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Sharp Home Theater System Reviews and Systems Secifications

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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”

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.

Sharp Home Theater

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