High Gloss Piano Finish 5.1 Dolby Digital DTS True Surround Sound Home Theater Speaker System For Your TV, DVD Player, Ipod, Xbox, Ps3 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a piece of Junk - nice photo though. It came used - broken - reboxed and not comatable with US spec A/V components. The manual is the worst case of "ENGRISH" I have ever seen. It is more of a joke than anything else. The Amazon ads are a fraud. I have spent 3 days now and have yet to ID the seller or the shipper. Amazon, themselves, can not tell me. If you are lucky enough to find a phone # to contact them. They do not screen the sellers they represent as advocates of a much better company. I am disheartened and out nearly [...]. If you do not buy directly from Amazon - beware. E-bay has much better safeguards.

Click Here to see more reviews about: High Gloss Piano Finish 5.1 Dolby Digital DTS True Surround Sound Home Theater Speaker System For Your TV, DVD Player, Ipod, Xbox, Ps3

Click here for more information about High Gloss Piano Finish 5.1 Dolby Digital DTS True Surround Sound Home Theater Speaker System For Your TV, DVD Player, Ipod, Xbox, Ps3

Read More...

Sony HTCT100 Sound Bar with Subwoofer - Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I tried several 2.1 speaker systems to enhance the sound from our LCD HDTV. The 2.1 speaker systems used the RCA audio output from the TV but I was never satisfied with the quality of the sound, even from the Bose Companion system. I think part of the problem is with the low-level output of the TV's RCA audio connection and for this reason I decided to look for a speaker system that could take advantage of my HDTV's digital optical audio output connection. I also didn't want to have a five-speaker system all around the room and so I focused my search on soundbar-type systems. The Sony HT-CT100, just recently introduced, fit the bill perfectly and comes at a price much lower than the Yamaha and Philips soundbar systems with optical inputs.
The Sony HT-CT100 produces great sound. The speaker bar is very low profile and takes up very little space whether you sit it in front of the TV or hang it on the wall. The subwoofer is large (about the size of a desktop PC) and sits on the floor. The subwoofer has a nice display along the top edge of the box to tell you the various system settings. Best of all, the 200 watt amplifier (built-in to the subwoofer) has multiple HDMI and optical audio inputs and acts as the control center for a complete home theater/sound system. This was an unexpected bonus -no need for a separate home theater receiver. Just plug your satellite system, DVD player(s), game consoles, etc. right into the HT-CT100 and control everything from the remote. It's an elegant solution and I haven't seen anything else quite like it. Since the system takes in digital video/audio directly, you get to enjoy full Dolby Digital surround sound. The system can belt out remarkable volume levels and rich, deep bass. The speaker bar has left, right, and center channel speakers along with the remote control IR sensor. The Sony remote supplied with the system will control all your Sony components; however, if your HDTV, DVD player(s), etc. are not Sony brand (like mine), then be prepared to buy a universal learning remote in order to program the HT-CT100 commands. While I can decipher having several remote controls, I prefer to use a single remote control so that my family has an easier time turning on the TV or watching DVDs. The price of the Sony soundbar system is very reasonable considering its power output and multiple digital video/audio inputs to control your home theater. The quality is impressive (though I did have to return my first system due to a soundbar speaker buzz -my second system is flawless) and it looks and sounds like high-end gear. When I shop for items like this, I look at features, quality, and price without regard to the brand. In this case, Sony simply has a product that works great and provides an elegant solution for those wanting home theater sound in a low-profile package. It's a winner.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony HTCT100 Sound Bar with Subwoofer - Black

This amazing system brings simplicity and performance together by pairing a center speaker and subwoofer to create a surround sound experience in a compact package. Bring your movies to life with the HT-CT100. With three HDMI inputs on tap, this system is tailor made for anyone looking for an easy, quick, and great-sounding solution for their home theater. It can playback LPCM from the HDMI connection, plus you can listen to your favorite music from the DIGITAL MEDIA PORT that works with various accessories (sold separately). The HT-CT100 can also control a select number of BRAVIA televisions with BRAVIA Sync via the HDMI interface. With "One Touch Play," operations that normally take several steps have been reduced to one.

Click here for more information about Sony HTCT100 Sound Bar with Subwoofer - Black

Read More...

Sony BDV-F7 3D Blu-Ray Disc Soundbar Home Theater System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I never write reviews. But since my interest was piqued with this system; I was surprised with the dearth of user reviews on the net. And because of this, I was indecisive and it took me a week or so until finally 'bit the bullet' and went with this system. So, I thought I would write this review and help those who are unsure of this system .
On the face of it, this system had everything I was looking for. It's sleek, simple and powerful. And it was a design match for my new Bravia. I acquired this system because I wanted a simple system for my second home. I also wanted something that would complement my new Bravia 55" TV. First, this system is not only sleek and a work of modern art, it produced amazing sound which belied its size. I installed in a relatively large great room and the sound filled the room fully, powerfully and with clarity. We listened to Pandora music, and both my wife and I were simply amazed of the high fidelity. Yes, it's not 5.1, but all I just wanted a simple sound bar and small woofer with great sound. And the small subwoofer fit perfectly behind my TV stand, and was more than adequate to shake my room.
It was relatively simple to set up. You connect one Ethernet cable to the cable box which was right next to my unit; although you have the option to do a wireless hookup. Then there was one set of speaker wires to the sound bar and one wire to the subwoofer. But the HDMI connection is where I had a problem. One of the reasons why I wanted this system was because of the ARC -HDMI connection. For those who don't know, the ARC feature basically enables the TV and added components to communicate back and forth.I incorrectly took it for granted that all the HDMI inputs were ARC enabled. In this case, I had incorrectly installed my cable box to the ARC HDMI and the system was connected to the standard HDMI. And because of this, I couldn't get any sound when everything finally connected up. I was mystified. I had to re-read both the TV manual and also the system manual, to finally `get it." I switched the connections, and all was well. But Sony should have really made this clear that the system must be specifically connected to the HDMI input indicated with only ARC enabled HDMI input. Sony should really address by highlighting this. The other issue is that you cannot easily switch back and forth to regular TV viewing and BD viewing. Unless I am doing something wrong, you have to deal with 2 remotes and remember the process. But it's not a real problem for me, because I don't really watch a lot of DVD's. All in all, these are really minor issues.
But I have to say, the system greatly exceeded my expectations. It's a clean set up and the monolith design of the system matches perfectly to the Bravia TV. Also, I found that the upright position of the unit is a big advantage for me. I have my TV mounted on a stand and the upright unit hides my router modem. The sound is full and the woofer rumbles my room while watching Avatar. The BD also played perfectly.BTW, I supplemented the sound bar with the TV speakers. I recommend this. I also programmed my cable TV remote, and with one button everything powers up. Channel, home theater volume and power.Plenty of internet channels such as Netflix, Pandora, etc. Once you have the sound bar going, you won't go back to `just `TV speakers. In actuality I have a top of the line Bose 5.1 system at my primary home and it's just too overpowering sometimes for just for regular TV watching. But this sound bar system is just right for regular TV watching as well as the occasional BD or movie watching.
All in all, I couldn't be more thrilled and I highly recommend this system. It's well worth the price and I am giving it five stars. If you are thinking of getting this system, I suggest you act quickly since Sony had discounted it, and it might be discontinued soon. And they may or may not have a similar replacement from a design standpoint. And at current prices, it's a tremendous value. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!



Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony BDV-F7 3D Blu-Ray Disc Soundbar Home Theater System

Click here for more information about Sony BDV-F7 3D Blu-Ray Disc Soundbar Home Theater System

Read More...

RCA RT2360 300-Watt Home Theater System Review

Average Reviews:

(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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: RCA RT2360 300-Watt Home Theater System

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.

Click here for more information about RCA RT2360 300-Watt Home Theater System

Read More...

Panasonic SC-HTB10 120W 2.1-Channel Slim Sound Bar System with 3D Pass Through (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this unit to pair with my Panasonic TC-P42S2 42-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV, and am generally pleased. I live in an apartment, so a unit with a booming external subwoofer or a complete home theater setup would not be very neighborly of me. The sound is a great improvement over the TV's stock speakers--there is more than enough bass for me, especially when playing films like The Dark Knight on Blu-Ray--the sound was surprisingly good. The sound from the TV's stock speakers seemed to go down and a bit behind the TV; the sound bar sends sound forward (which allows me to lower the volume). The sound is not surround. I also found that playing with the settings helps a lot. For example, the Dolby virtual effect sounds great when watching Blu-Ray movies, but sometimes doesn't sound so good when watching sports--depending on the quality of the audio feed, announcers may sound a little tinny. You will therefore want to keep the sound bar remote handy, in order to make adjustments as needed.
As my TV has an ARC connection (the sound bar is connected to the TV via a single HDMI cable), I am able to adjust sound volume from my TV, DirecTV, and Panny Blu-Ray remotes--the sound bar also turns on and off when I activate or shut off the TV. So integration is pretty seamless, once you get all the settings correctly entered. Speaking of settings, the directions for changing the TV's settings are awful--they are general to all TVs and not specific for Panasonic products, so you will have to mess around with the menu settings by trial and error in both Audio and Viera Link to synch everything up. In spite of this, set up is actually pretty easy.
If you plan on placing the sound bar in front of your TV on a level surface, I recommend that you place the TV on a 2" or 3" platform, as the height of the sound bar blocks the TV's infrared sensor. I made a simple platform with a channel for the sound bar's cords, so it looks uncluttered.
Also, there are no separate bass and treble controls at all--one can only adjust the internal subwoofer. I have my subwoofer set one or two notches below maximum for films like The Dark Knight (which has extremely high audio quality and a ton of bass), and maximum for the sports I watch, which have lower quality sound.
Finally, it is worth noting that the sound bar matches Panasonic TV's aesthetic form, so they look really good together.
EDIT: The curves and glossy plastic match, but the accent styling does not match--the TV has a bluish line below the Panasonic label, and the sound bar has a silver line below the label. In this respect, they look a bit different. Perhaps other Panny TVs have the silver accent.
This sound bar is not a home theater system--it's not even close. However, if you are on a budget, do not need or want surround effects blasted at high volumes, or live in an apartment where you have to minimize sound levels, this is a great way to improve upon your TV's stock speakers.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Panasonic SC-HTB10 120W 2.1-Channel Slim Sound Bar System with 3D Pass Through (Black)


What's in the Box
Panasonic SC-HTB10, remote control (built-in battery), AC power supply cord, 2 wall mount brackets and hardware, user's manual

Click here for more information about Panasonic SC-HTB10 120W 2.1-Channel Slim Sound Bar System with 3D Pass Through (Black)

Read More...

Philips HSB3280/F7 Micro Hi-Fi Soundbar System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This Philips soundbar is a little gem. Small enough to set up easily, a wireless subwoofer that actually works and can be heard, without the silly DVD player to break that everyone already has, great loud gaming sound -- we use it with our Xbox for more realistic gaming sounds. We purchased it for our living room and with our old TV and old satellite box, we were very very pleased. We upgraded and realized there were no HMDI connections and we were out of luck. Our new Samsung TV did not recognize this unit in it's Anynet+ system. Couldn't make it work properly with the system that we acquired, and so it went with the old TV and became the gaming soundbar. We are using it, we do like it, we do recommend it. We just recommend checking the connections you need before you buy.
We think Philips makes a great product. We like the sound. It was a good price. It even comes with the wall mounting bracket in the box. Everything you could want. Our problem is that we didn't check to get the right connectivity for our system.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Philips HSB3280/F7 Micro Hi-Fi Soundbar System

Click here for more information about Philips HSB3280/F7 Micro Hi-Fi Soundbar System

Read More...

Samsung HT-WS1R Soundbar Review

Average Reviews:

(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!!!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung HT-WS1R Soundbar

Samsung Soundbar

Click here for more information about Samsung HT-WS1R Soundbar

Read More...

VIZIO VSB210WS Universal HD Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've tested sound bars from Sony, Yamaha, Philips, Samsung and Polk Audio. Was not able to find the Marantz and Denon models. These products encompass a wide range of price points. The one I bought was the Vizio: great sound and convenience at a price near the bottom of the range.
The wireless subwoofer is an amazing convenience. Its range is at least 20 feet, and it sounds terrific in a variety of placements.
I connected the soundbar to my HDTV console with an optical cable, which works extremely well with one caveat--to activate the audio, the TV must be set on a digital channel. After that, analog audio (including from a DVD player) comes through as normal. If you use the included conventional cable, no issues.
You have limited control options to tailor the sound, but that's to be expected at the price. Vizio uses SRS Labs' surround virtualization chip and also throws in its volume stabilizer to knock down loud commercial breaks. This is a cost sacrifice, as the Dolby and DTS HD audio codecs are much more expensive. No problem; the others sound thin, while the Vizio washes you with clear, powerful sound.
It's not true surround sound, but unlike some rivals, the audio experience isn't overly directional (sounds good throughout the room) and is much better than basic stereo. If you can't run wire through your walls to deploy full surround, this is a fine compromise.

Click Here to see more reviews about: VIZIO VSB210WS Universal HD Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer

Product Overview Be the envy of all your friends! Continuing to raise the bar in home electronics, VIZIO brings you the NEW VSB210WS Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer. Designed for home theater enthusiasts, this Sound Bar is the complete audio solution giving you a Wireless Subwoofer that can be placed anywhere* and cutting edge sound technologies such as SRS TruSurroundHD SRS TruVolume delivering the High Definition experience you've always desired! Your friends will be so green with envy they may never go home. VIZIO - Where Vision Meets Value!Subwoofer can be placed up to 60ft with clear line of sight Additional Features of the Sound Bar with Subwoofer: SRSTruSurround HD - Experience rich bass and clear dialog SRSTruVolume - Monitors and balances sound levels so you no longer have to experience volume ups and downs Four 3-Inch High-Efficiency hand built mid/bass transducers Two 3/4-Inch High Performance aluminum dome neodymium tweeters Subwoofer Frequency Response: 35Hz up to 80Hz 6.5-Inch long throw (high excursion) driver Subwoofer placement anywhere within 60 ft of sound bar - clear line of sight High-Performance 32-Bit 150MHz DSP Audio Engine Impressive Sound Pressure Level measuring 90dB SPL (1W @ 1M)SPEAKER BAR DIMENSIONS 39.95-Inch (W) X 4.82-Inch (H) X 4.33-Inch (D) SUBWOOFER DIMENSIONS 11.18-Inch (W) X 12.77-Inch (H) X 11.84-Inch (D)

Click here for more information about VIZIO VSB210WS Universal HD Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer

Read More...

JVC TH-BA1 Soundbar System with Wireless Subwoofer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)You should know that a soundbar is not replacement for a home theater system. You are not going to the full impact bass and big room filling sound with a soundbar. What are you going to get? Convenience, simplicity and, if you set your expectations right, pleasing sound.
The JVC TH-BA1 delivers high value performance. It's an attractive, well built unit which provides sound that will probably put your TV audio to shame (it did mine - a Panasonic Viera plasma). The wireless subwoofer is a little muddy and undefined but does not overpower or boom. The unit has no variable crossover control but the factory setting sounds very balanced. You just plug it into a wall power outlet and follow the extremely simple pairing instructions and you are up in less than a minute.
The 2 surround settings are very subtle and natural sounding, avoiding that fake effect of many units. There are 2 optical inputs, so if you are not using HDMI this could come in handy for game consoles, disc players or DVRs. The small remote has the basic controls, plus the ability to control the relative loundness of the the center and surround channels, and the subwoofer. For you Tivo owners, the JVC codes work and you can control volume with your Tivo remote.
I choose this JVC unit over the Polk and Boston Acoustic offerings. I'd be curious to hear those units, but am very satisfied with the JVC. I recommend the TH-BA1 to anyone who wants to upgrade their TV sound without the expense and hassle of a full blown home theater system.

Click Here to see more reviews about: JVC TH-BA1 Soundbar System with Wireless Subwoofer


Featuring a low-profile 4.1-channel front surround speaker, the JVC TH-BA1 Soundbar System is matched to a wireless subwoofer for a fully immersive sound for your movies and favorite music. The soundbar is configured to fit neatly under a TV or can be wall-mounted and its front surround technology eliminates the need for rear speakers and the placement problems, clutter, and extra wiring that comes with them. A single cable connects the soundbar to a source (DVD or Blu-ray player) or TV.

Click here for more information about JVC TH-BA1 Soundbar System with Wireless Subwoofer

Read More...

Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Always a tricky one when reviewing something which sounds great, but doesnt really do what it says on the tin.
I read a few reviews on the Phillips sound bar and decide to go for it rather than the Yahama, due to its inclusion of an upscaling DVD player being built in.
My house just doesnt lend itself well to placing 5 speakers, particularly rears, so I thought what the heck I'll try this.
The audio quality is excellent, deep bass (not quite sharp enough with movies on normal settings but that can be fixed by tweaking the audion settings and cranking the treble)and a huge array of different pre set movie and audio settings to suit your ear.
But as far as virtual Surround Sound capability goes...there isnt any as far as I can tell. I've tried various DVD's with scenes I know bring in the rear speakers on full systems and there is no distinguishable surround effect.
Disappointing really, although I have to say I still love the overall sound when its cranked up, it really booms out.
So if you want a boost to your TV sound and have a beautiful looking sound bar with built in DVD (and it does look awesome), you cant go far wrong. But if you are thinking you can change the laws of physics and have surround sound without rear speakers, think again, cause this just doesnt work!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37

Click here for more information about Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37

Read More...

Samsung HT-C6600 Blu-Ray Home Theater System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was originally planning on getting the 6500, but couldn't find one locally. During that search, I ran into a store that had one 6600 left and it was on sale, so I went ahead and got it. The only apparent difference that I've found is the 6600 has Bluray 3D capability, but other than that they seem pretty identical.
Setup was relatively easy. Everything is color-coded and Samsung has their own little speaker wire plug, so it's hard to screw up. That makes it easy, but more difficult to do any kind of customization of your own with other speakers. The speaker calibration seemed to work pretty well, although now and the audio track randomly gets out of sync on occasion, requiring a re-boot to reset things. So far this has only happened when I've been watching the DVR, so I'm not sure if it's specific to that device or input or not.
I have my Xbox 360 and HD Cable plugged into the HDMI inputs, and it plays everything well. It's great playing games in surround sound, too. That adds a whole new dimension to the gaming experience. All of it is running to a 50" Panasonic plasma TV, which has one of the best pictures in the TV business to begin with, so the video quality is awesome.
I expected the sound to be marginal at best, coming from a bit of a home-theater customization background. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it actually sounds, though, particularly when playing DVD or Blurays. Don't get me wrong here, though. This provides the most basic of surround sound, which still greatly enhances watching movies, but it does not provide the same depth of sound as much more expensive and more powerful systems. That said, the subwoofer does get low enough to simulate most sounds, and the rest of it sounds pretty good. Dialogue is the best part, as this is actually sometimes the hardest part of a soundtrack to find a happy medium for comfortable listening without having to keep the remote handy for turning it up and down as the scenes change. The Samsung finds a balance between action and dialogue where you don't have to constantly adjust things, which is proof that they have the auto-calibration down pretty well.
I have mine wired directly to my home network. I didn't even bother with the wireless dongle, as I've yet to use one that works to my expectations. Even with a wired connection to a 10gb connection, I experienced Netflix issues. The entire internet-based menu and apps system is sluggish at best, so I will probably only use the internet for firmware updates. I believe this is a Samsung issue, not my internet, for the simple reason that I can watch full HD Netflix movies through my Xbox wirelessly with no issues at all. And that's fine with me...I still play them through the Samsung surround sound, so it's not a loss, although it would be nice to see Samsung come up with a fix to smooth things out.
There are various apps and whatnot you can play with online, but the remote is clumsy and poorly designed in my opinion. It lacks any intuitive way to type, for one thing, which limits what you can do efficiently on the web. You have to create an account at the Samsung app store, and another at their internet@tv or whatever it's called site, and I just haven't had the patience to sit through it all. I have enough computers and apps already, so I guess I'm happy with just being able to play Blurays in surround sound for now. :)
For the price, I don't think you can beat what you get with this system. $450 and it does almost everything. I do wish it would tell you what resolution it was outputting to the TV and what kind of sound it was playing in (i.e. DTS, Dolby 5.1, etc). As far as I've been able to discover, there is no way to tell if it is truly playing the encoded surround signal.
Pros: Price, good sound, easy setup, better than normal auto-calibration system for speakers
Cons: Confusing remote, unexplained slow-down in internet signal run through system that makes using Netflix almost impossible.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung HT-C6600 Blu-Ray Home Theater System

Be surrounded by superior sound with the Samsung HT-C6600 3D Blu-ray home theater system.

Get 18% OFF

Click here for more information about Samsung HT-C6600 Blu-Ray Home Theater System

Read More...

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

Average Reviews:

(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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung HT-BD8200 Blu-Ray Sound Bar Home Theater System (Black)

Blu-Ray Home Theater

Get 13% OFF

Click here for more information about Samsung HT-BD8200 Blu-Ray Sound Bar Home Theater System (Black)

Read More...

ZVOX 550HSD Low-Profile Single-Cabinet Surround Sound System with Optical and Coaxial Digital Inputs Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Before purchasing this speaker/amplifier system, I read every review I could find. However, no matter how well a speaker review is written, the proof is in the actual listening. After some careful measurements of the space where I intended to put this speaker, I decided to go ahead and spring (also known as "putting a dent" in the credit card) for the system. Quick background - I've been using a Yamaha 5.1 channel surround receiver with Bose AM-3 speakers and an OPPO BDP-83 Blu-Ray player. One of my biggest gripes about compact systems has been high levels of total harmonic distortion. But the simple convenience of fewer remotes and easy adjustments does have its charms.
I received the system about 3 days after placing the order and I set it up the day after I got it. Did I say setup? This marvelous audio soundbar/box sets up faster than an egg on hot asphalt. I ran a set of RCA cables from the TV's analog output to the ZVOX analog RCA inputs. Everything else, video and audio-wise, is plugged into the back of the TV. An optical digital cable from the Blu-Ray player to the optical input on the ZVOX takes care of the DVD audio. Even my PC's audio goes through the ZVOX unit.
The unit itself is wonderfully "invisible" in that it sits under the LCD TV base and does not call attention to itself. The sound? With a little noodling on the included remote (which is larger and easier to use than the chiclet size remote provided with the standard 550 model), I was quite impressed. I played my Blu-Ray copy of AVATAR and with the PHASE CUE setting near maximum, the BASS on maximum, treble on about three-quarters of the allowed adjustment range, I began my listening test. After several minutes, I was struck by the fact that the sound was so full and clear that I got lost in the movie. The speakers just "disappeared".
Several observations: The bass output doesn't have quite enough "oomph" for my taste, so I purchased an inexpensive Yamaha YST-50 subwoofer that worked out just nice. It's compact, provides a nice punch to the bass, and fits almost anywhere. As for the surround effect - the system broadens the soundfield more than adding weird surround effects. Truthfully, I like its overall balanced sound much better than some of the other soundbar manufacturers attempts at faux surround.
In summary, if the complexities of today's audio/video receivers and multi-channel rat's nest of connecting cables is driving you to distraction, try the ZVOX 550 HSD system for small spaces (I'm using it in a third bedroom space which is quite small), or the ZVOX 575 HSD system in larger living room spaces. Simple is best!

Click Here to see more reviews about: ZVOX 550HSD Low-Profile Single-Cabinet Surround Sound System with Optical and Coaxial Digital Inputs

Click here for more information about ZVOX 550HSD Low-Profile Single-Cabinet Surround Sound System with Optical and Coaxial Digital Inputs

Read More...

Sharp BDMPC41 1020 Watt 5.1 Blu-Ray Home Theater System in a Box Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this system about three months ago to replace an older Sony surround sound system. I read a lot of reviews on soundbar systems and originally purchased a Samsung soundbar, which I did not like at all. First let me say: I really like this system. It's not a surround sound system, but - for the money - it's outstanding. It's simple to install and it sounds good and looks good.
We had no "sync-ing" issues [we paired this with a Samsung LCD/HDTV], which is something a lot of reviewers of soundbar systems commented about. It installed quickly [it comes with it's own brackets] and we had it up and running in less than half an hour. It does have wires [the subwoofer is not self-powered and is wired to the bluray player, as are the two side speakers], but they're fairly unobtrusive.
You won't get true surround sound with this system, but it's close. My old Sony had a much "richer" sound, but it took up a lot of space and all those speaker wires drove me crazy. The only other quibble is that we had to turn the subwoofer all the way down, because the base is "heavy" at anything higher than a +1. We also had to turn the center speaker way up, because it was difficult to hear the voices over the music/sound effects.
The pros are: Cost; ease of installation; attractive appearance; good sound and no sync-ing issues, whether we're playing a DVD, a bluray or cable.
The cons are: The wires to the side speakers and subwoofer; subwoofer is not indepently powered; heavy on the base.
Altogether, if you really want a soundbar/bluray system, for the money, this is the one I'd recommend.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sharp BDMPC41 1020 Watt 5.1 Blu-Ray Home Theater System in a Box

Click here for more information about Sharp BDMPC41 1020 Watt 5.1 Blu-Ray Home Theater System in a Box

Read More...

Sharp HTSB200 2.1 Sound Bar Audio System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Bought the wife a new 40" Samsung LCD and while I was very pleased with the picture, I was severely disappointed in the sound quality. No matter how much I played with the adjustments, it just sounded very flat with absolutely zero bass. After reading up, it appeared that a sound bar was exactly what I was looking for. This was for the living room which is primarily where my wife watches TV. She doesn't care about having the sound of a big 7.1 system like I have in the den. Her primary requirements were something that didn't add clutter like speaker stands, wall mounts, etc. but still improved the sound quality a bit.
I bought two sound bars to compare and just planned on taking one back. The first was a Vizio VSB200 and the other was the Sharp HTSB200. Since they are probably two of the closest that people will be comparing when looking for a budget sound bar, they are the two I will compare. Of the two, I chose the Sharp for the following reasons:
1. It is much smaller in size but sounds as good. The Vizio was large enough to stick up above the bottom of the TV on it's stand.
2. The Sharp remote is an actual remote unlike the Vizio which comes with a very cheap looking remote with the bubble buttons on it - in my experience, remotes like the Vizio's don't last very long.
3. The Bass and Treble are adjustable on the Sharp, on the Vizio they are not.
4. You can adjust the "subwoofer" on the Sharp, I don't even know if the Vizio has anything resembling a subwoofer. I use subwoofer loosely because while the sound bar does have some bass, don't expect anything like a stand alone subwoofer.
5. The Sharp has an actual display on the front, the Vizio just has a series of lights behind the cloth cover.
A few things I liked abut the Vizio over the Sharp:
1. Has an optical input, the Sharp does not (the next model up in the Sharp line, the HTSB300 DOES have an optical input).
2. Is controllable by my Dish Network universal remote. The Sharp may be as well but I haven't found a code that will work yet.
Make no mistake, neither provides a true surround sound experience. At no time did I feel as if sounds were coming from anywhere other than in front of me. I think it's stupid for the companies to even promote them as a surround sound experience. What they both do and do well is expand the sound stage of crappy flat screen speakers but the Sharp does it in a smaller package and with more features and adjust-ability.
Edit:
May have spoke too soon with such a positive review for this unit. After having it hooked up all day, I am frequently experiencing an annoying, random half second drop out of the audio. I have contacted Sharp CS but haven't heard back yet. Saw on a few A/V forums where there are others with the same problem. I'll update here as the situation progresses.
Edit 2: Contacted Sharp by phone regarding the audio drop out. I was impressed with their customer service. Very short wait, rep acted genuinely interested in helping. The problem relates to a power saving feature that turns the speaker off automatically when a signal isn't detected. I had my TVs internal speakers turned off (I bought the sound bar due to my TVs crappy speakers in the first place, of course I'm going to turn them off). This apparently tricks the circuitry in the sound bar into periodically thinking there is no sound so it clicks on and off, thus the audio drop out. The rep had me turn my TVs speakers back on and put them at a low setting of 5. I can just barely hear them with the sound bar off and not at all when the sound bar is on. I was skeptical but it apparently worked because I watched a few hours of DVDs and the issue didn't reappear. Poor engineering on their part if you ask me but I can live with it. They should have given an option to turn the power saving feature on and off. Next issue is tracking down a code that allows the sound bar to be controlled by a universal remote.
Edit 3: Problem still occurs occasionally but as I turn the volume up on the TV itself, it happens less frequently. At this point though I can't turn the TV up any louder without hearing it in conjunction with the sound bar, which actually degrades the sound quality. Contacted seller and they agreed to send me a replacement unit to rule out the first one as a defective unit. I'm not willing to give up on this product yet but it still baffles me that it could be engineered so that you have to leave your TV volume up a bit to get past the power saving feature. Makes no sense.
4th and hopefully final edit: Got a replacement unit and knock on wood, this one seems to be working properly. I have my TV volume set at zero and have experienced no drop outs with the new unit. I guess it can be chalked up to a defective unit. At this point I am completely satisfied with the product and would recommend it. Still no luck with a remote code though.
If any other owners of the product are experiencing the same drop out, please post a reply.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sharp HTSB200 2.1 Sound Bar Audio System


Designed to simulate a surround sound effect without the bulk and added cost of a full home theater audio system, the Sharp HTSB200 Sound Bar provides a 2.1-channel surround sound environment. The compact Sound Bar encases left and right speakers, as well as a subwoofer, in one clean unit for 32 watts of total power output (5W x 2, plus 22W subwoofer). It can be placed on a TV stand (32-inch class LCD and up) with included mounting plates and adjustable feet to straddle the base of an LCD TV.
The Sharp Sound Bar simulates a surround sound effect without the bulk of adding a full speaker set.

Click here for more information about Sharp HTSB200 2.1 Sound Bar Audio System

Read More...

LG LSB316 Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We just purchased a new 55" LED TV for our great room and needed a sound system (as is well known, the flat panel tv speakers are horrible). We did research for several days and had finally settled on either the Sony CT150 or the Boston Acoustics TVEEM20. Both had recieved great reviews. The problem with Sony is that the subwoofer is wired and contains all the inputs as well as the sensor for the remote. Thus, the subwoofer must be near the TV and easily visible (given the wall mounted location in our room, its a pain to run 10 foot cables through the wall). The problem with the BA is that it only has the circa 1980 RCA input (which few modern TVs seem to have as an output option). After much research we decided we had to settle for one or the other and went to Best Buy to test them. Once there, we stumbled upon the LG which hadn't even been stocked yet (just saw the box in the corner). After checking out the specs, we were delighted to see that LG had settled the problems! Wireless subwoofer can sit out of sight yet provides great effect. The sound bar has two optical inputs, plus a USB port and is Bluetooth enabled. All ports are on the bar, so you only need a short single optical cable from the TV to the bar.
Set up took about 2 minutes; plug in the bar, the subwoofer and plug in the optical cable. That's it. Be sure to turn off your TV's speakers to avoid any issues with sound bleeding.
Sound is great, assuming you have realistic expectations. This is not a $2000 home theater system so don't expect that. However, for a $300-$350 range soundbar, the sound is outstanding! Other than a tiny bit of static when set on a couple of the pre-installed sound effects (which goes away when we tried a different setting), its great. Plenty of power for our great room which is open on two sides and has 20 foot ceilings open to a loft (basically the worst acoustical set up you can imagine). Yet the LG puts out plenty of power; haven't even turned it up more than half way as even that was blasting. Great range of sound as far as we can tell; seems to hand music, movies, games, etc very well (again, use the different sound settings to get the best effects depending on source and type of content).
The Bluetooth sync is extremely easy. My wife had the Ipod running through the system by the time I was done putting away the box. The LG has a specific sound setting for MP3 files that upscales the frequencies, etc. The sound is really amazing.
If we had to come up with any negatives, we only have 2 very minor ones. My wife doesn't like the look as much as the Sony (the LG speakers are exposed, so it looks a bit more industrial); but even this is relative and very minor. We both agree its stylish and low profile. The only other negative is that it won't sync with our DVR universal remote, so we have to use the sound bar remote for volume control, and the other for everything else. Not really a big deal.
In sum, we stumbled upon this by accident (didn't even know LG made a soundbar, which is ironic given that we had bought a new LG LED tv just a few days earlier) and couldn't be more pleased. If you're looking for a good, low profile sound system for your tv but don't want to go to a full theater system, this is a good option. If you're an audio snob, you probably won't like it, but then again you probably sholdn't be looking at soundbars anyway.

Click Here to see more reviews about: LG LSB316 Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer

LHB316 Sound Bar This powerful sound bar & wireless subwoofer are designed for optimal use with your flat-panel TV and have flexible placement options on either a wall or a tabletop.

Click here for more information about LG LSB316 Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer

Read More...

Sony HT-CT150 3D Sound Bar System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was skeptical I admit
I moved out of my house into a much smaller townhouse and I had to give up my Klipsche 2 series 5.1 system.....I HATED giving up surround sound. I have been bouncing back forth between this one and the CT350 model. I was scared that this wouldn't be as loud as I would like it........wow was I wrong. The room I have it in is only 11 X 15 (system on short side) and this thing is fantastic. It has a max volume of 50 and I find 24 to be more than enough. Is it true 5.1....no... but it has great surround effects and very full sound.....you will feel like the action is going around you which is what we all want anyway isn't it?
I tested it with Avatar Blu Ray..... Lord of the Rings ROTK Disc 2 DVD......Invictus ON Demand (for the accents.....hard on TV speakers).....was blown away each time
I turned up the center to +5 to bring out the dialog a little more and set the sub at +2
I also mounted the speaker ABOVE the TV which I feel really helps to bring out the surround effects because they don't get lost down near the ground around the furniture
It is a little slow switching inputs but that is to be expected......the remote will only control Sony products....so if you have non Sony stuff invest in a Harmony remote
If you are planning this for a really large room and you are going to be sitting 17 or more feet away maybe you should consider the 400W 350 model..... but for a normal room you will be thrilled by this unit.
I couldnt be more happy with this purchase

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony HT-CT150 3D Sound Bar System

Complete your 3D home entertainment experience with simple, yet powerful surround sound. The HT-CT150 32" 3D sound bar home theater system features 3D compatibility and can also be turned into your entertainment hub by connecting multiple HD or 3D devices using a single HDMI cable per device (sold separately). In addition to the latest audio decoding technology, this beautifully sleek sound bar can be easily mounted directly to select BRAVIA TVs, hung on your wall, or placed separately on a shelf.

Click here for more information about Sony HT-CT150 3D Sound Bar System

Read More...