This page contains information on wireless home theater sytems.  To view other brands like Yamaha Home Theater Systems and  Wharfedale Speakers use the menu on the right side of this page.

If you would like to leave a comment or review of your home theater experience please use the form at the foot of the page and it will be reviewed and published on this site.

Wireless Home Theater Systems

Panasonic Wireless Home Theater SCP-T750

The Panasonic SCP-T750 home theater system combines all the high end features you’ll need for a flawless audio visual experience into one, reasonably priced bundle. Among those features are a five disc DVD changer, HDMI input with 1080p up-conversion, wireless rear satellite speakers, and built-in Dolby Digital and dts 5.1 encoding. The SCP-T750 is XM Radio ready and supports iPod playback with an included universal dock. Experience 5.1 channel surround sound you can feel with 1000 watts of pure digital power.
Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Main Speakers Power Output: 125 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD-RAM · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW · DVD-R DL · DVD+R DL
Subwoofer Power Output: 250 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
Dialog Enhancer: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 720p (750p) · 1080i (1125i) · 1080p (1125p)
Outputs: Composite x 1 · Component x 1
Built-in TV Tuner: NTSC
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 30

“For the price, sound, features, design and components, I consider this item as a bargain. The sound quality is good for a 1000w receiver (awesome), the wireless system it’s also included in the package. This brings comfort and it looks really good also. The video quality is normal. The design is good; the speakers are tinny and classy. The ipod dock is a good feature also, because is not an aux output, like the others. The dark side of this item is that it doesn’t have a digital input either a video input. It is a good option for those of you that are looking for great quality sound, but something simple. If you are looking for use this system as a receiver for other system like an Xbox 360 or ps3 you have to know that you can use it, but not as a digital device. You have to use it with regular audio cables (RCA). The lack of video input is other thing that you have to know, because you can’t use this device as an expander. In conclusion it works great and I really like this home theater sound system and the best thing of all is the PRICE!!!”

Panasonic Wireless Home Theatre SC-PT960

Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Wireless Speakers: With Wireless Speakers
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 2 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 250 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · SVCD · DVD-RAM · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW · DVD-R DL · DVD+R DL
Subwoofer Power Output: 250 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II · Dolby Pro Logic
Audio DAC: 12 bit / 108000 kHz
Dialog Enhancer: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 1080p (1125p)
Inputs: Digital Audio (Coaxial) x 1
Outputs: Composite x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1 · Analog Audio x 1
OSD: Yes
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 60

“I bought my system from Buydig.com and saved over $50.00. It took us about 1.5 hours to hook up. The directions are somewhat confusing but we eventually got it done. It sounds great.”

“Great system if you can follow the instructions.  They are a generic sort and may or may not apply to this unit.  My son and I both have backgrounds in electronics and we finally resorted to pushing buttons and experimenting in a sort of trial and error mode.”

Samsung Wireless HT-Z310T Home Theatre Speakers

This Home Theater System eliminates the confusion associated with making a sound choice. With exceptional surround sound reproduction and 1080p high-definition upconversion, the Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater System will take your home theater experience to heights.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Wireless Speakers: Wireless Ready
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 1 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 166 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · DVD Audio · SACD · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 170 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG · WMV
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital · DTS · Dolby Pro Logic II
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 1080p (1125p)
Inputs: Digital Audio (Optical) x 1 · Aux 2 · USB
SCART Connectors: Output x 1
Outputs: Composite x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1 · Speaker
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: FM

“This is a great system for the $200 price tag. I’ve had the system for nearly a month, so can’t speak on reliability, but the sound that comes from this system is exceptional for the price tag. If you’re someone who likes to keep the mess of wires in your home entertainment system hidden, there is an optional wireless add-on pack you can purchase for an additional $100. The added iPod dock is limited in functionality, but overall gets the job done for someone who only requires basic use. If you are shopping for a surround system on a budget, I’d definitely recommend this system. It’s hard to find a surround system with this type of audio clarity for the $200 price tag its the best home theater system.”

Samsung HT-P38 Theater System

Plug in any MP3/WMA flash memory or HDD device and enjoy all the music stored on your digital audio device through 800 watts of power. People who prefer more convenience should consider the HT-P38. The upgraded unit employs wireless Bluetooth technology so installation is easy. Simply plug in the receiver/amplifier tower in the back of the room and place the speakers where they sound best without worrying about running long lengths of speaker wire through the room’s interior from the front of the room to the rear.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 1 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 134 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD Audio
Subwoofer Power Output: 130 Watts
Playable File Formats: DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM

“I was looking for a simple, inexpensive, small DVD-home theater package for my bedroom. Since I’m very quality-conscious, it was important for me to purchase a well-made, good sounding, quality piece.
The problem with HITB’s (Home Theatre In A Box) is that although they might appear to give you everything a separate receiver, DVD player, and speaker packages does – they DO NOT, even if the price is similar to what a separate system would cost. For the most part in the $400 and below price bracket, these HITB’s are just glorified shelf systems with a DVD player and more speakers. They can be very cheaply made, lack even the most basic audio/video connectivity, and sound dull and lifeless.
Enter the Samsung HT-P38. Not only can you pick it up for around $225 (I paid $199 after rebate at Circuit City on sale), but the system has features not found on systems costing twice as much. You’ll find a slew of features in this system, but some of the noteworthy ones I have listed below:

NOTEWORTHY FEATURES:
Composite video in jacks (2) for a cable box and VCR
Optical digital audio-in (1) that can be mapped to either video jack, for digital cable or a separate CD player.
Analog audio in jacks for the (2) video’s above

S-video, component video or composite video out for the DVD. If you select to use composite, you’ll have the added bonus of all video flowing through a single connection to your TV. No flipping to video 1/2/3 required! Although some say this connection is inferior to component or S-video, it really makes little difference if connected through a good cable set (Monster Cable). Unless you’re connecting to a HDTV, you’re not really going to see a big difference. And if you are connecting to an HD set, spend a little more for a better audio system that can really match the TV’s picture quality!
Front USB input – a cool gimmick that I tried, but my camera does not support it.
5-disc carousel-style DVD changer that plays every format known to man, other then SACD (Super Audio CD). Again, not a big deal on a $200 system that lacks the dynamic range to appreciate SACD anyway.
Dolby Pro Logic II, great for watching regular TV or movies from a VCR for example. Simulates a 5.1 Dolby-Digital-like sound. It makes a huge difference over the 10+ year old Pro-Logic that some systems still come with.
Passive, powered sub that takes up little space.
Good on-screen display for all functions.

SOUND QUALITY:
Generally very good, if not a bit muddy at times. But the separation between speakers is very good for a system in this price range. Even at loud volumes, this unit sounds good. If you’re planning to use mostly for better sound from your TV, and the occasional movie/background music, you will be delighted.
I’m not using the supplied 24 gauge speaker cables, which I swapped for 16 gauge. 24 gauge is thinner then telephone wire, and is plain unacceptable for any stereo system save a clock radio. But for the price, they have to save somewhere! (FYI They also don’t include batteries for the remote…)

OPERATION:
Easy to use, and during regular use, only a few buttons on the remote are really needed. Comes with the standard fare, which you can read about anywhere. Front display is BRIGHT, but is dimmable at 2 different levels. But the unit does not retain this setting after it’s turned off.
Overall, this is a perfect system for a bedroom. Even a small living room. My bedroom is 17×13, so it’s really not all that small. The Samsung fills it with sound that’s clear, and boasts superb connectivity over its competition – Panasonic, Sony, JVC for example. Hands down, the best for the price. Samsung has really come along way! Just make sure you’ve got the physical depth for it, since the unit is very deep (probably about 20 inches or so).”

“I found this Samsung at Target of all places, and read the features list, and played with the demo-unit. It met all of the criteria I was looking for in a system which was:
1. Over 500 Watts
2. True 5.1 Dolby Sound (Bargain units have a “simulated” surround)
3. Progressive Scan
4. AUX Input (for devices like my iPod, or XBOX)
5. Stylish/Well Made
6. Compact Subwoofer (w/ ability to adjust the subwoofer’s volume)
7. Disc Compatibility (JPEG, MP3, WMA, DVD-R, +R, RW, etc)
8. Wife’s Approval
9. AM/FM Tuner
Those were my main qualifications, and ANY system I was going to by had to have all of those. I looked at Sony’s comparable model, and it didn’t have inputs, or adjustable subwoofer volume, and was also lower wattage. I looked at other brands like Pioneer, JVC, and even Yamaha, and none of them had what the Samsung had.
Samsung has managed to meet, and exceed my requirements for what an affordable home theater should be. This system actually belts out 800 Watts of true 5.1 Surround Sound, gives me 2 AUX Inputs, a 5-Disc Changer, fully-featured remote, great style, and full volume control over every speaker.
They’ve also included a USB port for connecting an MP3 player, I haven’t tried it yet, but I appreciate the functionality. I also love the blue glow when the unit is powered on… but if you don’t, it has a dimmer, and even the ability to turn the glow off altogether!
I never read any reviews of this model, however I had purchased a Samsung DVD player several years ago on a whim, and I was impressed with it’s picture quality, and longevity, it still works perfectly! I trusted that the Samsung brand would come through for me again, and they have!
We bought this because I wanted surround sound for movies, and my wife wanted a way to listen to her CDs and the radio, this solved all of those problems, at a great price and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

To view other brands use the menu on the right side of this page. If you would like to leave a comment or review of your home theater experience please use the form at the foot of the page and it will be reviewed and published on this site.

Wireless Home Theater

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This page contains information on teac home theater sytems. To view other brands such as  Wharfedale Speakers and Toshiba Home Theater use the menu on the right side of this page.

If you would like to leave a comment or review of your home theater experience please use the form at the foot of the page and it will be reviewed and published on this site.

Teac Home Theater DVC200 System

Big on sound, yet small in size, the Teac DVD micro-system is perfect for tight spaces. Just hook it up to your television to

take advantage of high-quality DVD video or MP3-encoded CDs
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 2 Speakers
Main Speakers Power Output: 15 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Playable File Formats: MP3
DVD 
Inputs: Analog Audio x 1
Outputs: S-Video x 1 · Component x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM

“This home theater sound system packs a punch with great sound from its small components. The only problem I’ve had it the DVD player is black and white if it has been turned off for a long time but after 15 minutes it is perfect (i just leave it on). Had it since 2002 and that is the only problem. Great all around machine”

Teac PLD-100V Theater System

Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Main Speakers Power Output: 20 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 50 Watts
Playable File Formats: MP3
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic
DVD 
Inputs: Composite x 1 · Analog Audio x 1
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Analog Audio x 1 · Digital Audio Coaxial x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM

Teac PLD-100V Theater System

Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Main Speakers Power Output: 20 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 50 Watts
Playable File Formats: MP3
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic
DVD 
Inputs: Composite x 1 · Analog Audio x 1
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Analog Audio x 1 · Digital Audio Coaxial x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM

To view other brands use the menu on the right side of this page. If you would like to leave a comment or review of your home theater package experience please use the form at the foot of the page and it will be reviewed and published on this site.

Teac Home Theater

Technorati Tags: teac home theater

This page contains information on Yamaha home theater sytems. To view other brands including Toshiba Home Theater and Sharp Home Theater use the menu on the right side of this page.

If you would like to leave a comment or review of your home theater experience please use the form at the foot of the page and it will be reviewed and published on this site.

Yamaha Home Theater Systems

DVX-S 80 With 5 Yamaha Speakers

Amp Output 200 watts rms
Tuner Included = Yes
Quantity inputs = 5
Num of Speakers = Supp 5
Subwoofer Included = Yes
Remote Control = Yes
Colour = Silver
Wavebands = FM/MW
Digital inputs = Yes
Digital outputs = No
DTS = Yes
Rear Speaker Stands = YES!
Matrix 6.1 (acts as though there is also rear centre speaker)

“I bought this kit after hearing it at work. The Sound quality just blew me away and the loudness of it all was simply impressive.
The first film i tried was The Two Towers : helms deep scenes and oh what fun it was. i turned all my setting upto the highest they could go and volume up to its highest and i can honeslty say i felt as though i was there in mix of it all. arrows whistling passed my ears orcs roaring in my face.
Setting up this kit was really easy because along with the instructions u get a chart with detailed description of the pack of the amp and dvd player telling u where to plug everything into.Took me about 20-30 mins to get everything setup and where i wanted it.
Rear Speaker stand are stylish and sit nice to the side or behind any couch or chair.
The DVD player has excellant on screen menus so u can play about with audio settings screen setups along with a host of other features.
I PAID £599 for it and it was money well spent.”

Matrix 6.1 (acts as though there is also rear centre speaker)”

Yamaha Home Theaters DVX-C700

All-In-One 5.1 Channel home theater package with Top Performance DVD Changer, Wide Disc Compatibility and High Quality Speaker Package
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · SVCD · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · DVD Audio · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Playable File Formats: DivX · MP3 · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
Audio DAC: 24 bit / 192 kHz
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
OSD: Yes
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 30

“I like Yamaha, I have had Yamaha components since I was a teenager. I wanted a Home Theater System in my office, but I didn’t really want Separates for a few reasons. One, I don’t want to spend three thousand or so on a Receiver, Universal DVD player, subwoofer and speakers. Two, I don’t really have room in my office for an elaborate system. Three, since it is an office, I don’t really need or want a system to rock the house down.

So, does a system exist for under $500.00 bucks that can play DVDs? Mp3s?, SACDs?, DVD-Audio?, have decent quality sound? 5.1 channels? Have only ONE central Unit? Many systems can be had for under $500.00 that do all of the above except for DVD-Audio, SACD and sound quality, but I found only ONE that met all my criteria. A Yamaha! Does it sound as good as my Yamaha 5280 thats the heart of my home theater at home? Of course not, but that coupled with the components to do all this one unit does (Pioneer Elite Universal DVD player/Polk Audio Speakers/Velodyne Subwoofer) cost 10 times as much. Does it give me decent quality background music in my office during the day, and reasonablely loud volume levels for working at night? YES, it does!

Basic Description of Product

The Yamaha Home Theater has one large combination DVD Player/ Receiver Unit. It holds five DVDs in a carousel, that allows you to unload / reload four while the fifth one plays. Since it holds 5 DVDs in a carousel, it is large in depth, but its fairly short, and easily fit under a shelf behind my desk. The DVD player is progressive scan. The unit has outputs for a monitor and inputs for a TV and an auxillary unit. The auxillary input can be analog or digital coaxial. I use it for a CD jukebox. The Unit also has a built in AM/FM tuner.

PowerThe subwoofer actually contains the amplifiers for the unit. Although the unit boasts a total of 900 watts, it certainly doesn’t generate the volume that one would expect of 900 watts. It seems that Yamaha uses the deceptive method of raw power output so that it will seem to be the same power as all the other home theaters making similar boasts. (which are also measured in the same deceptive measure). Realistically, the unit has enough power to listen to your music or movie at reasonable volumes, but to be honest, if you turn it up to loud it will sound bad.

Speakers This home theater also comes with 5 small bookshelf speakers for front left and right, center and rear left and right. They are larger than satellite speakers, but not large enough to really handle low range frequencies. Nevertheless, the roll off of low frequencies sounds natural. The subwoofer does generate bass you can hear that sounds fairly crisp, it’s just not bass you can feel.

Stuff it will Play!

This is my favorite feature of this Home Theater in a Box, it plays most everything!

DVDs This will play your DVDs in Dolby Digital or DTS. It also has Pro Logic II. Of course at this price it is not THX certified. This is a 5.1 surround system, so DTS-ES or Dolby Digital 6.1 EX are not available.

DVD-Audio One of my favorie new formats, DVD-Audio offers high resolution recordings of many albums from classical to heavy metal, in either stereo or 5.1 surround sound.

SACD Super Audio Compact Disc is another high definition format that has either advanced resolution stereo tracks, advanced resolution surround sound tracks or both. You can play SACDs in stereo or surround sound.

CDs Just want to listen to one of your CDs? Pop it in, you can hear it in stereo or one of four surround modes.

MP3 Discs Many of you have probably figured out that a standard 700 MB CD can hold the equivalent of a dozen or more albums in MP3 Format at 128 Khz or even more at the lower quality 64 KHz. I record MP3s at 128 KHz. Although I can certainly hear the difference between the original uncompressed CD and MP3s on my main Home Theater system, on most systems, including this one, there is no discernable difference. So, you could load up 5 CDs loaded with 5 dozen of your favorite albums! You can also read the name of the artist, album and song on your monitor as they play. The shuffle feature on the remote is great if you want to mix everything up a bit.

CD-/+R, DVD-/+R Like to burn your own CDs and DVDs? No problem, this unit will play them all. I also find it more forgiving of errors than my high end DVD players.

Remote Control

The unit comes with one big remote control which you will need for many operations that can’t be done from the front of the unit. You will need the remote to set the unit up (i.e. for stereo output or multichannel output, interlaced or progressive scan etc.). You can select all the sound fields from the remote or what source you want to listen to. You select stereo or surround mode from the remote. All standard DVD functions are on the remote, as well as the volume control. You can also program the remote to control your television. Its pretty easy to use.

Unit Front Controls

From the front of the unit, you can select which DVD or CD you want played 1-5, otherwise it just plays them all in order. Of course the Power on/off switch is on the front. Basic play stop pause fast forward rewind functions are on the front. You may also open the unit with one button to replace all 5 discs, or press a play/exchange button which will keep the disc that is playing in play mode, while you change the other four discs. You may also use the input button to switch between the four possible sources (DVD, Aux/Tuner/TV). There is also a volume control, and for those of you who don’t want to disturb anyone, there is a mini headphone jack. You will have to buy your own headphones, the package doesn’t come with that.

Set Up Set up is pretty basic. Plug the Unit in, patch one big cord from the back of the unit to the subwoofer/amplifier, and hook the speakers up to speaker outputs on the back of the subwoofer/amplifier. Use the video out to your Monitor. You can use composite, S-Video or Component Video out. If you want to hook up your TV sound or another audio device hook it to the TV or Auxillary input.

Video Quality To be fair, I only have this hooked up to a 13 inch Sharp Video Monitor, but the image looks fine, details are clear and sharp, shadow detail is good. You can set the unit to display 4:3 or 16:9. I have my monitor hooked up using the component video cables.

sound Quality This is home theater in a boxes biggest problem. You can’t do everything and also sound fantastic. The unit is fine for listening at low to medium volumes. If on the other hand you are looking for a true home theater experience, you aren’t going to get it in a box, especially for under $500.00. This is an ideal unit for a bedroom or an office, where you are not going to turn it up loud. I use mine at my office so I can listen to music or directors commentary on movies while I work. It is ideally suited for that. If you turn it up loud, the systems weakness becomes quickly noticable, it just doesn’t sound good once you raise the volume up. If you want a true home theater that rocks your recreation room, you need to spend a lot more money. I am giving it four stars because I am rating it against other home theater in a box in the same price range. This unit I feel is above average, because it plays five DVDs, and it is very versatile. I liked that the speakers, although small, are not satellite speakers not capable of any musical reproduction. One thing I don’t like about it, is the lack of flexibility. If I wanted to use the versatile DVD unit with another better quality amplifier, there is no way to do that. The system has no audio outs to allow you to hook it to anything but its low fidelity amplifier in the subwoofer. I would have liked to keep the DVD unit and upgrade the amplifier later, but thats not possible. However, in its price range, this is a decent home theater in a box.”

YHT-270 With Yamaha Subwoofer

Make your living room a surround sound haven with this 650W home theater system that features digital surround sound decoders to make your home entertainment system sound just like the movies.
Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 2 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 110 Watts
Subwoofer Power Output: 120 Watts
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
Audio DAC: 24 bit / 192 kHz
Receiver 
Rear Input Connectors: RCA (2 Audio Channels) x 2 · Digital Coaxial x 1 · Digital Optical x 2 · Composite (Video) x 4 · Component x 3
Front A/V Connections: Headphones x 1
Rear Output Connectors: Composite (Video) x 1 · Component x 1 · RCA (2 Audio Channels) x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 40

“After getting my plasma TV and realizing how average sounding the built-in stock speakers were, I thought that after spending that much money on picture, it was time for improving the sound.
After doing quite a bit of research online for around 2-3 weeks, I saw that one of the most praised brands in home theater in a box systems is Yamaha. The top spot for the best home theater system is held by Onkyo.
So I made up my mind, set up a budget (no more than $350), and decided to go shopping for one.
The Yamaha caught my attention right away, because of it’s display. I saw it on the store, and its front, yellow/orange LCD display seemed to be very intuitive.
Another plus was the fact that the speakers (2 front speakers, a center channel, 2 back-surround and a subwoofer) seemed to be of good quality and well constructed. The wires were also not fixed, so if I wanted to upgrade to better speaker wire, I could later.
Also, I wanted a powered subwoofer (something that a rivaling Sony lacked), and around 100-200W was more than sufficient for my needs.
This systems supports Dolby ProLogic/ProLogic II (decodes 5 audio channels from a standard digital 2 channel signal), Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS surround modes. It also boasts an internal digital signal processor called CinemaDSP, which allows different aural effects, like “Movie Spacious”, “Movie Dramatic” (gives you the effect of you being in a much bigger room), “Entertainment Sports”, “Entertainment Games” “The Roxy Theater Hall” (the sound reverberates and echos like in a music hall), etc.
I really like to listen to my TV programs in the pure Dolby Digital mode. Sports and music digital cable channels will require you to adjust to a different DSP mode, so you have the sound from the front channels, coming out of all three. Simple, just adjust the DSP mode to “Sports” or “PLII Movie” and you can hear the difference!

It also has 2 built in fiber optic digital audio connections, as well as a coaxial mode. This means, if you have a Comcast HDTV cable box or a satellite box that supports Dolby surround digital output, you MUST get a fiber optic connection from it, to the Yamaha receiver to fully enjoy digital surround sound. It surely is a world of a difference from standard 2 channel stereo.
After 3 months of listening to this home theater, I think that the 100W center channel speaker sounds a little hollow and lacks treble on mid to higher volumes, so you might want to upgrade to a better center speaker later. The center speaker is where all of the dialog comes out, so it will be the hardest working speaker of them all.
Having 2 optical inputs also allows you to hook up a DVD player, as well as the cable box!
The subwoofer’s power (120W) is more than adequate for a medium to small room, although you might want to spend some time calibrating the unit’s volume and the bass level from the receiver unit, if you crank it up too much, the bass will sound muddy. Also, make sure that you put the rubber feet on the unit, so that it doesn’t vibrate or rattle against your floor.
Consider placing the rear surround speakers close to you (you might want to invest in some speaker stands), and position them at slightly above ear level, and angled towards your seating position. Small adjustments really make a difference, especially for the rear surrounds.
As for the front speakers, they should also be at ear level and slightly separated from the center channel speaker.
One thing to consider, is that this Yamaha unit doesn’t have HDMI connections.
The remote is pretty easy to use, although navigating through some of the menus (for doing the basic setup, and speaker configuration) requires some time getting used to it, as you might get confused as to what arrows in the remote change the options and which other arrows continue navigating through the menus.”

YHT-185 System With 5 Yamaha Speaker Boxes

The Yamaha YHT185 is a complete home theater system with a 5.1-channel receiver, a voice-matched speaker system (with four main speakers and a center speaker), and a powered subwoofer. The receiver features five-channel discrete amplification (110 watts x 5) to provide the cleanest sound possible on all channels, along with decoding for DTS, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Pro Logic II sound. The unit’s 32-bit Cinema DSP processing projects three sound fields: a presence field in the front and two surround-sound fields in the left and right rear for powerful, realistic 3-D sound-scapes. In addition, the device includes Silent Cinema, a variation of Cinema DSP technology that allows you to listen to movies and other multichannel sources using stereo headphones. Its total of 21 Cinema-DSP surround modes gives you the versatility to find a sound mode for every media type.
HTR-5930 AV Receiver:

PAL/NTSC/Secam Signal Compatibility
9 step or 10 step tuning for USA, Europe, Asia, USA and all other countries.
AM/FM Radio tuner
5.1-channel, total 650W powerful surround sound (Max)
High 60W x 5 (RMS) power (110W x 5 Max)
6-channel external decoder input for enjoying DVD-Audio/Super Audio CD
Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II Compatibility
Quad-Field CINEMA DSP for enjoying formats such as Dolby Digital EX and DTS ES Matrix 6.1 in Phantom mode
21 surround programs with SILENT CINEMA and Night Listening mode
Inputs for RCA, Coaxial, Optical
Outputs for RCA
192kHz/24-bit D/A converters for all channels
2-way speaker drivers for high power input capacity
Advanced-YST subwoofer for powerful bass response
Fixed and assignable terminals
Preset remote control unit
Speaker A or B selection
HDTV compatible 3 component video input terminals (fixed and assignable)
3 digital input (2 optical/1 coaxial) terminals
Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II decoding
7 DSP programmes :4 CINEMA DSP and 3 HiFi DSP
Night Listening mode and SILENT CINEMA
6-speaker package for full enjoyment of movies in 5.1-channel formats
Package includes front L/R speakers, surround L/R speakers, center
speaker and Advanced YST subwoofer
Dimension: 431 x 151 x 315 mm (WxHxD)
Weight: 9 kg
Switches between 110-240 volts 50-60 hertz
NSP-270 5.1 Channel Speaker System:
Includes 6 speakers (Main Left/Right and Rear Left/Right/Centre) and Centre Speakers plus Subwoofer for full enjoyment of movies in 5.1-channel formats
Compact, Complete Digital Home Cinema 5.1-Channel Speaker Package.
A Very Convenient and Affordable Way to Begin Enjoying the Thrilling Experience of Multi-Channel Movie Sound.
Advanced YST external powered subwoofer for powerful bass response
Dual 5cm (2”) full-range drivers for high sound quality (4 satellites and centre)
Flexible placement
Magnetic shielding allows placement near a TV
Subwoofer:
- 16 cm Multi-range Driver
- Advanced YST for Powerful Bass Response
- Output Power (RMS): 55 W (5 ohms)
Satellites:
- Acoustic Suspension Design
- 5 cm Full-Range Drivers
- Impedance: 6 ohms
- Input Power (Max/Nominal): 100 W/30 W
- Sensitivity 86 dB / 2.83 V/m
Centre Speaker:
- Acoustic Suspension Design
- Dual 5 cm Full-Range Drivers
- Impedance: 6 ohms
- Input Power (Max/Nominal): 100 W/30 W
- Sensitivity 86 dB / 2.83 V/m
System Frequency Response: 30–25,000 Hz
Dimensions (W x H x D):
Satellite: 72 x 164 x 111 mm
Centre: 300 x 72 x 110 mm
Subwoofer: 200 x 365 x 375 mm
Weight
Satellite: 0.9 kg (each)
Centre: 1.1 kg
Subwoofer: 8.5 kg
Switches between 110-240 volts 50-60 hertz

“I purchased this HTiB, 3 months ago. The setup was easy, if you are able to read simple instructions. The sound was incredible, once I added a Powered subwoofer to it. The one that comes with it doesn’t do much, the head unit allows me to hook up everything I need, CD, TAPE, DVD, etc. with absolute ease.
Frankly, I did not expect much from this due to the price, but thus far it is out-performing much higher priced units. I looked at the Sony in the same price range, but decided Yamaha’s sound was crisp, clear, and warmer than the flat sounding Sony unit. This is a must have for the first time buyer for a HTiB, or a seasoned one, looking for a simple setup. My wife wanted a smaller “looking” speaker setup. So I went from a high end Onkyo head unit, and 4 floor standing speakers. Now I have a ton of extra room, since those speakers are gone, the new ones blend right in to the decor, and are very unobtrusive. Yamaha is a name that has been in the audio business for decades, and even this inexpensive package proves their ability to succeed where others fall flat, or cannot even go!”

YHT-960

Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player
Main Speakers Power Output: 105
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · SVCD · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 130 Watts
Playable File Formats: DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II · DTS Neo:6 · DTS 96/24
Audio DAC: 24 bit / 192 kHz
DVD 
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan

“You really get a bang for your buck with the 960, this unit looks as good as it sounds, great for a med size room, we have the speakers mounted on the wall and they look and sound great, the sub is also very good, tight not bommy…good buy!”

DVRS150PN

This is the home theater system you’ve been waiting for! Impressive performance from beautifully slim, stylish components. Yamaha have really thrown it all into one with the DVRS150PN. It plays DVD, DVD-R, DVD+R, MP3, Audio CD, VCD and SVCD among others. It’ll decode, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Pro Logic II, DTS, DTS-ES and Dolby Digital EX. In built tuner with RDS, component video out among many other fine features.
Code Free playback of all DVD movies from region 0,1,2,3,4,5,6, etc including RCE/REA movies
Wide disc compatibility: DVD-Video, DVD+RW/+R, DVD-R/RW, Audio CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, VCD, SVCD, JPEG, Kodak Picture CD
Lifetime All region guarantee
Wide Disc Compatibility: DVD-Video, DVD+RW/+R, DVD-R/RW, Audio CD, CD-R/RW, VCD, SVCD, MP3 and JPEG
Plays Audio CDs also
This player does not need a multi-system TV or a external video converter.
Built-in 12MB video converter allows playback of and DVD on any TV! Play PAL movies on a NTSC TV or play NTSC movies on a PAL TV. Basically this DVD player will play any DVD movie on an any TV without any extra equipment!
YPAO – one-touch speaker balancing
YPAO gives you one-touch speaker balancing in only three minutes for ideal sound Yamaha’s unique YPAO system analyzes the acoustics of the room and adjusts various speaker parameters to provide the optimum sound at the listening position. It’s like having a professional audio engineer tweak your system.
CINEMA DSP selection made easy
The DVX-S150 features CINEMA DSP – Yamaha’s superior surround sound technology. Nineteen surround programs are available to match a wide variety of sources. To make it easier than ever to select the four most popular programs — Movie, Music, Sports and Game — the DVX-S150 remote control has four DSP icon buttons right on the bottom. Just touch the button and that mode is instantly selected — you’ll hear the sound field change as the mode is engaged.
55W x 5 Yamaha original digital amplifier
The DVX-S150 incorporates an extremely powerful and sophisticated amplifier. Power is 55W to five channels, plus 100W from the subwoofer amp, which is as powerful as many high-end home theatre systems. Because the amplifier has an advanced digital design, it’s highly efficient, so it can be made much smaller while still delivering high power output with very low distortion.
Progressive Scanning DVD player
Progressive scanning delivers twice the number of scanning lines compared the usual interlaced method. This provides higher resolution for a smoother, film-like image with a high definition TV or a large screen. The DVX-S150 offers progressive scanning of NTSC signals.
100W Advanced YST Subwoofer
Yamaha’s patented Advanced Active Servo Technology (Advanced YST) generates incredible bass from small speaker enclosures. Advanced YST is the ideal method of combining amplifiers and speakers for maximum performance. This system’s advanced negative impedance converters intelligently adjust the negative impedance generation as the speaker moves, creating a hard, rigid cone that prevents deep resonant waves from leaking out of the speaker cone. This means the full power of the waves is forced out through the air port, resulting in clear, powerful bass.
Yamaha’s Exclusive YSS-948 32-Bit Floating Point Quantization LSI 
The decoding circuitry performs Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II decoding with extreme accuracy. Two special programs (Dolby Digital Matrix 6.1 and DTSES Matrix 6.1) allow the decoding of 6.1- channel movies (extra speakers not necessary).
Night Listening Mode for All Surround Programs
By engaging the Night Listening mode, you can reduce the volume and still enjoy proper tonal balance and dynamic range. You hear
dialogue clearly and the music and action are just as exciting.
Color coded speaker wire included for all speakers. Single page easy to understand set up instructions
Powerful 32-bit Yamaha LSI (YSS-938) for CINEMA DSP processing
19 surround programmers with SILENT CINEMA and Night Listening mode
Compatibility with Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II
Quad-Field CINEMA DSP for enjoying formats such as Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 in Phantom mode
55W x 5 Digital Amplifier
Progressive Scan DVD player
192kHz/24-bit D/A conversion
Powerful 100W Advanced YST subwoofer
Component video output terminal
40-station FM/AM preset tuner with RDS
New remote control with 4 DSP programme buttons
5.1-Channel DVD receiver
DSP direct selection by Icons
Compatible with Dolby Digital Matrix 6.1, DTS ES Matrix 6.1 and Dolby Pro Logic II
Amplifier Section
Max. Power (6 ohms, 1 kHz, 10% THD) 55W x 5
Min. RMS Power (6 ohms, 1 kHz, 1% THD) 45W x 5
Total Harmonic Distortion (Front L/R) 0.05%
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (IHF-A-Network) 95 Db
Video Section
Composite Video/S-Video Signal Level 1 Vp-p/75 ohms
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 50 dB
DVD Player Section
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 102 dB
Harmonic Distortion+Noise 0.008%
Frequency Response
CD-DA/Video CD 10—20,000 Hz
DVD 48kHz Sampling 10—22,000 Hz
Tuner Section: Preset Stations 40 (AM/FM random)
General Standby Power Consumption Less than 0.4 W
Dimensions (W x H x D) 360 x 75 x 360 mm
Weight 6 kg
Speakers:

Compact, Complete Digital Home Cinema 5.1-Channel Speaker Package.
A Very Convenient and Affordable Way to Begin Enjoying the Thrilling Experience of Multi-Channel Movie Sound.
Ideal combination for 5.1-channel movie sound formats
6-speaker package consisting of 4 satellite speakers (main L/R and rear L/R/C), centre speaker and subwoofer
Excellent sound quality and smart, compact design
Advanced YST subwoofer for powerful bass response
Dual 5cm (2”) full-range drivers for high sound quality (4 satellites and centre)
Flexible placement
Magnetic shielding allows placement near a TV
NS-P120 (Speaker Section)
System Frequency Response 30–25,000 Hz
Magnetic Shielding All speakers
Satellite Speakers (x 4) and Centre Speaker
Type Full-range acoustic suspension
Magnetic Shielding
Driver 5cm cone full-range driver
Input Power (Max/Nominal) 100 W/30 W
Sensitivity 86 dB/2.83 V1 m
Impedance 6 ohms
System Frequency Response 30 Hz-25 kHz-
[4 Satellites] Dimensions (W x H x D) 72 x 170 x 108 mm; 213/16” x 611/16” x 41/4”
Weight 0.9 kg; 2 lbs.
[Center Speaker] Dimensions (W x H x D) 300 x 72 x 105 mm; 1113/16” x 213/16” x 41/8”
Weight 1.1 kg; 2.4 lbs.
[Subwoofer] Dimensions (W x H x D 200 x 365 x 375 mm; 77/8” x 159/16” x 123/16”
Weight 8.4 kg18.5 lbs.
Output Power (RMS) 55 W (100 Hz, 5 ohms, 10% THD)
Driver 16cm cone multi-range driver
Dimensions (W x H x D) 360 x 80 x 360 mm; 143/16” x 215/16” x 143/16”
Weight 6 kg; 13.2 lbs
Power Requirement: Maximum Power (front/center/surround + subwoofer): 55 W x 5 + 100 W
220-240 V 50/60 Hz

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Yamaha Home Theater Systems

Technorati Tags: yamaha home theater systems, yamaha speakers, yamaha subwoofer

This page contains information on wharfdale speaker sytems.  To view other brands like Sharp Home Theater and Samsung Home Theater Systems use the menu on the right side of this page.

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Wharfedale Speakers

Wharfedale Diamond 8.1 Main Wharfedale Speaker

Speakers Function  Main / Stereo 
Nominal Power  120 Watt RMS 
Connectivity   Cable 
Technical Features
Frequency Reponse  55 Hz – 20000 kHz 
Sensitivity  86 dB 
Impedance  6 ohm 
Components
Woofer Material   Kevlar 
Woofer Size  5″ 
Tweeter Size  0.98″ 
Design
Outdoor/Indoor   Indoor 
Mounting  Floorstanding 
Dimensions
Width  7.8 in. 
Depth  7.13 in. 
Height  11.65 in. 

“I had read many things about these speakers, most positive and some negative, so I was very interested when I found them for sale on an auction site for less than $100/pair (factory refurbished). I wasn’t able to find any store locally to hear them first, but for that price, I was willing to take a chance. Having owned them for 2 months now, I can safely say that I am amazed by the sound and build quality for less than $100/pair.
The speakers are constructed of a particle board w/ veneer, but the fit and finish of the speakers is really great….for the price. I saw and heard a few other speakers in the $100 – $200 range (Soundworks, Polks) and a few that were $300 – $400 range, but the sound quality wasn’t that different to warrant 2 – 3 times the price.
The tweeter is the same 1 inch, silk-dome ferrofluid one found on more expensive Wharfedale models and it gives clean crisp highs (I’m hearing different types of cymbals on CD’s that I never had heard before).
The woofer/midrange is constructed from kevlar and reproduces light base very well (I have these speakers set up with a subwoofer and would suggest the same to anyone considering bookshelf sized speakers).
I have the Wharfedale’s hooked up to a new Panasonic SA-XR50 digital tuner, which could account for some of the sound quality, but I also tried them with a 55w mini system and they still offered a much more detailed sound than my older speakers.
In conclusion, I have to say that they are a great bargain at less than $130, which is the current price point for a brand new pair. They sound as good as many speakers costing more than double that. I am a novice audiophile and they suit me nicely. True audiophiles probably have a more discerning ear, but they probably devote more of their income to their gear too. Krix, Atoms, and Paradigms are exceptional speakers, but they cost more than I would ever budget for my system. To each his/her own.
I will gladly fork over another “less than $100″ for another pair when I find them again.”

Wharfedale Subwoofer WH-2 Center Speaker

Speakers Function  Center 
Nominal Power  120 Watt RMS 
Construction   2-Way 
Connectivity   Cable 
Technical Features
Frequency Reponse  80 Hz – 20000 kHz 
Sensitivity  89 dB 
Impedance  8 ohm 
Magnetic Shielding   Magnetically Shielded 
Components
Woofer Material   Polymer Composite 
Woofer Size  4″ 
Tweeter Size  1″ 
Design
Exterior Color   Black 
Dimensions
Width  16.5 in. 
Depth  6 in. 
Height  5 in. 

“I do not claim to be a speaker expert. However, these little speakers by Wharfedale sure are great for rear channel speakers (as I am using them). They were also one of the few options given to me by a sterio expert due to the fact that my entertainment center is in the top story of my house and the side walls are angeling inward. Therefore, the diffuse design of these provides a very forgiving speaker in a well below optimal setting.

Design
——
Taking these speakers out of the box, I noticed how well made they are. They are encased in a solid wood box which seems very sturdy with low resonance. The posts on the back of the speaker have nice useable thumb screws which effectively grip the speaker wires with no fear of them jarring loose. Also included on the back of the unit is a sturdy mounting bracket which looks overbuilt for the size and weight of the speaker. Also, the finish quality of the speaker is tremendious for the price.

The overall design of this speaker is somewhat unusual. These are bidirectional units. In other words, there are actually two 4″ bass-mid woofers and two 1″ tweeters per unit. (One woofer and one tweeter per side). The sides of the unit are angled at around 45 degrees apart, which means that these speakers actually diffuse sound. Not necessarly optimal for many rooms, but for my unusual circumstance, these work perfectly.

Sound Quality
————-
Using my current setup (Denon Receiver, Wharfedale Powercube 12, Wharfedale Diamond 8.3 fronts and a WH2 Center channel), these speakers sound suprisingly good. I was a bit concerned at first with the bipolar design, but it has actually proved to be ideal for the slightly unusual mounting angle talked about earlier. Playing CD and DVD quality sound is crisp and clear, though sometimes the high range is a little sharp for my tastes. (A little tuning of my receiver has eliminated some of this problem)

While these may not stack up to some of the higher end surround speakers, for the price, they are unbeatable.

Overall
——-
I would be a liar if I said that I wasn’t impressed with these speakers. While I have friends with better surround speakers, (and even trying some of them) I found that these speakers are about the only thing that sounds good in my odd shaped room. (An un-named very high-end speaker sounded horrible with the angled walls).”

Wharfedale Diamond Anniversary Main / Stereo Speaker

Speakers Function  Main / Stereo 
Nominal Power  100 Watt RMS 
Construction   2-Way 
Connectivity   Cable 
Technical Features
Peak Power Handling  175 Watt 
Frequency Reponse  40 Hz – 20000 kHz 
Sensitivity  89 dB 
Impedance  8 ohm 
Magnetic Shielding   Magnetically Shielded 
Bi-amping   With Bi-amping 
Components
Woofer Material   Fiber 
Woofer Size  5.12″ 
Tweeter Size  1″ 
Design
Outdoor/Indoor   Indoor 
Mounting  Bookshelf 
Terminal   Binding Post 
Cabinet Finish   Wooden 
Dimensions
Width  7.6 in. 
Depth  9.5 in. 
Height  11.8 in. 
Weight  11.6 lb.

“I should start out by say that I am a huge fan of Wharfedale loudspeakers. Ever since I first head a set of the Legendary E90s, I have been convinced Wharfedale produces the best loudspeaker for the money. There are certainly better, but not for the price. My first experience with Wharfedale’s Diamond loudspeaker range began with the Diamond 6R, followed by the Diamond 7.2, and then, the subject of this review, the Diamond 7.2 Anniversary Limited Edition.

The Good

The Diamond 7.2 Anniversary Limited Edition (from here on Diamond 7.2ALE) is the upgraded version of the very good Diamond 7.2. Improvements over the standard Diamond 7.2 are an enhanced bass driver, improved crossover, and facilities for bi-wiring/bi-amping. Additionally the Diamond 7.2ALE was available in a choice of real wood veneers (the standard version was available only in a simulated black-ash vinyl veneer). Being involved in professional audio for some years, I know what the benefits of bi-amping are. You can use a heftier amp for the bass driver, and cleaner one for treble. With speakers rated for 100 watts, you obviously do not need a QSC PLX3402 for bass and a Peavey CS-400 for treble, but the same benefits can be applied. The standard Diamond 7.2 was noted for its incredible bass response from a driver no larger than a CD. With a lower rated frequency response of 40Hz, it dipped down into 12 and 15-inch woofer range. The Diamond 7.2ALE does not necessarily go lower, but it produces the lower octaves with more gusto than its standard counterpart. The treble of the standard Diamond 7.2 was regarded as fairly warm sounding, especially so with tube amps. The Diamond 7.2ALE has a bit more forward sound with a little more edge to the treble, but not too much, as to make it sound harsh. With classical music, these truly display their gem-like qualities. Higher pitched stringed instruments and woodwinds sound clear, clean, and uncluttered. Instruments in the lower registers are clearly defined and do not disappear in to a “bass soup” as they often do with lower quality speakers of similar price or size. On rock or pop music, the limitations of being a smaller loudspeaker come more in to play. With classic rock the Diamond 7.2ALE performs more than admirably, managing to outperform loudspeakers many times its size. But on newer pop recordings, the bass driver can easily reach its maximum excursion, resulting in a dreadful “snap” sound. Kept within reasonable listening levels, they can perform well on all types of music.

The Bad
As good of a loudspeaker as they are, the Diamond 7.2ALE still has certain caveats. Most notably is how fragile they are. The original Diamond 7 range was plagued by the plastic (what Wharfedale termed “Audio Stealth”) baffles breaking where the screws holding them together went in to the back of the front baffle. Often this manifested as a rattling sound when playing musical pieces with lots of mid-bass sound. This was often misdiagnosed as a bad woofer, although it was actually the baffle. Wharfedale seemed to improve the material, but I occasionally find I have to tighten the screws holding the baffles together. Another point worthy of nit picking is the material used for the rest of the cabinet. Most other loudspeakers that otherwise have this much design consideration use high-quality MDF for the cabinet. The standard Diamond 7.2, along with the Diamond 7.2ALE, use cheaper particleboard. More nitpicks include the wider than necessary spacing of the speaker terminals (they are too wide to use dual banana plugs), and the fragile grilles (which I do not use anyway).

The Ugly
This is a well designed, if not fragile, loudspeaker. Nothing on it is so bad that I would call it ugly.

One Sentence Summary
Go out and get a set… Now!”

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Wharfedale Speakers

Technorati Tags: wharfedale diamond, wharfedale speakers, wharfedale subwoofer

This page contains information on toshiba home theater sytems. To view other brands such as Samsung Home Theater Systems and Pioneer Home Theater  use the menu on the right side of this page.

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Toshiba Home Theater System

Toshiba Home Theater SD-43HT

Toshiba’s model SD-43HT is a slim design, integrated DVD and receiver unit with Digital Cinema Progressive Scan, multi-channel amplification, packaged with five satellite speakers and an 8″ subwoofer.
Key Features 
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · SVCD · DVD-R · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Playable File Formats: MP3
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan

“I am satisfied Toshiba customer. I bought my first DVD player (a Toshiba SD-1200) in March 2000, and it’s worked perfectly to this day. So when I felt it was time to upgrade to surround sound, it’s no surprise that, after comparing prices and features of competing brands, I decided on the Toshiba SD-43HT. If you’re like me, and you want to take advantage of Dolby 5.1 and DTS tracks on DVDs without spending thousands of dollars on equipment, this entry-level system is a great value at under $300.
The color coded wires make it easy to set up right out of the box. The wires are 18 gauge and 50′ in length for the rear speakers, 25′ (I think) for the front. You may want to upgrade to a lower gauge and replace these generic wires when you can. However, the wire connecting the subwoofer is permanently soldered on–and is extremely difficult to untie when first setting up the system. Toshiba should have really used twist-ties when packaging this system!
Some home theaters offer 60 or even 70 watts/speaker of power, but I think these 50 watts speakers provide plenty of volume for even a larger sized room. The experienced audiophile may balk at the quality of the sound, but for the typical listener, this system is more than sufficient. Listening to the DTS mix on my Hero DVD is an amazing experience. You’ll never be able to watch a movie without surround again. Advanced users may also like to tweak controls like the midi/bass/treble controls, but there are none to be found on this system, only levels and delays.
The Toshiba SD-43HT offers stunning video quality. I have an older television, so I can’t comment on the SD-43HT’s progressive scan, but I’m sure it’s even *more* stunning. The unit has composite video, s-video, and component outs. I’ve never encountered layer changes on DVDs where I know layer changes to occur, such as in the LOTR Two Towers extended edition. As for features, the player fast forwards in 2x, 4x, 8x and 32x. It has a zoom capability of 1.5x, 2x and 3x. There’s JPEG slideshow and mp3 playback, and AM/FM radio, all which I’ve never used. I did burn a 67 minute mpeg file as a VCD, using Nero, onto an Imation CD-RW and it played fine.
Finally, if appearances are important, this unit is pretty stylish looking. The player/receiver is slim, and the speakers and subwoofer don’t look cheap and bulky like some brands. It’s silver and gray so it looks nice against white and black surroundings.
Now, for some negatives: There is no audio out, which makes dubbing (Macrovision-less) DVDs impossible. But more importantly, you can’t take the player to a friend’s house, connecting with a regular composite A/V cable, and leave the speakers at home. Also, the system offers only a digital optical input. This is compatible with the Playstation 2 and XBox, but a lot of digital cable boxes are coaxial digital (they have orange plugs that say SPDIF) and if your cable box is like mine, you’ll need to be buy a digital optical cable, a coaxial digital cable, and a coaxial digital to digital optical converter — about $40-50 in all.
It takes almost ten seconds for the DVD tray to open. My old Toshiba SD-1200 opened in two seconds. You will be standing in front of your player, holding a DVD, tapping your foot, and saying ‘Open, already!’ Another minor problem: the SD-1200 would give the title elapsed, title remaining, chapter elapsed and chapter remaining all with one press of the DISPLAY button. The Toshiba people were clearly trying to minimize the text on screen, but it’s annoying to have to click the REMAIN button and cycle through all the time options. It also ‘pops’ the audio when it goes from one option to the next.
Most surprisingly, this system can be made region-free with a simple hack. Turn the player on without a disc. Press ‘Enter’ on the remote, then ’8-4-2-6-9,’ ‘Enter’ again, and the player should turn off automatically. (If for some reason it doesn’t, try turning it off yourself.) The next time you turn the player on, it should be region free. If doesn’t, your player was manufactured differently. I tested using region 0, 1, 2 and 4 DVDs, interchanging them, and they all work perfectly — no hiccups. The PAL colors look fine on my NTSC set. (If you have a PAL television, you can switch between NTSC and PAL output by pressing the Zoom button when the player’s off. So yes, you can use the Toshiba SD-43HT in other countries, although I’d be interested to know how you skirt the voltage issues.)”

“After getting a HDTV monitor for my home theater setup, my old 32 inch Toshiba TV/Monitor was sent to a basement room. I quickly found watching TV downstairs through the TV speakers unbearable.
I looked at several Home Theater in a Box systems, both with and without integrated DVD players. The Toshiba SD -43 HT was by far the best value for the price.
The system comes complete with Dolby 5.1 surround sound receiver, 6 speakers, remote control and color coded wires to connect all the speakers.
This is a compact unit, about 14 inches wide by 14.5 inches deep and only 3 inches high. It is not a high powered unit, but has enough power for a small or medium sized room.
In addition to Dolby 5.1 channel decoding from DVDs, it also has Dolby pro-logic decoding for the auxiliary inputs with several selectable sound modes (cinema, pro logic, music, and matrix) as well as plain stereo.
It has one digital optical audio input and 2 analog audio inputs. It has one composite video output, one s-video output and one set of progressive scan component video outputs.
It has two composite video inputs, but their signal is only output through the composite video output.
There is also a connection for AM and FM antennas.
The sound is quite good for the price, but speaker placement and proper speaker level setting through the setup menu is essential.
The unit plays commercial DVDs as well as DVD+R and DVD+RW as well as CDs including CD-R discs containing MP3 or Windows Media Audio music files.”

Toshiba Home Theater System SD-V55HT

All the picture and sound advantages of DVD, convenient recording and playback options of a VCR plus a full-featured home theater package including AV receiver and matching speakers.
Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 2 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 60 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · DVD-R · DVD-RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 100 Watts
Playable File Formats: MP3 · WMA
Remote Control: Universal
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
Audio DAC: 24 bit / 96 kHz
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
Inputs: Composite x 2 · Analog Audio x 2
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Component x 1 · Digital Audio Coaxial x 1 · Digital Audio Optical x 1 · RF x 1
OSD: Yes
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 30

“The Toshiba SD-V55HT DVD/VCR home theater system is everything you need for exciting home theater except for the TV. Loaded with 400 watts of total power, Dolby Digital, DTS, and Pro-logic II decoding gives the SD-V55HT the firepower to surround you in 5.1 surround no matter what you’re listening to (except MP3′s and WMA’s, more on this later).
The DVD side of this system plays DVD’s, DVD-R/RW, CD, MP3/WMA CD’s, CD-R/RW, and VCD’s. The VCR side features a 4-head Hi-Fi design with quasi-SVHS playback (can play recorded S-VHS cassettes with VHS resolution). It also includes an AM/FM tuner with 50 station presets with station naming (it even includes an on-screen guide for radio staion selection, naming, and presets.
Up and running, the first thing you notice is the surprisingly good sound quality. Toshiba uses REAL dome tweeters in the satellite speakers which make the highs sound natural and really helps imaging in stereo or multi-channel mode (most HTiB systems use “fake piezo” tweeters or none at all). The mids from the 3 1/2″ speakers in the satellites are clean, articulate, and open sounding while the 7″ subwoofer pounds away with plenty of deep bass without sounding too boomy. The amplifier distributes 60 watts to each of the five satellites and 100 watts to the sub. In my medium size apartment living room, it delivers MORE than enough sound to make my neighbors complain.
The DVD side is typical which means great audio and video quality. The VCR side, though dated, seems of high quality with great looking VHS images and the Pro-logic II helps the tapes sound ALMOST as good as Dolby Digital. Bad news, the unit plays MP3′s and WMA’s but only in stereo, the surround processing cannot be applied to these discs. But, the good news is that this unit sounds so good in stereo, it’s not as much of an issue as it could be with a lower quality system.
You can even connect up to two audio/video components to this system and it even has an optical input for a video game or digital television. The speaker wires have proprietary phone jack type connectors that are designed to be used with this system so upgrading the speaker wire is not possible. At the other end of the wires is tinned bare wire so upgrading the speakers is a possibility but everything else is “built-in”. But, that’s the point of the HTiB: everything you need in one box without having to buy extra components. This is one of the best home theater system products and its highly recommended.”

“When I wanted to upgrade the sound on my antiquated Sanyo mono TV, I decided on this HT system from Toshiba. It has the added bonuses of a very good DVD player, and a good VHS recorder/player.
For the money the sound from this system still blows me away. It has good power, fairly accurate sound reproduction, and five sound mode choices.
If you want to spend $1000 for great home theater sound, do so by all means. But, if money is an object, consider this system.”

Toshiba DVDHTS1 Theater System

This affordable debranded Toshiba 5.1 home theater package can transform your room into a fun entertainment zone! The DVDHTS1 is an All-in-One combination of a 720p/1080i Video Up-Conversion 5 Disc DVD Changer/Receiver and an Acoustically matched speaker system.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · SVCD · DVD-R · DVD-RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Playable File Formats: MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Universal
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 720p (750p) · 1080i (1125i)
Inputs: Composite x 1 · Analog Audio x 1 · Digital Audio (Optical) x 1 · Digital Audio (Coaxial) x 1
Front Panel: Composite Input · Audio Input · Headphone Jack
Outputs: S-Video x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM

No Reviews For This Model Yet

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Toshiba Home Theater

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Sharp Home Theater Systems

Sharp Home Theater SD-PX2

The new SD-PX2 integrates five 35-watt 1-Bit amplifiers and the SACD/DVD-A compatible disc mechanism into a single slender

chassis The DVD/CD disc mechanism uses a polished door that slides to the right to expose the disc bay then returns to seal

the mechanism against dust A Plexiglas side panel and blue LED complements the sleek anodized chassis and identifies the

burnished side-mounted controls A large rotary volume control rounds out this unique design.
Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · CD (Audio)
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
DVD 
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Component x 1

“I begin this review with a confession – I am not a whiz with technology. Two of my brothers are, so I haven’t had the need to apply myself in this area. When my Dell XPS 200 computer software tried to do a melt-down upon installation, I called them. They, in turn, call me when they need advice on indolence and sloth – subjects worthy of my experience.

The reasons why
My decision to purchase the Sharp SD-PX2 started with the search for a dependable DVD player. Nothing fancy, just so it doesn’t skip like my RCA, and hum like my Sanyo. A player I can work like a rented mule through the winter when the lawn and all the other warm-weather distractions aren’t keeping me from my purpose in life. Last month I purchased a Sony DVP-NS75H DVD player with progressive scan – beautiful picture, great sound, but when I press “enter”, or “stop” on the remote, it shuts off the TV. I’m told there’s a one-in-a-thousand chance of this happening, which would make me feel better if they could also tell me the solution. I gave the Sony to my brother, who has a Sony TV that should be more compatible (one of the benefits of co-dependency).
I’ve owned several Sharp products over the years; TV’s, calculators, and microwave ovens, none of which have ever needed repair. A general search initially identified this unit as a mini stereo system, which is half right. This unit incorporates a progressive-scan DVD player, and a whole lot of other features as well.

The big reason why
The Sharp SD-PX2 has a list price of $599.00. Always the bargain hunter, a trip to Overstock.com has it listed for $196.95 – and a dollar to ship. This I can live with. A short on-line chat with a very professional representative confirms that this is a new, factory-sealed item. I have seen reconditioned ones for sale, so be sure you know what you’re buying.

The delivery
The unit comes well-packed from the factory. Items included are a remote control, Two AA batteries, a video cable (component video cables, s-video cable, audio cables, and speakers are not included), AM antenna, FM antenna, and an L shaped bracket that enables you to wall-mount your home theater next to your giant flat-screen TV.

What it is
A trip to the Sharp website shows the SD-PX2 to be their entry-level offering in a range of very impressive home theater components. The features include 5 – 35 watt 1 – Bit amplifiers offering 5.1 Channel Surround Sound, SACD/DVD-A playback, Dolby* Digital and DTS* Decoders, and Dolby Pro Logic II* technology. It also serves as an AM/FM tuner. The unit, which measures 14 1/2 inches wide x 9 1/2 inches tall x 4 1/2 inches deep, looks like a small billboard when set on its four cushioned rubber feet. When activated, a small front panel slides to the right, revealing the hub where the CD/DVD presses into place with a secure click. There is a vertical clear plastic panel on the right side with writing that identifies the various function buttons. The panel glows cobalt blue when the power is on, and dims when the DVD player is activated. A large silver knob that controls the volume is located between the display and the panel. There is also a clock and sleep timer.
The display is on the right front of the unit, and shows information typical of a standard DVD/CD player. In addition, it identifies the sound option of the installed DVD, and which of the five speakers are currently active. Setting it up is no more difficult than a standard DVD player.

What it does
The DVD player produces a clear picture of acceptable quality. However, there is an on-screen menu that controls a boatload of functions, including activating progressive-scan. Once this is accomplished, the picture is comparable to the Sony player previously mentioned – excellent quality, clear and flicker-free. This was my main concern – anything else it does is a bonus. There are also menu options to adjust picture clarity. The types of playable discs are (for NTSC system): DVD video disc, DVD audio disc, DVD-R, and DVD-RW. Playable audio: CD, CD-R, CD-RW, or CD-R and CD-RW recorded in MP3 format.
Until I find the right set of speakers, my Quart model 22 (4 Ohm, 80 watt) bookshelf pair is standing in. I installed my Holly Cole “Dark Dear Heart” CD, which I’ve heard enough to detect any differences this time around. And there is a big difference. There are things going on that I’ve never heard before – all of them good. This unit has a sampling speed of 5.6 MHz – 128 times faster than your standard CD player. A volume setting of 30 (0-40) produces as much volume as you need for an average room.
Among the standard assortment of connections are: Optical Digital audio input and output, S-Video, audio output, and component video output. A comprehensive list of technical specifications and details too numerous to mention here is readily available. Before you buy, go to Sharpusa.com and download the owner’s manual – it explains the features and functions with precise text and illustrations – I’ve been able to figure it out without having to call anyone for help.

Conclusions and opinions
As a CD player, the Sharp SD-PX2 is much better than anything I have previously owned, and I’ve owned some pretty high-end equipment. Getting a set of quality surround sound speakers in place can only improve the quality. The vertical configuration of the player is easy to adjust to if you have somewhat nimble fingers. The DVD picture is excellent when progressive-scan is on. I have a high-definition television that supports progressive-scan, so this review is based upon described equipment and conditions – results may vary.
Most of the DVD’s play with volume to spare, but a few (off-brands, mostly) are manufactured with inadequate volume settings, and don’t project well through the home theater. When this occurs, I compensate by adjusting the TV volume. If your taste in movies consists of the latest releases from reputable companies, this should not be a concern.

Reviewer Update (8/01/06)
If you attach 2 (4 ohm) speakers rather than 5 (4 ohm) surround speakers to the home theater, any unused speakers must be deactivated for proper audio performance. The manual is vague about this procedure, but I have figured it out.
Make all connections between TV, speakers and theater unit (attach speaker connections to FRONT L/R). With TV and theater unit on, and the theater home page (Sharp logo and design) on screen, switch the MODE button (on remote) to 2, and press the AMP SETUP/RANDOM button. An on-screen menu will appear with instructions to disable the unused speakers. This will resolve the volume issues mentioned above.
All things considered, this is truly an amazing component.”

“I found this item at an opportune time when my receiver and DVD player in my bedroom both quit working… + my bedroom TV is also a sharp flat panel (also reviewed), so how could I resist??
First off, out of the box the fit and finish is great… its really a sharp looking unit! Connections were a breeze allowing toslink, RCA and digital coax jacks to plug in your TV, VCR and an Aux.
Next comes sound and I was pleasantly surprised! My bedroom receiver was a Yamaha HTR-5730 at 100 watts/channel and this actually sounds more crisp and robust! I really don’t think it’s me imagining things… maybe it’s just a better match to my speakers (Polk Audio R30 fronts and R10 rears), but its better! There are also some options for TV, movie, music and standard for sound settings that seem pretty nicely matched to each category. The differences were noticeable and appreciated…
The DVD player works great with crisp picture and good, easily accessible standard features. Lastly the tuner pulls in most channels pretty strong. Compared to my other tuners, i’d say its about an 9 out of 10.
Lastly, the remote is actually pretty user friendly. It seems well thought out and is very straightforward. My only hang up is I can’t figure out how to preset radio stations yet and the pages describing that function are missing from the manual. Probably a printing error, but what pages were in the manual were very clear and gave step by step, button by button instruction.
I came across this unit on a “one day, one deal” site for $155 which I consider a steal for this package. If I were out to buy this on any given day, I would probably pay up to $250 given all the positives. I’m not sure how this would satisfy the audiophile who is looking for a living room home theater, but for the bedroom, this is ideal the best home theater system and I would buy it again in a  heartbeat!”

Sharp HT-X1 Theater System

The HT-X1 unit operates fully whether you lay it on its side, stand it vertically, or even hang it on the wall. With its

slender profile and small footprint, it gives you flexible set-up options and the freedom to fit in with your lifestyle.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Main Speakers Power Output: 50 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD-R · DVD-RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 50 Watts
Playable File Formats: MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Universal
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
Inputs: Analog Audio x 2 · Digital Audio (Optical) x 1
Front Panel: Headphone Jack
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Component x 2
Built-in TV Tuner: NTSC
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 40

“I received this as a gift so the cost I cannot help with. I can tell you that the unit packs a punch when it comes to surround sound.. Very clear quality and clean sound.. It can get loud too. If you like your movies loud! It has a very cool looking design. It can be used in the upright position as shown or laid flat. The upright position has to have some room to load the DVD or CD because it is a top load unit. Laying it flat takes care of that problem. But when laid flat you have a hard time seeing the display screen. Another feature I am having trouble with is getting the cable channels to run through it. In the guide it says that it is compatible with some Sharp Units only. Since I dont have a sharp TV I guess I will have to watch baseball games without my home theater unit”

Sharp Home Theater System SD-AT100

Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 6 Speakers and Subwoofer
Main Speakers Power Output: 25 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 25 Watts
Playable File Formats: MP3
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
DVD 
Inputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Analog Audio x 1 · Digital Audio (Optical) x 1
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Analog Audio x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM

“The Sharp SD-AT100 home theater package looks very impressive in design with a lot of features like, playing MP3 files from your recorded CDR discs. The disappointment for me was the total 150 watts of system power divided into six channels of 25 watt per channel. This isn’t bad for a $500 system but with a retail price of $1999 I think they are way over priced.

~~~ The Good ~~~
The Remote
Nice looking remote that has the buttons not often used hidden, all you do is slide the bottom panel open and there are the rest of the buttons.
This is a universal remote made to run most other devices and like most universal remotes, it may turn on the TV, work the channels and sound but it wouldn’t operate the Picture in Picture.
The Receiver
It looks nice with the brushed metal look. It has a built-in DVD player that can play your DVDs plus any CDs that you have including MP3 files from a recorded CDR disc.
The receiver is 17.8 inches wide by 6 inches high and 6 inches deep weighing in at 10.6 pounds.
This receiver has 1-bit digital sampling at 2.8MHz making it 64 times faster then a CD.
The receiver has Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS

~~~ The Bad ~~~
The Built-in DVD Player
The DVD player is very versatile and works great, I just don’t like one built in the receiver. I prefer to add on the DVD player of my choice.
It is also not a Progressive Scan DVD player which a lot of people with the new Big screen TVs want.
The Speakers
There are 5 satellite speakers, all are small in an oval shape with the center speaker lying sideways and the other four upright.
All five speakers have a 3.1 inch woofer and a 1.6 inch tweeter.
Now here is the down fall of the speakers, 25 watts of power each, I have more than that on my computer speakers.
The Subwoofer
What a joke on the big powerful subwoofer of 25 watts. The subwoofer has a 6.5 inch woofer in it.
Other Things They Missed
Today receivers carry all kinds of home theater and movie sound setups and they forgot them. The ones not on this receiver are, no Dolby Digital EX, no DTS ES, no THX Select and no THX Ultra. While these are not important to most people, I think for their price they should have went with it all.

~~~ Other Specifications ~~~
Digital Tuner AM/FM with 40 preset stations
Headphone Jack
My Friend!
I got a call last weekend from an old friend to come over and help hookup his new home theater sound system. Well he had a 60 inch Hitachi already, he just wanted to add the theater sound. Well guess what he bought, that is right this system.
Hooking it up was easy I was use to setting up systems like this. The system looks good and I really thought he done good until we started to use it.
The first thing I notice was the subwoofer had a boom, boom sound in it but not to what I am use to hearing. The satellite speakers did somewhat better with clear crisp sound but it also lacked enough volume power to really make it roar.
The use of the remote and receiver was pretty nice and easy to understand. The DVD player did play MP3 music without a hitch and the movies were crystal clear.
As far as the Dolby sound it did the job right and sounded good if only the subwoofer and speakers had more power to push the system.
After spending a day with him setting it up and using it, he decided to take it back. He wants a better system and asked me to come along to help in his selection.
Overall!
It is a nice system especially if it was priced under $1000. Sharp neglected the main thing to a high priced Home Theater System and that was power. The receiver should be pumping out about 100 watts per speaker and the speakers should be rated at about 125 to 150 watts each with a subwoofer of at least 150 watts.
All I can figure is that this is a big profit item for them and because it is way overpriced, I will not recommend the Sharp SD-AT100 Home Theater System.”

Sharp CD-DVD500 Theater System

Since the size & weight of this Home Theater Sound Dolby Digital DTS.Thanks. Brand new! 210 Watts of Home Theater Sound Dolby

Digital DTS With 210 watts of total system power, the Sharp CD-DVD500 is a five-speaker mini system ready to be your in-home

audio and theater machine! Offering an optical digital output for DTS compatibility and a built-in Dolby Digital decoder, the

CD-DVD500 offers the highest quality audio for your favorite music and movies. Features: 210 watts of total system power.

Three-disc DVD/CD changer. Full logic dual cassette decks. AM and FM tuner with 40 total presets. Full-function remote

control. DVD digital input. Built-in Dolby Digital decoder. Optical digital output for DTS compatibility. Video/AUX input.

Extra bass system. Equalizer with six modes pre-programmed. CD, random, repeat play. Auto timer, record, playback. Tape to

tape dubbing. Radio preset memory scan. Color fluorescent display. Built-in sleep timer.
Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers
Main Speakers Power Output: 210 Watts
Playable Disk Types: CD (Audio)
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital®
DVD 
Inputs: Composite x 1 · Component x 1
Outputs: Digital Audio Optical x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM

“THe sound quality is great. You can play DVDs with surround sound. Its easy to set up. Easy to operate. I am completely satisfied with it. Radio, DVD player, CD player, surround sound….. Why have 2 different items on your entertainment center”

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Sharp Home Theater

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Samsung Home Theater Systems

Samsung Home Theater System HT-Z310T

This Home Theater System eliminates the confusion associated with making a sound choice. With exceptional surround sound reproduction and 1080p high-definition upconversion, the Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater System will take your home theater experience to heights.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Wireless Speakers: Wireless Ready
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 1 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 166 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · DVD Audio · SACD · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 170 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG · WMV
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital · DTS · Dolby Pro Logic II
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 1080p (1125p)
Inputs: Digital Audio (Optical) x 1 · Aux 2 · USB
SCART Connectors: Output x 1
Outputs: Composite x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1 · Speaker
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: FM

“This is a great system for the $200 price tag. I’ve had the system for nearly a month, so can’t speak on reliability, but the sound that comes from this system is exceptional for the price tag. If you’re someone who likes to keep the mess of wires in your home entertainment system hidden, there is an optional wireless add-on pack you can purchase for an additional $100. The added iPod dock is limited in functionality, but overall gets the job done for someone who only requires basic use. If you are shopping for a surround system on a budget, I’d definitely recommend this system. It’s hard to find a surround system with this type of audio clarity for the $200 price tag.”

Samsung Home Theatre HT-X710T

With a compact, dual-layout chassis and a clean, modern design, the 2.1-channel is great addition to any home theater. Additionally, the HDMI-CEC and 1080p up conversion features optimize the viewing experience.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 2 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 1 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 133 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · DVD Audio · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 133 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital · DTS · Dolby Pro Logic II
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 1080p (1125p)
Inputs: Digital Audio (Optical) x 1 · USB
Front Panel: USB 1.1
Outputs: HDMI x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 15

“The HT-X710T is loaded with features and is every thing I expected when I purchased it.
First, it matches wonderfully with my TOC 46A750, comes with the receiver, two speakers and a subwoofer. The Samsung AnyNet functionality is pretty neat – so when you pop in a DVD, the TV turns on automatically. Although a bit frustrating, as this does the same thing if you put in a CD.
Second, this is LOADED with features – DVD player (which upscales to 1080p with HDMI cable), CD player, handles almost any type of format that is on disc, FM stereo, and Blue Tooth capabilities. The Blue Tooth is pretty wild, as once hooked up, I can stream audio files from my PC and listen to them through the speakers! Neat functionality unless you like burning numerous discs!!
Lastly, the sound is excellent! When watching a DVD, it is hard to remember that this is only a 2.1 system. I have the two speakers on the floor, the subwoofer next to them, and the sound is extraordinary at only 1/2 power! My living room is roughly 14 x 16 and I have cathederal ceilings. The sound just fills the room!!
Even though the system is only 400W, that is enough, trust me. The system is easy to use and I have not had any problem with it. I have four children and all of them can operate this unit with ease.
Cons – a few minor, but need to be noted…
1) to get the full use of this unit, it must be placed on it’s side – which is where the readout is. If placed like most other entertainment systems, it works just the same, but you cannot see the readout. To me, you need to see the readout so you know what the system is doing and what mode it is in. I have mine placed on it’s side, but it does take up considerably more room.
2) the subwoofer is massive…tough to find a space for it.
3) dust magnet – keep a swiffer handy.”

Samsung Theater System HT-X70

Imagine the allure of 1200 watts of audio power. Samsung’s elegant HT-X70Home Theater Audio System offers industry leading power, enhanced by Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic decoders. The full-featured unit offers the convenience of a 5-disc changer, as well as USB Host Play, which lets you plug and play your portable digital devices without loading software – all enhanced by progressive scan technology.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · DVD-R · DVD-RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Playable File Formats: DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital · DTS · Dolby Pro Logic II
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 1080i (1125i)
Inputs: Analog Audio x 1 · Digital Audio (Optical) x 1 · HDMI x 1
Front Panel: Audio Input
Outputs: Composite x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1
OSD: Yes: English
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: FM
Tuner Presets: 15

“I bought this home theater sound system from Sam’s club because I was looking for something that was inexpensive but capable of interfacing with my new Samsung LED DLP TV. I looked at several HTIB (home theatre in a box) units and listened closely to all I could at Sams, Best Buy, Circuit City and other places and decided to buy this one. I had an old Bose AM-7 system that was not being used so I utilized the speakers and sub for the front channels and the difference was phenomenal! Some of the complaints I had read about this system was that the volume on music was inadequate, but the Bose made all the difference in the world. My only complaint is that there is only one HDMI input, but with a splitter, that issue is resolved so I can switch from by cable box to my PS3.”

Samsung HT-WP38 Theater System

Samsung’s new 5-disc HTiB all incorporate an integrated DVD player/Receiver, a full set of high-quality surround sound speakers and a superb sub-woofer to transform any living room into a fully functioning digital entertainment center. Audiophiles will appreciate the wide center channel speaker that enhances dialogue prominence during movies so words don’t compete against background sound effects and music.
Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 1 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 135 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD Audio
Subwoofer Power Output: 130 Watts
Playable File Formats: DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
Inputs: Composite x 2 · Digital Audio (Optical) x 1
Front Panel: Headphone Jack
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Component x 1
OSD: Yes
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 30

“I read MANY MANY reviews before I purchased. I was looking for something with wireless rear channels that was a good entry model into the market that would give me good quality without spending an arm and a leg.
I am by no means an audio expert, just a girl that wanted good sound while watching DVDs and such. I must say the audio setup for my room was easy enough for even ME to do!
I agree with the other reviewer that the speaker wire to the rear speakers was a little short, but I also live in a townhouse, so it was doable. If you have a LARGE room, this may be an issue for you. I did purchase additionally the stands to stand up my rear channel speakers, so they weren’t just set somewhere and am happy I did that.
I am very pleased with the system for the most part. I found the setup easy. I think the speakers hanging at the front of my room aren’t real visually attractive, but the sleek stylish ones cost quite a bit more money!
As for the cons, on my particular unit, the DVD player is a bit…temperamental. I sometimes have to load a DVD SEVERAL times to get it to read and there are a couple it won’t read at all. I have DEFINITELY had better DVD players in the past! I do like being able to add an FM tuner to my entertainment center, I didn’t have that before.
All in all, if you’re looking for an entry-level home theater in a box system for a small to medium room, this thing will give you good sound (in my opinion), the benefit of wireless rear speakers (so you don’t have speaker wire going all the way across the room) and is a decent value. If your unit is like mine, it might take some patience to get some DVDs to load, but I’m still very happy with it!:”

“This system is definitely worth the money. It has a 5 disc changer that plays CDs, MP3s, WMA, DivX, JPEG, DVD-Video, and DVD-Audio, along with a good FM and AM tuner.
The wireless rear speakers are a great touch. They take up very little space, even with the wireless receiver. They work well, even with a wireless network nearby. They even switch on and off automatically with the main unit.
I even plugged in my USB Flash memory MP3/WMA player into the front USB port, and it works, too. It would be totally perfect if the unit played SACDs, but that’s a minor issue.
This is a powerful system for the price, with lots of dynamic range. The speakers are very high quality for this price, especially the subwoofer.
The bass is very deep, and tight, and the treble is clean and rich. The speakers always sound great, with movies or music.”

Samsung HT-P38 Theater System

Plug in any MP3/WMA flash memory or HDD device and enjoy all the music stored on your digital audio device through 800 watts of power. People who prefer more convenience should consider the HT-P38. The upgraded unit employs wireless Bluetooth technology so installation is easy. Simply plug in the receiver/amplifier tower in the back of the room and place the speakers where they sound best without worrying about running long lengths of speaker wire through the room’s interior from the front of the room to the rear.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 1 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 134 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD Audio
Subwoofer Power Output: 130 Watts
Playable File Formats: DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM

“I was looking for a simple, inexpensive, small DVD home theater package for my bedroom. Since I’m very quality-conscious, it was important for me to purchase a well-made, good sounding, quality piece.
The problem with HITB’s (Home Theatre In A Box) is that although they might appear to give you everything a separate receiver, DVD player, and speaker packages does – they DO NOT, even if the price is similar to what a separate system would cost. For the most part in the $400 and below price bracket, these HITB’s are just glorified shelf systems with a DVD player and more speakers. They can be very cheaply made, lack even the most basic audio/video connectivity, and sound dull and lifeless.
Enter the Samsung HT-P38. Not only can you pick it up for around $225 (I paid $199 after rebate at Circuit City on sale), but the system has features not found on systems costing twice as much. You’ll find a slew of features in this system, but some of the noteworthy ones I have listed below:

NOTEWORTHY FEATURES:
Composite video in jacks (2) for a cable box and VCR
Optical digital audio-in (1) that can be mapped to either video jack, for digital cable or a separate CD player.
Analog audio in jacks for the (2) video’s above

S-video, component video or composite video out for the DVD. If you select to use composite, you’ll have the added bonus of all video flowing through a single connection to your TV. No flipping to video 1/2/3 required! Although some say this connection is inferior to component or S-video, it really makes little difference if connected through a good cable set (Monster Cable). Unless you’re connecting to a HDTV, you’re not really going to see a big difference. And if you are connecting to an HD set, spend a little more for a better audio system that can really match the TV’s picture quality!
Front USB input – a cool gimmick that I tried, but my camera does not support it.
5-disc carousel-style DVD changer that plays every format known to man, other then SACD (Super Audio CD). Again, not a big deal on a $200 system that lacks the dynamic range to appreciate SACD anyway.
Dolby Pro Logic II, great for watching regular TV or movies from a VCR for example. Simulates a 5.1 Dolby-Digital-like sound. It makes a huge difference over the 10+ year old Pro-Logic that some systems still come with.
Passive, powered sub that takes up little space.
Good on-screen display for all functions.

SOUND QUALITY:
Generally very good, if not a bit muddy at times. But the separation between speakers is very good for a system in this price range. Even at loud volumes, this unit sounds good. If you’re planning to use mostly for better sound from your TV, and the occasional movie/background music, you will be delighted.
I’m not using the supplied 24 gauge speaker cables, which I swapped for 16 gauge. 24 gauge is thinner then telephone wire, and is plain unacceptable for any stereo system save a clock radio. But for the price, they have to save somewhere! (FYI They also don’t include batteries for the remote…)

OPERATION:
Easy to use, and during regular use, only a few buttons on the remote are really needed. Comes with the standard fare, which you can read about anywhere. Front display is BRIGHT, but is dimmable at 2 different levels. But the unit does not retain this setting after it’s turned off.
Overall, this is a perfect system for a bedroom. Even a small living room. My bedroom is 17×13, so it’s really not all that small. The Samsung fills it with sound that’s clear, and boasts superb connectivity over its competition – Panasonic, Sony, JVC for example. Hands down, the best for the price. Samsung has really come along way! Just make sure you’ve got the physical depth for it, since the unit is very deep (probably about 20 inches or so).”

“I found this Samsung at Target of all places, and read the features list, and played with the demo-unit. It met all of the criteria I was looking for in a system which was:
1. Over 500 Watts
2. True 5.1 Dolby Sound (Bargain units have a “simulated” surround)
3. Progressive Scan
4. AUX Input (for devices like my iPod, or XBOX)
5. Stylish/Well Made
6. Compact Subwoofer (w/ ability to adjust the subwoofer’s volume)
7. Disc Compatibility (JPEG, MP3, WMA, DVD-R, +R, RW, etc)
8. Wife’s Approval
9. AM/FM Tuner
Those were my main qualifications, and ANY system I was going to by had to have all of those. I looked at Sony’s comparable model, and it didn’t have inputs, or adjustable subwoofer volume, and was also lower wattage. I looked at other brands like Pioneer, JVC, and even Yamaha, and none of them had what the Samsung had.
Samsung has managed to meet, and exceed my requirements for what an affordable home theater should be. This system actually belts out 800 Watts of true 5.1 Surround Sound, gives me 2 AUX Inputs, a 5-Disc Changer, fully-featured remote, great style, and full volume control over every speaker.
They’ve also included a USB port for connecting an MP3 player, I haven’t tried it yet, but I appreciate the functionality. I also love the blue glow when the unit is powered on… but if you don’t, it has a dimmer, and even the ability to turn the glow off altogether!
I never read any reviews of this model, however I had purchased a Samsung DVD player several years ago on a whim, and I was impressed with it’s picture quality, and longevity, it still works perfectly! I trusted that the Samsung brand would come through for me again, and they have!
We bought this because I wanted surround sound for movies, and my wife wanted a way to listen to her CDs and the radio, this solved all of those problems, at a great price and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

5 Samsung Speakers Theater System HT-P1200

Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 2 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 130 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD Audio · SACD · CD (Audio)
Subwoofer Power Output: 150 Watts
Playable File Formats: DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Pro Logic II
Audio DAC: 24 bit / 192 kHz
Dialog Enhancer: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 480p (525p) · 720p (750p) · 1080i (1125i)
Inputs: Analog Audio x 2
Front Panel: Headphone Jack
Outputs: Composite x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1 · Digital Audio Optical x 1
OSD: Yes
Built-in TV Tuner: NTSC · PAL
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 30

“There’s a lot to like about the Samsung HT-P1200. Okay so it has an ugly name but that’s all that’s ugly about this system. In its glossy Darth Vader Black it’s quite simply a stunner. Turn it on at night and ‘ooooh’ as the vertical, stand mounted DVD player glows an eerie blue. Press open and ‘ahhh’ as the dark glass splits and separates to allow you access to the DVD section. Stand back and and ‘phwoar’ at the tall, slim black speakers and weighty subwoofer.
Now I could go into a LOT of technical detail here – but I won’t. Most people reading this are going to want what I wanted, a good looking, nice sounding, simple to set up system that’s not going to dominate the living room but will still have the power to make Troy even more of a guilty pleasure.
So from the beginning. The system arrives in a BIG box. You open it and find three smaller boxes. One contains the DVD player, one the five main speakers and the last the subwoofer. Open the boxes and assembly instructions are written on the inside flaps. They’re very quick, very simple and pretty brief. The DVD player screws to its stand, the first two screws allowing it to hang as you tighten the others, so it’s a one person job. The speakers slot together and take two screws each. That’s it. You’re done,
Cables are color coded and snap into the back of the subwoofer. Couldn’t be easier. A thick cable links DVD unit to subwoofer. Six simple connections and you’re ready to roll. DVD can be connected in any number of ways. My TV isn’t new enough for HDMI connection (the best quality) so I used component jacks. Picture looks good enough to this untrained eye. Two more component jacks linked DVR to unit and I was done. In total – less than 15 minutes.
Then came the fun part. Attach the enclosed mic, put it where you’d usually sit and hit ASC. Stand back. The system will now test itself, working out ideal delays and getting the speakers bet configured to your space. There’s a dog startlingly loud ‘white noise’ half way through this set up (there are still paw prints on the ceiling) but it only takes a minute and then you’re all set up and ready to go.
And boy are you ready to go. With five movie modes, four music modes, countless DOLBY PRO LOGIV II modes and manual set up options you’re not going to be at a loss for a setting. I personally enjoy ‘virtual 9.1’ in which the system mimics a nine speaker set up and really has the house rumbling. But it’s all pretty much a matter of personal taste.
Also handy is the ‘virtual 5.1’ option – in which two channel sound is reproduced as 5.1 sound, giving your system a chance to shine even during ‘Nanny 911’ (though the sound of screaming kids and yelling parents in 5.1 sound isn’t something that I could heartily recommend).
So far I have absolutely no quibbles about the sound at all. Radio reception is crisp and clean, CD reproduction is excellent and DVD’s have taken on a whole new lease of life. I’ve yet to try to USB port (yup, it will take your I-Pod) but I’m sure that it will prove up to scratch too.
Navigation has been a breeze too – the on screen instructions are intuitive and graphically simple.
Of course there are some things that might have been better. I’d like to have seen the same attention paid to the remote control as to the rest of the system. Something black with a blue LCD would have been perfect, instead you get a standard slab of hard gray plastic with too many small buttons scattered around its surface. Then there’s the speaker cables, they seem awfully thin, and the connectors seem quite flimsy – especially in comparison to the build quality elsewhere in the system. Connection points also seem scarce – but with HDMI, AnyNet, Digital and Component connectors plus a separate USB port there are enough for my immediate needs.
Ultimately though this is a sexy system. You buy it for the way it looks and feel relief when it sounds ok too. For out of the box home theatre it’s pretty bloody good – and it should be at this price – and it will create one sound effect that no other system can – a coo of envy from all who see it. Job done.

UPDATE
Well other than gathering and REALLY showing the dust I’m still happy… USB does work remarkably well (though not with Shuffle, it limits itself to ten songs) and finding a code to enable MULTI-REGION DVD playback was a cinch (it was a very easy ‘crack’ too).. speakers are wearing in nicely and I have to say that LOST is taking on aurally terrifying dimensions
One last thing – USB connection doesn’t work with the latest video i-pod. Samsung have promised to send me a ‘patch’ as soon as they have one, which is comforting but beware people, currently only 20G, 40G and I-Pod Minis are supported. No Video I-Pods or Nanos

UPDATE II
FINALLY got myself a HD television with an HDMI connection and i have to say that the system works brilliantly. Okay it’s a hassle to have to insert the disc, press STOP, then STOP again, push the SD/HD button twice to get to 1080i mode and then press PLAY to get going (and if you turn the TV over you have to repeat the whole thing) but the results are worth it. Stunning color, great definition, real warmth. This thing just gets better”

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Samsung Home Theater Systems

Technorati Tags: samsung home theater systems, samsung home theatre, samsung speakers

This page contains information on pioneer home theater sytems. To view other brands such as Panasonic Home Theater System and LG Home Theater  use the menu on the right side of this page.

If you would like to leave a comment or review of your home theater experience please use the form at the foot of the page and it will be reviewed and published on this site.

Pioneer Home Theater

Pioneer HTD-510DV Theater System

Pioneer’s cool, convenient HTD-510DV system delivers it all! You get a 5-disc DVD/CD carousel changer/receiver and complete 5.1-channel speaker system, for top-notch home theater convenience and room-filling sonic power.
Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Main Speakers Power Output: 33 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · CD (Audio) · CD-R
Subwoofer Power Output: 100 Watts
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital · DTS · Dolby Pro Logic
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Receiver 
Rear Input Connectors: RCA (2 Audio Channels) x 1 · Digital Coaxial x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 30

“For the Price, this is undoubtedly one of the best models out there…
Benefits:
Receiver and 5 Disc CD / DVD player in one component. 500 Watts of power. 5 speaker / 1 subwoofer configuration. Plenty of Sound Options and presets, so you can get decent sound without getting heavy into the details of customizing the sound output. Quick set up. A ton of wire, so your rear speakers can be on the back wall without having to buy more wire (My back wall is 12 feet from the Receiver and I have it through the wall, over the same wall, across the ceiling (suspended ceiling) and down into the rear speakers – with wire to spare). The Sound quality is great (everything you’d expect from Pioneer).
Drawbacks:
Not a ton of inputs – I have my VCR, TV, and Antenna in already and have 1 additional Aux. input. Other receivers give you more options for building and customizing your Home Theater System. But for a basic system, this meets my needs.
Side Speakers – They are a bit small, but bigger than the Rear Satellite Speakers, however they don’t have screws (so you can’t hang them (even though you they are small enough you could)). And they are too small for alot of the Speaker stands on the market. They sound great regardless, but I might upgrade these at some point.
Console interaction – You can’t do a bunch directly on the console (like change sound configurations). All of this must be done through the Remote (so don’t lose it).”

“I had been researching HTIB systems for about 8 months. I did not have the cash for a high end component system, but was not willing to lower my quality standards to by one of those tiny plastic systems that look (and sound) like they were made by Fisher-Price. After comparing a lot of different brands I settled on the Pioneer HTD-510DV and I am extremely pleased with my choice! I got it new on eBay for $300 +s/h, but I got a great deal. I think they are going for about $500 retail right now.
The 5 DVD/CD/CDR changer is solid and smooth. It offers a very quick and silent transition between disks. The speakers are all made of wood; none of that thin plastic sound. The front stereo speakers as well as the center channel are larger speakers than the sats. The left and right speakers get 100 x 2 watts to increase the power and quality of sound when listening to stereo sources like CDs. This is a big plus over other similar products out there. Most other HTIB systems sound their best only when playing a DVD.
The speakers never failed while watching “The Matrix” or “Saving Private Ryan” even at high volume levels. With Dolby Digital and DTS decoding the surround field is brilliant. Thanks to the oversized center channel speaker, dialogue is always clear even during action sequences. For a ported cabinet design, the subwoofer bellows out well defined bass without a lot of reverberance.
This system features some handy surround effects that can help enhance your sound experience including 2 virtual surround effects that convert stereo sources to surround-like sound. This coupled with the ability to enter speaker distances allows you to custom design the sound to fit your environment
Operation is relatively simple. All the advanced features are only accessible from the remote so don’t lose it! Some less technologically inclined people may find the instruction manual a little difficult to understand at times, but most will not have any difficulty.
The picture quality is outstanding. Great color separation and clarity. I have yet to find a disk that will not play. I’ve played rented discs with visible scratches without one hiccup.
Without a doubt, this is the best system you can buy for under $700. I recommend the HTD-510DV to anyone who cannot afford a high-end component system, but still wants to experience exhilerating home theater. You will not be disappointed! ”

Pioneer Surround Sound HTZ-830DV System

Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 2 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 60 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD-R · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 60 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Universal · Multibrand
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital · DTS · Dolby Pro Logic II · Dolby Pro Logic
Audio DAC: 24 bit / 96 kHz
Dialog Enhancer: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
Inputs: Analog Audio x 3 · Digital Audio (Optical) x 1
Front Panel: Headphone Jack
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Component x 1
OSD: Yes
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 30

“I got this system for a really good price through Amazon.com and it’s definitely worth it. I’ve had it for about a month and everything seems to be in good working condition. No complaints.
The subwoofer is gigantic, which can be good or bad. The sound is great, the setup was pretty easy. The speaker wires are really long, which makes it easy to place the speakers in good locations and tuck the wires under carpets.
The color of the system has a lot of white in it. The pictures make it look more silver than white. This was more of a surprise than a let-down. It still looks great.”

Pioneer 5.1 HTP-220-S/K Theater System

Great audio is what really makes home theater rock, and the HTP-220K 5.1 Dolby Digital & DTS Home Entertainment audio system brings it on. The digital A/V receiver features crystal digital signal processing and delivers 100 Watts to each of five channels. Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 surround sound processing provide spectacular decoding of movie soundtracks, and for “Party Mode”, 5-Channel Stereo routes the full-frequency stereo signal to five speakers at full 100-Watt-per-channel power. The five speakers (each with a tweeter, midrange woofer and a high-frequency wave guide) and the self-powered 100-Watt subwoofer are all acoustically matched for optimal sound. A front-panel quick-setup function and remote control are provided.
Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Main Speakers Power Output: 100 Watts
Subwoofer Power Output: 100 Watts
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
DVD 
Inputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Analog Audio x 1 · Digital Audio (Optical) x 1 · Digital Audio (Coaxial) x 1
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Analog Audio x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM

“Okay – I have been shopping for a HTIB for a few months now. We had an older shelf style stereo system which went kaput. We had already purchased a DVD/VCR combo unit, and I was playing my CD’s on the DVD player thru the TV (not so great sound, as I am sure you can imagine!).
We decided to go with the HTIB for two reasons – one was for the price – they are quite comprable to buying a shelf stereo, with the same or better sound quality, and two was for the surround sound to go with our TV and DVD’s. I was not wanting to spend more than $600.00. I didn’t care if it had another DVD player or not – my only requirement was that it had a receiver so I could listen to the radio (bye, bye old cassette tapes!).
After extensive research (consumer reports.com, cnet.com, and this amazing site!) I narrowed my list to about 10 different systems. I won a gift cert to Best Buy, so I was limited to purchasing from there. After listening to all of my options in the store, I settled for this one. The clarity of sound was awesome, and I couldn’t beat the price.

The things I liked about it were the fact that the speakers had two tweeters in them (double drive or something like that), and that the subwoofer had a separate volume control. We got it home, and spent more than 10 hours trying to hook it up, with no success. They had a 1-800 number to call, but we live in Alaska, and it was after hours. We needed to connect the DVD/VCR unit, our satellite TV reciever, and our older 27″ TV, which has no S connections, just the three – red, white, and yellow. Not rocket science, but we had lots of problems. It seemed like there were two different instructions for hook up, and it was very confusing. Finally a neighbor came over to help, unplugged one wire, plugged it into another hole, and it worked!
We immediatley put in the Star Wars DVD, and it blew us away! We have had it hooked up for two weeks now, and have really enjoyed it. The different settings are fun to play with, and the sound is absolutely phoenomonal! We also had a party, and the house ROCKED! The music sounded just great – we could not have been more pleased. Bottom line - the best home theater system for a great price!”

Pioneer HTP-2750DV Theater System

Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Playable Disk Types: DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 100 Watts
Playable File Formats: DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic · DTS 96/24
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
Inputs: Composite x 3 · Analog Audio x 3 · Digital Audio (Optical) x 1 · Digital Audio (Coaxial) x 2
Front Panel: Composite Input · Audio Input · Headphone Jack

“This home theater sound system was excellent value as you get a full 5.1 surround sound with a DVD player and some features such an optical sound port. The drawback with this system is that there is no connections for upgrading the subwoofer components you would have to buy a new tuner which can be pricey. I do like it and will be keeping it.”

“Simply rocking….If you are looking a system worth for money you can go for this pioneer HTP-2750DV comes with DVD player (playing almost all formats).
But, don’t expect earth shattering sound effects from this model sub woofer.
Beat the expensive BOSE systems
Quality / clarity of the sound is really cool !!!
Rating :
Performance : 4.5/5
Sound Clarity : 4.5/5
Bass Effect : 4/5
Worth for money : 4.5/5
Ease Installation : 5/5″

Pioneer HTD88DVD Theater System

The HTD-88DVD from Pioneer has all the right features in a 5 Disk Multi-System Home Theater. The 5 Speaker system is powered by 600W with 3-spot Front Surround technology which means rear speakers can be placed directly on top of the front speakers using Direct Diffuse technology to reflect sound waves from the walls and ceiling to envelope the listener in true surround sound. The HTD-88DVD is truly versatile with PAL or NTSC playback of DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW/VCD/SVCD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW including MP3, WMA, MPEG-4 AAC, JPEG or DivX Files.
Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 2 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 100 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · SVCD · DVD-R · DVD-RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 100 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: MPEG4 · DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital · DTS · Dolby Pro Logic II
Audio DAC: 24 bit / 96 kHz
Dialog Enhancer: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
Inputs: Composite x 1 · Component x 1 · Digital Audio (Coaxial) x 1 · USB
Front Panel: Composite Input · USB 1.1
Outputs: Headphone Jack
Built-in TV Tuner: NTSC · PAL
Receiver 
Surround Analog Inputs: 5.1 Channels x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 30

“I have owned the HTD88DVD for a little over a month and it has provided sound operational service. For a midrange/priced Home Theater System it performs adequately. The multi power mode allows the system to be used wherever the wind may blow you.

Pros: Comes compete from the factory ready to play your favorite DVD, MP3’s or Music CD’s. Good sound quality and easy setup. Easy to follow onscreen display shows what is playing and what is available. The buttons function with a quality feel and respond quickly when pushed.

Cons: Purchase extra speaker wire, the surround wires are rather short and do not accommodate for true surround. But the cost of this unit allows you to afford a small spool of cable. haha If your getting this for the Karaoke it has something to be desired. The din only supports 1/8’in and will not support a standard mic. It is also buggie I have not been able to get the mic. on mine to work yet. The instructions really do not cover the setup for a Karaoke machine and I have not gotten the video to display on a Karaoke CD yet. Keep looking if that is what you want this unit for.”

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Pioneer Home Theater

Technorati Tags: pioneer 5.1, pioneer home theater, pioneer surround sound, pioneer wireless

This page contains information on philips home theater sytems. To view other brands including LG Home Theater and JVC Home Theater   use the menu on the right side of this page.

If you would like to leave a comment or review of your home theater experience please use the form at the foot of the page and it will be reviewed and published on this site.

Philips Home Theater

Philips Surround Sound HTS3544/37 Theater System

Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 3 Way
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · SVCD · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Playable File Formats: MPEG2 · DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG · MPEG1
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
Audio DAC: 24 bit / 192 kHz
Dynamic Range: 65 dB
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 720p (750p) · 1080i (1125i)
Inputs: Digital Audio (Coaxial) x 1
Front Panel: USB 1.1 · MP3 Line-in
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1
Built-in TV Tuner: NTSC
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 40

“I’d been looking for a decent home theater sound system for under 200 bucks for a while, had looked at some used systems but didn’t find what I was looking for. I saw this one at Wal-mart, read the good reviews online there and decided to give it a try. Bought it, got it home and set up in about an hour. I am very impressed with the sound. Center channel is crisp and clear, bass is booming, surround effects are very good. Very good sound with little distortion even at higher volume levels. I watched the second movie in the Lord of the Rings series and it was just like being back in the movie theater. My wife called me from upstairs in the middle of the movie and said the surround sound had surrounded the house…she thought there was a thunder storm outside but it was just the subwoofer, and system volume was set at 12 – goes up to 40! The system sounds just as good as others I’ve seen for more than twice the price (got it for 198 dollars at Wal-mart). Critiques – small remote buttons and small lettering make it hard to use the remote for these 49 y/o eyes, but should get better as I get used to the remote. Also, the speaker wire that comes with the system is light gauge and hard wired at the speaker and the plastic clips that plug into the amp, so changing out to heavier speaker cable won’t be easy and will probably involve some soldering. On the plus side is the Ipod docking station and USB connectivity – my daughters will appreciate that. Picture quality on the TV is excellent, and I’m just using the composite cable – I expect it to be even better when I get a decent component cable hook up. As far as adjustments, volume can be controlled +/- 6db for each individual speaker, and delay can also be set individually for each speaker as well. Overall, I think it’s an excellent system for those seeking quality home theater sound on a budget.”

“After buying a front projector I needed to upgrade from my cheap $50 surround sound system, which for the price was impressive, but two of the speakers had gone out and the subwoofer had blown. So, I decided to upgrade to a true digital surround sound system.
So, I went to Wal-Mart going down the line demoing all of their systems from $150-$600. The Philips HTS3544 system sounded the best overall, to my surprise since it only cost about $199.95 It had a nice warm sound for the price, nice deep bass that can rattle your floor.
It turned out to be a perfect match for my high definition DLP front projector. The DVD player is very nice, but since I have a front projector I am always using my HD-DVD player. DVDs sound superb even with composite (red and white cables) hookups, but when I switch to digital it’s just awesome for the low price. Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are on a level that surprised me at how great it sounds for the price. It really made me wonder how much better a $20,000 system could be.
The DVD player included is great for playing MP3 discs or CDs. It has great sound for music. It has warmth, nice bass and is just really clear and can go pretty darn loud. So, this surround sound system s just really great for movies or music. It’s been awesome for playing Rock Band for the 360. We’ve had a blast. This system adds a new dimension to the game. Other X-Box 360 games makes you feel like you’re in the game and everyone else always grins from ear to ear when they first see my setup and hear the sound coming from it. It’s very theatrical.
You can calibrate the volume of each speaker, including the subwoofer, which is a plus. I turn of the center channel for clearer dialogue, bump up the bass a few notches and turn up the rear speakers. When you get it just play with these settings and find out what works best for you.
All in all, this system is the best true 5.1 surround sound system for your money. The one flaw is that I wish this system had an optical digital audio intput so I could hookup my HD-DVD player without needing to convert the HD-DVD player’s optical audio to digital coaxial with a converter box. It was cheap to do so, but still, a bit of a hassle. You can get the the converter box and digital coaxial cable for about $20 on ebay.
Don’t waste your money on the rest of those overpriced Home Theater In A Box setups at Wal-Mart costing upto $600+. They are not worth the price difference and from what I’ve heard they aren’t even as good as this. You don’t always get what you pay for in this world…..sometimes you get better! hehe.”

Phillips Surround Sound HTS-6500/37 Theater System

The Philips HTS-6500 Home Theater System combines style and performance in an elegant and hassle-free system indulges you with endless hours of viewing and listening pleasure. With Dolby Digital and DTS decoding this system manages to deliver surround-like Sound using 2 speakers and a Subwoofer instead of using 5 speakers and a subwoofer. The end result is a Virtual-Surround environment that’s easy to set-up and use in any home.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 2 Speakers and Subwoofer
Main Speakers Power Output: 70 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · SVCD · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 100 Watts
Playable File Formats: MPEG4 · DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Universal
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
Inputs: Composite x 1 · Component x 1 · Analog Audio x 1
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 40

“I wanted a home theater package that would nicely complement my Plasma without a terrible expense and without having to spend a fortune or have too much of a headache with respect to setup. I also needed to upgrade my current DVD player to one that will up convert to 1080i. Most of the HTiB systems have a 5 disk, I actually was trying to stay away from that; I felt as though I would be buying something I’d never use because I watch 1 DVD at once, then put them back. A true 5.1 or 6.1 would be nice, but I’d have to mount speakers, and wire cables through my walls and floor.
This system delivers. After being in the market for several months for a 2.1 that offers all that I want, I came across this beauty. Comparable to the Bose at a small fraction the price, I set it up in 10 minutes without even reading the instructions. The system looks futuristic with a sweet front loading DVD, it sounds great at 500 watts, and it plays movies at 1080i though an HDMI cable (not included) and TV sounds great with ease of setup. The 40 station digital delivers nice AM/FM, but I rarely use it for that. The two front speakers deliver nice mids and highs while the subwoofer (although almost comically large) delivers a satisfying bass that resounds through the room.
So far this fits my needs perfectly with little or no complaints. There’s a fella that gave this only 2 stars because he couldn’t figure out the instructions and was expecting 5.1 quality surround. Although this product advertises surround sound, we have to be realistic. It’s an awesome 2.1 system that will take you to 1080i without having to buy blueray or HD DVD at a very nice price.”

“I will start off by saying that I am not a person who writes reviews, ever. But I have read several reviews on this product and just felt I had to chime in.
I have seen a couple different times that the sub on this system is weak. I think that is crap. I bought this system to go in my bedroom, which is 20×14. The sub can be heard throughout the house, when the volume is set midway up.
i have also read that the system doesnt have sound adjustments. I guess for someone who is into VERY detailed programming, then this is not for you, but i am a simple person. i wanted a simple system that sounded great. this system has settings that allow you to pick the type of movie your watching (drama, action, scifi, concert) then if you have an ipod or the tuner on playing music it gives you additional options (rock, rap, ect..). the difference between the settings is clear. that is all i need personaly. simple. press a button and pick the one that sounds best.
I hooked this system up with an HDMI cable to my 42″ lcd, and the picture is perfect.
The whole system took minutes to set up. You tell it what type of room it is in (wood walls, solid walls, ect), you tell it how far the left and right speakers are from each other, then how far away your normal sitting area is. again.. simple.
I compaired this system with the Bose 3-2-1, which costs 900$ at circuit city. I paid 250$ for this one. If someone says they can tell the difference in sound quality between the two, they are full of it. the sound quality is incredible. I think it sounds better than the 600$ kenwood system i bought 5 years ago, and the set up and functionality of the system is much better than the full kenwood system i had.
i would recommend this system to anyone. the only reason i could see not to buy it is because you want more options and knobs or menus to do the same exact thing that it does automatically.”

Philips MCD708 Theater System

A high quality component system flaunts a stylish and stunning design. The real rosewood speaker and ribbon tweeter produce powerful bass and crystal-clear high tones. With DVD playability you can now feast your senses on perfect sound.
Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 2 Speakers
Front Speaker: 2 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 50 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · SVCD · CD-RW · Picture CD
Playable File Formats: DivX · MP3 · WMA
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital®
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
OSD: Yes: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish, Portuguese, Turkish
Playback Features 
Instant Skip / Replay: Replay
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: FM
Tuner Presets: 40

“I needed a small music system for my small apartment and the philips mcd708/37 looked to be exactly what I wanted. I purchased the item from costco for about $200. Physically, it is a beautiful product with rosewood colored speakers and mirrored faces on the amplifier and DVD/tuner components. A very nice blue mood light appears around both components when the system is turned on or adjusted. Controls on the front panel are basic and pleasing to the eye. Everything needed to set up the system, even batteries for the remote, is included though the length of the speaker wire could be longer.
I set the system up and instantly noticed one speaker was not working at all. After troubleshooting and deciding it was a faulty speaker, I contacted Philips customer service and was on the phone with a tech in less than 2 minutes. I would have preferred Philips send me out a new speaker but they wanted me to ship them the bad speaker to a service depot. I instead opted to take the entire system back to costco in exchange for a new one. Thank goodness for Costco’s excellent customer service!
I have had the system playing MPS’s now for several days with no trouble. Sound is decent. I was hoping for better but considering what I paid and the amount of style I got, the sound is acceptable. Highs are good but the bass is lacking. I have a small subwoofer I’ll hook up which should even things out without upsetting the neighbors too much.
The DVD player works well. I have a hand me down TV so clarity isn’t a strong point but the system functions as it should. The remote control is basic like the front panel controls but does the job. The only function I miss is shuffle.”

Philips HTS-3565 Theater System

High definition pictures and powerful surround sound delivered by this elegant system provide unbeatable home entertainment. Enjoy sharp pictures with 1080p HDMI upconversion, as well as convenient iPod playback via the dock included.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 3 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 125 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · SVCD · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 250 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: MPEG2 · DivX · MP3 · WMA · MPEG1 · WMV
Remote Control: Universal · Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · Dolby Pro Logic II
Audio DAC: 12 bit / 108000 kHz
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 720p (750p) · 1080i (1125i) · 1080p (1125p)
Inputs: Digital Audio (Coaxial) x 1 · Aux in
Front Panel: USB 2.0 · Microphone · MP3 Line-in
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1
Built-in TV Tuner: NTSC · PAL
Receiver 
Rear Input Connectors: Digital Coaxial x 1
Rear Output Connectors: Composite (Video) x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: FM
Tuner Presets: 40

“Between April-June 2008, I tested all following under $300 systems (in alphabetical order):
JVC HT-G40
LG LHT854
Panasonic SC-PT660
Philips HTS-3565
Philips HTS-6600
Philips HTS-3566
Samsung HT-Z310
Samsung HT-Z410

Despite first HTS-3565 being defective (froze in STANDBY MODE), the sound was so much better than other brands, I gave it a second chance. This one froze too. I suspected static electricity (a problem in dry Southern Nevada). Unplugged unit. This seemed to restore things to normal.

I believe it is currently the 2nd BEST home theatre system you can buy for under $300.

Here’s why …

Sound quality Out of ALL the other systems I tested, only the Philips HTS-3565 and LG LHT854 produce 5.1 surround sound when watching live HDTV. Without adjusting ANY of the volume or balance controls, sounds great from anywhere in my 14×22 foot master suite.
Video Upconverts DVD to 1080p with excellent picture quality. Same quality applies when watching a DVD from my Samsung DVDR via HDMI connection.
Plays DVDs in MP4, AVI or VOB formats. Although the Philips website says you must be the HTS-3566 to play MP4 disks, I tested 3 and they all play perfectly. Found it interesting that my current “top of the line” Samsung DVD-AR650 DVD recorder won’t play the same MP4, AVI or VOB disks that work perfectly in this Philips.
Sleek design. Piano black glossy finish on main unit matches my Samsung DLP TV, DVDR and VCR. Headphone jack (mini RCA) and USB input are nicely hidden behind a little flip open door on right side of front panel. Two round control dials on front function like an iPod control. One has a button in center to manually change input modes.
FASTEST DVD/CD Tray If you test or own any other DVD player, recorder or Home Theatre System you might be frustrated by the amount of time it takes to load or unload a disk. Multi-disk changers seem to take the longest, which is why I opted for a single-disk system. This Philips responds as fast as a CD/DVD tray on your computer.
iPod Dock. Nice-looking dock holds your iPod or iPhone upright so you can see the screen from across a room. Interface will work with your TV so you can select and play tunes using the Philips remote.
Universal Remote Friendly I have Logitech Harmony One and had no trouble programming it to run the HTS-3565 functions.
HDMI CEC If you connect unit using an HDMI cable or via the Digital audio input, this function should automatically turn on your TV or other component and change that mode so they work together.
Delivers excellent 5.1 sound quality when left in the AUX1 mode for watching live TV or recorded TV from DVDR.

CONS

Aside from first unit being defective, my only other issues are the speaker wire configurations and Coaxial Digital Audio input. Speaker wires are permanently attached to each speaker with a proprietary plug that snaps into back of main unit. With my pre-wired room, this forced me to do a bunch of cutting and splicing.

Coaxial audio input is not same as Optical (Toslink) on most TV or DVD equipment today. You may need to buy an Optical to Coaxial Converter which can cost up to $80. Best price I found was at MonoPrice for about $15 delivered.

If I discover any other relevant info, I will update this review.

UPDATE: 5/16/08. Just like the first unit I returned to Wal-Mart, this one seems destined to same fate. Today it suddenly froze. Wouldn’t produce ANY sound. Tried to turn off/on and it froze in the STANDBY mode. I unplugged it and it’s now working again. Dear Philips: Your HTS-3565 doesn’t like static electricity.

UPDATE: 6/3/08. Received & tested JVC HT-G40. Huge disappointment. It won’t play any DVD recorded in MP4, VOB or DVD-Video formats (all formats that other HTS systems easily play). Included worst user guide and on-screen interface I’ve seen in years.

UPDATE: 6/4/08. While shopping for food at the membership warehouse that begins with C and rhymes with Mostco, ran across the HTS-3566D/37 which is an upgrade from the HTS-3565. Philips website says that the only differences in the 3566 are supposedly hi-boy rear speakers, slightly better audio range and ability to boost some video to 720 or 1080. However I found a number of other noticeable improvements and the price for the HTS-3566 was actually $2 lower. With a couple of hours to spare, I dashed home, repacked the HTS-3565, returned it and bought the HTS-3566. You can read my review of it to see all the differences I found, some of which Philips doesn’t mention on their website or in the manuals. I’ll post the HTS-3566 review as soon as the Epinion Gods add it to this website. I can say after only 3 days of use, I am loving the HTS-3566 and the the hi-boy speakers produce the best mid-range and tweeter sounds I’ve heard from any speakers in a long time (including my former & expensive Bose system).”

Philips DVD Home Theater System HTS-3555

Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 3 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 250 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · SVCD · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 250 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: MPEG2 · DivX · MP3 · WMA · JPEG · MPEG1
Remote Control: Universal
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
Audio DAC: 24 bit / 192 kHz
Dialog Enhancer: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 720p (750p) · 1080i (1125i)
Inputs: Analog Audio x 1 · Digital Audio (Coaxial) x 1
Front Panel: USB 1.1
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1
OSD: Yes
Built-in TV Tuner: NTSC
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 40

“- good price (paid $170)
- sound is quite clean for something that costs so little
- plays DVDs well
- can’t switch to USB without waiting for it to attempt to load a disk
- usb functionality is fantastic – it plays DivX and XVid – this is what I like about this unit the most. It says you can only put in USB keys and I read some reviews that said not to put larger USB keys, but I tried a couple of USB hard drives and they work. I have a 1TB drive hooked up to it. I also tested a couple of smaller drives. Watch out for USB powered drives as some of them might not have enough power out of this USB port to function.
- firmware is upgradable
- the processor is too slow to smoothly decode content with lots of simultanous moving details (many birds taking off for instance). Not a big issue though – this doesn’t happen very often, unless you are into bird shows
- once you are deep into a DivX/XVid movie, the fast forward / backward does not work very smoothly (CPU speed issue I suspect)
- biggest frustration is with viewing pictures – can’t get to show full screen – it shows all my pictures with big border around them
- I wish it played mkv files (it would have to have faster CPU to begin with though).
- upconverts to 1080i
- why, why, why does it take so long to eject or load a disk – actually, I don’t care why, it just shouldn’t
- has HDMI (it doesn’t come with a cable, but you can buy it on-line for 2.59 like I did)”

Philips LX3500D Theater System

The ideal theater for homes with standard or high-definition televisions, the Philips LX3500D consists of a Dolby Digital/DTS-decoding surround sound receiver with an integrated single-disc progressive-scan DVD/CD player, five satellite speakers, and a powered subwoofer. The DVD drive reads DVD, DVD+RW, and VCD, as well as CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and MP3 CDs. A full onscreen display simplifies setup and operation. If you’re using (or plan to use) a high-definition or HD-ready TV, you’ll appreciate the system’s progressive scanning, which is referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image. This feature creates a picture with twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD image, providing sharper, higher resolution images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. The LX3500D also offers 3:2 pulldown. DVD mastering introduces a common distortion when adjusting 24 frames-per-second movies to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown corrects this distortion to display a film-frame-accurate picture
Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Main Speakers Power Output: 25 Watts
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · DVD-R · DVD-RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW
Subwoofer Power Output: 75 Watts
Playable File Formats: MP3
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS®
DVD 
Inputs: Analog Audio x 1
Outputs: S-Video x 1 · Analog Audio x 1 · Digital Audio Coaxial x 1 · Digital Audio Optical x 1
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM

“I bought a Philips 60″ HDTV and the LX3500D was included “free” as part of an incentive package. It normally retails for $349. I mailed in the rebate to Philips on 12/5 and it was delivered on 1/13, not bad! Now when you get anything for free you don’t really worry about its capabilities and features as much as when you fork over some hard earned cash. Its a progressive scan unit which was my only real had to have feature.
The box was opened and I quickly found out the Philips people really pay attention to details. The instruction book is thick and in all mandatory languages. Those large picture type instruction pages were also included in three languages as well. Let me tell you, you don’t need instructions to set this up, its that well labeled.
First off the DVD unit is of the newer slim, stream-lined design. It is very attractive unit in an silver color with the pre-requisite tinted window running down the middle with electronic lights and such. The unit itself is actually heavy! It feels like those old VCR’s from the 70′s did, only on a much smaller size scale. I don’t know what the inside looks like, but the use of plastic components must have been kept to a minimum.
The sub-woofer is large and very attractive very much like the DVD unit. The five speakers gray tone colored come with “techie” yellow covered speaker grills installed, but Philips also includes a much toned down grayish set for us “older buyers”. The grills can be changed out on all 5 speakers in under 2 minutes! The design and method for doing this is engineered and executed the right way. This is beyond the call of duty and much appreciated.
Philips includes every cable and wire you could possibly need. Now about those speakers and wires. As you turn the DVD unit around and look at all those connection possibilities you begin to panic. But wait each connection including the ones for the speaker wires are color coded and labeled. Guess what, each of the speaker wires have a color coded marking that matches the DVD player and also the color coded connections on the back of the speakers. The speakers also have clearly printed text which tells you where they go, “ie center, left front, right rear”. I positioned and wired up each speaker with out looking at the directions, Philips made it that easy.
There is a clearly marked switch on the back of the unit that allows you to turn off progressive scan if your TV is not capable. The remote control unit gives you individual buttons for volume control of the center, rear and sub-woofer speakers. The overall volume button controls all at once. You can also access many menus for setting up volume delays on the speakers in mili seconds for exact tuning of your system. There is also a test button which sends a tone around to each of the 6 speakers for you to test the system. There is also a on-off screen saver for you pause a DVD during playback. I’ve only begun to explore the sub-menus as they are plenty with this unit.
Now the one item I’m unhappy about, scaling. My cheapie ($49) Apex AD-800 progressive unit I’ve been using allowed me to alter the image size sent to my TV. In other words I could stretch the image from the X or Y axis of the picture. This was most welcome when the image on my widescreen TV was still in letterbox but not filling my screen due to its 14:9 ratio rather than the 16:9 widescreen format. It might somewhere be in the capabilities of the Philips system but I haven’t found it yet.
But in the end I’d like to thank the folks at Philips for producing a well designed, well engineered and well built system.”

“the lx3500D package is a great setup for small to mid size rooms but lacks the volume to fill larger rooms. This is one tough cookie! I bought mine when it was returned twice and has a very large dent that looks like a TV got dropped on the dvd player, I got it home and the only thing needed to be fixed was the setting output for the dvd. Another thing lacking is a video input that would be nice so that a vcr could be run through it. (basicly the dvd player would act as a reciever) I got a great deal on this system and for the price I got it at it’s probably the best home theater system.”

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Philips Home Theater System

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This page contains information on panasonic home theater sytems. To view other brands such as JVC Home Theater and Harman Kardon Home Theater use the menu on the right side of this page.

If you would like to leave a comment or any home theatre reviews of your home theater experience please use the form at the foot of the page and it will be reviewed and published on this site.

Panasonic Home Theater Systems

Panasonic Home Theater System SC-HT740

Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 2 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 90 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · SVCD · DVD-RAM · DVD-R · DVD-RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW · HighMAT
Subwoofer Power Output: 250 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
Dialog Enhancer: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
Inputs: Analog Audio x 1
Outputs: Composite x 1 · S-Video x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1

“I was lucky enough to win this system as a giveaway at a work meeting. I was very surprised at the performance after the complicated set-up was completed. It has the HDMI hook-up for your HD TV and the sound and bass can be tuned to several different sounds and levels. I happen to have a Panasonic HDTV as well, so the remote control integration was easy, but this product will work well with any brand TV. I like the 5 disc feature which is an upgrade for me, and the system also plays any style CD or DVD and MP3′s as well. There is also an auxiliary input if you wanted to plug in a satellite radio or portable MP3. The one major downside is it doesn’t have an input that decodes and outputs sound in 5.1, for example when hooking up a an HD satellite or HD cable receiver. The auxiliary input does not do that. Outside of that, where else can you find a home theatre system that offers this much without spending an arm or a leg? It’s certainly not a Bose system, but for the average joe it does the job! I highly recommend this system to anyone looking for the high priced features and quality without spending the high price.”

“I purchased the SC HT740 after doing a side-by-side comparison with the SC HT940 and felt that the SC HT740 actually sounded better. I was so impressed that I purchased several defective units on e-bay – repaired them, then resold them. The unit does have a cooling fan and also has several heat dispersement devices and vents. The speaker wire does look a bit undersized but is more than adequate for the average listener who doesn’t want to go deaf. And this unit will vibrate your furniture if you turn it up. This is certainly one of the better units on the market and a bargain for the price. Read the manual and do a proper set up with the various options to find your personal sound preferences. I also recommend investing in the Panasonic SH-FX60 2-Way Wireless Transmitter & Receiver for the wireless rear speaker option.”

Panasonic Theater System SCP-T750

The Panasonic SCP-T750 home theater system combines all the high end features you’ll need for a flawless audio visual experience into one, reasonably priced bundle. Among those features are a five disc DVD changer, HDMI input with 1080p up-conversion, wireless rear satellite speakers, and built-in Dolby Digital and dts 5.1 encoding. The SCP-T750 is XM Radio ready and supports iPod playback with an included universal dock. Experience 5.1 channel surround sound you can feel with 1000 watts of pure digital power.
Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Main Speakers Power Output: 125 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD-RAM · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW · DVD-R DL · DVD+R DL
Subwoofer Power Output: 250 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
Dialog Enhancer: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 720p (750p) · 1080i (1125i) · 1080p (1125p)
Outputs: Composite x 1 · Component x 1
Built-in TV Tuner: NTSC
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 30

“For the price, sound, features, design and components, I consider this item as a bargain. The sound quality is good for a 1000w receiver (awesome), the wireless system it’s also included in the package. This brings comfort and it looks really good also. The video quality is normal. The design is good; the speakers are tinny and classy. The ipod dock is a good feature also, because is not an aux output, like the others. The dark side of this item is that it doesn’t have a digital input either a video input. It is a good option for those of you that are looking for great quality sound, but something simple. If you are looking for use this system as a receiver for other system like an Xbox 360 or ps3 you have to know that you can use it, but not as a digital device. You have to use it with regular audio cables (RCA). The lack of video input is other thing that you have to know, because you can’t use this device as an expander. In conclusion it works great and I really like this home theater and the best thing of all is the PRICE!!!”

Panasonic DVD Home Theater Sound System SC-BT100

This system is a full-function audio/video control center, combining a powerful 5.1-channel AM/FM receiver with an integrated DVD player capable of 720p, 1080i and 1080p video up-scaling for HDTV playback.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Wireless Speakers: Wireless Ready
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 2 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 250 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD-RAM · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · DVD Audio · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW · BD-RE · DVD-R DL · DVD+R DL · DVD-VR · Blu-ray
Subwoofer Power Output: 250 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: MP3 · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · DTS ES® · DTS Neo:6 · DTS 96/24 · Dolby Pro Logic IIx · Dolby TrueHD · DTS-HD
Dialog Enhancer: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 1
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 1080p (1125p)
Inputs: Digital Audio (Optical) x 1
Front Panel: Headphone Jack
Outputs: Component x 1 · HDMI x 1 · Digital Audio Optical x 1 · Headphone Jack · Speaker
OSD: Yes
Built-in TV Tuner: NTSC
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 60

“My family recently took the plunge and bought a Panasonic plasma for our living room as a second TV. While setting it up, I read about something called “VieraLink” – a way for Panasonic devices to talk to each other over an HDMI connection. My curiosity piqued, I hit the web to find out what kind of other toys might want to talk to my TV. An hour later I had placed an order for the SC-BT100. Buyer’s remorse kicked in almost immediately: did I really just spend almost a grand for a receiver and a glorified DVD player?
The math is simple: a comparable home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) system can be had for around $350. Throw in another $350 for a Blu-Ray player and you can build a functionally similar setup to the SC-BT100 and still have $300 left in your wallet. A-ha, but Panasonic still has a few aces up its sleeve here. First, there is the simplicity of having the Blu-Ray player included with the HTIB setup instead of as a standalone component; second, there is the interoperability promised by VieraLink; and finally, the icing on the cake – wireless rear speakers, which I figured would save a few hundred bucks in electrical work by avoiding the need to have speaker wire fished through my walls.
The first benefit is apparent right out of the box, as setup for the SC-BT100 is very straightforward. Panasonic obviously realizes the HTIB solution is aimed at home-theater rookies and people who like to keep things on the simple side, as they have gone out of their way to color-code everything.
Unfortunately, one of the components of this “keep it simple” philosophy backfired during my install. Panasonic provides 18-gauge speaker wire with bare wires on the speaker end, and a proprietary snap-in connector on the receiver side. The wires they provide are very short, and created some logistical challenges while deciding where to install the speakers. In the end I had to make a trip to Radio Shack and get instructions on how to perform a splice using a wire nut to extend the rear speaker wires. Something to note if you are the type who is into a completely fished, in-wall setup with no wires showing – you will definitely need a sautering iron and some extra wire to achieve your goals.
Wait – did I just say rear speaker wires? I thought they were wireless? Well, actually, they’re both. They are wireless in the sense that they don’t actually connect back to the main receiver; there is a wireless transmitter that snaps in to the back of the receiver, and a remote receiver that you place in the back of the room. But they do have wired connections to this remote device, which is itself connected to A/C to provide power to drive the rear speakers.
Finally, as for the VieraLink…what followed was a multi-step process involving two product manuals, three remote controls, one extremely UNhelpful call to Panasonic customer service, and enough swearwords to make a Longshoreman blush. Let’s just say it was not easy. It really should be – the steps are simple: 1) Turn on VieraLink function on the TV; 2) Enable and configure the functions using the TV remote; and 3) Set the audio properties using the SC-BT100′s remote. However, neither product’s manual gave a clear picture of the whole process, requiring me to try and stitch the two instruction sets together to make something meaningful (which took two days, because I literally gave up on day 1). The final challenge was that configuring the audio wasn’t done on an on-screen menu, like everything else in the process, but using the LED panel on the face of the SC-BT100. Why? The process was such a mess that I almost gave up. I’m glad I didn’t, because the result is pretty sweet: the receiver powers on automatically when the TV is turned on, and changes audio inputs to match whatever source I select for the TV. Sure, you could do most of this with macros on a good home-theater remote, but this is slightly more cool because the link works both ways, so popping a disc into the player automatically tunes the TV to the appropriate HDMI input.
So how does it sound? Pretty darn good, fairly comparable to the mid-pack Yamaha receiver and Cambridge Soundworks speakers in the other room. The subwoofer has serious punch, which is surprising because it is completely passive.
The Blu-Ray player looks great, even upscaling standard DVDs to look great on the new Panny TV. Our one BD title currently is “Live Free or Die Hard,” and stuff blows up real good with this system. Real good.
If you pull down a hatch on the front of the unit, surprise – there’s an iPod dock! I plugged my 4G video iPod in without the need for any adapter (your mileage may vary, depending on your iPod model) and it started charging right up. When switched to iPod mode, you can either control the iPod through an on-screen guide (“Extended” mode). This is what I tried first, and immediately discovered the fatal flaw with this method – moving through the menus takes forEVER. Literally. I have over 5,100 songs on the device, and calculated it would take over 35 MINUTES to scroll through my entire music catalog. If you can’t live with this, or want to watch videos from your iPod device on the TV screen, you can do so using “Simple” mode which requires you to use the iPod’s own on-device controls. You will also need a video cable connection from your iPod directly to your TV, which the SC-BT100′s manuals don’t make clear. As an added bonus, connecting up your iPod will also charge the device, even when the HTIB system is powered off.
The Blu-Ray disc door and iPod dock both feel somewhat flimsy, so don’t let your kids bang around on them too much.”

“We were looking to replace our Bose 321 system in our family room. Over about 4 years the Bose was showing its age more than a bit. Where movies used to be played and clearly heard with a volume setting of 40, we were now often at 80
I had wanted a blu ray player for some time, also wanted the complete 5 speaker surround system, ideally wanted it all integrated. I know going component by component can lead to an overall better system, but I am not an engineer nor am I an audiophile, so when I stumbled across this sytem, which further met our other requirement of not being too big, it was a hit. We did not want huge speakers dominating our family room, where we put the system.
It is interesting, we bought the Bose because it advertises easy installation, and it was, but this system was extremely well put together and easy to understand. In less than one hour, we had removed the Bose and installed the Panasonic, including the wireless surround sound.
Ok, the big moment, we put in The Fifth Element Blu Ray. Not exactly classical movies, but visually stunning, and in Blu Ray, it was UNREAL. Also, this system very very clearly illustrated that what we had before with Bose’s “simulated” surround sound, was in fact, very lacking. You can hear cars, bullets, etc. literally whizzing by your head. Voices are very clear, and big booms can literally shake the house.
The upconvert feature on non Blu Ray disks is excellent as well.
Overall, this is an awesome system, has funtioned perfectly, you did not have to be an engineer or technician to install or use it.
In my home it is paired with a Sony TV, so I cannot speak to the Viera Link.”

SC-PT960 Theater System with Wireless Panasonic Speakers

Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player · Radio Tuner
Wireless Speakers: With Wireless Speakers
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 2 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 250 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · VCD · SVCD · DVD-RAM · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW · DVD-R DL · DVD+R DL
Subwoofer Power Output: 250 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II · Dolby Pro Logic
Audio DAC: 12 bit / 108000 kHz
Dialog Enhancer: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 1080p (1125p)
Inputs: Digital Audio (Coaxial) x 1
Outputs: Composite x 1 · Component x 1 · HDMI x 1 · Analog Audio x 1
OSD: Yes
Tuner 
Built-in Radio Tuner: AM · FM
Tuner Presets: 60

“I bought my system from Buydig.com and saved over $50.00. It took us about 1.5 hours to hook up. The directions are somewhat confusing but we eventually got it done. It sounds great.”

“Great system if you can follow the instructions.  They are a generic sort and may or may not apply to this unit.  My son and I both have backgrounds in electronics and we finally resorted to pushing buttons and experimenting in a sort of trial and error mode.”

Panasonic SC-HT930 Theater System

Enter a world of high-energy acoustics with SC-HT930 home theater package from Panasonic. This surround sound system includes 2 tall-boy front speakers with stands, 1 center channel satellite speaker, 2 satellite surround speakers and 1 dual unit active subwoofer with diamond design for an excellent sound experience. The Home Theater Receiver incorporates a Dolby? Digital Decoder and Dolby? Pro Logic II surround sound for high-impact movie performance. In addition, a universal remote control offers you the flexibility to operate the system and also operate other devices. Along with the Progressive Scan 5-DVD Changer / Receiver and 10-bit Video D/A Converter, this home theater system makes watching movies and listening to music a truly exhilarating experience.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD Audio · CD (Audio)
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
Dialog Enhancer: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan

“When I was looking for a new system, I was originally looking for an “old-fashioned” two-speaker system, since I didn’t want wires for the rear speakers going across the room (and I’m not that much of a movie nut to require surround-sound when watching a film). Well, unless you want a flimsy bookshelf system, there’s little to choose from in two-speaker systems. I knew, also, that I definitely wanted a CD changer built-in, not wanting to have to buy a separate one.
I found the Bose 3-2-1 system, which only has a subwoofer and two speakers, but it’s very expensive (about $1,000) and only has a single CD player in it.
I came across this Panasonic line (they have an SC-730 that has lower wattage and an 830 with a built-in VCR) and was especially intrigued by the option of adding on a separate transmitter so that the rear speakers can be placed at the back of the room without wires going across. It also has a 5 DVD/CD changer built in. I paid about $450.
The main unit is very slim and sleek. The DVD/CD changer is a carousel type, very easy to use. Although I haven’t tried it yet, the manual says you can not only play them randomly, but can even play the CD’s in order but randomize the individual tracks (not sure why anyone would want to do this, but…).
The front speakers are mounted on stands. Be sure to read the manual before assembling them. Although it’s relatively easy–you only need a simple screwdriver–I made the mistake of removing the plastic wrapping before mounting the speaker and got myself into trouble as the speaker wire came loose. Oops. Nevertheless, I was able to do it myself (and I’m a fairly petite 5’3″).
The speakers are wired directly into the subwoofer, another feature that makes putting the system together quite easy.
The wire supplied to connect the main unit to the TV was too short, even though my TV/audio cabinet is not large. You may need to purchase a longer one.
There’s a slot in the main unit for the rear transmitter. Slide that in, plug in the (very small!) rear receiver and wire the back speakers into that and you can have surround sound without the wires all over the room. Note that the extra rear hook-up runs about $180.
At 1,000 watts the 930 is pretty powerful and the sound is terrific. (fyi, my cousin bought the less expensive 730 model, which is about 800 watts. The speakers, he said, are also a little different on that one and I don’t think it looks quite as sharp as the 930. It’s about $150 cheaper than this model.)
After checking out a lot of systems, this is a very good deal for the price.”

“I had tears in my eyes during the 2006 Winter Olympics opening ceremonies when Luciano Pavarotti performed. We had just remembered to turn the surround sound on. Boom! His voice and the gorgeous music flooded our living room. My husband looked at me and we smiled. We were mesmerized by the sights and sounds of the Olympics but we were grinning with giddy delight still about our home theater system.
Brief history: We knew we needed to replace the old Pioneer system from our long gone by newlywed days. So this past fall we purchased the Panasonic SC-HT930 at Boscov’s. We paid about $400 for it. (This is average. I have since seen them priced between $350-$450.) We were researching home theater systems for the past year. We narrowed it down to this system and a JVC model. What sold us on the Panasonic were two things: the amazing sound quality and the ability to automatically play all of the cds in random mode.
The older system from our college days allowed you to insert 5 cds and have them all play randomly. So the first song you might hear would be from disc 2, track 7 then it would play disc 4, track 1 and so on. Many of the newer systems won’t do this without you programming it to do so. Or they only play one cd at a time randomly. The Panasonic allows you to hit a couple of buttons and you are in the desired random mode. This feature was the deal maker for us.
As I said, sound quality on the 1000 watt Panasonic SC-HT930 is fantastic! The bass is terrific. It can shake the house. We probably don’t need this much power for our 264 square foot living room. But I love listening to music through this system and it sounds wonderful throughout the entire house. Playing DVDs and using the surround sound is awesome as well. We enjoy staying home and watching movies more than going out to the theater!
Now I can’t tell you much on the tech or setup side. Hubby handles all of that. I believe set up was fairly easy to do as there was little to none swearing done by my darling husband. I do know that the Panasonic SC-HT930 comes with 10 main pieces: the receiver, sub woofer, 5 speakers, 2 stands, and a remote. It has a Dolby digital surround sound and it plays the following discs:

DVD-RAM
DVD-AUDIO
DVD-VIDEO
DVD-R (DVD-VIDEO/DVD-RW, +R, +RW)
VIDEO CD
SVCD
CD
CD-R
CD-RW
(WMA, MP3, JPEG, CD, VCD)

This system has a tremendous amount of features as described in the manual: “advanced progressive scan, convenient functions, navigation menus, sound field control, bass sound enhancement and more.” Honestly, I know and use only a small portion of these.
The Panasonic Sc-HT930 home theater system satisfies my basic need for playing and enjoying music with high quality sound. It meets my husband’s desires for cool technology and “geeky” gadgets. We are very happy with our purchase its among the best home theater system products.
The Panasonic SC-HT930 earns a gold medal in our book!”

Panasonic SC-HTS7S Theater System

Key Features 
Included Components: Receiver · DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Main Speakers Power Output: 100 Watts
Subwoofer Power Output: 100 Watts
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · Dolby Pro Logic
DVD 
Inputs: Digital Audio (Optical) x 1 · Digital Audio (Coaxial) x 1

“I had been looking to buy a new stereo after selling mine a few months ago. After looking at a few different brands, i noticed that there was nothing i liked under $600 – $700. Every HTIB system under $700 had at least one thing that i was really unimpressed with.
Using Epinions, i did find this Panasonic system for $370 with $2.95 shipping and a $5 coupons for new customers. They also have a price protection policy, which helped, because i found this stereo for $20 less on another site soon after i placed my order Overstock. I had read some pretty awful reviews about buying electronics from overstock, but decided to go ahead and purchase this system due to the price (it sells for twice this much on some other sites) and the fact that it seemed to have all the features i was looking for in a HTIB.
The thing that impressed me the most about buying this item was the shipping. I was told when i ordered this thing, that shipping would take up to 14 business days to ship from Salt Lake City to Cincinnati. Imagine my suprise when it got to me in a week! It was well packaged and i’m glad to say it arrived without any further damage. I say further damage because i bought it as factory refurbished, and the seller informed me that it was dented when i bought it.
What they didn’t tell me was how badly it was dented. When i opened it up the entire top of the dvd/vcr player was caved in. Not enough damage to show once it was tucked away in my entertainment center, but enough for me to wonder if the vcr would work. I’m glad to say that after a trip to Radio Shack for some component, optical, and a/v cables, the unit worked just fine. I have since removed the cover and pounded the dent out to nearly the original condition.
After getting everything hooked up, i was pretty satisfied with the sound. The music and sound effects are clear and crisp, and once i tweak the settings on the sattelites i’m hoping to enjoy this little system for years to come. If i had to gripe about this system, there would be just a couple of things that got my goard. The passive sub-woofer, two separate remotes, the manual switching between optimal sound modes, which maybe operator error anyway.
In summary, in my opinion this is a good low end HTIB system. I bought it as a refurbished system, and apart from a couple of minor issues, would recommend it to anyone who wants to upgrade without breaking the bank”

“If you’ve ever dream of the system that can make video game music sound bass-ey, and rock music sound amazing, this is it! I also bought it because it plays both VCR tapes and DVD’s. I didn’t have DVD player yet, and I didn’t want my tapes to become obsolete. It will play CD’s, including home-burned CD’s containing MP3′s. The sound is great, and so hightech that you can actually program the system so that the music will sound best in a particular part of the room (in case, like most people, you don’t happen to always sit in the dead center of the room), by delaying the sound from different speakers so that all the sound will reach you at the same time. The is balance control, subwoofer volume control, and general volume control. The difficulty arises in switching between CD’s and the TV, for instance. The necessary buttons are difficult to find on the crowded remote (which lights up with the touch of a button for convenience). I keep my Game Cube hooked up to line 1 A/V and I have figured out how to switch to it using one button. It’s awesome to route video game music through the speaker system. The remote may not work with many TV’s; it doesn’t work with min, meaning that I have to do the remote-juggle. Also, I had to buy $15 in additional wiring to wire up the whole system, since it only comes with minimal wires.”

Panasonic SC-HT940 Theater System

The SC-HT940 features an added advancement to HDMI: HDAVI Control. HDAVI Control enables the user to enjoy home theater with the touch of a single button on the remote. Instead of having to use separate remotes to turn on a Panasonic television and home theater system, just by pressing the play button on the remote, the home theater and television are turned on and the correct inputs are automatically selected.
Key Features 
Included Components: DVD Player
Number Of Speakers: 5 Speakers and Subwoofer
Front Speaker: 2 Way
Main Speakers Power Output: 190 Watt RMS
Playable Disk Types: DVD Video · DVD-RAM · DVD-R · DVD-RW · DVD+R · DVD+RW · DVD Audio · CD (Audio) · CD-R · CD-RW · HighMAT · HDCD · Picture CD
Subwoofer Power Output: 320 Watt RMS
Playable File Formats: MP3 · WMA · JPEG
Remote Control: Yes
Audio 
Surround Sound: Dolby Digital® · DTS® · Dolby Pro Logic II
Audio DAC: 24 bit / 192 kHz
Dialog Enhancer: Yes
DVD 
Number of Discs: 5
Progressive Scan: With Progressive Scan
TV Resolutions: 720p (750p) · 1080i (1125i)
Built-in TV Tuner: NTSC

“Live in a loft, so running wires across the room was impossible and necessitated the wireless feature. Did lots of research and selected the Panasonic to complement my Panasonic 50″ Plasma. HDMI cabling made set-up a snap to integrate remote usage form both TV and home theater.
Research told me to immediately switch out the speaker “cable” (really cheap wire), to 16 gauge cable and the sound difference is night and day! The ability to adjust the volume and delay the sound in each speaker, the subwoofer level, etc., has allowed me to get it just so. Before I used to have to rely on wireless headphones when watching TV to hear dialogue because it got lost in my high-ceilinged, tremendous living room. Now, no problem discerning speech. And when friends come to watch movies they’re just thrilled! For the $, I’ve been exceptionally pleased.
And speaking of $, I purchased mine at Costco around August. Their package includes the wireless receiver (SH-FX60). And as double luck had it, I got there just as they began to sell them ($399), but they were offering them at $100 off, so I paid $299!
Unlike a previous reviewer, I have NEVER experienced spontaneous shut-down. But if I did, having purchased it at Costco, I know that they stand behind anything they sell, so I could just take it back for replacement or refund anytime. But I never heard of this happening before I bought mine or I wouldn’t have made the purchase.
On the downside, it’s not the greatest general music player I’ve ever owned. It’s not like I’m in a music club; but then again, I’ve never really cranked it up, so who knows. For me, however, I’d give it a 7. Which of course could also be the loft factor.
Also, I’ve had to call Panasonic a few times to ask how to do some things because I had trouble interpreting the manual. However, they were patient and stayed on the phone as long as I needed.
I believe there may be one or two better quality wireless HTIB systems, but definitely NOT at this price (especially if you get it at Costco).”

“We got this for our livingroom and we are amazed at how great it sounds.
We can truely feel like we are in the theater or if we are watching music videos it sounds like we are at a concert. You can feel the bass or feel the thunder. You can’t imagine how great it sounds until your in here.
We are so satisfied with this system its amazed us everyday since we got it. We turn it on and are like can you believe this?? You can place them around the room in different places and when you hear it you sometimes look around and think where did that come from? Its great.
You will have to take a look at this in the store and see for yourself how nice this system is and how much you will enjoy it being in your own home.
Here it is…
Integrated DVD Dream Home Theater System
-5 DVD progressive scan changer
-1000 watts peak power
-Auto speaker calibration
-Powered sub woofer
-Color coded speaker connection for easy set-up
-Precision Cinema Progressive (PCP)
-A/V Sync (Lip Sync)
-2 Front Floor Speakers
-Portable Enhancer
-Multi Speaker Formation; fit YOUR living room or entertainment center
-Dts, Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II, MP3 Playback
MSRP: $399.99″

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Panasonic Home Theater System

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