the time. I set to to be on when the unit is on. When I went to bed I turned the unit off and the light went off. The next day when I came home from work the light was on and the unit was off. I checked the setting in the menus and it was still set to be off when the unit was off... but it was on. Annoying
- "Ghost in the machine"
The soundbar started to turn itself on by itself. The first time it happened I thought maybe I had left it on without realizing it. So I made it a point to verify it was off when I went out the next day and sure enough it was back on when I came back that night. I had to start leaving it set to an unused input before turning it off to make sure it wouldn't come on blasting the radio mid day or mid night.
- "Low Volume on TV"
The volume when watching movies or listening to CD's can reasonably loud. Don't get me wrong, you cannot ever go deaf listening to this unit on max volume because it just doensn't go that loud but watching TV, the max volume seems to be roughly one third lower than on movies. I found myself watching tv on maximum volume all the time. If it was loud outside or someone was making noise in another room, max wasn't loud enough.
I thought maybe the HDMI audio was the issue so I went and bought an Optical Cable (buy the AmazonBasics one, good price and decent quality). I hooked up the Optical cable to my TV and the result was exactly the same. I then hooked the optical cable directly to my cable box. Exactly the same. Nothing could make the soundbar louder while watching TV. The TV speakers themselves were often similar in volume or louder than the soundbar. The difference was that the soundbar had richer sound. Still not acceptable when the main reason I'm buying it is because I need more volume.
- "Anynet" annoyance
As this list grew and my patience thinned, I finally hit the last straw. I wanted to play a music CD while putting around the house. The TV and soundbar were off. I turned the soundbar on and dropped in a CD. The soundbar automatically activated the anynet feature, turned on the TV and switched to the HDMI input for the soundbar as if I was going to watch a movie. Apparently Samsung didn't bother programming the soundbar not to switch if it's an audio CD. "no big deal, turn off the TV" you say? I did... and Anynet promptly shut the soundbar off with the TV. ARRRRGH!
Could I just disable anynet? Sure! But losing a big chunk of functionality when I bought two Samsung products that are supposed to work together is unreasonable to me, especially when they are as expensive as these are.
So I resigned myself to thinking this was a defective unit and I'd give it another try. I boxed it up and sent it back to Amazon. I was ready to reorder a new one, but they weren't in stock. I decided this was a good thing as if mine was defective, hopefully I'd get a newer one from a newer batch.
I waited a couple of weeks and Amazon finally got them back in stock. I ordered another and it arrived. I connected it and found that only ONE of the issues above had gone away. The new unit didn't turn itself on by itself. All of the other issues were still there.
I finally had to give up and admit that this product is just not what I hoped for and the quality was not worth $800. I sent it back and am now looking for an alternative.

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Bose® Lifestyle® V35 home entertainment system--Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I know everyone so far has rated this system really high because Bose is the best selling audio brand in the country but please read on and I urge you to do your own research and judge for yourself. I purchased this system, against my better judgement, a few months back due to a friend of mine raving about it. I went to my local Bose store and heard it and it sounded great in their little room. I fell for this trick once before several years ago when I purchased the original Bose 321 system and hated it. So anyway, i ended up getting the V35 system for $3k. I took it home and set it up and it did not sound anything like it did in the store. I took it back and got a new one and BAM, same thing so I called the store and they had a guy come out and "professionally install it." The guy did a great job and was very honest about the product. After it was fully configured it sounded better but not like a $3k system should sound. The sound it put out was either very boomy or too rich so in other words it lacked midrange and true punch for movies. For example when at mid to high volume, the surround sound comming from the center channel overpowered the dialogue such as hearing to much street noize in a city sceen and not being able to hear the voice crystal clearly. We fooled with it for several hours to no avail. It either got much quiter in which the base response overpowered the audio or it got two loud where all the sound seemed to mix so where it lacked clarity. Honestly my old Onkyo 7.1 THX system I purchased for $799 sounded WAY better than the V35 Bose system that was replacing it (replacing the onkyo system because the receiver died and I wanted to go all out). After talking to the installer he told me that Bose systems always sound good in the store because the rooms they are set up in are perfectly rectangular with nothing in the way to block sound waves meaning these rooms are configured so that the sound waves will bounce of the walls perfectly. Basically, its a nice trick for a perfectly square, small room but not practical for most lived in living rooms. So I kept the system an extra week and moved it to a 14x14 bedroom and bam he was right. The system sounded much better however still lacked true midrange but overall the sound was much better but still not worth 3k in my opinion. The room which I needed a system in is a 20x22 room so it is more of a challenge for the small sounding V35. So needless to say I took it back. So once again in my opinion the sound was not good enough for that price tag however in its environment you can get a decent sound. There are however some plus's for the V35 system... first, it is VERY easy to set up and its an all in one system which helps many people who dont care to buy seperate parts and build their own system. The speaker size made the system virtually invisible but that is also why it sounds so small. Anyway, I took the system back and had no problem getting my money back... I then did about a months worth of research/searching and for the same price built an amazing system. I can't stress how much better it is when you put a little time and effort into doing this. I am not an audiophile but when I watch an action movie i want to be able to clearly hear the dialogue while hearing the surround effects while getting punched in the face by the subwoofer. The Bose simply didn't do it for me. I ended up getting a mixed system which consists of a Definitive Technology CLR 2500 center, (2) BP7002's towers, (2)Klipsch RF-42 surrounds, an Epik Empire subwoofer, 12 guage wire and banana plugs from monoprice and a Pioneer Elite SC-35 receiver. Total cost for parts... $3100. A mere $100 more than I paid for the Bose but if you factor in tax from the Bose store, my system costs less. Once again you have to shop around and look for the best price so there is the trade for a boxed home system such as bose. If you don't shop around that same configuration I quoted will cost you around 5k but it can be had in non holiday/non football seasons for half the price. After setting up my new system I watched Pirates of the Carribean and then Blackhawk Down... when I walked out after the movies had finished I had two black eyes and was sore everywhere because the sub punched so hard but never for a minute did the Definitive technology and Klipsch speakers feel as if they were overpowered. I cant stress enough how good the Klipsch, and definitive technology speakers are. If your on the fence, jump... you wont be sorry. These speakers have great lows, mids and highs and create a room full of quality sound. The Empire sub is by far the best sub I had ever heard... it kicks so hard that it could probably power a real theaters low end. If you don't believe me, get on AVS Forums and do some research. Anyway... if this price is too much for you I also recommend the KEF3005 speaker system (which was my second choice if I hadn't configured my own system). I heard that system at a friends place and it sounds amazing when paired to his Denon AVR1911 receiver. Anyway, my point is that you really need to do your research and not buy into mass marketed, overpriced junk. Once again just my opinion... good luck and turn the volume up!

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Bose surround sound. Breakthrough simplicity.The Bose® Lifestyle® V35 system delivers vivid surround sound that brings movies and music to life, easier than ever before. Engineered with exclusive Bose UnifyTM technology, this system uses easy-to-follow onscreen messages to guide you through the setup process. Enjoy up to 6 HD video and audio sources--such as your Blu-ray DiscTM player, cable box and gaming system. The system also includes an iPod/iPhone-compatible dock and built-in AM/FM tuner.
Easy to set up. Easy to use.The new Unify intelligent integration system walks you through system setup, step by step. As you're attaching components to the control console, the system recommends the best connectors via onscreen messages. It even confirms that the connection was made properly. Each connected device is automatically added to the source menu accessed on your TV screen. No more toggling through video inputs to find the right source. Unify technology also simplifies programming your Bose remote to control your Lifestyle® system and most anything attached to it.
And once you're set up ...You'll experience uncompromising surround sound, a hallmark of Lifestyle® systems. The V35 system features premium Jewel Cube® speakers, standing only 4½" high to blend elegantly into your room. They produce compelling sound you'd expect from speakers many times their size. That performance is complemented by an Acoustimass® module that can be placed in a corner or out of view. Exclusive technology in the module helps provide the emotional intensity you feel at the theater or in a concert hall.
Sound designed for your roomThe ADAPTiQ® system was developed to analyze your room and then adjust the Lifestyle® surround sound system for a consistent, high quality performance. And built-in Bose link technology can distribute the home theater system's audio to as many as fourteen additional areas.

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Samsung HT-X810 2.1 Channel Sound Bar Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm not an audiophile and found the HT-X810 quite by accident after doing a google search for 'wall mount stereo'. I'd lived in Denmark and had seen Bang & Olufsen stuff so knew that it was possible to put a stereo in a discrete shell but was hoping that some company made something that didn't require an additional mortgage. I've got cable but no set top box or TV furniture to hold components so my main objective was to find something that complimented my wall-mounted flat screen, didn't require turning my dry wall into swiss cheese to hide miles of wire, and provided some semblance of 'theater-like' sound. After trolling the web I found a number of 2.1 systems. Below is a discussion of these and the reasoning why I went with the Samsung:
Yamaha YAS-70/1BL: The Good: 1) Has an SPDIF (digital optical audio) input for directing broadcast TV audio through the receiver in digital format rather than simple RCA 2-channel stereo. 2) Relatively slim soundbar/display looks nice and fits inconspicuously below the TV. 3) Includes wall-mount hardware. 4) The sub has a clean look. The Bad: 1) Requires not one but two 13-foot cables (control & speaker) between the sub and the soundbar/display, which requires hiding wires and, more importantly, limits placement of the sub. 2) The digital AV connections are on the sub so, depending on sub placement, the cables to the TV may have to be relatively long (i.e. 13 feet) and, like the control and speaker cables, also require hiding. 3) You must use a separate dvd player, which 'ruins' the clean wall-mount look unless you have a TV with an integrated dvd player or a piece of furniture. 4) The number of digital AV connection ports is very limited so you'll have to connect components (dvd player, game consul, etc...) through the TV and then onto the receiver via the SPDIF, which means more wires. 5) As far as I could find, there is no iPOD/Mp3/USB connection dock.
Sony HT-CT100: The Good: 1) Can make the SPDIF connection to the TV for good sound on broadcast TV. 2) The sub/receiver has plenty of HDMI connection ports for connecting the TV and additional components. 3) Has a nice slim speaker for mounting under the TV. 4) Includes wall-mount hardware. The Bad: 1) Requires a 10-foot cable between the sub/receiver and the soundbar, which raises the problems of hiding the cable and even more limited sub placement than the Yamaha. The cable is a 9-pin serial cable, which is a standard PC cable and so can be swapped out for something longer for better sub placement but it still needs hiding. 2) The digital AV connections are on the sub so there are more wires to hide and the farther away the sub is from the TV, the longer these must be. 3) You must use a separate dvd player. 4) The remote sensor is on the sub/receiver so unless its placed on the same wall as the TV, using the remote can be a bit counter-intuitive. 4) The porthole is on the front of the sub and looks a bit odd. 5) The iPOD/Mp3/USB connection dock is only available separately.
Philips HTS8100: The Good: 1) Has an integrated 1080 resolution dvd player. 2) Has an HDMI connection port to send digital video signal to the TV for dvd playback. 3) The soundbar/display is reminiscent of the Yamaha, just a bit bigger but still not obtrusive. 4) Includes wall-mount hardware. 5) The sub is smallish and looks good. 6) Has iPOD/Mp3/USB docking capability. The Bad: 1) Requires a clunky 15-foot cable between the sub/receiver and the soundbar, which raises the problems of hiding wires and limited sub placement. 2) Has no SPDIF connection for digital audio from the TV and instead offers a pair of RCA stereo inputs on the soundbar plus another pair of RCAs and a single coaxial digital audio input on the sub/receiver. This likely means buying an SPDIF-to-coaxial adapter and using the input on the sub to get digital audio for either broadcast TV or game console play. Even with this `fix' you'll have to choose which gets stuck with simple 2-channel RCA sound and again, you're adding more wire between the sub and the TV/soundbar that will need hiding. 5) The iPOD/Mp3/USB dock is a clumsy external unit.
At this point in my research, it seemed that the problem with all 2.1 systems was their flat sound reproduction in comparison to true 5.1 systems. Convenience does come with a price but the inherent sound limitation of 2.1 systems can be minimized through placement of the sub. The most obvious weakness of 2.1 systems is the lack of genuine rear stage sound and the best way to overcome this is to place the sub opposite the TV and near the listeners. In terms of sound, convenience and aesthetics then, the most significant problem with the Yamaha, Sony and Philips systems is the wired connection that must be made between their soundbars and their subs. The length of these cables limits the distance that the sub can be place away from the soundbar, which hurts sound quality. Additionally, and with varying degrees of severity due to where digital AV connections are made and whether or not a dvd player must be connected, the running of AV cables takes away from the convenience and clean lines that drew me to a 2.1 system in the first place. My conclusion then, was to get a 2.1 system with a wireless sub and an integrated dvd player so that I could best mimic rear stage sound and not have to worry about using a separate dvd player, extending the sub-soundbar cable of a wired 2.1 systems for better sub placement, hiding wires throughout the living room. As there are only two companies offering 2.1 systems with wireless subs and only one company offering a 2.1 system with both a wireless sub and an integrated dvd player, my choice was easy.
Boston Acoustics TVee Model 2: The Good: 1) Has the wireless sub needed for most easily diminishing the weaknesses of 2.1 sound. The Bad: Requires connecting a separate dvd player.
Samsung HT-X810: The Good: 1) Has the wireless sub needed for most easily diminishing the weaknesses of 2.1 sound. 2) Has an integrated dvd player that upscales to 1080 resolution. 3) Has an SPDIF input for directing broadcast TV audio through the receiver in digital format rather than 2-channel RCA stereo. 4) Has an HDMI connection for good digital picture reproduction during dvd playback. 5) Includes wall-mount hardware. 6) The sub looks good and is very simple to hook-up. The Bad: 1) Base-heavy sound and limited adjustability of the sub volume. 2) At 39" wide and 7" tall, its bigger than the other systems and so probably best suited for a 42" or larger TV. 3) Has USB port but iPOD/Mp3 dock requires and aftermarket wire. 4) It doesn't have BluRay but neither does the Philips. 5) It costs more than the units that don't include a dvd player but it's on par with the Philips, which does.
Happy Shopping.

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Bose® Lifestyle® V25 home entertainment system--Black Review

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(More customer reviews)While I admit this system is pricey, and you are over-paying for the speakers it is still IMHO worth it. The interface is perfect and the bose system becomes your media center. One remote on radio frequency (that works through walls) controls my TV, DVR, BluRay, Ipod (on built in dock station) ... the unify system that makes set-up idiot proof and is a breeze to calibrate to the room. Plus the system is sleek and aesthetic. And the sound is phenomenal. Pricey, but worth it. You get what you pay for ... I am very happy with the purchase.

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Bose surround sound. Breakthrough simplicity.The Bose® Lifestyle® V25 system delivers vivid surround sound that brings movies and music to life, easier than ever before. Engineered with exclusive Bose UnifyTM technology, this system uses easy-to-follow onscreen messages to guide you through the setup process. Enjoy up to 6 HD video and audio sources--such as your Blu-ray DiscTM player, cable box and gaming system. The system also includes an iPod/iPhone-compatible dock and built-in AM/FM tuner.
Easy to set up. Easy to use.The new Unify intelligent integration system walks you through system setup, step by step. As you're attaching components to the control console, the system recommends the best connectors via onscreen messages. It even confirms that the connection was made properly. Each connected device is automatically added to the source menu accessed on your TV screen. No more toggling through video inputs to find the right source. Unify technology also simplifies programming your Bose remote to control your Lifestyle® system and most anything attached to it.
And once you're set up ... You'll experience uncompromising surround sound, a hallmark of Lifestyle® systems. The V25 system's surround sound performance is provided by four Direct/Reflecting speakers and a horizontal center channel speaker. They produce a level of sound that adds impact and realism to your entertainment. That sound is aided by an Acoustimass module that can be placed in a corner or out of view. Exclusive technology in the module helps provide the emotional intensity you feel at the theater or in a concert hall.
Sound designed for your roomThe ADAPTiQ® system was developed to analyze your room and then adjust the Lifestyle® surround sound system for a consistent, high quality performance. And built-in Bose link technology can distribute the home theater system's audio to as many as fourteen additional areas.

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Sony HTSF470 Blu-ray Disc Matching Surround Sound Home Theater System (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Great sound.
Great 5.1 functionality.
Great value.
I have mine teamed with a 46" Samsung C6300 LED LCD and a Sony Playstation 3. I love the fact that I'm down to one HDMI input feeding my new TV for all input sources. . .they all go through the Sony HT-SF470.
Complaints: When I bought the product, I assumed that the rear speakers would work wirelessly without an additional purpose. Note, that to use the S-AIR functionality with this product, one needs to buy a transmitter to plug into the HT-SF470 receiver and a receiver for your powered speakers that get served. I also agree with the previous reviewer about how the system lacks a graphical menu. Finally, and perhaps most needlessly frustrating, I hate that Sony doesn't leave you enough wire for their rear speakers. There's nothing worse that to give up on an optimal setup because you don't have enough wire. Also, Sony uses speaker wire with proprietary connectors(more costly and hard to find upgrades).
Still a good value for the price. . .beware that they attempt to suck you in to future purchases by giving you a nearly complete system.


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Bose® CineMate® GS Series II Digital Home Theater Speaker System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I did extensive research before purchasing the Bose Cinemate GS II Series; but before I start my review I have a quick comparison to share by comparing a $300 panasonic system to the Bose Cinemate GS II: I previously owned a panasonic 2.1 system with built in up-convert DVD player which recently broke (lasted about a year). Sound quality on the Bose Cinemate GS II is markedly better than the panasonic system! Plus my audio system is not tied to a standard DVD player. I should have bought this first--instead of being $300 behind the curve than if I just bought the Cinemate GS II to begin with. Just though I should share that in case you are trying to justify the cost.
REVIEW--Info I discovered during my research and since owning for 3 months: I listened to the Cinemate II and the Cinemate GS II side by side in the store, both using the Toslink (digital optical audio) connection and also with the Component (analog audio) connection while watching an action scene from Kung Fu Panda in both BluRay and regular DVD. To me, the Cinemate GS II's sound was clearer and also sharper (crisper highs and clearer mids like with voices). The Cinemate II sounded great too (a lot better than the panasonic), but the sounds tended to be more muddled in the mid-to-high range (as compared to the the Cinemate GS II). But for $200 less and if your ears don't mind the difference (or can't tell the difference) then the Cinemate II is the better bargain. Also, the Cinemate GS II has the universal remote, but I don't use it ( I use a logitech Harmony Universal Remote). The Cinemate II remote has volume up/down, mute, and power on/off. The Cinemate GS II remote has quite a bit of features (a lot actually), and it feels good in your hand; but if you really want one, they are available from Bose for $30.95.
Other good to know info: You can connect both the Toslink and Component audio into the interface module at the same time. The interface module will automatically default to component audio unless there is an active Toslink connection (an active Toslink connection will always override the component audio). What does this mean? I have my DishNetwork receiver connected to the interface module via the component connection for watching TV--this is how I normally use the Bose Cinemate GS II (sounds great by the way). I then have my BlueRay player connected to the interface module via the Toslink connection. When I want to watch a movie, all I have to do is power on the Blueray player and the Bose Cinemate GS II will automatically use the Toslink connection (overrides the component audio). When I am done watching a movie, I power off the Blueray player and the Cinemate GS II automatically switches back to my TV audio. Of course the Toslink audio is the better of the two, but with only two connections available I had to compromise (plus my TV has no Toslink out--which would have been the preferred solution). The interface module works exactly the same whether you have the Cinemate II or the Cinemate GS II. Also, there is a Bass adjustment knob on the Acoustimass module, so you can turn it up or down to your preference. Sorry there are no other manual adjustments that you can do to the Bose Cinemate GS II.
Room filling sound: I have the Bose Cinemate GS II in my living room which is pretty big and it opens directly into the kitchen; total size is 20x60. Despite the room size, and even at a pretty low volume, I can easily understand a TV shows conversations because of the crisp and precise audio reproduction. I use to watch with closed captioning (so the TV can volume can stay at a normal level), but now I have turned closed captioning off.
Even at max volume (watching GI Joe), it was very very loud and the whole house was shaking, but the system did not distort at all--in almost disbelief it seemed to sound even better and clearer. I think that is attributed to the Bose TrueSpace technology which is used to covert 5.1 audio into a 2.1 system; the louder it got, I guess, the more the TrueSpace seemed to kick in.
Despite my acclaim for this system it is pricey; but, it sounds great, it was very easy to setup and it has the Bose 5 year limited warranty on the speakers. However, no matter how much a 2.1 system is touted as a possible replacement for a 5.1 or even a 7.1 system, in my opinion there are no 2.1 systems that can truly replace a 5.1 or 7.1 system. But if you don't like running wires and want a minimalist system with superb sound then I strongly recommend the Bose Cinemate GS II; or if budget minded, or can't discern the audio difference, then the Bose Cinemate II is a solid 2nd choice.

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The Bose® CineMate® GS II speaker system is the easiest way to enjoy Bose 2.1-channel home theater performance and bring out the full audio potential of your HDTV. Proprietary TrueSpace® technology enables two Gemstone® speakers and an Acoustimass® module to deliver compelling sound for movies, games, sports and more. The system easily connects directly to your TV, avoiding the need to disconnect other sources. And with no rear speakers, there's no wiring to the back of your room. A programmable universal remote control simplifies operation of other connected sources.
A sound upgrade for your home theater needsThe CineMate GS II system represents a quality home theater upgrade to complement your HDTV. Two powerful Gemstone speakers flank your TV and put you in the middle of dramatic home theater sound. You'll experience a level of realism that simply cannot be matched by TV speakers alone.
A hideaway Acoustimass module provides the low frequency effects that make movies and games so compelling. It even includes dedicated bass control. Place the module in a corner or out of view--all the sound seems to come from the compact speakers. Together, the speakers and Acoustimass module provide full depth and clarity for your music, too.
Simplified setupSetting up a CineMate GS II system is a quick exercise, with only a few wires to connect. It hooks up directly to your TV with minimal-if any-disruption to existing component connections. A small interface module houses your audio input from the TV and displays on/off status for your system. And it's all controlled with a programmable universal remote that works seamlessly with most video components attached to your television.
What's in the box--2 Gemstone speakers--Acoustimass module--Interface module--Universal remote control and batteries--Stereo cable (6')--Speaker cable (15')--Optical cable (6')

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