Panasonic SH-FX85 Wireless Multi-Room Audio Kit Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The unit receives wireless signals from my Panasonic 3.1 home theater system very well. However, volume level of the unit is disappointing as is the sound quality of the speakers. I had hoped to use this device on my patio to replace my old boom box CD player. At full blast, the volume is barely adequate for the patio and my old boom box has much better sound quality. The absence of bass is very noticeable on the wireless unit. Too bad Panasonic couldn't have coupled the good wireless transmitter/receiver of this unit with a decent set of speakers. I'll likely wind up using this unit as a rear speaker set up for the 3.1 home theater system since the bass response doesn't matter that much for that use.

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Get great theater sound anywhere with Panasonic's SH-FX85 wireless multi-room audio kit. Get amazing realistic sound from your wireless-ready home theater in up to three (3) additional rooms with hassle-free wireless technology. You'll gain the convenience of wirelessly playing, stopping, or skipping music being played by the home theater system from multiple rooms anywhere in your home. Get music straight from your digital audio player. Use the convenient music port to connect your iPod or other digital audio player to hear great high-quality audio. You can also connect your iPod for playback and recharging with the optional Panasonic Universal Dock for iPod (SH-PD10, sold separately).

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Sony BRAVIA DAV-HDX285 5.1-Channel Theater System (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this product but am not using it for any kind of video display so I can't speak to it for that. I'm using it as a sound system for my ipod and computer and it hasn't let me down. The sound really packs a punch and is really nice if you use the right equalizer to get the proper balance in sound. The only drawback is that it doesn't put out any sound when using these functions through the center speaker so really its just like having a 4.1 system unless you use it as a surround system for a tv. It goes pretty loud considering i haven't really gone above 22 volume even though it goes up to 34. The balance is really good, although I tend to like a little more bass in my music, which it offers plenty of. Great system that isn't too pricey. Would recommend to anyone who wants an easy way to get out of having to use a 2.1 system on a laptop.

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Make your movies come alive with the DAV-HDX285 BRAVIA theater system. It combines a 5-disc DVD/CD changer, 1000 watts of home theater power, and an included iPod dock for enjoying your tunes in a big way. With the optional S-AIR receiver/speakers system, you can now easily send your music wirelessly to another room in your home. Using exclusive Sony S-AIR technology, multi-room audio distribution is a cinch to set up. The DAVHDX285 can even control a select number of BRAVIA televisions with BRAVIA Sync via the HDMI interface. In other words, you can control your components easily with just one remote while maintaining the proper settings in each. Also, HDMI interface up scales DVD media up to 1080p This BRAVIA System optimizes speaker placement in just 30 seconds with Digital Cinema Auto Calibration.

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Sony BDVE300 5.1-Channel High-Definition Blu-ray Disc Player/DVD Disc Home theater System (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought the BDVE300 to go with a Sony 52Z5100 HDTV that I also bought from Amazon. I bought it mainly because I wanted to match the two items for both esthetic and practical reasons. The black speakers match the TV perfectly. I can also control both with one controller and easily run the TV sound through the HTS.
I am not an audiophile. So I didn't try to compare technical specs. This review is strictly subjective (in part to counter the one above) and is based on what I have heard while using the system with the TV.
The room in which the TV is located in is a 20 X 20 den/family room with a connecting dining area and kitchen. The entire area is open. It has wooden floors with a single oval area rug in front of the fireplace and TV.
I found the sound to be exceptionally clear and clean, without distortion or unevenness. I can tell a definite difference between the TV speakers and the BDV300 speakers. The BDV300 sound seems more spacious. It fills the room without blowing you away. The sound has more fullness to it than the TV speakers.
I have not tried it at full volume. I have never felt the need to do so. I have watched two musical DVDs, a Mary Chapin Carpenter concert and the 10th anniversary recording of Les Miserables. In both cases the music sounded beautiful and clear. You could hear all of nuances of the voices and the words of the songs were distinct and clear.
If you want strong bass that shakes the room, I am not sure this is the system for you. The bass is there but it is blended in with the other sounds. I am sure I can adjust it for greater effect. However, I am currently running the system at default values.
As for the lack of an S-air wireless cartridge, as mentioned by the reviewer above. It is true you have to buy it separately. However, everything I read about the system stated this plainly up front. If you need this feature it is available as an option. In researching this system I found this individual posted the same opinion on every web site he could find. I don't think his opinion was a fair assessment of the system's capabilities.
I found the set up to be rather easy. The instructions show various options on installing it alone with the TV or with a cable/SAT box or with an external DVD, etc. With the external mic it took about one minute to calibrate and maybe 15 mins. to connect the wires.

Be aware that Sony uses a proprietary plug on the DVD/Radio/Amp end of the system. The speaker end is a simple pinch type terminal. There is a FM & AM receiver as part of the system. I have not tried them yet. The DVD/CD/Blue ray player worked fine.
The bottom line is: The BDVE300 does everything Sony says it does. If you are looking for something to enhance your TV experience and play CDs with good clear sound, this system will do it well. For the price, I think it is an excellent value. I found no "gotchas" or "I can't believe they did this". So I gave it a rating of 5. I am very pleased with my purchase.
John


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Featuring a Blu-ray Disc and DVD player, 1080p upscaling of DVD media via HMDI cables, and BD-Live technology for downloading additional features and network updates, the BDV-E300 is a complete entertainment solution. For powerful sound to enjoy the movie, 1000 watts of crisp audio and deep bass envelop you for one remarkable, cinema-like experience. You can also expand your listening pleasure through the included iPod cradle and rock out to your tunes in a big way.

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Sony DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA Home Theater System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Very pleased so far. Sounds great, plenty of power to rock your media room, and was easy to set up. There's an on-screen setup feature that lets you easily customize the setup for your particular room configuration. An included microphone lets you do a push-button fine-tuning of the sound relative to speaker placement. It's cool to see the system report exactly how far all the speakers are away from the microphone.
I also purchased the wireless surround kit from Sony. Setup for this was also pretty simple, and was supported by the HDX500 system.
Remote is typical Sony - lots of buttons. But fairly intuitive thus far.
The digital media port works well with the different generations of iPods we have in the house. On-screen graphics are very rudimentary, however, which is a big departure from the iPod interface.
There are a bunch of different sound fields that could be better described in the on-screen system or in the manual.

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As a leader in products with HDMI connectivity, Sony has created BRAVIA Theater Sync Technology to go beyond simple audio and video transmission. When combined with a selected number of BRAVIA LCD televisions and other Sony audio and video products, control functions will be transmitted via the HDMI cable. With One Touch Play operations, several steps have been reduced to one. Press the PLAY button on the remote, watch the audio and/or the video component(s) turn on, then the BRAVIA television will turn on and switch to the correct video input. Simple...Easy...BRAVIA Home Theater System.

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Sony HT-IS100 BRAVIA Theater Micro-System (Set of Six, Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)So I am not quite an audio nerd, but I am no noob by any stretch. At the price Amazon offers this thing packs a lot of heat, but it's even better when you pick it up on special for $300 flat, I could have spent more and been just as impressed and just as satisfied. 1080i upconvertion from lower source material + 1080p through 3 HDMI inputs which means I can have 4 total sources plugged into it and only 1 HDMI connection to the TV. LPCM audio through HDMI- 2,5.1, and 7.1 channel uncompressed audio, so if you buy or have a Blu-ray system that decodes it's own DTS MA, DTS HD, etc...which MOST do, even most of the $140 bottom of the line off brands, you will get all the latest audio codec playback even though the system itself can't do it.
My complaints are that I can only do 4 inputs, HDMI 1-3 are labeled the same as the component inputs and cannot be assigned as a different input. The Ipod dock puts out solid sound but the on screen UI looks like it comes from the 80's, no big deal just would expect more based on how freaking cool everything else is.
I really feel like anyone who says there's not enough power to this is either too picky, hearing impaired, or doesn't really own the system and just likes putting in there 2 cents where ever they can. This thing isn't overpowering, although it probably could be if my wife let me turn it up, but can easily fill my home (1 story) with sound. If you want a professional system your looking in the wrong spot with this system and you should probably not write a negative review saying this thing cant do something it was never intended to do. If you want something easy to set up, easy on the eyes, and impressively strong, especially strong for the size of the speakers (I guess size doesn't matter), then this will be an awesome choice for you. GO FOR IT!

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The Sony HT-IS100 BRAVIA theater micro system delivers intense, 5.1 channel surround sound from golf ball-sized speakers and is S-AIR-ready for multi-room listening (requires optional EZW-T100 S-AIR transmitter). HDMI™ connectivity supports 1080p performance for crystal clear screen resolution and smooth movement while BRAVIA Sync™ offers one-touch operation of your compatible Sony entertainment devices. The HT-IS100 is also equipped with a DIGITAL MEDIA PORT (DMP) that connects to a range of optional accessories, including the supplied iPod cradle (TDM-iP1). For added convenience, the Digital Cinema Calibration feature optimizes sound settings for your room at the push of a button.

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Bose SL2 wireless surround link - Wireless audio delivery system for rear speakers Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I recently moved to a new house, and didn't want to drill holes in the walls or floor to get the wires to the back of the room. I was somewhat skeptical about this product and concerned with sound quality. However, I'm happy to say there is absolutely no difference between using the SL2 and hard wiring the rear speakers!
a) The system is made up of two receivers. They are both very small, and are easily concealable.
b) The front receiver plugs into the base module with 2 wires (left & right speaker wires)
c) The rear speakers plug into the rear receiver.
d) Installation complete!
This is an excellent product and I highly recommend it to all.


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Want to enjoy the thrill of surround sound without all the hassle of wiring to your rear speakers? Bose makes it easy. Introducing the Bose(R) SL2 wireless surround link. No more wiring to the back of your room. The transmitter and receiver eliminate the need to run wires to the back of your room. You`ll enjoy all of the surround sound performance. Without all the wiring. The slim, sleek style blends with your décor. And works with all 5.1-channel Lifestyle(R) and Acoustimass(R) home entertainment systems. Experience how simple home theater can be, and hear why Bose is the most respected name in sound.

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Sony BDV-T57 Blu-Ray 5.1 Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)CostCo sells this unit for $450
I just bought one and so far I'm happy with it. Lots of cool features, crystal clear Blue-ray picture, good sound, plays Pods with usb connection, comes with wireless connection to stream NetFlix, FM radio, etc.
Could be a 5 star for the money but too early to tell for me because I'm still learning what it can do.

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Experience Full HD 1080p and powerful HD surround sound with the Sony BDV-E570 Blu-ray 3D Home Theater System. Wirelessly stream a wide variety of internet and personal entertainment. Experience Full HD 1080p and powerful 5.1channel HD surround sound with the Sony BDV-E570 Blu-ray 3D Home Theater System8. You can also wirelessly stream Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, Slacker, YouTube and more.1,4.

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Panasonic SC-BT730 Blu-ray DiscTM 5.1 Home Theater System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is my first blu-ray all in one home theater system. Before this i have used to Denon 2310 with Mirage Nanostat speakers.
Since wanted to buy a blu-ray and a simple wireless (primary factor for me) home theater system i went with this after reading very few review at that time.
You be the judge before you buy it after reading this review.
The things i liked:
-------------------
#1 - Wireless speaker.
Being staying at a rental house and changing my residence every year had forced me to look for wireless and it was right out of the box in this one.
#2 - Good customer support
After i hooked up all teh speakers, i did not get any sound from my wireless unit. Called the customer service. The great thing was, he knew what i was asking about and he helped me to trouble shoot and finally fixed the problem. Looks like there is a sequence to boot up the blu-ray player and wireless which i did not follow. That was easy.
#3 - You tube
Work liked a charm. No buffering issues. It was real good. (Not sure whether i can connect a keyboard in anyway to make the typing faster....any ideas????)
#4 - iPod dock
Another primary deciding factor for me.
#5 - ARC
Works well with my TV (Sharp 46LE810UN). As soon as i turn on the home theater, audio shuts off in the TV and comes from home theater (Though i like my TV audio much better when watching talk shows)
#6 - All in one remote
The things i did not like:
--------------------------
#1 - Wires all over:
There are no video pass through. Though i knew this earlier i thought it would be okay. But, this made me to run wires btn many systems. From cable box to TV, then from TV Audio out to Home theater. Wii is connected directly to the TV. iPod video cables to TV.
#2 - Lip sync issue with iPod (video)
If you play iPod video, you will NOT get the output in HDMI cable. You will have to use separate video cable for that. Another set of wires.
So, i connected the iPod through composite video and now what? The audio and video is out of sync (lip sync) issue.
#3 - Not enough power output:
I seriously doubt whether this is a 1000W system. The mirage nanastat is around 600w and it sounds way better than what Panasonic. Again, i do not want to compare apples with oranges. Cost may be the deciding factor in this case ($1,200 vs $500)
#4 Poor FM:
Very weak FM output. You will have to find a good spot to keep the FM antenna (just a wire) in order to get a very normal reception. I covered every sq. inch to get a good audio signal but i never got good reception.
#5 Simulated sound not from all speakers:
It is mentioned that we will get simulated sound when 2 channel audio inputs is given. But, for some reason my center speaker (which i consider as critical) did not get any sound at all. That was a strange one.
#6 Wireless speakers
Again, the quality of the sound is good. But, definitly not enough if you have a bigger room.
#7 Proprietary speaker wire
If you have already wired your house, you will have to think again before you buy this. This unit uses proprietary speaker wire and connections. Though the length of the wires are enough for my home with currect setup, this is a serious restriction if i want to use it at bigger houses. Other nice to haves:
#1 - Blutooth receiver - If there is a option to sync any blu tooth device with receiver, it would have been nice.
#2 - Shutting off wireless speaker using remote - I am really not sure whether this is a missing option or i did not explore it yet. I am 99% positive that we cannot shut off the wireless unit with remote. Which mean, if you really conscious about wasting power, you need to add this into your check list before you go to bed.
Other concerns:
If for some reason the wireless unit is not working (one day it is going to happen), then you have no way to use the rear speakers with wires directly running to the home theater.

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Get your home theater going right out of the box with the Panasonic SC-BT730 home entertainment system, which includes a Blu-ray Disc player/amplifier plus a complete 5.1-channel surround sound speaker system. The Kelton subwoofer adds impact to your movies and music with dramatic deep bass, while the two tallboy front speakers add dramatic visual impact to your home theater. Additionally, this system comes with two wireless rear speakers--enabling you to cut down on the cords--plus

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Sony AIRSA10 S-AIR Speaker System - Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This has to be one of our best gifts to us from Santa ever! It comes with 2 speakers - we bought an extra one and liked it so much, we just ordered an other one. You can change the song from any speaker, each speaker has volume control and on/off switch. When not in use, it displays the time. It looks sharp and the sound is unbelievable. The best part is you can move a speaker outside or basement or garage anywhere....

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Just plug in the S-AIR speaker system and you are ready to stream audio to another room from your compatible Sony home theater system. The S-AIR speaker system features a one line LCD Display, a clock function, and is equipped with controls for volume and the audio source you are listening to.

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Sony BDV-T11 Home Theater System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I wanted to write a review as I could not find one when evaluating systems on-line. I bought this one blindly and have been extremely pleased with the purchase.
Items to note:
1. Huge sound on BlueRay's and DVD's.
2. Picture quality is top draw on my 1080 screen. The up-converter does an excellent job on DVD's to an almost Blue-Ray quality.
3. The small speakers kick out a lot of sound. The radio portion is still weaker then I would like. But this is a home theater. I have a sound system for my tunes!
4. It was easy to set up. Following the cables colors it was put together in 10-15 minutes.
5. The book is lengthy so do your self a favor and download the PDF. You can search for keywords to your specific question and tackle any question in seconds.
6. The optic cable offers great sound reproduction from my Plasma TV. I thought I wouldn't use it because of the great sound I had from my TV. But now I find I use it all the time.
7. You can't beat the price!
I think that these were promotional items for selling with Big Screens during Christmas with bundled packages. My guess is that it is the exact same electronics portion as the BVD-300 and the T10 as they share the same manual. That is what I used for my initial analysis.

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Experience high-definition picture quality and sound to get the most out of your HDTV. This all-in-one system plays Blu-ray discs in 1080p and upconverts DVDs to nearly HD picture quality. Plus there are 800 watts of total system power for DTS-HD, DTS-HD MA, Dolby Digital Plus and TrueHD high-definition surround sound formats. Plays your Blu-ray Discs movies in full HD at 1080p on compatible HDTVs Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio surround sound BD-Live ready Plays DVDs and upconverts them to nearly high definition HDMI output Digital media port iPod cradle included for digital media port (iPod sold separately) AM/FM with 20 FM station presets and 10 AM presets 133 watts x 5 channels plus a 135-watt amplifier for the subwoofer for total system power of 800 watts Two 2-way front speakers Center channel speaker Two micro satellite rear speakers Subwoofer with wood cabinet Easy setup DVD S-AIR Multi-room and wireless rear speaker ready Xross media bar-based menu system Composite and

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Samsung SWA-4000 Wireless Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this product for use with the Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System.
Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System (Set of Seven, Black)
Even though the directions were sparse, using this was as simple as plugging in the rear speakers to the unit, plugging in the unit and inserting the transmitter card into the back of the Samsung Home Theater control unit.
At first I thought I didn't setup the unit properly because I didn't hear any sound from the rear speakers, but then I realized I just needed to set the Samsung Home Theater system to the right audio mode in order to get it to work. For example, the Dolby 5.1 mode only works if you are using a media such as the DVD or XBox360 that supports Dolby 5.1 to hear the rear speakers. If your source is something like a component audio device or coaxial cable you need to change the audio mode to "Cinema" or one of the other effects modes to use the rear speakers through the wireless link.
Most of the sources I have for my TV are Dolby 5.1 anyways, so when moving to a coaxial DirectTV player that doesn't do 5.1 I don't change the mode, I just go without the rear speakers -- it doesn't really bother me. The cool thing about this wireless unit is that when you shutdown the Home Theater system, the wireless unit senses the shutdown and puts itself into "standby" mode, thereby drawing very little power.
I've had the Samsung Home Theater and this wireless transmitter for two months now and I've had no problems. Very satisfied with the sound quality -- I've got an optical audio out from the TV to the Home Theater system and the rear speakers sound fantastic when driven by this wireless unit.

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Samsung wireless rear stereo amplifier receives 2.4GHz signals from DVD changer/receiver. It is designed to work with compatible Samsung home theater systems. It has 2-channel rear amplifier with transmission range up to 33 feet. It includes TX card to insert in DVD changer/receiver.

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Panasonic SC-BT230 5.1 Surround Sound System Review

Average Reviews:

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

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

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Samsung SWA-5000 Wireless Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Let me get to the point:
This product is not compatible with anything that would work with a SWA-4000 or SWA-4100.
The "TX CARD", which is a card shaped transmitter, is a completely different shape and size.
I contacted Samsung and was told the opposite before making this purchase. This item does not even appear on Samsung's website.
Their 4000 series of wireless adaptors has been completely discontinued, even though the theater systems that require it are commonly sold (including here, I just bought one from Amazon).
I understand that Samsung is constantly improving their products and therefore will often outdo their recent efforts. There's always going to be a new version coming out. That's basically why I like the brand. Their TV and Surround sound systems I just hooked up are simply perfect. I love them. However, the incompatibility does not seem to stem from technological reasons. The TX card housings and different... the electronics (as far as I can see) are similar. The pinouts appear to be the same. The card itself is a relatively simple device, too.
But mostly, they should be prepared for this question. The problem should be discussed on their website. They are selling a large amount of 'wireless ready' gear that they no longer support, so they should have been proactive on info.
And they should consider being more consistent with their TX Cards, because it's not a very complicated card and Sony seems to have no problems with this. I would have bought a Bravia TV and Receiver had I known Samsung's 'Wireless ready' claims were notional at best. And of course, in several months or a couple years, this unit will not work with Samsung's next lineup, the 6000 series or whatever it is named. Forcing you to replace more equipment, for no good reason.
I had to buy a 'rocketfish' universal wireless sound adaptor, which does not function nearly as seamlessly as this would have. I do somewhat fault Samsung for not being backwards compatible with a very similar device. Or at least selling an adaptor. But most of my frustration is that, when asked, their staff were giving me the wrong information.
As for quality, the device is attractive, well built, and has a strong wattage for the speakers. I heard a nearly identical Samsung unit at a family member's house and it sounds great. I am very sure it would be a great addition to your theater system if your system specifically calls for the SWA-5000. No matter what you hear from Samsung or a sales representative at a store, this unit will not work with the SWA-4000 compatibles.
This really spoiled an awesome event of hooking up a beautiful TV and hearing a fantastic HT 1250 5.1 system. Shucks.

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Samsung wireless rear stereo amplifier.

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Sony HTSF470 Blu-ray Disc Matching Surround Sound Home Theater System (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Great sound.
Great 5.1 functionality.
Great value.
I have mine teamed with a 46" Samsung C6300 LED LCD and a Sony Playstation 3. I love the fact that I'm down to one HDMI input feeding my new TV for all input sources. . .they all go through the Sony HT-SF470.
Complaints: When I bought the product, I assumed that the rear speakers would work wirelessly without an additional purpose. Note, that to use the S-AIR functionality with this product, one needs to buy a transmitter to plug into the HT-SF470 receiver and a receiver for your powered speakers that get served. I also agree with the previous reviewer about how the system lacks a graphical menu. Finally, and perhaps most needlessly frustrating, I hate that Sony doesn't leave you enough wire for their rear speakers. There's nothing worse that to give up on an optimal setup because you don't have enough wire. Also, Sony uses speaker wire with proprietary connectors(more costly and hard to find upgrades).
Still a good value for the price. . .beware that they attempt to suck you in to future purchases by giving you a nearly complete system.


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Complete your entertainment experience with 5.1 channels of high-quality surround sound and support for wireless rear speakers4 with the Sony HT-SF470 3D Matching Blu-ray Disc Surround Sound System.2 Features 3D compatibility so you can enjoy incredible 3D sports, games and movies like never before.2 Connect multiple HD or 3D devices using a single HDMI cable per device (sold separately) and turn this sound bar system into your entertainment "hub".1 Elegant floor standing speakers and beautifully sleek monolithic design make it a great compliment to the Sony BRAVIA 3D HDTVs

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Sony HT-SS370 Surround Sound Home Theater System, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)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.

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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.

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Sony ALTUS ALT-A33PC - Wireless audio delivery system Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great gadget. I am running windows vista on my desktop and have a sony receiver and this thing works great. Last year I was in my attic running speaker wire from my receiver (indoors) to my outdoor speakers. I was dreading getting back in the attic to run an RCA cable from my computer to my receiver. So my search started. I found this item and boy did it save me a lot of time. I received it yesterday and it took me about 10 min to get this thing up and running. I set mine up by the quick start directions that sony provides. You do not have to load the software sony gives you. I use iTunes with it and it workds great. I can sit on my patio and control my iTunes via my iPhone and relax. O yeah you can also control your volume via your iPhone. I will say that all these products are in close proximity so its hard for me to speak for someone that is trying to run this through out a 2 story house. But for what I need it to do it works flawlessly! The sound quality is very good too in my oppinion.

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You can stream the stored music on your PC to your existing audio or home theater system with this Sony ALT-A33PC Wireless Audio Transmitter/Receiver. You can also pair up to 8 additional S-AIR™ enabled premium or socket speakers (sold separately) and enjoy your music throughout your home.

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Sony EZWT100 S-AIR Signal Transmitter - Black Review

Average Reviews:

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

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

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