Onkyo HTS590 5.1 Channel Component Home Theater Audio System Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this system based on reviews I read at a major retailer's website and here at Amazon. I wanted a home theater system without a DVD player which would offer flexibility. This system certainly offers performance and flexibility for the price. Many features and easy setup.
There are some easy and economical things we did to improve the sound. First, because this system allows you to upgrade the speaker wire, we bought 16 gauge speaker wire from a major discount chain for the center, front and rear channel speakers. We got 14 gauge speaker wire for the subwoofer (thicker wire passes more current to the sub and has improved the performance of the 8-inch woofer). We spent $14 for a coaxial cable at another discount store which carries the digital signal from the DVD player to the Onkyo receiver--this improved EVERYTHING--movies and music. We found speaker stands at a major discount chain for $78--speakers sound much better when they have a strong/rigid support. This may sound like stuff an audiophile would do to a $5000 audio system, but it all is cheap, easy and effective. Sound improved by about 45%.
We were surprised at the tuner in the Onkyo receiver--we're using a small Terk powered FM antenna and getting very good FM stereo reception in our hilly river community. All in all, for the small cost of this system, we're enjoying home theater greatly. We might spend a little to get a new sub at some time, but for now we're really happy.

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Onkyo 6 Channel HTIB HTS590

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Bose 3򈭽 GSX Series III DVD Home Entertainment System - Graphite Review

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(More customer reviews)Here's my background in music and home theater. At one point I had a home with a 'music room' (isolated front room - no TV) which contained some nice furniture and was spacious - about 20x17. Had KEF 105.7 speakers, a tube amp, a good preamp - and it was great to just sit an listen to all types of music. It was a powerful system, pushing 300W (as I recall) into the KEF's. Then I moved and lost my 'music room' - but got a nice Sony DLP TV and added a Sony Home Theater, not a great one, maybe $500 total. This system was OK, but never really listened to it for music, it was just not the same as the KEF's. (Oh, these KEF's are floor standing, large speakers). They would totally dominate the room I have now, which is about 17x15. The Sony 5.1 system did OK as mentioned, but nothing to write home about. The other day I decided to do some research on the web on a new HTIB (Home Theater in a Box) system. Went to the Forums - all of them, and most had recommendations covering all sorts of pricing, and of course, it's what they purchased. Surprising to me, BOSE was not well thought of, and price always entered the equation. I had heard BOSE before in the BOSE store, and decided to check it out again. I went there, and they made it easy, a 60 day return policy, no questions ask. I took home a 321 series III GS (no music storage). I also got the small bookshelf speaker stands. Took me about 10 minutes to set it up in my bedroom and connect to the Flat Panel TV on the wall. I did not even open the manual to set up instructions, the cables only plugged in one place - can't get it wrong. Powered it up, and had music and TV via optical to Direct TV PVR. Wow, the sound was 'open' - and clear. So what does 'open' mean? The highs were powerful, the lows were the same - the voices were as if they were right in front of you. However, it was a bit to 'sharp' for me, so I cut down the Treble a bit and it was better. I lived with this for 3 days, and my wife loved it. Then I took the system to my 17x15 front room where the DLP is. Set the system up and I was immediately converted back to my KEF days - it was great. I sat and listened to all types of music - and I'm more of a Beatles guy leaning toward harder Rock, but Mozart even sounded great - the Juds - wonderful.. CCR was a new experience. A few days more and I decided I wanted the GSX, so I could store music - I called the BOSE store, told them want I wanted to do, they had a system ready for me, came to my car, got the old GS system, put the new one in my car, and I was off - after paying the difference of course. Brought it home, set it up and started burning my CD's - which takes about 5 minutes per CD - and you can only do 10 at a time as the system buffers these before writing to the hard drive. A few days more and I went back and bought my son one for Christmas - he's a great guy doing well in his new job (just graduated from College). Anyway, I now sit and listen to music a fair amount and enjoy it again.
As you have perhaps read, this system is not for everyone. The speakers are small - which was a plus for me - I've had the large ones, not what I wanted this time around. The two speakers sit almost hidden on a shelf, either side of the TV. The bass speaker is over against the wall, hardly know it's there. It's not 5.1 surround sound, but I rarely heard the Sony rear speakers before when playing music. Don't miss this - except for maybe on DVD's - but this is OK for me. Now, having said this, I am considering spending another $1300 and getting the Lifestyle 38 - but am waiting to see if I can talk my self out of this - it's a better system I think, but will I really notice? I don't know. I can use the $1300 elsewhere, but I have the money to spend so I may do it. I would recommend the 321 for a try, in your own home. I think you will see what I mean when you get it home and turn it on.
Merry Christmas '08
Scott
-----------------
12/20/08 So, I had to find out.. I went to BOSE and purchased a Lifestyle 38 - the next to the top of the line, with recording ability. I wanted to see the 5.1 system perform - and I did a comparison test, the LS38 speakers right on top of the 3-2-1 speakers. I set the LS38 to only play 2 speakers + bass, and did an A/B comparison - the same recorded song, switching back and forth. The same volume #, so it was close - and it sounded the same volume. Listening to the LS38 - it sounded good.. as you would expect.. then switched over to the 3-2-1 and it was better! This becomes a bit hard to define - if you were to put your hand in front of your mouth, maybe 1" away, and talk to someone, they could still hear you, and understand you. Now remove your hand and they perhaps hear you with more clarity. This is how I would explain the difference, the 3-2-1 with more clarity. I wrote BOSE about this and here is their response "If you purchased the new 3-2-1(R) GSX Series III system you have the latest Bose system." - this says little, perhaps they know the 3-2-1 sounds better? / different. You read into it what you want. This is not slamming the SL38 by any means, its a great system too - but I, my personal choice, is the 3-2-1 ; others I'm sure will take the LS38 - but for $1300 more than the 3-2-1 GSX, it's not worth it to me. (I would also say the 3-2-1 had more center 'presents' than the LS38, even running 4 speakers (3+1) on the 38
sc


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Panasonic SC-BTX70 1080p Premium Blu-ray Compact Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)Usually connecting a home theater to a TV (with cable box, video game, DVD, etc) is a logistical nightmare requiring a million hours and a million cables. If you have an HDMI TV, all you need is this unit, an HDMI cable (to run from the system into the TV), and a digital audio optical cable (to run out of the TV into the system), and you're set. Sounds excellent for music, movies, and video games without needing to set up surround speakers. Good bass response for size, and $450-475 is a great price for it.

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Bose Lifestyle 38 - Home theater system - 5.1 channel - white Review

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(More customer reviews)While the sound quality is good, this $3k system is definitely not up to the hype due to poor UI and Usability designs by Bose. I would not have bothered if I was buying even $1500 system but for 3k it is not really worth. While everyone talks about how great this system is, let me talk about some major drawbacks of this system that no one talks about:
1) It does not display Track/album info for custom CDs (for e.g. the ones you ripped off from online music stores) and MP3 CDs! Yes, thats true! How can anyone browse through 100+ songs from an MP3 CD and select the song that they want without seeing any track/album display on the TV Screen? I am extreamly upset with Bose lacking "common sense" here! Come on Bose, even my old $100 cheap DVD system can display this info on the screen! If you let the users play mp3 CDs didn't it occur to you that they would perhaps would like to choose the song they want to listen to?
2) It does not let you store MP3 CDs.
3) It does not let you transfer music from your PC.
4) It does not import the Title/Album info for the custom CDs that you burn with music that you have downloaded. It just names all the tracks and album info for the this type of CD with '-No Label-' title! You have to spend days to Edit (BTW editing is horrible too) all this info to make it right (if you have patience at all). If you end up storing more then one custom CDs, they all look the same when you browse through music library! So, there is no way to distinguish between them and hence you are really screwed! If you were to edit the title of a song/album, there is no way to listen to the song (to make sure it is the right song) while editing it! While listening, you can't edit the title! How stupid!
5) Browsing through music library is a pain. If you have 200 CDs, there is no way to skip to a particular CD in a second. for e.g if you want to go to 100th CD, you have to cick 100 times to get to it in the list! Same thing goes for Artist, Album and track selection.
6) The playlist feature is not really good. You are stuck with UMusic and a very basic playlist option.
7) Editing feature is not really intutive. There is no way you can key in letters using the Remote controls number pad (such as the ones you have with Cellphones. Each number will have 3 letters assigned to it etc...) There is no way to play and doublecheck the song while editing the title for a song/album. So, imagine yourself editing a bunch of songs with no preview!
Well the bottomline is that this pricy system is lacking so many basic features showing how Bose did not do a good job of focussing on usability. It is not just about the sound, the system should be functional too! I hope Bose realizes this soon! In any case Bose just lost their image as far as I am concerned!


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Designed to change the way you think about movies, music, and even your CD collection, the Bose Lifestyle 38 DVD home entertainment system digitally stores and organizes up to 200 hours of music (around 200 to 300 CDs, depending on the timing of the discs). The system also lets you enjoy your movies on standard or high-definition-ready televisions in scintillating progressive-scan video. Meanwhile, the system's Jewel Cube speaker arrays and low-frequency-producing Acoustimass module fill your room with rich, full-bodied sound.The stylish, 2-tone silver/black media center features an integrated DVD/CD player and AM/FM tuner. You get Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround processing for lifelike surround effects from your favorite movies, as well as Bose Videostage 5 processing for turning mono and stereo sources into surround programs. The DVD/CD player plays your DVD-Video movies (NTSC or PAL, depending on your TV), DVD-R/RW homemade discs, and CD-based music, including MP3 files written to recordable CD-R or CD-RW.Among the Lifestyle 38's innovative features is its ADAPTiQ audio calibration system, which analyzes your room and adjusts the system's sound for optimal performance in the spots you like to listen from, and the uMusic intelligent playback system.The uMusic system uses proprietary Bose technology to turn the media center into a virtual DJ capable of playing a continuous stream of the music you most enjoy and--even cooler--adapting to your preferences, even as they change. You can instruct system to play what you want, when you want it. Giving instructions requires only that you react to your stored music as it plays. Pressing "Encore" tells the system to search for music with characteristics that closely match what's playing, narrowing its field of choices in response to your command.Pressing the - (negative) rating tells the system to move on because this particular track is not right for this time of day, this activity, or for the person listening. Submitting a + (positive) rating has the opposite effect: the system learns that you particularly like the track playing. Not every track you like requires a + rating, but you can always give special songs this nudge. Over time the system adjusts the type of music it plays when your preset is selected. And you don't need to worry that any response you make now will be etched in concrete: you may easily override your established preferences at any time.When you load your collection into the media center (copying takes about 5 minutes per disc), the system searches an internal and regularly updatable database to assign artist and track names, genre, and other details, which you can edit or update as you wish.The Lifestyle 38 features award-winning Jewel Cube speaker arrays, which measure just 4.5 inches high, for dramatically lifelike sound. These are the smallest and most powerful speaker arrays Bose makes, producing sound you'd expect from speakers much larger. The Acoustimass module (essentially a subwoofer) produces resounding low notes that bring action sequences to life and add fullness to music. Place the Acoustimass module out of sight, so all sound seems to come from the Jewel Cube speaker arrays.Other features include AM/FM tuning with 40 preset stations (20 FM, 20 AM), a sleep timer (10 to 90 minutes), and console input jacks for connecting other source components (such as a VCR, DSS, CD changer, or tape deck).Connections include digital and analog audio inputs and outputs for a range of ancillary components, with a choice of composite-video, S-video, or--with an optional-use cable that connects to both the composite- and S-video outputs--480i/480p component-video outputs, depending on your television.A feature called Bose link allows connections for compatible Bose products in as many as 14 additional rooms using optional hookup gear.What's in the Box Media center, 5 speakers, 1 Acoustimass module, FM/AM antennas, all requisite cabling, a remote control with batteries, a user's manual, a quick-setup guide, AC power cords, 2 system discs, an optional-use IR emitter cable, an ADAPTiQ audio calibration system headset, and warranty information.Note: This system is designed to store the audio tracks of regular CDs only. It will not store MP3 tracks or the contents of DVDs.

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

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



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Samsung HT-Z510T 5.1-Channel 5 Disc Home Theater Surround Sound System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Amazing sound at a great price! I really like the wireless rear speakers.
I connect my mp3 player directly to the receiver and BAMM! great sound all through the house. I also have connected my Samsung BD-P1500, which makes the Blu-ray experience incredible.
It is extremely easy to set up, and its upconverting feature makes any movie look good at 1080p resolution.
I recommend this product, if you want a great surround sound system at a good price.

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Yamaha YHT-491BL Home Theater in a Box (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)To the 1-star reviewer: You Sir, cannot be taken seriously. Maybe if you had posted an actual review of the product instead of a paranoid rant you could be taken seriously, but as it is your words are a flaming tower of babble.
For me, purchasing a surround-sound decoder and speaker system was the last link in my HT setup. I decided on the YHT-491BL for 5 reasons in particular:
1. I decided all I really needed is 5 speakers for great surround sound, not 7. I've heard the
difference and 7 speakers just isn't kosher for a living room that is being asked to do double-duty as a theater.
2. The price point of the 491BL fit my budget. Also, free shipping was a $55 value.
3. HDMI, optical, and coax digital inputs: my DVR, PS3, and Mac Mini connect easily.
Note: The HDMI inputs are video only and you will still need to connect your digital sound
sources to the receiver via TOSlink optical (2 avail), or digital coax cable (1 avail).
These digital audio cables are very inexpensive.
4. Sound quality from the active-servo subwoofer: I've owned a pair of Yamaha desktop computer speakers (YST-M15) and matching subwoofer (YST-MSW8) for over 10 years and I have never tired of the smooth sound and surprising power from these little studs. The 491BL did not disappoint me from the second I turned it on. The active-servo subwoofer keeps the bass tight and accurate, and the crossover slope from the bass to the mid frequencies is very smooth. The front left and right channels are mounted on good looking stands -- which gets the sound off the floor and puts it at the level it's supposed to be. So far these speakers sound awesome with movies, games, and music.
5. Yamaha quality. The long-lasting aforementioned desktop speakers, and a well-built Yamaha motorcycle have made me a believer in the quality of Yamaha products. Now if I could only learn to play the piano...
I am very happy with this system and have no complaints.

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Yamaha YHT-590BL Home Theater in a Box (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I wanted a nice sound system to compliment my Sony 40-inch LCD screen. Originally I purchased Onkyo 3100, however, it did not have any HDMI connections and it would cause the video to stutter on programs in HD. I wanted the Onkyo 5100 but the speakers were simply enormous. I decided to go with Yamaha YHT-590 because of the receiver and the slim looking speakers. The installation took about 45 minutes as I had to cut and splice the thin looking wire (18 gauge). Once plugged in everything sounded excellent. Cannon fire in Master and Commander and the Pirates of the Caribbean was thundering and simply mind blowing. Depth charges in Das Boot...well you have to hear it to really appreciate it. :-).
One of the previous reviewers stated that the center speaker had to be turned down to hear the dialogue and such. Setup options in the receiver allow for numerous tweaks and options which you'll want to play with as the size of your room and the room acoustics will differ from user to user. I have an odd living room with the kitchen right next to it. I had to manually adjust the distance from the speakers to our sitting position to fully optimize the sound. There are also options that will allow you to adjust audio volume from source to source....Again, to fully enjoy any HT system you'll have to spend an hour or so to make sure its configured properly. Also, of note is that I wanted to upgrade the cheap looking wire and I purchased Monster XP which is a 14 gauge thick wire. It did not make any difference in sound whatsoever....Overall, very pleased with this system, looks great and it sounds even better. Highly recommended.

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Yamaha YHT-493BL 5.1 Channel 500 Watt HTiB System (Each, Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the Yamaha system because Consumer Reports rated it highly. I agree with their review, it's an excellent system! And buying it on Amazon was the best price I found, even better than eBay or Craigslist. I recommend the Yamaha HTiB and I recommend buying it on Amazon.

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Yamaha's YHT-493BL 5.1-Channel HTiB System is the easy way to enjoy the cinema experience at home. Featuring 500 watts of power (100Wx5), the latest HDMI specifications, and popular Yamaha technologies like SCENE and CINEMA DSP, you'll be sure to get the most out of your high-definition movies and music.

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Yamaha YSP-3000SL Digital Sound Projector (Silver) Review

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(More customer reviews)The HDMI version on this product is 1.2. It supports only 2 channel LPCM audio over HDMI. The HDMI switch will also clip BTB and WTW information passed in from the source.
Otherwise, when setup properly in a square room without furnitures, the surround effect works pretty well. But only if you sit directly in front of it.

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The New YSP-3000 offers great new features such as 1080p-compatiable HDMI, iPod compatibility and wide variety of beam settings including My Surround for true multi-channel surround sound enjoyment from a single component. The YSP-3000 applies the Digital Sound Projector technology to precisely control the orientation of the sound by focusing it through multiple beams. The center channel sound is heard directly, while sounds from other channels are heard after reflecting off walls. The result is true multi-channel surround sound that sounds just like a multi-speaker system but without the need for extra speakers! As amazing as it seems, the YSP-3000 can actually deliver multi-channel sound that surrounds listeners the same way that sound from front, center and rear speakers does. DVD movies and other digital sources sound just the way they are supposed to. Dolby Pro Logic II is included, so even 2-channel TV's sound can be heard in true multi-channel surround. Its elegant space-saving design avoids the need of numerous speakers and cables. It can be wall mounted or placed on a shelf or rack. . It powers the 21 beam drivers at 2W each and the two woofers at 20W each, for a total of 82W of power. There is no need for the customer to purchase an additional amplifier or receiver, so the system is compact and economical.

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Yamaha YHT-690BL Home Theater in a Box (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Great product for the price. I did the super saver shipping which took about a week longer that regular shipping but was free so it's worth it if you aren't in a hurry. The set up was very easy compared to other systems I've tried. I'm very happy with the sound. I tried the Phillips 2-channel sound bar prior to buying this and there is no comparison. It took a little time to figure out all the settings and we finally figured out that you have to hit the surround sound enhance button on the remote to get the 5-channel to work with the TV mode and radio mode. The speaker wire that came with the system is worthless. You definitely need to upgrade.

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Sony EZWT100 S-AIR Signal Transmitter - Black Review

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

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

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Yamaha YHT-390BL Home Theater in a Box (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I spent months picking a stereo system; reading reviews, listening to different systems at big box stores, and ultimately settled on this one.
The reason is simple: this 5.1 system sounded better than any other I tested, even those that cost twice as much! The sound quality of this system is simply amazing at this price. You could drop 3x as much on a Bose system and be less satisfied.
Pros:
2 HDMI inputs with full 1080p pass through. Have a lot of devices? No worries. You can connect a game console, a cable box, and a DVD player, all with zero loss of resolution and picture quality. There are more expensive systems that lack this feature. However, the audio pass through from HDMI cable goes directly to your tv, meaning you have to run a separate digital sound cable from your DVD player or CableBox. Not that big a deal as optical and digital cables are cheap these days, but it does mean one more cable to worry about. Here is a very reasonable Optical Digital Audio Cable and here is a Digital Audio Cable - both of which would be perfect.
Amazing sound quality. This system has a powered sub woofer, which is a MUST for high quality, deep bass. Other systems in this price range lack this feature. The speakers are solid wood construction. Although not glamorous, they feel so much better than plastic, and will still be around when cheaply made plastic bodied speakers are in a land fill.
The speaker themselves produce accurate, high quality sound, from the highest highs to deep bass. I put them through their paces with both DVDs and music CDs, and everything I threw at them sounded wonderful. (My test included "Hero," "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers," and "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi," to test the surround sound processing. For music quality, I tested "The Killers: Sam's Town," "Copeland's Clarinet Concerto," and "Metallica: S&M."). Surround sound processing was great in entertain: surround mode. This system has made watching movies and TV a new experience!
High quality build from the amp to the speakers. Some other systems I considered ran VERY hot (Like the Onkyo HT-SR800). You could feel the heat coming off the amp without even touching it. This system runs a lot cooler, and makes me less worried about it burning out. It also helps the other devices in my audio cabinet stay cool and happy.
Many pre-sets, and a reasonably well designed remote. The remote is functional but not exceptional. One of my few frustrations with the system is it's limited ability to change the speaker pre-sets. You can only switch between a few of them with the remote. I frequently have to change them by hand using the buttons on the front of the amp. I've adjusted to this my making use of the four presets for "DVD watching, TV Watching CD Listening, and Radio Listening" each of which you can assign your own audio presets. Now, depending on what I want to watch, I can hit 1 button and I'm done. My wife loves this feature as she can get a DVD going in about five seconds without headaches!
Cons:
The speaker wire that comes with the set is thin. Spend the cash to get some good 16 gauge wire (and by good, I don't mean overpriced Monster brand wiring!). Any solid 16 gauge wire will work. This speaker wire would be a reasonably priced option.
This system has exceeded my expectations. I have some quibbles with the remote design, but presets take care of the majority of them. If you want amazing sound from a 5.1 system for under $400, you can't do better. You can even spend twice as much and get less for your money than you do with the Yamaha YHT-390BL.


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Onkyo HT-S6200 7.1-Channel Home Entertainment Receiver/Speaker Package with Dock for the iPod Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pros
* Has the latest HD Decoders for Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio (lossless audio for bluray movies).
* HDMI passes through sound, therefore no need for extra audio cables (unlike the HT-S5200)
* Sound gets very loud, but maintains clarity. Bass response, tonal balance, dynamic range are very good.
* Several listening modes that enhance your experience (Virualize stereo sound into surround sound, i.e. DTS Neo:6)
* IPOD dock included. This is normally a seperate item to purchase. Get more use out of your IPOD.
* Quality product all around, solidly built. Sleek piano black finish for the speakers. Receiver, clean and simple. Not too large or heavy either, unlike past Onkyo HTIBs.
* Affordable! (Amazon had the cheapest price, plus free shipping, plus no tax!)
Cons
* Does not upconvert sigals to 1080P. Therefore, if your Nintendo Wii displays 480P, then this receive will not upconvert and you will still see 480P.
* Does not convert analog signal to digital. Basically, does not convert component signal to HDMI. Therefore, if you have a component connection like an old DVD player, you will need to install component out to the TV as well. You cannot connect all connections to this reciever, and have them output through the HDMI. No conversion between signal types. Component in/Compononet out, HDMI in/HDMI out, Composite in/Composite out.
* Remote control is average at best, which is to be expected. Currently working with Onkyo support to use remote as universal remote for all components. I just dont want to invest in an expensive universal remote :-)
Additions
* Bought my own speaker wire and speaker stands from [...]. Very cheap, good quality products.
* Ran speakerwire under carpet and baseboards. Suprisingly, very clean, although its not the most ideal.
Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase. I recommend this to everyone is looking to install a quality HTIB, that sounds as good as more expensive custom systems. Of course, you can get better sound, but you maybe paying three to four times more. Therefore, for the price and features, you are getting a great value. Five stars.

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Bose® 3 2 1® Series II DVD Home Entertainment System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Bose claims that this system, with only two speakers and a subwoofer (Acoustimass module in Bose-speak), approaches the sound of a conventional 5 speaker system. This was evident the first night we listened to it. I had not yet taken down the rear speakers of my old surround-sound system, and my step-son commented that the sound of the movie was great coming from the rear speakers. They were no longer hooked-up! It's not a perfect surround-sound experience, but for two speakers and a subwoofer it's amazingly close. And the clarity! From old movies to newly recorded music, the detail if fantastic. The Acoustimass module delivers outstanding performance. The ease of setup was inline with Apple standards -- very simple directions, and the setup CD was a bonus. It's difficult to believe that three speakers and a media center replaced 6 speakers, a DVD player, a receiver, many and lengthy wires, with the end-result being a far more satisfying experience. Oh! The universal remote actually works for all my devices! I suppose I have to list a "con", so I'll say that $1000.00 for a home theater system is pricy, and should indeed provide a lot of bang for the buck. Yet the 3-2-1 Series II delivers on these expectations. I highly recommend this home theater system.

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LG LHB536 1100W 3D Blu-ray Home Theater System with Smart TV Integrated Wi-Fi Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)LG LHB536 is a overall a good system for the price. Price will probably come down. So if you can wait to buy, keep an eye on the price. Sound is good and there are no wireless speakers but speakers are easy to hook up. The wireless connection is great for streaming video from Netflix. I love this feature. If you have cable set top box you connect the HDMI output from the box to an HDMI input on the LG system. Then you connect the HDMI out from the LG to an HDMI input on your TV. You DO NOT need a digital optical out cable if you connect using HDMI. The instructions that come with the system to set it up Stink but you can get good support by calling their support line.
PROS: Price, sound, picture, wifi with streaming video if you subscribe to Netflix, Vudu, cinemax etc., I POD connect, Bluray DVD. Good telephone support
Cons: The remote is not a learning remote, so it will not turn power on for your TV or cablebox. Manual is lacking details
Update to my review on april 18, 2011. LG has updated the software on this system to include Amazon VOD and additional premium applications. I have networked the Lg to my mac computer and I can listen to my music files and view my pictures on my TV. NICE! Amazon now has the best price on this system under $400.00. Buy it!

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(March 2011)
Internet-Ready Devices

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Panasonic SC-BT230 5.1 Surround Sound System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Panasonic's SC-BT230 is a vertitable jack-of-all-trades: this thing plays CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray Discs, but it also has a built-in iPod dock which is compatible with iPod, iPod Touch and iPhone for playback of music, photos *and* videos through your home theater system and TV. But wait, there's more! It also includes built-in amplification, five speakers and a subwoofer for discrete 5.1 channel surround sound, has on-board decoding of the latest audio codecs (DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby TrueHD, etc.), does a nice job upconverting DVDs to 1080p resolution, streams Netflix, Amazon VOD and YouTube, and has a built-in FM tuner.
If you want to use it with a cable or satellite box, a TV's built in ATSC tuner or a gaming system, then just plug it into one of the unit's two fiberoptic digital inputs (for full 5.1 channel compatibility) or use the one analog stereo input. Set-up is pretty simple: the speaker wires are all included and all are terminated in proprietary, color-coded connectors that plug into the back of the main unit. I would have liked to see matching colors on the other ends of the cables as well as on the rear, center and surround channel speakers themselves, but hey, you can't have everything (I mean... where would you put it?). At least the speaker wires are labeled "+" and "-" so you won't be plugging in the speakers out of phase from each other (which can have a nasty effect on the sound). The only other cable you'll need is HDMI (not included) which connects the system to your HDTV. A composite video connection is also available for hooking the unit up to older analog TVs (though you'll only get standard def output this way). With the HDMI cable connected, set-up was a breeze as the TV and HTiB system communicated via VIERA Link (more on that later) to automatically set the screen shape (16:9) and resolution (1080p).
For a $399 packaged system (available even cheaper on Amazon) that includes a built-in Blu-ray player, the sound quality was much better than I expected. The bass is solid, if not really extended and there was very little thumpiness or boom. The tiny little center speaker actually does a pretty good job reproducing dialog and the main front and surround speakers (which are identical to each other, slightly smaller than the center speaker) can put out a surprisingly high volume level. "Avatar" on Blu-ray was a sonic and visual splendor with this system hooked up to a 46-inch VIERA 1080p HDTV. The spoken word was easily audible (whether in English or Na'vi), and the explosions and gun fire produced a deep rumble that actually made our floor shake a little bit. The built-in FM tuner was a bit thin-sounding with only average reception but for casual radio listening, it gets the job done.
Where the system has some flaws is in its actual operation, particularly if you start taking advantage of multiple inputs. Navigating iPod content, for example, is pretty tricky. Inserting the iPod into its dock and hitting the "iPod" button on the remote is simple enough, bringing up a music menu which lists things like playlists and artist selections on the big screen. The unit's remote can be used to navigate through the songs and other content on your iPod. But to get to the higher level iPod menu (where photos and videos are also available), you need to know to hit the "sub-menu" button on the remote. And if you do want to view iPod videos, then you need to hook up a separate composite video cable (included) to your TV. Also, selecting from the other inputs (other than Blu-ray) can be a chore. There is a little "Radio/Ext In" button on the remote that cycles through the available inputs. But it's slow to lock on incoming signals and the text that appears on the LCD readout on the front of the unit is fairly cryptic -- "DIG-IN-1" -- huh? You can also bring up a list of available inputs on the TV screen, but again, this option is not that easy to find.
And if you hook the unit up to a newer TV (from Panasonic or even other brands) with the HDMI cable, then the HDMI-CEC feature (called "VIERA Link" on the Panasonic) can be both a boon and a curse. HDMI-CEC can allow you to operate the functions of the HTiB from a TV's remote control (which is handy) but it also makes certain choices for you about how everything in the system should work together. For the most part, this is helpful (like when you insert a Blu-ray Disc and VIERA Link automatically switches the TV to the correct input) but in some cases, it's annoying, like if you want to listen to music on your iPod, and then you turn off the TV, it shuts down the receiver automatically. Doh. This can be disabled (or behavior modified) in either the HTiB or TV's set-up menu, but unsophisticated users might not be able to figure out what's going on.
Boot-up and loading speeds are a bit slower than we're used to seeing on current generation standalone Blu-ray players, but certainly faster than the early players. Also, a firmware update that we performed took longer than expected (maybe 15 minutes?) with very little indication of what was going on, other than a green flashing light and "SRD" on the display.
Network set-up for us via a wired cable was a breeze (sorry, no built-in WiFi). The player was able to get a dynamic address and DNS info set up automatically. Our very first connections to YouTube and Netflix went through without a hitch and soon we were streaming HD movies from Netflix for free (well, free with a Netflix DVD or Blu-ray rental plan that is). The "VIERA Cast" button on the remote goes right to the IPTV features (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) so those should be easy enough for people to find.
For a pretty small investment, this little HTiB system offers an excellent upgrade to a TV's built-in speakers, while also feeding your HDTV with some fine 1080p HD material on Blu-ray Disc as well as a number of web-based streaming options. Pandora internet music streaming is not available yet but should be coming in a future firmware upgrade. The operational idiosyncrasies are easy enough to get used to, once you figure them out. All in all, it's an excellent choice for a full-featured but inexpensive little home theater system.

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Get your home theater going right out of the box with the Panasonic SC-BT230 home entertainment system, which includes a Blu-ray Disc player/amplifier plus a complete 5.1-channel surround sound speaker system (including one subwoofer, one center channel speaker, and four satellite speakers).

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