Editorial Review

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

Reviews

Dont even worry....., June 22, 2010
I was skeptical I admit

I moved out of my house into a much smaller townhouse and I had to give up my Klipsche 2 series 5.1 system.....I HATED giving up surround sound. I have been bouncing back forth between this one and the CT350 model. I was scared that this wouldn't be as loud as I would like it........wow was I wrong. The room I have it in is only 11 X 15 (system on short side) and this thing is fantastic. It has a max volume of 50 and I find 24 to be more than enough. Is it true 5.1....no... but it has great surround effects and very full sound.....you will feel like the action is going around you which is what we all want anyway isn't it?

I tested it with Avatar Blu Ray..... Lord of the Rings ROTK Disc 2 DVD......Invictus ON Demand (for the accents.....hard on TV speakers).....was blown away each time

I turned up the center to +5 to bring out the dialog a little more and set the sub at +2

I also mounted the speaker ABOVE the TV which I feel really helps to bring out the surround effects because they don't get lost down near the ground around the furniture

It is a little slow switching inputs but that is to be expected......the remote will only control Sony products....so if you have non Sony stuff invest in a Harmony remote

If you are planning this for a really large room and you are going to be sitting 17 or more feet away maybe you should consider the 400W 350 model..... but for a normal room you will be thrilled by this unit.

I couldnt be more happy with this purchase

WAS a skeptic. keyword: WAS!, July 5, 2010
i was really skeptical about going with a sound bar at first, but all of those thoughts were out the window as soon as the system got broken in (about 1 or 2 day period to fully break in the system). coming from the traditional 5.1 systems (have had systems ranging from home theater in a box-type of setups to bose lifestyle 5.1's to martin logan set ups), i was really surprised at how well this 1 speaker set up simulated "surround sound". i found myself looking over my shoulder every now and then, while watching movies, because i was hearing things from alot of different places, other than just in front of me. the CT150 was supposed to be a temporary set up for me, but after about a month of use, i'm really considering sticking to soundbars. the simplicity and ergonomics just cannot be compared to by big, traditional 5.1 systems.

as for sound quality, the vocals are nice and crisp. i know the CT100 had a vocal problem, but i can hear everything crystal clear on my CT150 (center channel set at +5). i have my CT150 in a very open living room (about 20x35), so i have my subwoofer level set at +5 (settings go from -6 to +6). the bass levels would be comparable to my bose lifestyle 25 system, with the CT150 having a slight bass advantage. all in all, a great little package. i really couldn't think of a better, more ergonomic set up for a smaller living room or bedroom. i might just stick with soundbars from now on and just upgrade to bigger/better soundbar set ups.

Audio Dad likes his new toy!, August 15, 2010
Background: I am an audio enthusiast with 3 small children. My previous audio system, run by 3 Carver stereo amps, is in boxes in the basement, as I did not want little hands breaking things or blowing up pieces. The old system had more spent in Monster Cable wiring then this system cost. Life changes and the wife did not want speakers and wires everywhere so I made a compromise.

Current Setup:
Sony Bravia TV (2006)
Sony HTCT150
Sony Digital Media Port TDM-iP10
Sony PS3 - Original 60gig
Nintendo Wii
Leap Frog - Zippity

At the time of this review I have owned the HTCT150 for just over 2 weeks and have been quite impressed with the results. The main reason I got the system is for movies and TV watching and being able to hear and control the sound. The output range is good and it does a nice job with lows and high end. I liked that the system could be passive as the PS3 is our main DVD player and entertainment source, i.e. Netflix streaming. I have the PS3 hooked up via HDMI. HDMI up to the TV and from the TV I have both optical out and RCA. The TV will not do ARC (audio return channels) though HDMI and the TV will not convert analog audio (Wii and Zippity) to optical. I let the TV handle the analog audio, RCA switching and have the RCA's go into SA-CD/CD, seems on the HTCT150 the TV RCAs will only work without optical in hooked up.

I have both an older 80gig iPod video and the iPhone 3G that I have hooked to the system using the Digital Media Port TDM-iP10. I use the video iPod for audio only and have full control over it using the remote for the HTCT150. I did a brief test with the iPhone by putting it in iPod mode, it worked as an audio source and had control of it with the remote. I did try to display pictures and it would not pass images or work as a video source. It seems the TDM-iP10 is audio only but you do get control with the HTCT150 remote.

One of the big reasons for my purchase was for nighttime watching and dynamic compression. The system has 2 layers of compression you can use to keep the sound even and not wake the kid. Woke the oldest already before turning on the compression. The system has NIGHT MODE, this is compression in the digital amp of the HTCT150 and limits all sources. Audio DRC (Dynamic Range Control) only works in Dolby Digital, but that covers the TV and PS3 and has 3 levels, None, Standard, Max. With turning both NIGHT MODE and Audio DRC on I can watch TV or movies and hear no volume difference between show and commercial or dialogue and explosions, this is important for us Mom's and Dad's.

Audiophile Time: I have played with the system with the LPCM and BluRay audio out and have been able to hear a difference. As they say " you are only as good as your source" . Dolby Digital bit rate out is around 960Kbs and Dolby True is around 7Mbs. By going into the Video Setup of the PS3 (go figure) and changing the audio output from bitstream to LPCM you can get the better sound. Bitstream outputs the encoding on the DVD/BluRay, LPCM has the PS3 do your decoding.

Overall impressions: The audio performance for a system under $300 is very impressive I feel. The surround effect is very weak, however if you have a good 5.1 or 7.1 mix as source there is a more open feel to the audio. I just have not felt like it has replaced a true 5.1 system. It completely has met the "Wife Acceptance" Factor that we all know is very important. I am very happy with this system and I am not afraid that little hands will destroy it and if they do, oh well it wasn't that expensive.

Gets better after a day or two, July 1, 2010
Got this 3 days ago and at first I was disappointed with the sound loudness and bass from the SW. I went ahead and tweaked the settings from the amp menu and watched a movie and tv. The sound was ok the first day, had to turn it up to 40 - 45 to really hear the difference from the tv speakers. Yesterday, wow! I had to turn it down to 25 - 30 and the bass was louder! So far, happy with this. Easy to hook up and many connections on the SW.

Sound Bar review, September 22, 2010
I write this review with an open mind. When I first placed the order, and received it from the manufacturer, the sub-woofer was broken. I had to return it and request a replacement. That in itself is a major pain in the you know what. I received my replacement yesterday and plugged it in and was underwhelmed by the sound. Once I read through the owners manual and configured the settings..... HOLY COW! What sound! Coming from such a small sound bar and medium sized sub-woofer! I've got a 52" Phillips HD TV that sounded decent by itself. With this added sound, it's literally like a movie theater experience.
The 3 week wait for a working product seems to be worth it. I recommend this to anyone and hopefully you receive a working product on your first go-round.

Very good product., July 27, 2010
I have read a couple of bad reviews for this and just thought I would add my two cents. Anyone who says this has bad sound or is not loud enough is not setting it up right. This sounds great and it is very loud, in fact I got in trouble when I set it up. I had it up to max volume when I plugged in the system and it blasted the house, my wife was in the shower back by the bedroom and the sound made her jump and drop her back scrubber. I used to have a surround system with a receiver and five speakers but that was before I got married. My wife did not want the wires going all over the house so I looked into the sound bar with the understanding that if I didn't like it I would get another five speaker system. Well I was blown away. It sounds great, it plays true hd sound on the blu rays. The three hdmi ports make it very convenient. I only turn it up to 25, which is half way, and that shakes the windows.
The look is very sleek, in fact with the bar pushed back against the t.v. it looks like part of the set. I highly recommend this product.

Great Value!, September 15, 2010
I was an early adopter of the HTCT150's ancestor the HTCT100, a soundbar I loved and still own in a guest bedroom. That set receive an editor's choice on CNET back then, and is still hailed as one of the best values for its great sound and multitude of inputs for the price. MY only problem with it was sometimes low sounding audio in terms of speech. It is with that to say that the HTCT150 addresses this problem brilliantly and upgrades the sound overall as a whole. Side by side, the two sound similar until you get some good source and can tell the real umph this little guy has. It really does sound great. The bass is tight and punchy, while the sound from the bar is crisp and vibrant, a great combo. And like I said before, no problems with speech being drowned out by ambient sound.

The bar and sub look great too, a sleek black, glossy black in the right places. There are also a ton of inputs that are 3d compliant, basically saying that they're accepting hdmi 1.4a if you decide to upgrade down the road, another bonus that some bars are offering. In fact, at this price, you're lucky to get one or two hdmi ports on a soundbar. This ones got 3, and a multitude of other ports.

The only competitors out there are the JVC soundbar and the upcoming Vizio soundbar, but I still chose this one because of its overall score. While the other two sound great, better in some cases, they lack in areas this bar picks up on. People can say that there wasn't enough of an upgrade from the HTCT100, but that bar was awesome, and why fix what ain't broken? I live in an 800 sq ft apartment and the soundbar is in my living room and just fills the place up with sound. You won't be disappointed.

Enjoy

Excellent sound, July 10, 2010
I can't believe how this sound bar has improved my tv watching experience. It's awesome! It was so easy to hook up to all of my components (Sony Bravia TV and DVD player). The sound is definitely a huge improvement over the TVs speakers. All in all I am quite happy with this purchase.

Not bad for the price, November 23, 2010
I bought this system because like everyone else, my TV sound was pretty weak. I didn't want to deal with running speaker wires all over so I went with the sound bar. Its definitely easy to set up with my Sony TV and the sound is better than the TV. But it isn't as good as I was expecting from reading all the other reviews. I wish I could use the sound bar along with the TV speakers but using the pass-through the sound is off just slightly and creates a slight echo. Seems like I need to adjust the volume quite a bit more when switching channels or playing a DVD than I did with just the TV sound. Some channels are good at 14 and some I have to crank up to 40.

HTCT150 - A Great 5.1 virtual sound for less, September 19, 2010
I just had HTCT150 a week ago, after setting it up I was Not Impressed with sound and Bass quality, After talking to Sony Store about configuration, they advised me to to configure the same way they have it in the show room

SW Level raise up to +6
then go to
Bass and raise it up to +6

then Played Avatar movie, and i was blown a way, Oh My god, the sound is Great, I can feel bass through my body and through the sofa, sounds quality is great. 5.1 virtual is some what true but not that great.

I purchased Samsung Blue ray player for $150 a year ago and + HTCTC150 for $280 = $500 with tax.
if you are shopping for a nice system then i advise to purchase Panasonic 5.1 home theater that already come with a nice blue ray Player and a better speakers and Sounds. but if you are already have a blue ray player and cables then going for that system is great and save you almost $200.

Pros
1- you can connect multiple HDMI and Video inputs into the subwafr and only one cable from the system to the TV.
2- Sound quality is Great, very loud, excellent Bass.
3- very very easy to install. just plug and play. ( raise the bass to +6 and sub level to +6)

Cons.
1- well $300 is expensive

2- Once you Purchase HTCHT150 you are Stuck with it, what i mean you wont be able to add any other speakers or sub to it. the system is stand a lone and there is no way to upgrade. if you decide one day you want a bigger speakers or sub then you have to purchase new system. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If you’re looking for a future-ready receiver-and-speaker package that won’t break the bank, your search may be over. Meet Onkyo’s 5.1-channel HT-S3300—a system packed with so much advanced technology that it redefines entry-level home theater. As with every A/V receiver in Onkyo’s 2010 line-up, you get the latest iteration of HDMI—version 1.4. Three HDMI inputs let you hook up, say, your Blu-ray player, game console, and cable/satellite box—all of which can be output via a single cable to your connected high-res display. Not only is HDMI 1.4 compatible with next-generation 3D video, it also enables a convenient Audio Return Channel. On top of this, the HT-S3300 supports lossless HD audio formats from Dolby and DTS—previously the domain of mid-range to high-end receivers only. But that’s not all. The HT-S3300 also provides an overlaid On-Screen Display function for easy adjustment of settings; a Universal Port for one-cable connection of peripherals; Audyssey equalization; four gaming audio modes; and a fully immersive, beautifully balanced 5.1-channel speaker set. ... Read more

Reviews

So far, so SWEET!!!, April 13, 2010
First, let me say that I am by no means an expert "audiophile", but I did a lot of research before deciding on the Onkyo HT-S3300. I purchased it through Tiger Direct as Amazon would have it, then not have it and state "This item has not yet been released". Anyway, the first thing I noticed is the box is labed HT-S3300(B) and does state for Blu-ray. Not sure if any other 3300 models exist but this is the one I received. Now, for the review:

The receiver is a REPEATER...not pass through. I also called Onkyo tech support prior to delivery and a courteous and professional lady stated all 2010 models are now REPEATERS. So, for some prior models (3200, 5200) you don't need a seperate audio cable (this of course is a personal preference, if you choose, for the 2010 models, or based upon the types of cables you presently have). Audio and video is done via HDMI. It is also HDMI 1.4a(supporting 3D video and Audio Return Channel) (per Onkyo description). As this could create confusion for some (it did for me) I needed to verify the receiver is a repeater. The wording on many electronics' product descriptions (Sony is guilty, too) is unclear. Make sure you do your research since you plan on spending your money and know and learn a little about what you are purchasing.

Set up was about 30-45 min (reading and learning manual). Each of the speaker wires provided are color coded for easy hook up. Now, in the process of research I learned about guages. The ones provided do appear very thin, but I did a quick hook-up and will replace the the wires with a 14 or 16 guage.

Every piece of equipment provided is black and nicely put together. For some, aesthetics are very important...for others, sound and functionality. I tend to lean towards the latter.

I learned in my searching process a bit more about Dolby 5.1 and 7.1 channels. Size and space play an important role in the proper utilization of either. This is subjective but I believe there is some merit to it. I live in a basement apartment which is the full length of the house, front to back. No walls and of a long rectangular shape. 7.1 would not, I believe, have been much of a benefit so I opted for 5.1. NO REGRETS.

The subwoofer is HUGE. Even Sarah Palin could see this when she looks out her window (sorry Russia). It packs a punch. One thing I must add is the wires for the surround speakers are long, but won't not work for my setup (carpet is pretty much attached to the floor and cannot be altered). I will make the surround wireless (purchased Rocketfish Wireless HD Audio Starter Kit: model RK-RBKIT) and waiting on delivery. More on that later.

There are 3 HDMI in jacks and 1 HDMI out. There are also Digital IN Coaxial and Optical jacks...Component and Composite jacks, etc. The Ipod dock (UP-A1) is optional. Be sure to review the photo of the back of the receiver in the product description above.

My components: LG 47" HDTV, PS3, Roku and Apple TV.

This newer model does offer on screen setup(through your TV), but it will only work when hooked up via HDMI.

I have the volume set below 20 and it was plenty loud. Remember, my description of my apartment and setup will be different from others so, for my present situation, it works wonderfully. I haven't tried the a Blu-ray movie yet so I will update on that when I do.

There are many presets so you will have to play around for what works for you and your setup. I will refrain from listing Pro's and Con's as that too, is subjective for some and sometimes results from after purchase, not before. Suffice to say I am very happy with my HT-S3300.

Please feel free to ask questions and I will do my best to answer or provide alternate suggestions or websites if I don't know or am not sure.

Enjoy! M

Update: Remember, on the PS3 if you are using a digital optical cable, the setting should be Bitstream. If you are using HDMI, set it to LPCM. Since I am using HDMI the setting is LPCM. Played about 10 minutes of Speed Racer on Blu-ray...SWEEEEEEET!!! Sound is flawless.

Update 04/14/2010...Purchased 16 gauge wire and swiped connections on front and center speakers and subwoofer. Still waiting on Rocketfish for wireless HD. I believe I can notice a difference from the Onkyo supplied wires. I also feel a bit more comfortable since the 16 gauge is thicker.

VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure when you change your hookups you must remember to go into the menu and make the changes as well.

Note: Some have inquired about the subwoofer which is passive (not self powered) and also about active subwoofers. The passive subwoofer supplied with the 3300 is, in my opinion, plenty strong. I did a bit more research into this and there appears to be a 50/50 split. I reviewed opinions etc., and weeding out the comments that try to be expert but only provide one line responses it appears that there are pluses and minuses for each. Again, it is subjective and boils down to your personal preference. I also called Onkyo tech support to inquire about future upgrades for the 3300 and the pleasant gentleman responded that if I wanted to upgrade the subwoofer I would probably need to purchase a new system. I am ok with that because he also reminded me this an entry level system. Entry level or not, the 3300 is plenty powerful for my needs but please share your comments to help others decide on possibly the 3300, 5300 or other type system. Try not to get too caught up in the ongoing, neverending debate. Go with what you like...not matter what your ears will love you for it.

Update 04/15/10...Just for kicks, I unhooked all HDMI's and used my HDMI switcher hooked into CBL/SAT. Every thing worked fine. Video and sound played without issue.

Rocketfish HD Wireless Kit arrived and is now hooked up with the surround speakers. Took a few minutes to hook wires and speakers up. Since it is a Kit it is preconfigured in the factory so you just hookup, plug in and go. Comes with a remote for volume control, on/off, bass, mute, input of A/B speakers. Watching Watchmen(Blu-ray) and sounding pretty nice. Have to remeasure since surround speakers are now behind me.

***One item of neverending and frustrating debate is the PCM/Bitstream settings on the PS3 and a receiver's capabiilty of decoding Dolby TRUE HD and DTS-HD MA. In a nutshell, I have a headache. The fact of multiple "flavors" of PS3 doesn't help. Since the 3300 can decode Dolby True HD and DTS-HD MA (or any other receiver or HTIB that supports those audio formats), you are left with such questions as, "What IS the correct setting on the PS3? Will my receiver actually show "Dolby or DTS?" What are the differences between the slim and fat PS3? Your head hurting yet?

The Slim PS3's support HD decoding in both LPCM and BITSTREAM. The Fat PS3's(like mine) can only support HD decoding in LPCM, but not in BITSTREAM. My situation leans toward having the PS3 handle the decoding (set to PCM, via HDMI) instead of the receiver. Keeping in mind my receiver will show "MCH PCM 5.1." This in no way indicates there is a problem since it does not show "DOLBY D or DTS-HD MA." One thing I have noticed in this whole experience is many people think their receiver or PS3 is acting up (which is the case sometimes). Since the PS3 is doing the work, it takes the credit. If you choose to let the receiver do the decoding, it will show Dolby or DTS. Also, you MUST remember to go into the setup of your Bluray or DVD menu and verify audio format. Don't rely on the system to do that for you. This, too, may cause some distress if not checked.
It never occurred to me I may need a check list before watching a movie.

Update 05/27/2010...It's been about six weeks and I have nothing but continued praise for this system. The wireless speaker kit (Rocketfish) works very well with this system, so that also gets some well deserved kudos. No audio or picture issues to report. One minor quib is acutally pointed at the remote...universal remote. I have the Logitech Harmony 550 and transferring commands from the Onkyo remote will require patience and planning. What minor commands I do have set up work as expected. In all, not one regret with my Onkyo purchase.

Best entry level system out there, April 15, 2010
I was skeptical before ordering this system as I ordered Sony HTSS360 (another popular and high rated entry level system) before and its sound was nowhere acceptable as the speakers were weak and sub-woofer was doing all the job, creating a woofy and very narrow ranged sound.

When I saw the 2010 Onkyo systems, I initially pre-ordered HT-S5300 but it being not released yet gave me some time to research and take a close look at ht-s3300 as well. After looking at its specs, I decided to give it a try and I am glad I did as it saved me $200. I am also happier with smaller and less-intrusive speakers of ht-s3300 compared to 5300 and having two less speakers to wire across the room. Now let me try to give you some opinion on the system and its sound.

First I must say, it is good looking system with shiny black speakers and a boxy but classy looking receiver. Its sound is much better than I expected especially it being an entry level system. Instead of going over all its specs, I will try to answer most people would have in mind and also list the important pros and cons.

PROS:
-Has a HDMI repeater and do the switching, so you only need HDMI cables without extra audio cables.
-Supports all the new formats and it does pretty good job at decoding HD audio formats.
-I was initially hesitant about the audyssey audio correction system it is equipped with since it doesn't have a microphone for auto calibration. However, it turns out that the audyssey system is factory calibrated to the specifications of the speaker set it comes with and it does pretty good job of acoustic correction. The only adjustment I needed to do was measuring the speaker distances to the optimal listening area and manually entering it to the receiver set-up. I also did some minor adjustment on speaker levels, but it is a matter of personal taste.
-On screen display is great to see the menus, volume level and setup options overlayed on the tv screen.
-All the necessary options are provided in the menus without going into unnecessarily detailed options. Pretty customizable yet easy to use and configure options.
-No background noise when not in use, or any sonic booms on power on/off.
-Speakers are surprisingly good for this price level, I am even impressed with the passive subwoofer as its power is adequate when paired with the other supplied speakers and it produces clean basses.
-Finally the sound is on par with systems I listened before which cost in the range of $400-$800. So, I consider this system a pretty damn good deal. I don't think you can get anything for this price that would produce a better or even comparable sound.
-It runs cooler than the previous Onkyo receivers I have encountered.

CONS:
-it is 5.1 system, but it was actually a pro for me as I don't like too many speaker around and I personally find 5.1 enough to create satisfactory surround effects. Most media out there is 5.1 anyway...
-It is not for large rooms, don't forget it is 660W system and the subwoofer is passive with 130W output. My living room is about 15X15ft and its output is enough but for rooms that are considerably bigger, I recommend another system (perhaps ht-s5300).
-Only 3 HDMI input, so all the inputs are used up on mine. If I buy another device, I have hook one of them to component inouts.
-No video inputs on front side of the receiver, just a stereo audio input for connecting portable media players.
-No automatic acoustic correction, so it has to be done manually. If you upgrade your speakers then you cannot use audyssey function as it factory configured for the specifications of the speaker set it ships with. You have to turn off audyssey if you are using different set of speakers.
-The sub-woofer is passive, but I found its size and power is adequate for small/medium rooms. But if you are bass freak and you are not living at an apartment (otherwise, you will have angry neighbors), then consider ht-s5300.

If you are in the same boat I was and trying to decide between ht-s3300 and ht-s5300, I can confidently recommend ht-s3300 for $200 less as long as your living/entertainment room is small/medium size. But, ht-s5300 is no doubt a superior system with better speakers and a more powerful receiver with more inputs and I don't see any reason for not choosing that over this if you can afford it and have space to accommodate its much bigger and 7 speakers (its center and front speakers are too big and intrusive for my taste and there is no way to hide its sub-woofer, I couldn't even completely hide this systems sub-woofer).

I will give an update to this post after using the system for couple of weeks.

A must buy!, April 17, 2010
This is my first ever online review on anything I've bought so far but I had to do it as it really deserves it and I find online reviews extremely valuable. I bought my Onkyo HT-S3300 about 2 weeks ago from Newegg rather than Amazon as it said "this item is not yet released" on the latter. I've done a lot of research before buying this unit and read a lot of reviews on a lot of other systems. I've also bought a Harman Kardon AVR 254 from Ebay along with Yamaha NS-SP1800BL 5.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker Package from Amazon for the basement 1 week earlier and I will make a comparison as well. Other reviewers have done a great job regarding technical details so I won't go into a lot of details with those.

Onkyo looks really nice and the piano black speakers were a great addition to our living room. I hooked up the Comcast HD DVR, Sony bdp-s360 blueray player and a Philips dvp3982 multi-region dvd player to the receiver through HDMI cables and connected it to my Sony Bravia kdl-52w5100. On screen menu is very helpful and I've done the setup fairly quickly with level calibration and speaker distances. I have Audyssey and Dynamic EQ turned on and I'm using the Dynamic volume on Light setting. There are a bunch of different surround settings you can use and since personal preferences change, I won't list them. Sound is incredible! We have a medium sized living room and, in my opinion, the passive subwoofer is doing a much better job than the active woofer of the Yamaha I mentioned above. I watched Hulk on blue ray and couldn't turn on the volume above 40 as the windows were rattling.
You can also turn on the Audio TV Out option on and only use your TV's speakers if you don't want to use the receiver's speakers for some reason.

Now, a bit on the comparison:

- Harman Kardon AVR 254 supports 7.1 vs Onkyo with 5.1. I personally prefer 5.1 so, this really is not a selling point for me on HK.
- HK looks REALLY nice if you're into aesthetics.
- HK can convert PAL to NTSC. This was the biggest positive for me as my PS3 is from Europe. I also have a European DVD player. I hooked these to HK 254 using HDMI cables and connected it to my NTSC TV and those 2 units work perfectly.
- HK comes with a microphone and has automatic setup feature which is pretty cool.
- Here comes the biggest downfall of HK vs Onkyo. Sound level. Unless I'm doing something terribly wrong, the sound I get from HK vs Onkyo is much less. I have to crank the volume all the way up to -15 from -91 (highest is +8) to get some decent sound. I called the customer service regarding this and they said this was the regular case for HK units. For reference, default sound is set to -24dB. This was a big dissapointment for me on HK. I commented on Onkyo above can't really go above 40 which is around half way - phenomenal...
- Overall, I would recommend Onkyo HT-S3300 over the HK AVR 254 by a mile based on my personal experience with the components I'm using. However, the fact that HK does system conversion saved me over $180 on a digital PAL / NTSC converter which is the main reason I'm keeping it.

I hope this was helpful. If you're thinking about buying a top of the line entry/medium system, don't hesitate to buy this unit. Contact me in case you have any questions and I'd be happy to help out as much as I can...

Budget counscious almost audiophile, August 8, 2010
I recently purchased this system expecting to be blown away because of all the rave reviews for this system. Truth be told, I am. Setup was a breeze for the most part, except the packaged speaker wire is a little short. I had to buy new wire to run my surround speakers to the receiver. Upgrading to a higher quality gauge wire is recommended also but I'm doing fine with the regular wire in the package. I live in a small apartment with a living room size of probably 15x15 ft, and this system is perfect for it! The passive subwoofer is more than enough for my needs. It shakes the whole room and I know that neighbors will complain eventually... All in good fun though.

My setup is PS3 and comcast hd dvr to the receiver via hdmi, and then hdmi from receiver to my Samsung LNS4051D. The picture is flawless. I tried watching some blu-rays and was amazed by how good the sound sounded. However, after plugging and playing the speakers, I realized that the receiver was somehow not recieving the blu-ray's Uncompressed PCM properly. I have a fat PS3 and had audio settings set to linear pcm, but my receiver showed that it was receiving a 2ch source so it used Pro Logic II to send sound into a 5.1 format. I wanted true 5.1 surround channels, so after fiddling around with the ps3, I figured it out. All I did was go to audio settings on the XMB and set the hdmi audio output option to auto. Just keep clicking next until it gives you a list of all the audio codecs that the ps3 supports and you'll be all set up! Now while watching a Uncompressed pcm format, the receiver will display Multich PCM. While watching Dolby Digital, it will display Dolby, and so on and so forth. Pretty straightforward in my opinion.

CLIFFNOTES:
- Do your research before you buy
- I highly recommend buying additional, better gauge speaker wire (remember to buy a wire stripper!). I had a pretty small room, but I ran out of wire pretty quickly. The given wires are different colors though so that's a plus for installation.
- At this price point, it's hard to find any alternative theater systems that offer as many features as the Onkyo.
- No need for optical wires running everywhere if you plan to use HDMI.
- All in all, an excellent product. The speakers sound good and look good as well!

Returned the system with much sadness, April 16, 2010
Update 7/14/2010:

I went a different direction after returning the Onkyo. I bought the Sony 710 for about $220 and bought individual speakers- 3 energy CLR for the front, center and right, and the Yamaha in ceiling (IW 480) for the surround and finally the Polk Audio subwoofer for the sub. This all cost me $560. I would say that it is more than twice as good, but it is at twice the price. The difference is, and this is even true with bose speakers is that no matter how good the sound is from small speakers, the sound is still from small speakers. The difference is that with the small speakers, you know where the sound in coming from, the bigger the speaker, the more the room is filled with sound and the more that it sounds like a movie theater. When you are at a movie theater, you don't know where the sound is coming from, but hear the sound in the entire room. With the Onkyo and almost any other HTIB, you will hear the sound coming from the speaker, instead of the sound filling up the room. I think that this is worth twice the price, but the Onkyo is still a good deal for the money. Another thing that I did is that because I don't have cable or a game system, I didn't use HDMI. I do not like HDMI in that it is so glitchy and always has been. I am sooo happy with the fiber that I am now using. Now, I have the HDMI going directly to the TV from the blue ray and a fiber optic cable going to the receiver for sound. I much prefer this set up, but if you have different components, then this might not work for you.

Update 6/7/2010:

I was watching Star Wars when the thing just stopped. I had my Blu Ray hooked up to it, and after much troubleshooting, I found that the HDMI board went out. From day one, I have been having trouble with the HDMI connection, with the sound going in and out, but after ordering a very high end cable, the problem seemed to stop until a day or so before it went out completely. I originally attributed this to the new HDMI 3-D format, but in retrospect, it was probably always a bad connection board. I had this for about 45 days, after the Amazon return policy. After a long conversation, they did take it back, and charged me a 20% restocking fee. Hopefully, they do not restock it, and they did tell me that they will refund the restocking fee, but as of now, they have not. I will edit this post if they do as they say that they are going to do. WIsh me luck!


I just bought this a week ago for $305 from Amazon- everything as expected from Amazon, arriving as stated. I gave it four stars because everything is as advertised- you get a lot for the money, setting the standards for low cost for the included features (Yamaha needs to respond). I have a 46 inch Panasonic Plasma, and Blue Ray, and a VCR- yea, a VCR (kids movies) hooked up. My room size is fairly large 18 X 22. My sitting area is about 10 feet from the TV and the surround speakers are about 15 feet from my sitting area, with the woofer in front. I am happy with the sound out of the front, center and woofer (although passive), but the rear speakers struggle a bit at 15 feet away. I had to put them considerably higher than the other speakers and they still have trouble reaching me. With this said, 15 feet away is not the ideal placement, but who doesn't need to compromise on the placement of the speakers. As I said, everything works as advertised- HD DTS, HD Dolby- although these are better suited for a 7.1, or 7.2, full HDMI, B speakers terminals, as well as the awesome on screen programming. I don't really care about all that automatic settings, and equalizers- any system that you buy will have these types of things as well. My complaints are the details. If you are using HDMI, you need to have the system on to use the other components or you have to still hook the other components to the tv separately. The system will not bridge the blue ray to the tv while off as other high end systems do. Also, there is no line out for a powered subwoofer (although I am ok with the passive sub- its adequate for me). Finally- the four stars- to hang my speakers at a 90 degree angle, because they did not come with a screw terminal for the wall brackets, I had to use velcro. The speakers have holes in the back to be used for a screw or a nail in the wall, but the would need to be flat on the wall- similar to a clock, but if you wanted to use speaker brackets, there is nothing for the speaker brackets to screw into. This really irritated me- to use velcro on a new system. Overall, though four stars for the system as advertised- best bang for the buck. If you have a few bucks more, I would probably get the new onkyo 5.1 receiver for around $230 on Amazon, and a better speaker package- Polk Audio, Accoustic Research have some pretty good speaker packages for around $200. But again, can't be beat for the price!

Update 4/19:
After listening to it and getting everything set up the way that I want it to, I am really pleased with the system. I am still annoyed with the speakers and how difficult they are to mount to a speaker bracket, the sound for the money is really good. I am pleased with the passive sub and really thought about hooking up an active sub to the system, but am satisfied enough where I don't feel that I need to spend any more money. No buyers remorse here- again, best bang for the buck!

Biggest bang for the buck!, April 20, 2010
I pre-ordered this system a while ago and received it about 2 weeks ago. I am still overwhelmed by the sound quality and features of this product. It simply is the best sound system there is that money can buy for about $300-$400. The one issue I noticed was that the speakers have only key-holes (no threads) so if you need to buy a speaker stand, make sure you buy one that has adhesive tapes to keep the speakers in place (that's what I have done and am quite satisfied with the result).

The sound is very rich and there are many different settings depending on your application. All options are accessible through the remote. Overall, I can say that this is a perfect system if you are living in an apartment and need a system that can cover everything from listening to music to watching movies and tv shows.

Surround system value, September 5, 2010
I ordered the Onkyo 3300 after to substantial research. The value pricing from Amazon was OUTSTANDING!! I highly recommend the system to anyone looking for a start up system at a reasonable price. I had only two minor issues: 1.) dont order any speaker mounts for this system. The speaker cases are plastic and the system comes with hardware to mount them. 2.) After unboxing the unit and installing, the remote failed within 1 day. HOWEVER, I was THRILLED with the customer service i received from Onkyo. They answered my email with an RMA and sent me a new remote within just a few days. I have had the system for 60 days and am thrilled with the sound and performance. I suggest you order the Amazon HDMI cables. The system does not come with them.

Overall i rate Amazon and Onkyo on this system 4 1/2 Stars.. Nice job guys!

By far, the best Home Theater system for the price, August 29, 2010
If you have done a lot of shopping for a home theater system, you will notice that all the electronics stores (ie Walmart, Best Buy) only sell Home Theater systems that include a Bluray player. But I didn't want that! I have a Playstation 3 already, and don't need 2 Bluray players. So I went out looking for the right surround system system in a $500 budget. I had absolutely no luck. Then I decided to look at Onkyo's website for a receiver to see they were selling home theater systems. I checked the price, and was amazed to see how cheap it was...I thought it was too good to be true.

So I figured I would give it a shot. Bose endourses Onkyo, and will sell their products at Bose Stores...something you would not expect from Bose. Knowing that Bose would put their name behind Onkyo gave me some trust that Onkyo would not make a bad sound system. And golly, I was never happier to be right!

Immediately upon opening the box, I was stunned at the quality of the speakers. It looked like a $1,000 system. I put the speakers up, tweaked the receiver settings, and put on several movies that have surround sound such as Battlestar Galactica, Casino Royale, and Inglorious Bastards. Each movie sounded AMAZING. So amazing in fact, it made my neighbor come next door to tell me I was shaking his apartment. All from a 660w system!

So here is the low down:

Pros: Amazing processing and decoding for Dolby Digital HD and top of the line DTS. It has some equalizer settings that also make the speakers sound better. You truly feel immersed in video games and movies...better than I would have expected. The PRICE is a major pro.

Con: The subwoofer tends to put out a lot of bass. This is good if you live in a home with no neighbors to upset. But the subwoofer vibrates off the wall, and travels throughout the apartment complex. The settings can lower the bass, but it sometimes doesn't feel like enough.

Overall: GET THIS SYSTEM. If you want a 7.1, get it. But Onkyo has maded a $1,000 sound system affordable for everyone. If you don't get this, you hate children. You don't hate children...do you?

More than a "Best Bang for your Buck", April 29, 2010
People say this system is a "Best Bang for your Buck" system...it's actually a best bang system period. I would've paid $499 for a system like this. Setup was easy, sound is incredible...OSD is fantastic. Sub is loud for being passive and audio is crystal clear. If you get sick of the speakers that come with the system you can easily switch the speaker setting to "large" and upgrade your speakers as you see fit. I have it hooked up to a PS3 (slim...and it plays DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD perfectly), a XBOX 360 (Call of Duty with this system is rediculous...no more sneaking up on me), and a Wii (eh, it's a wii...my cd player sounds better but thats not the Recievers fault at all). Subwoofer is big (FYI) I have it in an apartment and this thing will rattle walls if I turn it up. Packaging was excellent...nothing is getting damaged in this box (though it is a rather big box). I'll extend my review after I play around with the system in the next couple of weeks.

All I could ask for for HD Audio, July 8, 2010
This package is great. The speakers and subwooffer are very slick and clean. The sub is a wood-like material and looks very nice. The speakers are solid plastic, and are sturdy enough. The receiver has some sharp edges, but it is also very slick looking.

The receiver has 3 HDMI 1.4 inputs which make setting up your players (games, cable box, blu-ray) super simple. If you have an HDMI 1.4 cable and don't use a cable box, you can even return audio from your television to the receiver with the ARC (audio return channel), which is pretty nifty. The onscreen menu is great and very useful. All the newest HD audio codecs are decoded perfectly; no setup required. A quick thing to note however, if your Blu-ray player is decoding the audio, the receiver may display Dolby Dig or DTS instead of TrueHD and Master-HD respectively. You will have to change the setting on your blu-ray player if you want the receiver to decode it (personal preference). It also supports HDMI-thru, which means you can use the HDMI ports while the receiver is off. This means blu ray or game while using the tv speakers if you want. Very cool.

The speakers are great. The sub-woofer is PASSIVE but that is not a bad thing. With the EX BASS setting, it shakes my windows on the default settings! It is a beast. The speakers are clear and responsive. Sounds better than anything I have had before. There are also TONS of sound options (dynamic volume, dynamic eq, etc.) to play with, along with different room settings. I could list these for days.

The setup did take me a while, mostly because there are so many settings to understand, and this was my first audio system; but in retrospect, it wasn't hard at all. The manual is well written and clear. The remote is also good, but it is not universal (bummer). I now have three remotes and an xbox controller that all must be used. I wish it was programmable.

The speaker wire is standard, and could be upgraded to a higher gauge if you wish. The rear speakers didn't have enough wire for me personally (about 25-30ft), but should work for a smaller, square room. I had to run the speakers nearly 75ft along a wall, so it was not enough for me.

All in all, you cant beat this for the price (super cheap). It sounds great, the quality of the hardware is very high, and it is a breeze to use. Recommened MUST BUY for any HD audio/video-philes. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Enjoy Full HD 1080p and powerful 5.1 channel HD surround sound with the Sony BDV-E370 3D Blu-ray Disc Home Theater System. Minimized wait times means you can start watching your movies faster than ever. Plus, with this great system you can take your entertainment experience to the next level in 3D. You can instantly access a wide variety of movies, music and more from: Netflix, Amazon on Demand, Pandora, Slacker, and YouTube. ... Read more

Reviews

Does NOT have DLNA support, November 30, 2010
Just got this all-in-one Bluray theater today. In general it's a nice bargain (especially at the GoldBox deal from Thanksgiving). I use it in our Living Room to replace the TV speakers, so the sound is definitely an improvement. I probably wouldn't use this in a true "home theater" since the subwoofer isn't powered. But for general Bluray listening in the Living Room and for Netflix streaming, it sounds just fine. It does what it claims and has a lot of good streaming options (Netflix, Pandora, etc). Picture quality is excellent. Bluray player is similar to Sony's BDP-S370 player.

However, unlike all of the reviews (on the Internet) of this unit that I read before purchasing, this unit does NOT have DLNA support for streaming music from your local network servers. In fact on page 35 of the included manual in the section "Playing files stores on a DLNA server" it specifically says: "Except for BDV-E370 U.S. models".

This is extremely annoying. It's obvious to me that this device *used* to have this feature, which is why all of the older reviews mention it. My guess is that it was removed in a software update. Yes, I did the network update and now it says that no other update is available. I didn't check to see if DLNA was available before the update. The related setup page for DLNA called "Connection Server Settings" in the "Network Settings" screen is also missing.

Unless you get a really good price deal on this, I'd recommend the BDV-E570 instead which has the DLNA support and also includes the WiFi adapter. I had a wired Ethernet, so the adapter wasn't a big deal. But if I had known that this unit really didn't support DLNA, I probably would not have bought it. Now that it's already installed and working, I'll probably keep it.

Maybe we can convince Sony to put DLNA support back into this device. It's obviously just a software issue and I'm annoyed at Sony for not including this and am annoyed at the reviews that all say it has it when it doesn't. But that's why I'm giving only 4 stars.

Update #1: Since there is no HDMI input, to hook up your cable box you need to connect the digital audio output of the cable box to the input on the E370. You use your TV to switch the video and use the E370 to switch the audio. The only problem with this is that the Sony E370 does not support discrete remote codes for the different audio inputs. It only has a "NextInput" command. So you'll need a smart remote (like a Harmony) that can remember what input is currently selected so that it knows how many "NextInputs" to send to the E370 to get it to the correct channel.

Update #2: (12/17/2010) Just installed the latest v735 firmware and still no DLNA support :(

$239 Very Well Spent, December 7, 2010
I ordered this on the Thanksgiving Goldbox deal. I received it one week later.

The system was packaged very nicely and was easy to unbox and setup the system. I hooked up my DVR cable box into the Sat/Cable (Digital Coaxial input) jack. I hooked up my Playstation 3 into the TV (Digital In Optical) jack. (not into my television, but into the input named "TV" on the unit) When I try each source, it tells me on the unit's front LCD screen that I'm getting Dolby Digital.

Using the unit's blu-ray, I watched the movie "Stealth". I must say it was like a whole new experience. I could hear those fighter jets buzzing in the front speakers and then transfer to the rear speakers. It was definately pretty cool to watch (and now finally hear) that movie. After watching the movie, I played some Call of Duty: World at War on my PS3. It was amazing to hear the shooting of my gun and hearing things expload all around me. It really put me into the war zone.

I'm very impressed with the unit. I think it's a great value for what I paid. It doesn't have HDMI inputs, however, as stated above, I was able to hook up my existing equipment. I like how you can watch Netflix on the unit, along with Pandora Radio and a few other streaming services.

Overall, I'm very happy I bought the unit. It produces very nice sound, and for the price it is an excellent product. I'm not an expert on sound systems as this is my first unit. I'm not saying it's the best unit available, but for the price, it's a darn good unit! I love it and hope to enjoy it for years to come.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. I would be happy to help.

Decent / NO DLNA / ill informed Customer Service, December 7, 2010
I got this product mainly because of DLNA and internet streaming feature. I already knew it does NOT come with Wireless Adapter so I would not complaint on that front. Overall it gives a decent output but not great in configuring, Internet streaming and DLNA (totally missing).

To start with, there were quite a few "not so obvious" configurations that I had to struggle to make it work seamlessly between Sony TV & this home theater system. When i called SONY Customer Service (I spoke to five different agents across five days) and no one had a clue about why the System is muting itslef (no audio) when I switch between my TV inputs (Dish, Comcast Cable & TV- Free to Air)...After a lot of research I myself figured out that "Control for HDMI" settings on TV was the reason why System was acting up. "Control for HDMI" is actually supposed to make things a lot easier but in this case, they were getting so messed up. What the heck ! I got a sony system so that it could sync up well with my Sony TV and that "BrAVIA SYNC" itself was creating problem ??).. I was surprised that 4 out of 5 were clueless and kept telling me this is how it is designed and if I want I can switch off the "Control for HDMI". But that would mean using two different remotes for watching TV. one for TV and other for controlling volume on the system...All in all, I never got a satisfactory response except the last agent I spoke to...trick was to use a Digital Optical cable..

Secondly, DLNA - Again spoke to 3 agents across 3 days and all the agents said that BDVE370 does support DLNA. All through my conversations with them (lasted for 45 mins each) they kept on putting me on hold. They were apparently not trained or educated about DLNA feature and after every 1 minute, they used to put me on hold and check something (either in their repository)...they walked me through the setting on my Laptop (has to have a Windows 7). After doing the settings on laptop, they asked me change some settings on the HT System which were missing on the system..This is when they realized this model does not support DLNA..One of the agents went on to say it was a oversight on his part. BDVe370 is not DLNA compliant..When I asked my call be transfered to his superior, I was put on hold only to realize at the end of 10 mins that he had never transfered it to the supervisor by simply hung up on me...All in all, this was one of the worst customer service I have experienced that had no knowledge of the products they were supporting..

About internet streaming, i experienced that the HD videos were not really coming out to be HD on the tv..they were more like Std def...not sure if thats what everyone is experiencing ...I am a loyal SONY fan and keep going back to Sony for my needs (Camcorder, Camera, TV, Laptop and now Home Theater)...but this experience has changed my mindset...

All in all, a decent product if u dont find a need to contact customer service and if u dont need DLNA.

Do not believe what description or box features show, December 5, 2010
I purchased this unit because of the extremely reasonable price for the unit and all of the features that were listed.

1. Streaming from Netflix, etc.
2. 3D capability.
3. DLNA capability with Win7.
4. Number of compatible video formats. (MP4 especially).

Well, DNLA is even shown on the box but the unit does not support DNLA. I allowed the auto upate when installing the unit. FW went to .708 from the previous M04 version. No DNLA.

It will not play MP4 videos using AAC audio encoding (Nero recoding).

Other than than that, I works great. Maybe Sony will fix the FW issues and then I will be 99% pleased with it.

Supports USB, no DLNA !!, December 1, 2010
I got this system during a gold box deal, i like the system so far.

Here is what i like -

1) it has a night mode, does not wake up your neighbors at night, even though the sounds are clear and nice
2) nice bass from Subwoofer
3) 3D compatible

5) USB support, i have a 500gb drive connected to it. supports a wide array of video files
6) Different audio modes

Cons -
1) Cannot control the sound on sub woofer
2) No DLNA Support with firmware upgrade (M04.R.708) from sony support site


**Sorry for the confusion, sony site said that after the update DLNA will work, it actually does not!

Great Entry Level Home Theater for Great Price, December 15, 2010
This is my first home theater for a great price using the Gold Box deal. I have always had a good faith in sony sound products right from my child hood since the invention of Walk man and I am quite happy with the overall performance of this home theater system. Thanks to AMAZON for the unbeatable price...

Pros:

1) Supports Dolby true HD & DTS HD (But no HDMI input - so not sure if this unit can receive HD audio input from other audio sources) - these two formats were tested locally by running Dark Knight, Batman Begins Blu-ray which has HD audio channels like Dolby True HD & DTS HD. Other Audio formats like Dolby Digital, DTS are also tested using Coaxial or Optical input from other sources like Cable box, TV output.

2) Has all the basic inputs (Coaxial, Optical, Stereo (red+white), FM, USB (for IPod, Memory sticks)

3) Plays music from your Ipod or Iphone (but the control cannot be seen in TV - The best way to change the song is by operating the ipod itself or using the home theater remote, either way it is very difficult if you are sitting far away from the iPod unless you have a zooming lens or binocular to look into your ipod from that distance)

4) easy calibration with calibration input device comes with the box

5) Usual sony Internet & CrossBar Menu - Sony style (i really like the crossBar Menu)

6) Can change the sound level of each speakers including woofer. (if you decided not to use the auto calibration settings)

7) Rear speakers cables are quite long, you should be okay with the built in wire if your room is 12 X 12 or you can buy a normal cable speakers from your near by store if your room is really large. quite easy to place the speakers using the color code on back of the speakers.

8) No issues with the video, usual sony quality. Yet to test the 3D video.

9) I cannot really argue with the sound for such a entry level home theater, but it does delivers for the price. I already got complaints from my neighbors to reduce the sound, so i believe the system produces quite a good groovy bass effect from the woofer.

10) The speakers are very light weight, so you can just use Push pins to hang it on the wall, if the wall is not concrete. You dont need to put a screw..

11) Splits 2 channel stereo sounds into Dolby Pro logic, Pro logic II, Neo 6 very well..But switching these modes is difficult, everytime u have to go to system menu to change it, but who wants to change these modes every 2 minutes..set your favorite mode one time based on your input source and enjoy..


Cons:

1) No DLNA support so far...hoping to see new firmware upgrade to have DLNA .. or Just a Dream LOL

2) FM display is poor, even my car stereo shows more details about the song & singers, this one just shows the channel frequency. Need a special antenna if you have a poor FM reception in your apartment/home. it just comes with a thin FM wire which i dont think is useful. FM auto tuning is also very slow.

3) Did not recognize my USB Harddisk (NTFS - Western digital 500 Gb passport), but i am sure it will read USB sticks.

4) Need a separate usb device for wireless internet ( who cares if you have ethernet connection )

5) LED displays in the unit is very small for such a large unit, they could have done better, the info is very limited, it does not display the audio format of the input source like Dolby True HD or DTS HD in the unit LEDs.

BottomLine:

All my cons are nice to have features only. Nothing stops you from enjoying this unit.
Great Sound for Great Price. Come on !!! who gives a complete 3D blu ray home theater all in one box for 240$ whereas other companies basic home theater audio system costs 300$ & more. Thanks to Sony & Amazon.
It is clearly given in the manual that DLNA support is not included in BDV-e370 but i am not sure if it was advertised and written on the box.

Great buy, December 4, 2010
Works great. For the money and brand you can't beat it. Only downfall is no HDMI inputs, but thanks to the fact that HDMI supports audio return on the same cable, any sound input to my tv from my ps3 or antenna can be output into this home theater by just setting it on TV mode. Works great!

DLNA Support What A Lie!, December 2, 2010
I just purchased this item and was really counting on its DLNA features, so I set everything up and then allowed it to update its firmware using the network option. Big mistake, sure I now have the the latest firmware version "M04.R.708" but not all of features that the firmware update claims to add to this device.

I will improve the stars on this device if and when this DLNA issue is fix as this was very important to me.

Note:
If you updated the device already you are out of luck unless Sony sends out a specific new update to address this issue, but I wouldn't hold my breath any time soon.

------------------
Update: 12/15/2010

Sony techs have been clueless so far about the BDV-E370 DLNA non support issue, even after applying the updates that claim to add such features!

The updates have already been tried by many folks using the only two possible procedures (the Network or CD-R methods) both have failed to add DLNA features onto the the BDV-E370, but it does add such features to the BDV-E570 and higher models using the very same update "M04.R.708".

It's funny how on the top outside of the box itself, it clearly shows the "DLNA Certified Logo" along with Sony's own support website that claims the firmware update "M04.R.708" adds those features, but it was all a lie. Sony really botched this one and this is truly false advertising, what a bunch of clowns!

Perhaps if enough folks complain about it Sony will actually turn on the DLNA features. I will not give my money to Sony and put up with such blatant false advertising, and those that care about the DLNA features should give this product the lowest possible rating until Sony gets their act together. Let Sony see it and hear about it!... ... Read more

Editorial Review

Wireless Kelton Subwoofer. The included Wireless Kelton Subwoofer provides flexible and easy installation with no wires to connect. Clear-mode DialogClear TV Sound Reproduction With clear-mode dialog, the voice will sound more from the center of the TV display. With more precise linking between the picture and the sound, the dialog voices and vocals in movies and music can be enjoyed with clearer sound. Advanced Bamboo Cone SpeakerClear, Beautiful Vocals. With the new bamboo cone speakers the sound becomes more responsive. Vocals are purer and clearer, and the dialog is crisper and easier to understand than ever before. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If you’re looking to flesh out your movies, games, and music with lifelike, full-blooded surround sound, look no further than the HT-S6300. Think: quality on a budget. This feature-packed system sports four of the latest HDMI 1.4a inputs to handle your Blu-ray player and other high-definition devices. Non-HD video sources, meanwhile, can be upscaled to spectacular widescreen 1080p via HDMI and Faroudja DCDi Cinema. HDMI 1.4a is compatible with upcoming 3D video content and enables a handy Audio Return Channel from your display’s tuner back to the receiver. Audio processing on the HT-S6300 includes the “in the studio” realism of DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD; Dolby Pro Logic IIz for ambient height channels; Audyssey room-correction and equalization technologies; and four proprietary DSP modes to match your gaming content. Other Onkyo exclusives include a Universal Port for peripherals such as the included Dock for iPhone/iPod, and a new overlaid graphical on-screen display. So go ahead. Immerse yourself in Onkyo. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Immerse yourself in your movies and music with Coby's 5.1-channel home theater speaker system. Fill your room with 300 watts of surround sound from five 3-inch satellite speakers and a floor-rattling subwoofer. The integrated amplifier and switch allows you to easily change between two source connections. Independent volume/treble/bass control and magnetic shielding also included. ... Read more

Reviews

Excellent value, May 13, 2010
Best value for the price. Nice sound, good looks and durable.

Step up from tv speakers, June 28, 2009
This system arrived as ordered. The system looks good, and performs way better than my TV speakers. While I do not get real surround sound (see below), having speakers all around the room definitely makes you feel in the movie, game, show, etc. I don't get real surround sound because I do not have an amp/receiver or DVD player with separate outputs for each speaker. I just plugged the system into my TV with the dual cables. I don't have the resources to buy a nice receiver with an HDMI input/output (My TV is 1080i HD capable).

I do get great stereo sound quality, which with two left/right speakers gives a surround sound quality to whatever I am watching (less so on TV shows).

Just on the internal amp I can get these speakers loud without distortion. The bass is weaker than I would like, but I am in an apartment complex and have neighbors below! Although, I was in my dining room working on paperwork when I started listening to my fiance playing a PS3 game (Ratchet and Clank) and the bass quality sounded great. The bass also sounds great when watching action movies with gun fire (ex. Live Free or Die Hard). But the bass will not shake your windows, if that's what you are looking for.

The cords for the rear speakers are long enough to go under my rug/coffee table, under my couch, and up on the window ledges behind me. The speakers are also able to mount on the wall. What I was upset about was the length of the front Left/Right speaker wires. With the bass next to my PS3 on the ground, the speakers barely reach the top sides of the entertainment center (which isn't very big, I only have a 32 inch HDTV). I might be able to reposition them to get better stereo sound at a later date.

Having no remote is also a bummer, but for the price... whatever.

Overall the speaker system is a great upgrade for those looking for "false" surround sound in a smaller room. The speaker sound is crisp and clear. If you are looking for true surround sound (using HDMI cables, for example) this home theater speaker set may not be for your. But if you aren't picky about your surround sound, are light on cash, and want something better than your TV speakers, this just may be for you!

Thanks for listening! Will let you know if anything happens with the system that warrants immediate attention!

They are what they are..., November 22, 2009
Nothing less than a nice solid set of cheap "powered" speakers. I bought these because I've been wanting something a bit more powerful than my TV's speakers. For the price the product is five star. My TV is in a smaller room and these sound great when set up properly. You will need some type of output (receiver, DVD player, etc) that puts out a 5.1 signal to achieve surround sound, but you can also just run a standard 2 channel stereo signal through it as well and still get a nice sound. I bought these specifically for use with my Xbox 360 (which puts out Dolby 5.1 via optical cable). I have the optical out on the console running into my Tritton AX360 5.1 system and the surround out on the Tritton running into the speakers. Great purchase, great sound!!

csp94, July 7, 2009
csp94
I placed a bid on this model not knowing what it was. I received the unit and when I first saw the unit I thought I had bought a pig in a poke. but now that I have installed the unit it is perfect for my dvd and cd player.The wires are to short that is true but that was no problem. I placed the speakers in the room where the drawing called for them to be and replaced the short leads with longer wires to the unit. I have surround sound with this unit that is great for the price. If you want better surround sound then you will have to pay a lot more, as for me this unit is great for what I am using it for. thank you

Awsome Buy!, December 22, 2009
I agree with most of the reviews about this item. I would like to first state that I am a musician and feel pretty confident in my audio prowess. But I have to review these from a consumer perspective. I should also consider the cost of this system as well as the application.

I could have lived with the speakers on my TV, but the added lift and fullness that these bring is very nice. I currently have only hooked up the center, left front, & right front due to the size of my living room. But the system is WAAAAAYYYY loud enough. It's such a boost that I have to barely turn the volume knob up to just above all the way off and it gives plenty of sound. I have yet to drop in a really thunderous action flick yet and tried it, but I live in a 2nd floor apartment, so I want to keep my neighbors happy. But I can tell, just from the ultra-low level that I have been playing them at, that this system will kick. For the price, I was thoroughly impressed. The sub-woofer is not thumping, but it gives a nice deep aspect to the overall sound. Unless you are a hard core, die-hard home theater buff and you have a huge visual system already in place, this audio system is great. I have had these for a week and have been nothing but happy with them. They were crazy easy to set up. The speaker wires are color coded so that you know which speaker goes to which connection on the back of the sub. We were watching "Up" the other night and even with only those three speakers, the directionality was very nice. When the character was on the left side of the screen, there voice came out of the left speaker a lot stronger. I was impressed by that. Maybe some more hard core audiophiles would laugh, but hey, I'm a family man who is happy to get rid of the tinny, thin sound of my LCD speakers.

Coby Home Theater Speaker System, February 4, 2010
I was anxious to get it because the sound on my computer/TV was so bad. I've never owned a home theater speaker system but I've seen a few of them in other people's homes. I've had the Coby ststem for almost 2 months.

For the price Coby does a decent job. The sound, tone and volume are adjustable. I was able to get the tone I like. The sound quality could be better. But like I said it didn't cost much and it's good for the price.

It was a lot more complicated to set up than I thought it would be. It's not exactly plug-and-play but it wasn't rocket science either. I don't like that I have to turn them on and off manually. I'm not sure if there's a way to configure them that makes manual operation unnecessary.

The speakers are attractive. They fit in with my decor very well. I'd like to see longer wires on them. It's a little difficult to position them so the sound surrounds due to the short wires.

Overall I'm very pleased with the Coby Home Theater Speaker System. It's contributed to an increase in enjoyment of my computer (which is also my television).

Questionable at first......, October 21, 2009
I ordered this product because my HDTV speakers sounded terrible and I wanted and external source. When I received this product I immediately hooked it up. Everything was hooked up, I turned it on and nothing. I tried everything contacted, Amazon, Coby, and Toshiba (tv manufacture) no one had a cure. Amazon was willing to refund my money, Coby said to contact Toshiba and Toshiba told me how to increase and decrease the volume on the TV (DUH).
I got curious because everything seemed to be in perfect order, the satellite speakers were humming. The Power light was on but still nothing. So I disconnected everything, unplugged it from the power source and unscrewed the back panel which I discovered a wire that wasn't plugged in. Everything is working now and it sounds OK.

I do not recommend unscrewing the back panel, which might void the warranty, user discretion advised. Problem solved.

Good for the price, February 4, 2010
This is NOT a pro-quality Home Theater Speaker System. Don't expect to get pro-quality for $50!

That being said, this does provide a decent sound (albeit not great bass) for the price. If you are looking for an inexpensive speaker set for your home theater, then I would recommend this.

As mentioned in other reviews, the included speaker wires are fairly short (and also thin). If you're using it directly from your DVD/Blu-Ray player, then the volume knob on top of the speakers is really the only way to control the volume.

There is a slight hum in the speakers when no sound is coming out, but hardly noticeable.

Very Pleased...., September 3, 2010
I am very happy with this purchase.The price,the quality,the ease of set-up,more then what I had expected.I am more then pleased with this product and recommend it to anyone trying to improve their home theater experience at a price they can afford.

Don't let the 300 watts fool you, March 27, 2010
Overall, I am happy with the product for the price given. However, I think some of the other products available that were within a $30 range of this set would have been better. Now on to the review.

The speakers were actually smaller than I had expected. I had a set of 125w speakers before that were much larger than these and actually seemed louder as well. The quality on these is probably comparable to the other set but they were also around $50 and 5.1 speakers as well.

One thing that should be noted is that these are NOT computer speakers. I was under the impression that they were since they came with no kind of DVD player or built in decoding. However you can buy RCA to Stereo cables and resolve this issue easily.

One thing I do not like is that these speakers have a trade off on quality depending on the sound level. When you want the speakers to be louder, they seem to distort the quality of the sound if you adjust the source to maximum sound. However, if you adjust the speakers to a higher level while leaving the source around a smaller level, you hear a faint white noise sound when there is little to no sound. This is something that can get a bit annoying.

Now onto the 300w of power. I was under the impression that I would be able to get at least as loud, if not louder, than my previous system. However, it seems that they fall short in this department as well. Being able to individually control the treble and bass is a plus but you cannot change the balance between the front and rear speakers.

The last problem with these speakers is that you have no remote for the system. Everything must be controlled from the subwoofer knobs on top. If you plan to use this for a TV or DVD player and do not plan on the subwoofer being beside you, then you have to readjust manually by getting up. Also the speaker wires can be quiet short as well (around 10 ft for the rears).

Overall, the price is the selling point of these speakers. They would be great for a small bedroom or dorm but probably not well suited for a mid-sized living room, especially if you plan to keep these far away from the seats.

I would only suggest these speakers to anyone who really wants 5.1 but doesn't feel like its worth $100 or more. Otherwise, don't skimp out on these and go for a pricier pair even if the wattage is smaller. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Yamaha NS-SP1800BL 5.1-channel home theater speaker package is a low cost, convenient way to enjoy the full benefits of 5.1-channel home theater sound. The NS-SP1800BL features advanced Yamaha active servo technology (Advanced YST) is a unique system in which the speaker and amplifier work together to cancel out impedance so the speaker unit has a perfectly linear motion. Advanced YST helps to ensure the highest levels of sound pressure and overall performance. ... Read more

Reviews

Except for broken center channel and flimsy cable, works fine..., February 23, 2009
Using this with a Sony BD player and Onkyo 5.1 amp linked via coax audio; TV via HDMI. After all settings were completed, the action and big explosions sounded great. If you listen to movies using TV speakers, you don't know what you're missing.

BUT I couldn't hear dialog. Checked all settings, and searched online forums. I tried to boost the dB for the center but still couldn't hear. Speakers are connected via Monster Cable instead of the flimsy speaker cable provided (so small the connectors won't even hold it). Then I used the test tone from the amp to find out the center channel speaker doesn't work. I'm using an existing bookshelf speaker for center for now.

Otherwise, the bases sound fine and rest of the speakers seem more than powerful enough for my tiny home theater room. Watched Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3-D with 6-year old, and the combination 3-D video and 3-D audio were a winner with him.

For a small room, with a decent amp and proper cables (do yourself a favor, and get at least 16-gauge) this set should work just fine for most movie lovers. Audiophiles should look elsewhere. And test all speakers before you throw out the packaging (as I did).

UPDATE: after mentioning to Amazon the center channel was not working but I didn't want to pack everything up, they promptly shipped me a new set FOC - with pre-paid return as well. Next day. New center channel works great, and sound has greatly improved. Nicely done!

Best bang for your buck..., November 10, 2008
For the price I didn't expect much from these speakers, and when I got them they definitely exceeded my expectations. I have always been a fan of Yamaha audio equipment and when I was looking for a decent (cheap) set of 5.1 speakers for my Onkyo SR606 I came across this set and thought I'd give them a try. Much to my pleasure they work great! I am only using 3.1 right now but the sound is far superior to any pre-packaged HTS that I have looked at.

PROS - Price, quality of build, sound quality
CONS - plastic casing/style (not the greatest for displaying around your house) This is a very minor con!

MILLION DOLLAR SOUND FOR PENNIES, December 25, 2008
You will not belive your ears. For the price you cannot get better sound. ou will need to spend 5 times or more to match, let alone beat the sound qualty. Sub is powered and all the speakers look great. They will look great on stands or on end tables like I have them. They are 6 ohms which means they need more power than 8 ohms speakers to get same result. I have them with yamaha 463 receiver and they sound great. I'am very happy.

Better than more expensive systems., January 20, 2010
It took me weeks of research before I purchased this product. I liked the idea of the Yamaha name, but was concerned the quality would be less than optimal because the price was so low. While I am not an audiophile I like to have the best my limited money can buy. The 6 Ohm rating was a big hiccup for me as well, as 8 ohm is what all receiver ratings are calculated on. But after looking closely at the manual for my receiver I found it supported 6-16 Ohm speakers. So we were good there. My receiver, a Pioneer VSK-519 showed up before my speakers so I hooked it up to some Sony book shelf speakers to "test it out". When the Yamaha speakers came I was only able to hook up three of the five speakers with the included speaker wire, so I used the Sony's as R and L. The Sony's put out noticeably more sound than the Yamaha's which was at first concerning to me. And once I got them out of the way I had to turn the receiver up higher to get the same output. I watch movies right around 50-52 when with the Sony speakers, I was quite happy at 40. I suspect this is related to the 82 db rating (and the only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5). But turning the Amp up a little higher is not a big deal and the Receiver has been very happy in it's low ventilation area, and is in no danger of overheating.

I also upgraded my speaker wire to 16 gauge and have not noticed a difference.

Other thoughts, even though the Sub is a 100W amp, it only produces 50W of output, just like it says on the Manufacture site. So Amazon was a little misleading there. No big deal, because the Sub is quite adequate in my 1200 sqft house, it is everywhere, my poor wife.

My Brother who spent well over $1000 on his surround sound (Mine: $100.98 speakers, $165 receiver, $10 in speaker wire) said my setup sounded better than his, we were watching UP on Blu-ray. That made me very happy! So it was well worth it, and I have been very pleased with the whole set up.

On a side note I definitely recommend the Pioneer VSK-519. It is the only receiver in it's class (<$200) that accepts and uses audio via HDMI from your sources, where most do "pass through" and therefore make you bring your audio via digital coax or optical. This is great because you need HDMI or 5 pairs of RCA cables (My BD player only has HDMI out) to get true loss-less audio.

I definitely recommend these speakers for people on a budget, but if I had an extra $100 I would have gotten some Energy Take 5 speakers paired with a Polk sub. But no regrets and I don't plan on upgrading them anytime soon.

Great speakers for the price, March 20, 2009
I must admit I don't have a trained ear to be able to detect all the finer aspects of expensive speaker packages. I am probably better off because my wife wouldn't let me spend the money anyway. What I do know if that these speakers are much better than the ones they replaced and have exceeded my expectations. First off, these speakers are smaller and more compact then my previous ones but provide much clearer sound without sacrificing volume. In fact they would blow away my other set. I believe I received a great value for my money with this purchase.

Very Good Mid Range Speaker System, April 19, 2010
After spending weeks looking for a good middle of the road quality speaker system I finally found this gem and I am pleased with the results. This was the last piece to my home theater setup and for the price, the quality just can't be beat. I bought this to be used with my Onkyo RC160 receiver and the two go together nicely.

Once of the things I am pleased about is the great quality of sound for the small size of these things. They are literally about the size of pc speakers but deliver such clear sound. The L/R Channel in both the front and rear are the same size and deliver great highs and good medium range sound and the Sub takes care of the lows.

The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is the center channel. The center channel itself delivers great quality sound but the volume isn't quite there. I had to turn up the dB's on the center channel via my receiver to balance it out so it worked out in the end. Othewise I would find myself reaching for the remote during dialogue rich scenes to turn it up.

I have seen a few reviews with people who aren't happy with the subwoofer but my experience has been pleasant. The lows come through clean and have a great tone. It sounds great during action movies with lots of explosions as well as listening to your favorite cd or radio station. The sub itself has its own on/off switch that I just leave on as well as its own power adjustment. I keep mine set at about 45% because anything higher and everything in the house starts shaking.

The bottom line here: For the price this just can't be beat. Yes there are other setups that will deliver a better experience for some but will cost you much more money. At this price point you will not find a better setup for your home theater and unless you are a complete audiophile you will be completely satisfied.

yamaha 1800bl 5.1 speakers, March 24, 2009
Picked these speakers up to go with my recently purchased yamaha 463 home theater receiver. These speakers were really the only ones in their price range, so I wondered if they sounded inferior. In short they sound incredible. Comparatively speaking, they are a great bargain. They look and feel well constructed and I cannot believe the sound coming from them, it is fantastic. Well worth the price and highly recommended.

great sound for the money, January 7, 2009
Was deliverd fast and sounds great. I have a large den 20X24 with 12ft ceilings and no problems at all.

Great set of speakers!, May 18, 2009
Super fast delivery and easy to set up. I was blown away at how good these speakers are for the price. If you're in need of a set of speakers and are on a budget, these are the ones for you!

Good price/performace, January 28, 2009
Great sound for the price. I wasn't expecting much, but got exactly what we needed for our bedroom system. Clean sound, good bass, good matching between the speakers.
Only one drawback, which isn't listed in the specs when you buy, is the sensitivity is real low. All this means is you need a little more power to drive them, which isn't bad if you have a receiver that can push a little more power without distorting the signals. This isn't an issue for our old receiver (100w x 5), it has no problems producing a good sound.
I also didn't use the included speaker wires, I used 100ft of 16/2 speaker wire, but this was more my preference than a necessary "upgrade". ... Read more

Editorial Review

1000W, 1 BD, 5.1ch, Cinema Surround, iPod Dock, Tall Boy Front Speakers, Adv. Bamboo Cone Spk Kelton Sub, Smart Set Up, Wireless Rear Ready, Wireless LAN Ready ... Read more

Editorial Review

VIERA Cast's assorted online content just keeps getting better - in addition to the popular contents such as YouTube and Picasa Web Albums, it now offers Pandora Internet Radio, movies streamed from Netflix, exciting sports from FOX Sports, and tweeting web communications with Twitter. No PC required. By using a combination of real speakers and virtual speakers, a more natural and smoother sound can be enjoyed. You'll notice the difference, epecially in an action scene - you'll feel like you're sitting in the center of a true cinema theater. With the new bamboo cone speakers, the sound becomes much more responsive. Vocals are more pure and cleaner, and the dialog is crisper and easier to understand than ever before. The SC-BT230 is compatible with a new feature of ARC (Audio Return Channel). ARC allows receiving audio signals from the TV, on top of the preexisting HDMI function of sending audio/video signals to the TV with just one cable. This new feature will simplify the connection by eliminating an audio cable connection between the TV audio output and the main unit's audio input.

... Read more

Reviews

The Swiss Army Knife of HTiBs, May 6, 2010
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.

Basic Facts and an honest opinion, May 25, 2010
The Panasonic SC-B230 is a decent product I have had this for about a week and put it through some paces. However my actual rating for this would be a 3 1/2 but since I cant seem to rate a half star here and the features of the unit I will give it the extra for the 4 star rating. You have a nice Blue Ray player which is backward compatible like the rest (DVD, CD etc) From the box to the Quick Guide to the User Manual, set up is easy and there are plenty of diagrams for those who are instructionally challenged (ie "instructions?? we dont need no instructions...I got a picture).

Set up is easy the wire and the input of the speaker are color coordinated. In fact the Speaker input to the unit is color coordinated preventing you from plugging the wrong speaker in the wrong slot. You really have to try to plug the rear to the front and vice verse. This is a plus and a minus - in my opinion. The idiot proofing great, however the end is a plug that is specific to the unit so if you need extra wire for a big room or you plan on using a larger gauge wire like a monster wire plan to cut and splice. Once everything is setup there is an on screen guide for a quick setup to hold your hand through it. If you wish to alter some things you can do easily through the menus. You can also boot sound to the sub and the rears from the menus.

When I opened the box and pulled everything out I look at the speakers and thought "There is no freakin way". They are small. How small? The center speaker is the largest, not counting the sub, is about an inch smaller than a 32oz Powerade on its side. The sub is about as long and wide as a shoe box and is about 3 inches taller than the same Powerade bottle. Doubtful and hesitant I hooked them up inserted Blue Ray version of Avatar. DAMN...I guess there was a freakin way. The sound is awesome, full and rich with just the right amount of bass. You may have to tweek the db levels to your liking (see above)but the sound is great for those little suckers. It is a 1000 watt system so if your planning of shaking and vibrating every window in the house it's not going to do it. If you want a good home theater experience, this will do it and for a nice price. It's not $1000 + system so don't expect it. It is worth the value though.

It has the option of connecting to your home network via a network cable or a USB adapter ( adapter sold separately (DY-WL10 $95 on Amazon)not sure if other USB Wireless adapters will work I haven't experimented that yet). I love this option You can access your Netflicks Instant Que if you have an account with them. Various customizable weather forecasts,You Tube, Vera Cast,etc. The system has the ability for the rear speakers to "wireless". This is semi-true. You have to purchase an additional piece of equipment (SH-FX71 Wireless Transmitter / Receiver, about $95 on Amazon) the rear speakers plug in to it so they are, for lack of a better term "Wirelessly wired??" The unit had the most up to date Firmware on it out of the box and the IPod/ITouch/Iphone docking is AWESOME. When the IPod option is selected you get an on screen menu choices and options, very slick. As an added bonus you can also insert an SD card and view contents on screen. Pretty cool. On top of this there is a built in FM Radio that works pretty well and you can have the system use just the front speakers or all of them, this is set up in the menu options ( see above)

So what are the cons - they are what I call minor major issues. Little things that, to me mean a lot. The remote. There is not an option for an Open / Close on it. There are four buttons for TV control, Power, Input and volume Up / Down. No big deal..wrong big deal. Unless its a Panasonic TV they are useless and as far as I can tell you cant change that. The power button, Vol Up / Down and the Open/Close buttons are on top of the unit. Personally I would like them else where. I powered it on and off several time accidentally setting it up. The equalizer has some preset settings and that's it. You cant adjust to your own liking or tweek them. They are what they are.

In a nut shell you get an SD Slot, USB Port for Wireless Network, a Wired Network Port (LAN) an HDMI Out, Composite Out, Composite In Right and Left, FM Port (small wire antenna included), 2 Digital Audio (optic) in. The Pros out weigh the cons so you see why I leaned to the 4 star it's a good system for the price. Movies, Xbox/360, PS/2/3 etc sound great. You get what you pay for but in this case I say you get a little more. I hope this helps in you decision whether for or against. didn't intend for it to be this lengthy but I wanted to inform as much as possible.

Great sound. Services now improved., May 2, 2010
I received this item about 4 days ago. I absolutely love the sound. Watched some of Star Wars Episode III and the sound is incredible. Just like being in the theater. However, one of the reasons I purchased this item is that Panasonic's website lists it as having Pandora. This is not true as of the time I am writing this review. I wrote Panasonic about this and was told that there is no exact date yet when Pandora will be online. Also, for those of you interested in the twitter that it supposedly comes with. No twitter either. As for the youtube, that's pretty cool. Netflix is sort of lame, as you only get access to the instant queue and no recommendations. We have a PS3 with Netflix and the Netflix service on that seems to be more advanced.

Also, on Panasonic's website, it lists this model as having a 3.5 mm jack so you can use your MP3 player. Not true. The back of the unit has a composite audio in. Which I wasn't that upset about since I have a converter but still...

As for the ARC, you need an ARC supported TV for it to actually carry sound from the TV to the unit via an HDMI cable (this is listed on Panasonic's website). I didn't realize that when I bought it so now I have to get an optical cable. Not a huge loss.

I did consider returning the unit based on the above but am so pleased with the sound, however, that I am keeping it.

UPDATE

Not sure why I didn't notice this before but there is no dedicated button for subtitles on the remote. Also, there's no headphone jack. To listen to a blue ray through headphones, we have to mute the system and listen through our tv.

UPDATE 6/09/10

Pandora is here now with full functionality - ability to add stations right from your TV- and Twitter soon to follow. For sports fans, Fox Sports is coming soon and there's also tagesschau german news channel--in german.

Better than any similar priced product I've owned, November 24, 2010
I've owned a few of these $300 DVD home theater systems in the past. I've always noted how they sound like 5 little speakers and a sub. You get the highs and the clunky lows but the middle is always funky. When I plugged up this system and closed my eyes, the front speaker set and sub sounded like one cohesive unit. It sounded so nice, smooth, and complete. I'm totally happy with this system.

overall decent- edit 7/3, new update 12/11, July 1, 2010
I replaced a 650 watt Onkyo system with this unit. While the Onkyo had less watts, the subwoofer was powered and was twice and large and heavy as the Pansonic Sub. The Onkyo's speakers were bigger and heavier as well. I was surprised that this Panny sounded as good as it did considering it is so much smaller than the Onkyo.
I guess those extra watts make a difference even though the speakers are tiny.

I had some problems setting this up initially where I was not getting sound from the DVD/BD and only from the TV. I changed one of the settings in the menu and it fixed everything. There was nothing in the manual that really guided me to check this, it was more trial and error.

Blu Ray movies are crisp and clear, sound is very good for the price and size. One word of caution if doing the firmware upgrade. I upgraded to the most recent version which took a long time, then the system went blank, I got a flashing green power light and the display read W OPE. It was like this for over 30 minutes, I unplugged the unit and plugged back in but still got the blinking green light and same message. The unit would not respond to any commands.

I left the unit like this and after some time, it turned off on its own. I powered it up and it was fine. Apparantly it was still in firmware upgrade mode all that time.

Update 12/11.
still works fine..the unit is a bit slow (not the bluray player portion) it can take up to 30 seconds for me to get sound when everything is turned on. Also, a bit annoyed that not all the APPS are still availabe through viera cast. Some of the apps that said COMING SOON when I got this unit a long time ago still say COMING SOON. Overall still pleased, mainly with the sound quality, it is slow and cumbersome at times to go between inputs but still pleased.

Excellent System, October 7, 2010
I heard a similar Panasonic system at Sears. Found it on Amazon for $[...] bucks less than anywhere else and free shipping. The speakers are not Yamahas, which I have owned, but are excellent for being so small. Would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend. My 13 year old grandson watched Iron Man 2 on the blue ray player and was wowed by the surround sound.

Be careful, April 27, 2010
After setting up this unit I used it for a couple of days and it worked great for the price. I then got smart and went online and saw that there was a firmware upgrade. I installed the upgrade and after about 30 minutes it finished and all seemed fine. Then I started noticing that at random the unit would shut off as I was watching TV. There is nothing in the manual that addresses this issue. So I though I will call technical support. Good Luck. I have yet to find a telephone number or email address to ask this question. I am happy with the unit but wish I had never performed the upgrade.

awesome product!, November 26, 2010
I bought this Panasonic BR few weeks ago and it was a great buy! Easy to set up. I had a phillips Home Theater System and only last me a couple years, I was going to buy a sony until I find this Panasonic on sale for $219.99. The video quality is awesome and the sound is unbelievable! If you want a nice home theater system under $300 you should get this one!

Best HTIB for the money!!, October 31, 2010
I am one that usually does not write reviews, but i was so impressed with this little unit I had to! Clearly this little home theater gives you a big sound out of very small speakers at an unbelievable price! The trick to this home theater system is setting it up properly. All HTIB factory settings are very flat sounding.Anyone that complains that this unit is not loud enough probably didn't take the time to set it up. Make sure you turn the speaker levels and the subwoofer up. The center speaker is very loud and clear so you may want to turn it down a bit. I turn the built in EQ to heavy sometimes I change this setting depending on what I am listening to, power bass on, center focus on. In the menu setup I changed the rear speaker setting to have constant sound coming to the rear speakers. Surround settings I set to standard so if you are watching a blue ray or DVD or direct tv it will encode the best possible signal. I sampled Avatar and Batman on blue ray and was blown away with the action scenes!This unit does a nice job upscaling regular DVD to a better picture quality as well. I am not telling you that this is the top of the line piece of equipment, but for the money this unit hands down beats its competition and should satisfy most regular home listeners.

Has it all, quality Video and Audio, best bang for your buck, June 8, 2010
The sound is excellent and really by far the best bang for your buck. For 400, I was able to get the wireless set up and 5 wall mounts. The blu ray is excellent, the video and audio quality is by far better than the quality of the PS3 and thats saying a lot. After updating your system you have access to Amazon Video, Netflix and Pandora which work really well. You must do the update though to have the latest features. Netflix HD looks great as well. The layout is just like the PS3 when it comes to choosing movies, you must have them in your queue, but that's not a big deal. Amazon video, lets you navigate new releases as if you were on the web which is cool.

The system also seems to sync quite nicely with my Toshiba Regza LCD, which is a nice touch but can be annoying at times. The ipod adapter works really well. Easy to navigate through each of the players functions. The remote is very simple. A button for each feature, such as Ipod, blu ray, ext in.

The sound is excellent. From a scale 1-100 on the volume, I never go over 40 because of how loud and crisp the sound is at that level. We live in an apartment complex, so going above the 50 level is really rumbling the floors and causing a lot of problems with neighbors, but I did test the sound on 70, with transformers blu ray, and there was no distortion at all. I am very happy with this product. Panasonic really out did themselves. For all the features you get and again, the quality of video on the blu rays, you can't beat the price on this one. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Complete your entertainment experience with 5.1 channels of high-quality surround sound and 1000 watts of power with the HT-SS370 surround sound system. Connect multiple HD devices using a single HDMI cable per device and turn this great system into your entertainment hub, plus operate all your compatible BRAVIA Sync devices using one remote control. Add optional S-AIR accessories and enjoy the convenience of wireless rear speakers or multi-room streaming. ... Read more

Reviews

Excellent companion to PS3, April 6, 2010
Just wanted to share a few points about this product that weren't clear to me before I purchased it.

1.) The receiver does not decode Dolby True HD or Master DTS HD. HOWEVER, the receiver accepts LPCM signals. So, if your Blu-Ray player can send an LPCM signal and it has onboard decoders for those codes (and I believe they all do), then you can still experience everything Dolby True HD and Master DTS HD has to offer. If you're lost at this point, I'll put it this way. If you have a PS3 and this sound system, you're getting the full "HD" sound offered by Blu-Ray discs. Just make sure your PS3 is set to send Blu-Ray audio via LPCM, not Bitsreaming. Also, you need to connect your PS3 with HDMI to make this happen.

2.) The sound from this system is excellent. 1000 watts is plenty of power for your typical home theater. In fact, it's more watts than most home theater systems on the market currently offer. In my experience, a good rule of thumb is "more watts the better". This is true even you don't plan on cranking up the volume.

3.) The rear speakers on this system are not automatically wireless. That is, this system is CAPABLE of wirelessly transmitting to the rear speakers, but in order to do this, you need to purchase a transmitter to plug into the back of the receiver and an amplifier for the rear speakers. Sony calls this system AIR. So, in case it isn't clear, this system is only "wireless ready". I haven't purchased the transmitter and the amp needed, but installation looks like it would be very simple. It's nice to have that option in the future.

The only downside to this system, as I see it, is that the remote is overly complicated. Lots of buttons and I only seem to use about 8 of them. If my home theater had more Sony BRAVIA compenents, then maybe all of the extra buttons would be of more use. Overall, however, the bad remote is definitely not a dealbraker. The positives of this system greatly outweigh this one minor negative.

Amazing Value!!!, June 19, 2010
I can't accurately express how great this product is in a few paragraphs, but I'll try. I'll start by saying that I already had a Blu-ray player (PS3), so I was looking for a surround system that was affordable and easy to set-up, actually sounded good, and felt like a quality product. After using the system for a few days I can tell you that it has more than accomplished these things.

I paid full retail price, which was $350, but again, I only needed a surround system by itself, no DVD or Blu-ray player, which is what the majority of systems seem to be these days with BD becoming more popular. That said I was willing to pay a little more if it was a good system. The system comes with a central speaker, two front speakers and two surround speakers to achieve 5.1 surround, which is plenty for an apartment like mine. There is also a very powerful subwoofer included as well, so when I have a home I can really pump the bass. Additionally, the power is 1000w.

Knowing a bit, but not a whole lot about surround sound setup, this system made it ridiculously easy for me to set it up and get going. Each speaker is color-coded for easy installation, which seems like a no-brainer but this is not always the case. So anyway, you plug the wires into each speaker and then into the receiver and plug in the subwoofer and you're done with the wiring, it's really that simple. The wires are plenty long for the two surround speakers as well, so that's not an issue. There is also an auto-calibration microphone that comes with the system that you place where you sit when you watch TV and it does its thing in less than 30 seconds and you're system is calibrated positionally just like that.

I've watched a few Blu-rays so far and the sound really is great, top-notch really. If you've never had a surround system before, you don't know what you're missing! I could never watch a movie again without it. Its a very powerful system as well, I'm waiting for my neighbors to say something soon lol (which is why there is night mode included) There are many modes you can use as well, such as Dolby Pro Logic with 5.1 support, sports, games, music etc... Sports gives you a reverberating sound as if you were at the stadium listening to the announcer, pretty cool minor stuff.

Now, there are also 3 HDMI inputs included, which is partly why this system is a little pricier than others, but it is well worth it. So I have my PS3 and DVR hooked into the receiver with one to spare. It's nice to just switch the receiver to which one I want rather than the tv, I basically don't need my tv remote anymore. I know there is no ipod dock included, but you can buy an $8 cable (red and white tips) and play it through that, so it's not really worth the $100+ Sony DMP dealy.

So there you have it, a great system for the price from Sony, who comes through in the clutch once again. Ignore the reviews that say they thought this had a Blu-ray player with it, I am not reviewing Amazon, rather I am reviewing this product.

Pros: 3 HDMI inputs, great sound, sleek and compact, easy set-up, auto-calibration.
Cons: a tad pricy but the quality is there

If you don't need a blu-ray player and you don't want to deal with annoyingly complicated set-up, this is the system you want.

Good Bargian, March 12, 2010
I bought this system yesterday. It has great, even sound and multiple sound fields for different situations (movies, games, sports, etc). I like that the speakers are small (the center channel speaker) disappears in front of my television. Also, there are 3 HDMI inputs for everything I need (Blu-Ray player, Computer, etc) and one output for the television. There are also inputs for analog and digital audio sources. One drawback is that the 'wireless' rear speakers are only wireless when coupled with the optional AIR EZW-T100 Wireless transmitter and the Wireless amplifier for the speakers (WAHT-SA10). This wasn't a problem until I found that the amplifier doesn't seem to be available anywhere. Even the SonyStyle store shows 'out of stock'. Aside from that, this is a great-looking and sounding system for a reasonable price. As long as you don't demand wireless rear speakers in the immediate future, I highly recommend it.

Excellent Home Theater System, May 25, 2010
This Home Theater system is amazing. The set up is very quick and easy. Out of the box it sounds amazing there is no need to tweek it. This unit does not contain a bluray or DVD player. It is a component home theater system. That means that it is a receiver for HD equipment you already have like a HD cable/satellite box, bluray player, PS3, XBOX360. It has 3 HDMI ports to connect your equipment and one more that goes to the TV. After everything is plugged in correctly you got to make sure your equipment is set to the proper surround sound settings. in the case of a bluray and PS3. set the audio output to Linear PCM(LPCM)though the HDMI cable, and your cable box to its proper surround sound setting(dolby digital most likely). Now your ready to experience full HD picture and sound. It is 1000W of sound and its sounds crystal clear. I tested it with Avatar and Transformers II both on bluray. Each movie sounded amazing. The front speakers and rear speakers are loud and the unpowered sub woofer is great. Some will complain that the sub is unpowered, but really it does sound and feel excellent. it will satisfy most people. If your looking for a HD home theater system and already have a bluray player this is the system to get. It will save you money verses other bluray home theaters and its more versatile with its ports

Audiophile here, November 2, 2010
I purchased this after a lot of shopping around. This was meant to get some cheap surround sound into my bedroom without hugely intrusive speakers. Having over $10,0000 vested in my den entertainment center, I wasn't expecting much at this price. I have to say, I'm quite impressed. No, it doesn't compare to my home theater setup, but it does sound very, very good. Far better than I expected it to. The sound is clear, you can raise it to a "decent" volume (I wouldn't buy this if you're going to always crank it, because something may go in that case), and the speakers are small and non-intrusive. I'd recommend this to anyone that is looking for a bedroom surround system or someone that won't be blasting it at full volume at all times.

Great Value for Connection Options, September 28, 2010
When I started looking for a surround sound system for my home theater setup I had some specific things I was looking for and this system above all others fit the bill. I will start by saying that I am not an audiophile yet I did my research and know what I want. Although I would prefer a Denon receiver and quality speakers I was looking to spend under $300 for the whole setup as I had just thrown down a lot for my tv and PS3. I wanted a receiver that would tackle the task of integrating all of my HDMI components as well as offer an option to connect my iPOD directly without the addition of a computer. With the digital media port and three HDMI IN ports I can connect my DVR, PS3, and my media server without a separate switch.

Setup was easy and from the time FedEx dropped off the unit until I was watching a movie was like forty minutes.(That includes mounting the speakers on wall mounts) The room that I placed it in is 14'x17.5' and the sound is awesome for the price. I will note that I stepped up to Monster speaker cable with twisted pairs to eliminate RF interference. Once the system was calibrated I was able to just use the receiver remote as I have all Sony Bravia components. The only addition that I didn't think of at first is hooking my laptop up to the tv requires an optical cable to the receiver to stream audio in digital codecs. A trip to BestBuy solved that problem and although I would prefer that the HDMI out to the tv would send data back to the receiver I didn't mind buying the extra cable.

If I had to complain I would start by saying that this receiver doesn't accept all BlueRay digital audio codecs so you must properly configure your components to adjust for this. I would detail exactly what I am referring to but other reviews have done so and its honestly not that big of a deal.

Bottom line... For less than $300 bucks you will not find a similarly equipped receiver and speaker package with 1000 watts and so many connection options. If you are looking to upgrade from a older analog setup or this is your first foray into digital audio it's the only one to consider.

Great System for Games and Movies, April 15, 2010
NOTE: This does *NOT* come with a built-in bluray player.

I got this system to hook up to my PS3. This is my first 5.1 system, so I can't really compare it against other systems, but I can say that I am very pleased with this product.

Sounds great, long speaker wires, 3 HDMI inputs, nice looking. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking for a 5.1 HTIB system in the $300 range.

Blew ayay my expectations!, December 1, 2010
This system is fantastic. The sub has such a full sound with amazing clarity and the speakers are crisp and clear with no sound problems at all. I use this system for gaming in my apartment, and the rich bass and sound add so much to the experience. Movies sound great too, even when streaming over the web and even Netflix. The only complaint I would have is the HDMI port. It works great and there's nothing wrong with it, it just took some messing with the settings to get it to work. Overall, this system is well worth the money! Great buy!

Good Buy For The $$$, September 23, 2010
I would have rated this at 5 stars if it were possible to upgrade the speaker wires. After reading most of the reviews, I'd made up my mind to make the purchase, I wish someone had mentioned this one flaw. It's not a huge deal, but I would have liked to know beforehand, it may have affected my decision. Good sound for what you pay.

Good for the price, June 10, 2010
Well coming from a 27 inch bulky tv with horrible sound this is quite the step up. Its very easy to set up probably an hour in total from unpacking it to post sound test with the mic calibrator.

Its very light weight and seems to kick but the sub woofer can take so much, the 1000 watt is nice but can overload the speakers if you try to really crank it I have it in a fairly small room its full and vibrant, but I think in a living room situation a better selection may be needed.

i have the Samsung 720p 42 inch plasma for around $500 and aPS3 for $300 and this sound system for $300 so over all Im loving a great cinematic experience for under $1200, but mind you you get what you pay for I'm sure to get the best you would have to double that figure.

Overall a great buy for the price shipping was probably around 10 days ... Read more

Editorial Review

Bring your movies to life with this 3D Blu-ray Disc home theater system, which features pristine 5.1-channel surround sound and wireless streaming capabilities.Experience full HD 1080p and powerful 5.1-channel HD surround sound, and enjoy expanded entertainment options as you wirelessly stream Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, Slacker, YouTube and more. ... Read more

Editorial Review

This landmark Energy 5.1 Take Classic home entertainment system flaunts superior MDF cabinets finished in sophisticated high-gloss black. It includes a powerful 200-watt subwoofer with a front-firing port, 8" driver and patented Ribbed Elliptical Surround(TM) for well-defined bass reproduction. But the coup de gr�ce is the newly added Convergent Source Module (CSM) with its 3" poly-titanium woofer and .75" Hyperbolic(TM) aluminum-dome tweeter. This proprietary technology provides a dynamic frequency range and an expansive soundstage, resulting in smooth, realistic sound that emanates from each satellite speaker as well as the center channel. Music and movie lovers can now rejoice because the Take Classic not only breathes life into every entertainment experience, it incites an intense passion in every listener. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Sony DAV-DZ170 DVD Home Theater System has 1000 watts of power and also can improve the picture quality to near HD via HDMI connector. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Onkyo has built a reputation for making advanced features and performance more affordable for budget-conscious fans of home entertainment. Take, as a prime example, the HT-S5300 receiver and speaker package. At the heart of this 7.1-channel system, you have an A/V receiver sporting four of the latest HDMI 1.4 inputs—enough for all your high-def sources. HDMI 1.4 brings compatibility with 3D video—coming soon—and an Audio Return Channel. With the HT-S5300, you can also adjust settings on the fly with a handy overlaid on-screen display. The receiver offers a broad range of connectivity options, such as a front input for portable devices and a Universal Port for one-cable connection of the included Dock for iPhone/iPod. High-quality Burr-Brown DACs ensure pristine analog conversion of all digital audio sources, including HD audio formats from Dolby and DTS. And Dolby® Pro Logic® IIz gives you the option of a new height-channel set-up with the included 7.1-channel speaker package. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sound this big from speakers this small just has to be heard to be believed. The Polk Audio RM705 complements today's stylish high-tech flat panel TVs and audio electronics. The new RM705 Home Theater System is a complete six-piece 5.1 channel system that presents a sleek, minimalist design while delivering impressively big sound. Heavy-duty, non-resonant composite enclosures feature an elegant, high-gloss finish that creates the ideal d�cor accent. Polk speaker technology ensures superior system performance, delivering rich, full-bodied, big speaker sound. Mount the speakers on shelves, or next to your plasma or flat-screen television using their flexible wall-mount brackets. An included cradle supports the center channel. The RM705 is part of our 700 Series, also available in 6.1 and 7.1. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Yamaha's YHT-393BL 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. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sitting at the top of our range of home theater packages, the HT-S7300 combines today’s essential A/V technology with proven Onkyo amplification muscle. Four HDMI 1.4a inputs allow you to hook up all your high-def devices and enjoy spectacular widescreen 1080p resolution on a compatible display. Non-HD video sources, meanwhile, can be upscaled to 1080p via HDMI with Faroudja DCDi Cinema. HDMI 1.4a not only provides a handy Audio Return Channel from your TV’s tuner to the receiver, it also gives you compatibility with upcoming 3D video content. Among the other connectivity options on the HT-S7300 is a Universal Port for the included Dock for iPhone/iPod. The Onkyo name is synonymous with quality sound, so it’s no surprise the HT-S7300 packs stellar audio processing: lossless HD codecs from Dolby and DTS; Dolby Pro Logic IIz for overhead ambience; Audyssey room-correction; and specialized audio modes for gaming. Rounding it out is a speaker set highlighted by a mighty pair of floor-standing front speakers that excel every bit as much with music as they do with movies and games. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Be surrounded by superior sound with the Samsung HT-C5500 Blu-ray home theater system. ... Read more

Reviews

Great System, But Understand Its Limitations, April 19, 2010
The HT-C5500 is a solid all-in-one home theater package at a good price, but you need to know what it can--and can't--do before you decide to buy.

First, some pros and cons:

Pros:
*Low cost
*Compact
*Easy setup
*Integrates with Samsung AnyConnect+ TVs for one-step DVD playback
*Decent enough sound and sufficient volume for a family room
*Netflix and YouTube connectivity work well
*Completely integrated in one relatively small unit
*iPod/iPhone dock included
*Speakers look nice and are very small and unobtrusive

Cons:
*Very limited inputs (Audio only; there are no HDMI inputs--the description above is wrong)
*Flabby bass response (no surprise given the 8lb passive subwoofer)
*Completely integrated--if one part dies, your entire home theater system is offline
*Wireless Internet use requires optional ($70) proprietary Samsung LAN adapter
*Proprietary speaker connectors
*AnyConnect+ can be a little wonky: If you have a disc in the tray, DVD playback seems to override all the other functions such as Internet services or the AUX input.

Even given all the Cons, this system suits my needs very well. I already owned a Samsung TV. I didn't want a proliferation of remotes or components. And the odd shape of my living room meant that I wasn't going to get optimal surround sound in any case, so I wasn't willing to pay a fortune for a system.

I ran the HT-C5500's HDMI output to one input on my TV and connected my FIOS box's optical audio output and my Mac mini's analog audio output to the appropriate inputs on the HT-C5500. The HT-C5500's remote is nothing special, but it makes it quite easy (after a little practice and reading of the manual) to switch between setups. You still need, however, to manually switch between HDMI inputs on the TV depending on what source you want to watch.

Note, however, that I'm at the absolute limit of what this system can do. I couldn't add, for instance, a game console into the mix.

Still, I'm very happy with my purchase. Yes, the HT-C5500 hits a wall quickly, but if you intend to stop before that wall arrives, you won't be disappointed.

Great product!, July 1, 2010
I will start with what's bad and the reason why I gave it 4 stars.I have a Samsung TV and one of the reasons I bought this was so that I could sync all my devices using one remote and the Anynet feature(a Samsung AV network system to automatically control Samsung audio-video devices). This unfortunately has been a slow painful learning process, its working now but there are some unresolved issues (e.g.Anynet sometimes taking a long time to recognize devices). Lastly, I wish the rear speakers were wireless. You do have the option to buy an expensive low rated Samsung wireless receiver to fix the problem.

Now to the good part. This is a 2010 model!!! not 09 not 08:) For the price you get-a home theater+ blu ray+ iPod dock+ FM + internet. Produces a great quality sound that really fills up my small apartment. I love the automatic sound calibration option that sets your speaker sound based on distance. I get crystal clear FM and the iPod dock works great with my iPod Nano. Lets be honest, its hard to get a decent home theater system with all these accessories for close to $400.

Tips:
1)Buy an HDMI and optical audio cable from Amazon (does not come with the unit), some stores charge insane prices.
2)I would highly recommend reading the Anynet guide, just Google Anynet + guide to get it. Will save you a lot of time!
3)The price on the HT C5500 seem to change by $50 in different websites--shop around for the best price.

sleek design and nice features, March 10, 2010
I spent a solid week researching which surround sound system to buy when i stumbled upon this one. I was also looking at the samsung bd 1250 which was rated pretty good buy cnet. Im guessing this system is an upgrade since its the 2010 model so i assume that means its better. It was delivered yesterday and after getting everything set up im happy to say im satisfied with my purchase. i was sort of worried since there were no reviews out yet due to it just being released. It sounds really good. I haven't had a chance to play around with the online features yet, but im planning on using the built in netflix streaming. Be careful though if you plan to mount the speakers on stands, since it only has a keyhole in the back instead of screw holes.

Nice hardware, terrible software, July 27, 2010
It's a nice form factor, looks great, and would be just what I want if it would only work. I had to connect to the internet and let it upgrade itself before it would even play DVDs. I could select chapters in the menu, but not play them! It doesn't actually do half of what it is supposed to do. It detects my iTunes server, but says "unsupported format", even though the user manual says MP3 is supported. So much for that. Then, when it's playing DVDs or Blu-Ray discs, or streaming from Netflix, the sound and picture get way out of sync, like a second to a second-and-a-half. All the movies start to feel like bad Japanese dubbing. And the blank area around the 16:9 is filled with unattractive "video junk" that looks like a buggy video card driver or something.

Overall, even if it actually worked, the interface is extremely tedious and confusing, so it's difficult to switch from DVD to Netflix, for example, if there is a disc in the tray. I never did actually figure out how to use it, even after reading the manual a couple of times. I had to randomly try buttons on the remote until it would get me to the system menu where I could choose the function I wanted.

I returned this unit to exchange it for a Sony BDV-E570. So far, the Sony seems to function much better and has none of the above problems. It also has much better bass, although I was not really looking for a system that would impress me -- just one that would be small and unobtrusive, and function nicely.

Decent HTIB but sloppy bass, June 22, 2010
Pros: fills my media room very nicely
reasonably priced
looks nice

Cons: remote does not fully integrate with my samsung tv
the bass is very flabby - almost sounds like the bass speaker is dislodged sometimes
there are newer models out with an integrated wifi (I bought this unit an the new version showed up in costco two months later.

Overall, I'm extremely satisfied with this HTIB.

Needs some quality control, August 18, 2010
I just returned my system after 1 day of use. The console produced a crackling sound out of the left front speaker and within a couple minutes would turn off all sound while playing a Blu-Ray. This error was repeated using different speakers on the same signal. I'm not interested in wasting any time with tech support. It either works straight out of the box or it doesn't. That's what Quality Control gets paid for. I do give the system a couple stars for what it was capable of doing, when it did work.
Overall, not nearly as impressed with the software and usability as I am with the Samsung TV I got at the same time. That TV gets 5 stars.

OK, July 26, 2010
The theater system is brand new so samsung obviously has some bugs to work out. It has trouble turning on when pressing power, it turns on its chime when already turned off in settings mode, and a little difficult to operate in general. Price and sound are great though.

iPod Dock Alphabetical Order Only?, March 31, 2010
Fantastic sound, and the Internet TV is going to provide a lot of fun.

One issue that seems to have carried over from previous Samsung products seems to be the iPod playback. It looks like the songs are listed and played in Alphabetical order only. This includes Playlists as well as Albums. An album's songs play in alphabetical order only, really? I've been reading reviews of previous systems and this seems to be a common thread. This is hopefully something that can be fixed in a firmware release.

Other than that, the Anynet+ feature is going to take some getting used to. There is a lot going on when switching between sources on my Samsung tv and also this HTIB. A little more practice and hitting the message boards will clear all this up.

Very happy overall so far. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Experience movies in full HD 1080p resolution and powerful 5.1-channel HD surround sound including wireless rear speakers with the BDV-E770W 3D Blu-ray Disc home theater system. This great system minimizes movie wait times so you can begin watching faster than ever. You can also wirelessly stream Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, Slacker, YouTube and more. ... Read more

Reviews

Awsome composite system, April 25, 2010
This is a really a great Home Theater/BluRay combo unit. I hate clutter and went for it as this would be a single unit for Music, DVD/BluRay and Internet streaming (Netflix etc). Blu-Ray discs with 3-D surround sound are really amazing as I expected, DVD up conversion is great and sound quality of wireless S-AIR rear speaker is as good as wired (beware, they are wireless just with respect to main base/amp unit. The rear speakers have their own receiver unit that requires power plug and is wired to rear speakers. However, it serves my purpose as I don't need to run wires across my living room.). I was apprehensive that I am paying $100 extra and probably compromising on the sound quality just for little compromise of running wires across room. I did not find any compromise on sound quality (and I am quite picky). I did separate my WiFi router away from S-AIR, after reading about the possible cross-interference. That created another logistics problem: I sometimes watch movies on Netflix streamed through Internet and for best quality like to hook up the wire. Keeping router away meant that I ended up running cable across. Netflix streaming quality was awesome with wire and as good I had observed with PS3 (It's just a shade worse than DVD but way better than connecting via computer). The surprise was that WiFi connection worked almost as well as wired. So I ended up getting rid of this wire too. I have Sharp Aquos 52' LED TV and it seamlessly detects sound from this Sony unit whenever I switch to TV or switch on TV. One more tip that I discovered by chance. I have cheap $2, 6 ft generic HDMI cable and ~$10 mediabridge 6 ft and 15 ft (to connect my laptop to use TV as external monitor). While DVD and Blu-Ray disc quality was same on all 3 cables, Netflix streaming quality was way better with 6 ft mediabridge cable than other two. Probably one needs to buy decent quality shortest cable for limited signal/information relay via streaming. And don't believe in the crap that is floating on Internet. I know digital is 0 and 1. However, those morons forget that it's not just one 0 and 1; there is a stream of millions of 0s and 1s getting across. So it matters how many of those are faithfully transmitted. If input is great it does not matter, even crappiest of cable would do. However, if input is limiting, it does seem to make a difference. I did blind test with monstrously overpriced Monster cables and did not find any improvement over Mediabridge; so just the shortest and decent ones would do. I read one user complaining about lack of headphone jack on the system in reviews somewhere. IT EXISTS. Sony actually did one better. It put it on one of the rear speakers so that it's close to your couch. They just did a poor job of highlighting it. Not so detail oriented people might start crying it does not exist after not finding it on the main unit. Finally, I played tons of music from my iPhone using 3.5 mm to RCA connection (this unit can also play iPod/Phone via USB cable; I just had a very good quality 3.5 mm to RCA with me) and quality was good. It also has Pandora and other links that are suppose to become functional in next update. I tried Pandora via iPhone and it was great. I really can't see any problems with the system.
Bottom-line: It may not be the system for extreme music lovers who want to push sound quality to ultimate purity and can hear notes that pass through 99% of the people. It is indeed a very good composite unit to hook up with your TV (for improved sound) and watch movies on BluRay/DVD/Netflix and avoid clutter of equipments without compromising on the quality of either of the individual functions. I am not into gaming but Sony should come up with PS3-BluRay-home theater combo too. If I have to find fault, my only disappointment is the unfriendly user manual, hard to navigate Sony website (locating information before deciding to buy was pain) and Sony customer care (or lack of it). Also, its website use to describe iPhone app that would let you use your iPhone as a remote for this system. They have pulled it from promos and descriptions. I was indeed looking forward to it and I hope they revive it.
Note: Sony has acknowledged on their website (on eSupport page of this unit) that some of their units are prone to freeze upon software update. I was lucky that mine did not ask for any software update. Its shame that they are not paying to ship the units back to them for repair (as reported by other reviewer). It's enough hassle that you have to pack and ship the unit for something that is clearly their problem. Its not surprise to me as I have heard from many friends that their customer care has always sucked big time. Looks like, they are slipping. They are bit like Apple on making big money via accessories/support. However, apple is quick to suck up when they screw something. It's a tip for Sony management if they want to survive Apple's dominance in consumer electronics.

Update 07-19-10: I did both the software updates provided so far. It added Pandora and improved quality of HD movies available via Netflix streaming among many other small things. Software updates were easy. Only things one needs to be careful about is having wired internet for update, removing discs from the system and not switching the power off while update is in progress. This is a very good system that would take you movie or music experience to another level esp if you have a good TV. All my friends were blown away by its features and quality. We have used it extensively for playing BR discs, Netflix streaming, and music from Pandora, ipod/iphone and experience couldn't be better. It pains me to see that it has just 3.5 star rating, thanks to users who does not want to do more than clicking "add to cart" and switching on the power switch. Just reading the specs before buying and user manual after buying would address almost all of the the issues.

Incredible Value!, March 27, 2010
I purchased this system for our bedroom as an inexpensive way to bring Blu-ray and surround sound. It is amazing what is packed into such a small package. The big plusses for me were the wireless rear speakers and the wireless connectivity for Internet content and firmware updates. It certainly doesn't have nearly the connection options you'll find with traditional A/V receivers so you'll have to make sure your television has plenty of inputs for all your gear. However, in my case it works perfectly. The speakers are small, but together they put out an impressive sound. There's even an included mic for auto-calibration of your speakers. Another bonus is that the Blu-ray player is upgradeable to 3-D when the patch is available. For a quick and easy feature-packed home theater in-a-box solution, you can't beat this system.

Sounds great, April 26, 2010
This replaced a Samsung BD1250 as I was unhappy with the sound quality - especially from the center channel. I love this new system. Sounds great and setup was really easy with the autocallibration microphone. It has a PS3 style menu which is a snap to navigate. The video quality is outstanding whether its playing a Blu ray disk/DVD/or streaming video. I was a little nervous about the wireless rear surround, but it works great. I don't get any interference with my wireless router. I was also nervous about updating the software, but it downloaded and installed without a hitch. Now, I just have to wait for some 3D movies to be released...

Great system and great price., August 17, 2010
Second day after setup and I have been pleased with the Sony BDV-E770W. I am viewing on a Sony KDL-40EX700 HDTV. This is a good and inexpensive entry level HTiB which should be more than adequate for most folks. Later in my review, I will address some issues that others have posted in earlier reviews. Forgive the length, but I figured I would lay out everything for the next person who comes along and can benefit from my online homework.

As previously mentioned by Common Sense in his review, many issues can be resolved simply by viewing the online manuals while you are waiting for your unit to be shipped. Included in the box is the manual and a Quick Setup Guide, both of which are available online. The Quick Setup Guide does a good job of showing the different ways to hook up your video and audio.

Even without reviewing the online manuals ahead of time, your system will be up and running very quickly simply by using the Quick Setup Guide. Everything is color coded and easy to understand. The rear speakers are attached (by color coded speaker wires) to the wireless amplifier. I placed the wireless amp under my couch and ran the rear speaker wires to the left and right sides of my couch. I kept having a problem with my rear amp dropping the signal and the rear speakers would go mute. There are three different selections (frequencies) that are easily changed on the back of both the main amp and rear amp. Once I changed the frequency, I was in business. The Auto Speaker Calibration does a good job of calibrating everything. If you desire, one can calibrate each individual speaker, but I was happy with the auto calibration. While writing this review, I cranked Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight," and it sounded great. A previous poster had mentioned the small speakers, but I found this not to be a problem. Sound has been great. The Blu-Ray disks on the system are unbeatable and the DVD Up conversion was a very obvious improvement over my standard DVD player's output.

Two things I would like to address that others have had to deal with.

First, the Update that has "bricked" others' systems. As a previous person suggested, I used a LAN cable instead of the wireless adapter that comes with the system....and I sat on my hands and didn't touch a thing. My system turned itself off when it was finished....the whole thing took about seven minutes. If you can't use a LAN cable, then setup the included USB wireless internet device and test it by going into the system's online library and view some videos before accomplishing the update. If all is well, then initiate the update.

The second thing I would like to address is a previous poster's need for an optical cord for the Audio. What he was referring to is the Cable/SAT/DISH audio to your Blu-Ray system's speakers. Your Cable/SAT/DISH audio and video signals run to your HDTV. Your Blu-Ray video signal runs to your HDTV and the Blu-Ray audio signal goes to the speakers, but how do you get the Cable/SAT/DISH audio signal (the audio for the television shows) to your new speakers? The first two ways are in the Quick Setup guide... one being the optical audio cord and the other using RCA jacks directly from your Cable/SAT/DISH box to the back of the Blu-Ray. But there is a third way that is listed on page nineteen (19) of the owner's manual. There is something new called Audio Return Channel function which is an industry standard and NOT unique to Sony. If your HDTV supports this function, then you only need to use an HDMI cord between the Blu-Ray and HDTV and the audio signal coming from the Cable/SAT/DISH box will then run backwards through this HDMI cord into your Blu-Ray and it's speakers. This function is something that has been added to the HDMI technology as they continually update it. You only need to have an HDMI cord that is version 1.4 (the latest HDMI version). So my system only has two HDMI cords....one from the cable box to the HDTV and one from the Blu-Ray to the HDTV. The system does not include an HDMI cord nor an optical cord. Buy these (if you need both) before your unit arrives. At first, the Audio Return Channel function didn't work, but I found in the HDTV manual that this function only works from the HDMI input labeled Number One (I have four in all). Once I switched to HDMI port number one, I was in business.

The last thing I would like to address is a question I had asked Common Sense concerning using the 770W with something called Sony S-AIR wireless speakers. I found out the answer and here's the bottom line....This system is designed to work with these wireless speakers. They are truly wireless and can be plugged into sockets around your house to hear whatever is being heard from the system's speakers....music, the TV, or the movie playing in the Blu-Ray. The 770W is already transmitting to the wireless rear amp, therefore the other speakers would act as receivers as well, the difference being that these units are all-in-one receivers/speakers....no need to run wires to a seperate speaker. This solves my problem of piping music out to the garage or back porch while having a BBQ. Take a look at the link below for the S-AIR speakers available.


[...]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
26 August 2010 S-AIR wireless speaker review

For some reason, Amazon will not let me post the URL for the Sony Style S-AIR speakers. I will try to post it again as well as a product link from Amazon. I just tested the socket speaker I received (used from eBay) and it works great. It worked on the back porch and the garage also. Good sound. Don't expect the volume to crank on the socket speaker, but it was just fine for the back porch for family BBQ, etc. If you want some volume, you might consider the "Premium" which is a bigger wireless speaker.

[...]

Sony S-AIR AIR-SA50R - Wireless speaker system - 16 Watt (total) - black

Does Everything! (with some cables), August 9, 2010
The INFAMOUS "UPDATE" takes FOREVER, even with super-fast fiber internet. When it says it's "100% done installing" you STILL NEED TO WAIT and don't shut it off until it turns off and back on itself!!!!!!!!!!!! (Mine works fine after the update.)

I bought this system because the wife hates wires, I want Surround sound.
The box is fairly compact, plays CDs, DVDs, Bluray discs with ease. Easy to setup out of the box, the speakers all have color stickers, they and the unit are marked with lettering also.

I have the system in a family room where the rear speakers are all the way in the back. You can have it auto-adjust all of the speakers with an included microphone, it adjusts volume and delay automatically. I did that then adjusted the volume for the rear up just a little, for the bigger surround effect. It's also nice that the rear speakers can be turned on/off with just one button on the rear receiver.

Speakers are all fairly compact and attractive. Typical black with silver sony lettering. The subwoofer isn't too big, for best results put it in a corner. (Tried hiding it in a bookshelf and it made the entire thing rattle.)

You need an HDMI TV to really take advantage of it, I also feel it was well worth the $10-15 to buy a digital optical cable. I have the TV and Bluray connected with HDMI and the DOC. The TV also has Wii, VCR, HDMI computer hooked up, and pressing "TV" on the Bluray plays whatever is coming from the TV, without problems.

---------------------------------------
I've had only one complaint- the Internet Streaming sometimes just cuts out. Netflix streams in VERY HIGH QUALITY on our fiber internet. But it's rare we watch an entire hour show without it freezing and saying the network is down. Not sure if this is a problem with the router/internet we're using or the Bluray player, but this never happens with my Wii. (But the picture is obviously poorer on the Wii.)

Overall, I really like the simplicity, sound, and functionality of the system. Has everything I want except AM radio, and that's an antenna issue for a different day..

Thanks Common Sense for Your Review, August 9, 2010
I purchased this item in part due to the thorough review by Reviewer "Common Sense". The sound system has amazingly good sound, was relatively simple to set up if you (as the Reviewer said) took the time to read a bit of the poorly written instructions and plan what was needed for set up. I got it all unpacked and fully set up while my husband mowed the lawn. We immediately watched a variety of TV shows and Movies and the sound was better than the Bose system we had before. I actually jumped out of my seat because the sounds were so vivid I was positive a car had crashed into our house! I am not a techie so if I could set it up, anyone can. Hooked it up to a Sony HD flat screen TV and our very poor cable service (soon to be replaced) and we are very happy. I've already recommended it to several people who plan to purchase the system as well. Couldn't believe it has everything we want for that price - great sound, ability to connect back speakers wirelessly, radio, ipod connection, wireless internet connection - the works.

Muting keeps flashing on the panel, May 17, 2010
I got the product couple days ago. I was very pleased with everything including the sound quality, set up instruction, wireless internet content etc. Watched Avatar...enjoyed the home theatre experience.
The next day I started to play the same movie again and as soon as I turned up the volume from the remote, I noticed that the text 'muting' started flashing on the front panel and the sound started going on and off. As if it kept muting and unmuting every second. Clicking Muting on the remote button didn't work > restarting the system didn't work > switching to modes other than BD/DVD didn't work. I had to reset to factory setting to get it to go away. Even after resetting and playing for a while it came back the next time I tried playing a movie (This time it went away after powering it down and back on). I'm hoping it's just a setting/button that I'm not aware of that's causing this, if it is, it's a good product.
If anyone has a clue or has a similar experience, please share your thoughts.

nice wireless a/v solution, October 24, 2010
No complaints after 2 months. Interacts well with Sony TV (I have a 32" ex700). Wireless rear speakers work well, I had a problem with them initially dropping out, but moving my wireless internet router to a different room solved the problem. Great value (I paid around $450). My only complaint is that it's not that easy to change the balance of the speakers, but I only need to do this because I move the system around on a rolling cart. It's my first bluray player and I'm really impressed with the video quality and quick load times. Sound quality is quite good, especially considering the small speaker sizes. If you're a real audiophile you shouldn't be looking at home theater in a boxes anyway. Even though the satellite speakers apparently aren't magnetically shielded, I have the left right speakers next to my TV (on a cart) with no problems.

Excellent product and unbeateable price, September 28, 2010
Excellent product, awesome picture quality and sound. Really easy to setup and connect all components. Wifi is also awesome. I really found this product on amazon as the best way to buy at really low price.

Excellent Home Theater System, September 22, 2010
This unit was easy to set-up and everything works flawlessly. The wireless surround sound speaker amplifier goes into standby automatically when the main unit is placed into standby. My Samsung TV recognizes when it's turned on, it turns on and automatically switches to the Sony's HDMI output. Somehow my Samsung recognizes the Sony as an "AnyNet" device, an unexpected benefit. The sound is excellent. Registering the unit for Pandora was easy using the instructions and code Sony provided. A set-up DVD was provided, but didn't need to use it, the manual and quick start guide was easy to follow. The auto calibration of the speakers worked well. It really improves the quality of regular DVD's and Blue-Rays look great. The software has been updated several times and it's now 3D capable. It's hard wired to my network, so I can't comment on the wireless connection or set-up. After it's been updated, the next start-up could take much longer than expected, so be prepared. I only wish it had an HDMI input. I'd highly recommend this product. ... Read more

Editorial Review

1000 Watts,Crystal Amp Pro,Eco Power System,Advanced ASC,Smart Volume ... Read more

Reviews

The audio quality more than makes up for a couple hiccups!!, May 21, 2010
This is a great, great home theater! I went to Wal-Mart with the sole idea of buying the Philips HTS3372D/F7 for half the price of this one. However, they were out and this was the only one they had left... and I was desperate. Installing my new home theater (which took only minutes), I was a little underwhelmed. I'll start at the auto calibration. Now in order to begin the calibration you must hook the microphone into the front and place it where you commonly sit. Sounds simple enough, right. Well, yes and no. The speakers then proceed to blast you with the MOST annoying static "sounds". The whole process takes about 3 minutes. This wouldn't be too bad if it actually worked the first time. Most of the speakers couldn't be read the first time and I had to redo it about 5 times til I got it just right. So now that its all hooked up, its time to mess with the settings. This is where I had the most problems. Samsung has kind of embedded the settings in the remote and while not really the fault of the machine its a real pain to access. Although, to be fair to the home theater, it had it all in the manual (which I only skimmed). So in other words, make sure you read the manual! Now that everything is as it should be, it's time to test it out. In order to get the best sound possible, I connected it to my PS3 with the Digital optical cord. Now let me say that this particular Home Theater has excellent sound! I used to have difficulty hearing what was being said in the movie, but not anymore. Everything is crystal clear. However, I was surprised that the Bass didn't feel as strong as I thought it should. That all changed when I put in The Relic. I was completely blown away! The sound was scarier than the movie! It felt and sounded like the monster was in my room! My floors and walls were shaking from the footsteps, the roars and wheezes chilled my spine. The point: make sure you have quality audio movies. It's now been about 2 months and everything is still working and am still loving my favorite impulse buy. While setup was a little tedious the sound more than makes up for it, I would recommend getting the Samsung HT-C550 DVD Home Theater to anyone with the money.

Also, the back speakers are only wireless READY meaning you have to get the adapter, which will run about $99!

Great Bang for the Buck!, June 17, 2010
RATING: I highly recommend the Samsung HTC 550.

PRICE: Although the system is worth $250, I paid $220 and feel it is a great value. Try to find it for less than $250, but know you are getting a lot for the money.

RECEIVER: The receiver looks great with a hidden DVD drive and touch-sensitive buttons. The DVD drive looks great, but it not particularly durable. A little door slides down and the drive pops out. The buttons work great and the volume button is a silver protruding round curve. It looks great, but it has a white backlight that is a little too bright, and can be distracting in the dark. A "dimmer" feature dims the input display screen, but (strangely, unfortunately) does not dim the volume buttons.

SPEAKERS: The speakers sound great. They are very clear and have plenty of power. Although it is not hard to max out the system, you should find it plenty loud for watching movies in 5.1 surround. The center speaker looks and sounds outstanding. (The back speakers can be even be made wireless with a $100 wireless adapter, which I am considering, and believe will be an excellent addition.) Although you can buy the speakers alone on eBay (around $40), they sound great with this amplified receiver.

SUB: The subwoofer is pretty good as well. It's small, but it has been sufficient for me. It has a nice front design and the speaker is on its left side. With a Power Bass mode, it has plenty of bass and power.

VIDEO: The 1080p upscaling is excellent with an HDMI cable. (Without HDMI, the quality will be below average DVD-quality.) Do not trade in your DVDs because they will look almost as good as Blu-rays with this player. This DVD upscaling player works excellent and plays DVDs better than my Samsung Blu-ray player.

REMOTE: The remote design is excellent and vastly improved over other remotes. It gives you excellent control over the receiver. An input button on the remote lights up; push once, it's orange to control the receiver, push again, it's green to control the TV. (It's basically a universal remote with my Samsung TV.)

iPOD: The iPod dock is an excellent feature, but I have not been able to get it to work yet (with either the iPod mini or the iPod touch.) It takes a long time to "verify," and I have never waited long enough to see if the "verifying" eventually stopped. Otherwise, the USB port on the front works great with a portable hard drive.

ASC: I have not yet tried the Auto-Calibration feature. The feature allows you to plug in an included microphone into a port on the front of the receiver and run an audio test which will automatically calibrate the speakers for you based on their distance apart in the room. I plan to try it when I get my speakers set up more permanently.

INPUTS/DECODERS: It has 1 digital audio (to hook up to Blu-ray player), 2 HDMI, and 2 component inputs, an iPod dock, a USB port, and an FM radio. Tt does not decode HD sound formats (DD HD, DTS HD). The regular 5.1 surround is excellent with TV, CDS, mp3s, DVDs, and Blu-rays.

OVERALL: 5 Stars. You are getting an excellent and powerful surround sound system and upscaling DVD player for a reasonable price. It may need some tweaking with the set up and settings, but add speaker stands (maybe go wireless) and you will have a system that continues to impress.

Great sound, once you get it set up, August 30, 2010
Okay first off, it took us FOREVER to figure out how to get it properly set up to get sound from the tv. We had to go back to Walmart and get another cable for that. And then it took another 3 hours for us to figure out how to set it up to our PS3 in order to get full surround. Manual didn't help at all, and neither does their website. When we finally figured it out, the sound was amazing.

I've been trying to get my ipod mini to play now. All it says is "Verifying..." and I can't use the control until I unplug the ipod. Sat there for about 30mins and it didn't do anything. So I plugged my zune into the usb port and it says it doesn't recognize the usb. Zune is an mp3 player, if the product doesn't recognize some brands then maybe they should say that, and there's nothing in the troubleshooting about having problems playing an mp3. Finally just plugged my ipod into the usb port and it plays, but it doesn't show the menus on your ipod so you have to go through all your root folders and find your music and click on something random, as it doesn't list the names of the songs.
And I saw another person had a similar problem with the ipod. The only clue I've got is that it might need a software update. It really shouldn't be this complicated.

Dissapointing Sound level, September 22, 2010
I've had the system for about 3 months connected to a Samsung 55"LED TV using the digital optical connection. All my inputs go to the TV (HDMI) then out to the Sound System. The system is in a fairly large space. I run the sound at Maximum almost all the time and try to push more out but it just won't go there. I would have thought two Samsung components would have been better matched. Other than that the unit is fine although the sensitivity of the IR for the remote is very angle sensitive. You have to be spot on for the receiver to react to it. I only paid $225 for it. I guess I got what I paid for. ... Read more