htibs

LG HB354BS: Both pretty and cool. So, pretty cool then

Blu-ray players look to have turned a corner this year--until now, they've been overpriced, badly specified, and worst of all, tedious to use. The LG HB354 is the latest to raise the bar, promising to bring a touch of glamour to the proceedings with its attractive styling and impressive features.

Clearly, this system is designed for people who want to de-clutter their lives. While the four-box 2.1 system does add some extra hardware to your home cinema system, it could, in theory, replace a small hi-fi, a DVD player, and a few other bits and bobs. Its iPod dock will appeal to anyone with a compatible device, and could form the basis of a likeable lounge audio system.

Blu-ray profile 2.0 is supported for interactive and online Blu-ray fun. There isn't quite the codec support we've seen on other LG players though--don't expect MKV playback. There is, however, some more basic Xvid and DivX support, as well as MP3s and JPEGs, so all isn't lost. … Read more

Samsung debuts HT-AS730 home theater system

Samsung has taken the wraps off the HT-AS730, a component-based home theater system. Unlike the slate of sexy Blu-ray home theater systems back at January's Consumer Electronics Show, the HT-AS730 is aimed at those who already have a disc player or game console: it has three HDMI inputs and four digital audio inputs (1 coaxial, 3 optical), plus an iPod/iPhone dock. The receiver/amplifier pumps out 650 watts of power to the five included speakers (there's also an active sub), and the system can be auto-calibrated to your specific room with the included microphone.

The Samsung HT-AS730 … Read more

Onkyo unveils 2009 entry-level HTIBs

Home-theater-in-a-box systems are often associated with tiny speakers and underpowered AV receivers, but Onkyo (like Yamaha) bucks the trend, packing its home theater systems with big, boxy speakers and component-grade AV receivers. The company announced two new HTIB systems this week, both of which look impressive in terms of value, at least from the specification sheet. Let's take a look at the new systems:

Onkyo HT-S3200

Key features of the Onkyo HT-S3200:

5.1 home theater system with 110-watts per channel Two-way front and center speakers, each with 3.25-inch woofer and 0.75-inch tweeter Smaller rear speakers, each with 3.25-inch woofer 110-watt subwoofer with 8-inch driver Component-style 5.1 AV receiver Audyssey Dynamic Volume and Audyssey Dynamic EQ Three HDMI inputs Two component video inputs Three digital audio inputs (two optical, one coaxial) Currently available in black, $380 list price

Onkyo HT-S5200

Key step-up features of the Onkyo HT-S5200:

7.1 home theater system with 130-watts per channel Two-way front speakers, each with a 5-inch woofer and 1-inch tweeter Three-way center channel with two 3.25-inch woofers and a 1-inch tweeter… Read more

Yamaha's 2009 home theater systems

We almost missed it in the deluge of press releases from Sony's 2009 line show, but Yamaha also rolled out its line of home theater systems (HTIBs) this week. Unlike most HTIBs that feature a lightweight AV receiver and custom speakers, Yamaha's systems include a component-grade receiver, speaker system, and subwoofer. Let's take a look at the line:

Key features of the Yamaha YHT-391BL:

5.1 home theater system Includes component-grade 100-watt AV receiver ( Yamaha HTR-6230BL) Four two-way satellite speakers, each with a 2.5-inch woofer and 0.5-inch tweeter 100-watt subwoofer with an 8-inch driver ( Yamaha YST-SW012) $400 list price

Key features of the Yamaha YHT-491BL:

5.1 home theater system Includes component-grade 100-watt AV receiver ( Yamaha HTR-6230BL) Includes NS-SP7800M speaker package (minus the sub), featuring two tall-boy speakers 100-watt subwoofer with an 8-inch driver ( Yamaha YST-SW012) $550 list price

Sony dishes out three five-disc DVD home theater in a box systems

Sony today announced a threesome of five-disc DVD/CD carousel changers, the DAV-HDX587WC, DAV-HDX589W and DAV-HDX285. Each 5.1 home theater in a box promises an improved initial setup experience as each system ships with a speaker calibration CD. All the newly announced systems feature an iPod cradle that can play audio or video off the device via the company's proprietary Digital Media Port interface. Additionally, all three home theater systems can upscale DVD video to 1080p when using an HDMI connection.

While all three models have the ability to use the Sony-branded S-Air wireless technology, both the higher-end … Read more

Sony lowers price on Blu-ray HTiBs

As Blu-ray continues its meteoric progression toward commodity-hood, Sony is doing its part to speed the process by building BD players into increasingly affordable home-theater-in-a-box systems, or HTiBs.

The company announced two new systems with built-in Blu-ray players, the BDV-E300 ($600 street) and BDV-E500W ($800), at its 2009 Las Vegas line show. When they ship in June, these new models will replace the more expensive current lineup, consisting of the BDV-IS1000 ($1,000) and BDV-IT1000ES ($2,000).

Both of the new systems incorporate full-featured profile 2.0 Blu-ray players that can send the latest BD soundtracks, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio, out over the included speakers (or out an HDMI port via LPCM or bitstream). Sony's press release didn't include wattage specs for either system.

Sony slims component HTIB system

When seemingly every home theater system is shrinking its number of speakers or doing away with rear speakers altogether, full component systems like the Sony HT-SS360 are getting ever more rare. But full in terms of speaker complement doesn't have to mean bulky.

With all all six speakers--slim center, left front, right front, surround right, surround left, and subwoofer--joining a central AV receiver, the HT-SS360 is aimed squarely at the mainstream, selling for $350 when it hits shelves in May. Styling is reminiscent of the company's BDP-S360 and BDP-S560 Blu-ray players, also announced at the show. The slim … Read more

Sharp BD-MPC home theater systems feature integrated Blu-ray

Last year there were a handful of home-theater-in-a-box systems with integrated Blu-ray, but in 2009, it looks as if the feature will be close to standard. Sharp has announced the BD-MPC series of home theater systems that come complete integrated Profile 2.0-compatible Blu-ray players. Not much additional information was released, but here's what we know.

Key features of the Sharp BD-MPC series:

5.1 home theater system 720 watts of power Blu-ray player included Profile 2.0 compatible with an Ethernet jack Both models available in the spring with an MSRP of $800

There are two models in … Read more

Panasonic SC-ZT1: Wireless, ultraslim speaker system

Panasonic released a bundle of home theater systems at CES 2009, but the SC-ZT1 is easily the best of the bunch. The SC-ZT1 is a wireless home theater system that uses the 2.4GHz band to send uncompressed audio to all four speakers. Like all wireless systems, you'll need need to run a power cable for each speaker--so it's not completely wireless--but you won't have to deal with long speaker cable runs all over your living room.

The SC-ZT1 is somewhat unusual as its technically a 4.0 system--there are just the four, spindlelike speakers (Panasonic calls … Read more

Samsung HT-BD1250: 5.1-channel home theater offers Blu-ray, Netflix, Pandora

Samsung's got three new all-in-one home theater systems for 2009, all of which are headlined with built-in Blu-ray and support for streaming online Netflix video and Pandora's free Internet music service. The HT-BD8200 and HT-BD7200 are both "lifestyle" systems with minimalist form factors, funky designs, and front-only virtual surround sound (the former is a speakerbar with wireless subwoofer and the latter sports a 2.1 design). But if you want real surround sound, you're going to need actual rear speakers--and that means the more traditional 5.1-channel design of the Samsung HT-BD1250.

Samsung, of course, … Read more