Home Theater Systems

Creating a true home theater experience means satisfying the eyes with a great picture and the ears with great sound. Spurred in part by the advent of HDTV, television makers have done a very good job of meeting the first requirement, creating sets that often deliver jaw-dropping images. When it comes to sound, however, things sometimes fall a little short.

Sound quality delivered by today's TVs is typically leaps and bounds ahead of the norm of just a few years ago, but even the best TV sound systems can't really produce surround sound. A proper surround-sound field requires a minimum of five speakers placed in specific locations at recommended heights relative to your seating position. While TVs have improved dramatically in their ability to deliver bass frequencies, sometimes using signal processing techniques or even modest built-in subwoofers to flesh out the low end, they pale next to floorboard-rattling bass pumped out by a proper subwoofer.

However, the task of assembling and connecting a home theater audio system can be daunting, especially for the uninitiated. Separate purchasing decisions need to be made about the A/V receiver, speaker system and, if needed, the DVD player. Then there are the issues of wiring up the whole thing and integrating the system with your TV display.

A prepackaged home theater system simplifies this whole process. A home theater in a box combines a head unit (most typically an integrated A/V receiver and DVD player) with a five- or seven-piece speaker system plus a subwoofer. Some home theater systems include the DVD player as a separate component. Others omit it altogether and include just a traditional A/V receiver.

The biggest advantage offered by a home theater in a box is simplicity. Packaging the components selected to work well together reduces the number of critical buying decisions to one. In addition, many home theater systems sport features such as automatic speaker balancing, color-coded cables and quick connect guides to make the task of setting up the system as painless as possible. The trade-off is a loss of flexibility, since the upgrade options and connectivity in a home theater system are usually limited. Home theater systems in which the DVD player is a separate component, or that require you to add your own, are a little more flexible and easier to upgrade, but are also more complex to hook up.

You'll see surround-sound speaker systems labeled as 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1. That designation refers to the number of sound channels. For example, a 5.1 system will have five audio channels -- right front, center front, left front, right rear surround and left rear surround -- plus a subwoofer. Home theater systems designated as 6.1 or 7.1 add a rear center surround channel or channels to the mix.

Every home theater in a box system includes some type of Dolby surround-sound processing, and many support multiple formats. Dolby Digital is the most popular format, and is used in HDTV programming and most standard DVDs. It contains 5.1 channels of sound information. Dolby Digital EX adds an additional rear center surround channel and can be implemented with either a single center rear surround speaker (6.1 channels total) or twin center rear surround speakers (7.1 channels). Right now, however, far more movies use regular Dolby Digital 5.1 sound than Dolby Digital EX, so reviews say most people will be fine with a 5.1 speaker system. In addition, Dolby Digital EX discs are encoded in such a way that no sound information is lost when played back on a 5.1-channel system.

Many home theater systems also support Dolby Pro Logic II and/or Dolby Pro Logic IIx. Dolby Pro Logic II is used to create a realistic 5.1-channel surround-sound field from a two-channel stereo source such as recorded music on a CD. Dolby Pro Logic IIx is used to expand 5.1 material for 6.1 or 7.1 playback.

The newest Dolby format is Dolby TrueHD, a lossless sound format that's used in some HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs. The decoders for that are built into all HD DVD players and most Blu-ray players, so you don't need a receiver that can decode that format to enjoy it. However, the receiver will need either multichannel (5.1, 6.1 or 7.1) analog inputs or have an HDMI input that's capable of accepting multichannel LPCM (linear pulse code modulated) audio. While the head units (receiver or integrated receiver/DVD player) in some HTIBs do include multichannel audio inputs, no current models can accept and process LPCM via HDMI.

In addition to Dolby, some home theater systems support DTS surround sound. DTS has lower compression than Dolby Digital for what's considered by some to be better sound quality. However, fewer DVDs -- and no HDTV programming -- include DTS-encoded audio tracks. DTS is a 5.1-channel surround system. Variations include DTS-ES, which is a 6.1-channel system, and DTS NEO:6, which creates a 5.1 or 6.1 sound field from a two-channel sound source. DTS-Master HD is the DTS equivalent of Dolby TrueHD.

Component home theater systems

While reviews and users tell us that there are several excellent choices among home theater systems, some of the best comments are reserved for those built around component-grade A/V receivers. These systems are bulkier than those featuring an integrated receiver/DVD player, and typically -- but not always -- come with much beefier speakers. In addition, they are easier to upgrade and they use standard connectors. Many do not include a DVD player at all, and those that do feature it as a separate component. But while component-grade home theater systems offer better sound quality, they can be harder to set up and use.

Recently, the best professional reviews go to the Onkyo HT-SR800 home theater system %%price%%. Those expert opinions are backed up by positive user feedback at sites across the Internet. The Onkyo HT-SR800 lacks a DVD player. That's not a problem if you already have one, of course, but you should factor the cost of a DVD player into your considerations should you lack one or want to upgrade your existing unit.

The Onkyo HT-SR800 is a 7.1 system. Its inputs include HDMI, which means it can deliver high-resolution audio from HD DVD and Blu-ray players (as long as the player is equipped with the appropriate decoders as well as multichannel analog audio outputs).

Because the Onkyo is a 7.1 home theater system, wiring up the speakers is a little more complicated than with a 5.1 system. However, in his review for The Perfect Vision, Chris Martens says that the home theater system's built-in Audyssey speaker equalization system makes setup a lot easier. CNet.com's Steve Guttenberg agrees the system eases setup.

Experts say the speakers in the Onkyo HT-SR800 home theater system are better than most, and they can be upgraded in the future if desired. Chris Martens at The Perfect Vision says that when playing movies the "sound was more full-bodied and dynamically explosive than most HTiB systems I've heard." Music performance is not quite as strong, but still very good: "The sound was tilted slightly to the warm side of neutral but the overall presentation was rich, full, and smooth," Martens writes.

A number of other Onkyo systems have also earned some recognition. The 7.1-channel Onkyo HT-S990THX (*est. $865) is the first home theater system to earn THX certification. Founded by George Lucas of Star Wars fame, THX has developed a demanding set of standards designed to deliver the best possible entertainment experience. Home theater magazine's Mark Fleischmann writes that the Onkyo HT-S990THX "transcends its genre" by delivering monster bass, a credible sound field and good dynamics.

Color-coded wires make hooking everything up easier, and the THX certification eliminates the need for making some decisions, such as crossover frequency and speaker size settings. However, there are no onscreen menus, so a trip to the manual is needed to figure out how to adjust some settings. A few things are missing, including HDMI switching, and a DVD player is not included in the system. CNet.com's Steve Guttenberg agrees the Onkyo HT-S990THX is great -- but wonders if its premium price is worth the performance difference over other home theater systems that cost less yet sound nearly as good. In the end, he concludes that the included speakers justify the high price.

If you do need a DVD player and you don't care about THX certification, the Onkyo HT-S907 (*est. $765) is made up of component-grade units, some of which are also sold separately. It includes a 7.1-channel A/V receiver, a six-disc upconverting DVD changer (separately available as the DV-CP704 , *est. $170 ) and a seven-speaker plus subwoofer package (the SKS-HT740, *est. $350). The sum of these components is a home theater system that's fairly easy to set up and use and that outperforms most of the competition, according to CNet.com. In fact, it is the highest rated home theater system on the site. Connectivity is good, and includes HDMI switching (which means less connection hassles if your cable box uses an HDMI cable). Guttenberg says that the DVD changer is not the best upscaling model he's ever seen, but that most users will find it "perfectly capable." The speakers are slim and attractively curved and the subwoofer is larger than most home theater subs.

The Denon DHT-487DV (*est. $610) home theater system also receives good reviews, and comes with a component DVD player; reviews say the receiver and DVD player are among the best included with any home theater system. The receiver has no HDMI audio connection, but just about every other type of connection is there. It is also XM radio ready and can interface with an iPod via Denon's optional ASD-1R iPod control dock (*est. $130) . The included DVD player is an upscaling model (to 1080i) that does include an HDMI output.

The Denon DHT-487DV is highly regarded in reviews, but testers add this system is harder to set up and use than others. While some argue that the lengthy setup process is a strength, allowing users more adjustability, most people are looking to buy a complete home theater system in part because they are usually easier to set up than separately purchased components. Reviewers also criticize the remote control as overly complex. We also read mixed reviews for the included speakers. Denon also sells this system without the DVD player as the Denon DHT487XP (*est. $550). .

The Yamaha YHT-685 (*est. $560) has a lot in common with the Denon 487DV. It, too, is built around a component-grade A/V receiver (the HTR-6030 , *est. $180 ) and DVD player (the DV-S5860 , *est. $130) that are each sold separately as well. The subwoofer is a Yamaha YST-SW030 (*est. $80) . Only the NS-AP8600 speaker system and the included tower stands are unique to the Yamaha YHT-685 home theater system.

According to reviewers, the Yamaha YHT-685 has undeniable strengths, but also some glaring weaknesses. Unlike most home theater systems, which come with everything you need to set them up, the Yamaha YHT-685 ships with a bunch of missing cables. There's also no master wiring diagram, which makes hooking everything up just a little more challenging. We saw conflicting reports on speaker quality for this home theater system. Some reports say action films and hard-driving rock sounded hollow. Given the relatively low price, many say the speakers are fine for less challenging material, however.

Some reviewers have nice things to say about the SLS (Superior Listening Systems) Q-Line Silver (*est. $800), which is also known as the QS1000. For one thing, it is noteworthy for having ribbon tweeters in its satellite speakers -- something that's more commonly found in high-end products designed for audiophile systems and recording studios. The Q-Line name is a reference to musician and producer Quincy Jones, who helped develop this home theater system.

In his review for The Perfect Vision, Chris Martens calls the Q-Line Silver "one of the most compelling surround systems we've heard at its price." He is particularly impressed with the speakers' performance and their ability to capture the small details "that can make instruments and voices sound real," and also play loudly enough to fill a large space with sound from action films without strain.

The speakers are paired with a 5.1-channel A/V receiver made for SLS by Sherwood. The receiver has few extras, but reviews say the whole system is easy to set up and use. While the receiver does a good job sonically, we read some reports of video noise. In addition, there is no component, S-video or HDMI support, and the Q-Line Silver does not include a DVD player. The Q-Line Silver can be difficult to find, but it can be ordered directly from the manufacturer.

Home theater systems with integrated DVD player

While critics sometimes reserve their greatest praise for home theater in a box systems built around component-grade A/V receivers, many shoppers are drawn to sleek and trim offerings that feature a head unit that includes an integrated DVD player or changer. This type of home theater system is easier to set up and more compact, but not very upgradeable. Still, if you want surround sound but aren't an audiophile, this type of system is usually less expensive than component-type home theater systems.

When it comes to overall sound quality, reviews for the Panasonic SC-PT750 (*est. $350) surpass others. According to CNet.com's Steve Guttenberg, a system as modest as this can't be expected to deliver the sonic oomph of its beefier brethren, but as long as you don't plan to crank the volume beyond its limits, the Panasonic SC-PT750 can deliver very good audio for both movies and music.

The DVD player included in the Panasonic SC-PT750 is a five-disc upscaling model (to 1080p via HDMI). You'll also find wireless rear speakers, an included iPod dock and XM satellite radio compatibility. The Panasonic home theater system doesn't have many sophisticated inputs. The lack of a digital audio input means that you won't be able to enjoy 5.1-channel audio from satellite/cable boxes or game consoles. That's a disappointing omission and could be a
deal-breaker for some. The DVD player's upscaling performance is also lackluster. CNet.com says that you might get better results if you let your HDTV handle the task. If you care about wireless rear speakers, the step down Panasonic SC-PT650 (*est. $290) is essentially the same system with wired rear speakers.

Another option in this category is the Samsung HT-X70 (*est. $310). . It, too, features an upscaling (to 1080i) five-disc DVD changer as part of its integrated head unit. Critics say that while the Samsung home theater system's diminutive speakers do a great job of disappearing in a room, sound quality falls short of the Panasonic SC-PT750 home theater system. Connectivity, on the other hand, is far superior. Not only is there an optical digital audio input, but an HDMI input as well. However, there are no other video inputs beyond the single HDMI, so once again the HT-X70 can't really serve as a switcher. The head unit is also XM radio ready, and a connecting cable for an iPod is included. One thing limiting usability with an iPod is that there are no on-screen menus. The Samsung HT-X70 is compatible with Samsung's SWA-3000 (*est. $150) wireless speaker kit.

While both the Panasonic and Samsung home theater systems are relatively inexpensive for what they deliver, some even lower-cost options have scored well. One noteworthy example is the Philips HTS3555 (*est. $225) . While we haven't seen much in the way of formal testing, the user comments we've seen have been uniformly positive thus far, with most complimenting the sound quality as well as the value.

In terms of features, connectivity is not particularly generous, but at least a coaxial digital audio input is included so you can enjoy 5.1 surround audio from cable boxes and other components. There are no HDMI or other video inputs, so, again, the HTS3555 won't have the switching functionality of a full-featured A/V receiver. The integrated DVD player upconverts to 1080i via the head unit's HDMI output. Extra features include a dock that accommodates Philips' GoGear player or an iPod. There's also an MP3 line-level input for all other portable media players, and you can play photos or music from a flash drive via a front-panel USB port.

Reports say that the Philips HTS3555 is a surprisingly good performer with movies and music. Most note that higher-end systems assuredly sound even better, but that the Philips HTS3555 more than holds its own given its pricing. Although this system isn't going to shake the house, most owners say that the Philips home theater system can fill a small living room with plenty of sound. Pre-wired speakers make setup easy, but wire lengths can limit placement flexibility.

Important Features: Home theater systems

You should consider the following factors when shopping for a home theater system:

• Decide whether you want a DVD player. Home theater systems are available with or without a DVD player. The advantage of those with a DVD player, especially integrated DVD players, is that they are easier to set up and often, but not always, easier to use. The disadvantage is that the DVD player may not be as good as the top-rated DVD players on the market.

• Decide whether you want a component-based or integrated system. Component-based home theater systems generally provide superior performance, along with better flexibility and easier upgrade paths. However, they are usually more expensive, bulkier and harder to set up and use. Integrated HTIBs are generally more stylish and easier to set up and use, but don't perform as well, and users are locked in to the speakers and DVD player that come with the system.

• Larger, less attractive speakers often perform better. Many home theater systems are packaged with small and/or highly styled speakers. These offer the advantage of easier placement and a more attractive appearance, but sometimes sacrifice audio performance that's provided by beefier alternatives.

• How many audio channels do you want or need? You'll see 5.1-, 6.1- and 7.1-channel HTIBs. The advantage of the extra rear channel(s) in 6.1 and 7.1 systems is that they can do a better job of creating a convincing surround-sound field. The disadvantage is that many listening locations can't easily accommodate proper placement of the additional speakers, and relatively few DVDs -- and no HDTV broadcasts -- are encoded with the extra rear channel. Most reviews say a 5.1-speaker system is appropriate for all but the most discerning movie buffs. Most of the best component systems ship with a 6.1- or 7.1-speaker setup.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model ( With Retailer Link)	Details from Amazon.com
4	Onkyo HT-S990THX (*est. $865)	details
3	Onkyo HT-SR800 (*est. $420)	details
2	Denon DHT-487DV (*est. $610)	details
2	Onkyo HT-S907 (*est. $765)	details
2	Yamaha YHT-685 (*est. $560)	details
2	Panasonic SC-PT750 (*est. $350)	details
1 each:	Sony Bravia Theater DAV-HDX500 , Samsung HT-X70 , SLS Audio Q-Line QS1000 (Silver) Home Theater System, Philips HTS3555

Onkyo home theater systems are consistently named as top choices where sound quality is the most important consideration. The Onkyo HT-S990THX is top-rated, but expensive, while the Onkyo HT-SR800 comes close in sound quality and is a better value. Both lack DVD players. The Onkyo HT-S907 includes a DVD player, is assembled using component-grade gear and sounds very good. Integrated home theater systems (which have a combined AV receiver and DVD player unit) are easiest to set up and use, and some, like the Panasonic SC-PT750, deliver very good sound from both video DVDs and audio CDs. However, the lack of any kind of digital audio input is a serious omission and the DVD player's upconverting performance is not very good. The Philips HTS3555 is a value selection that delivers solid performance for smaller spaces.

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