Sony HTCT100 Sound Bar with Subwoofer - Black by Sony
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List Price: Our Price: $225.00 You Save: $74.99 (25%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Speakers See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Sony HTCT100 Sound Bar with Subwoofer - Black
Digital camera Review: Ear Candy Bargain
Summary: 5 Stars
I put a lot of stock into the Amazon.com reviews about this product. Glad I dismissed the poor reviews (the few). Haven't hooked up to pending new HDTV yet but listened to the Sony system through direct iPod connection. Have been an audiophile for over 30 years and this equipment rivals my cherished Adcom/JBL sound system. Can't get the same separation through a sound bar but for something that costs less than $250, the sound is nothing short of astounding. The high end is as crisp as the titanium tweeters my large JBLs put out and annoying mid range sound is nonexistent. The subwoofer makes the system sound substantially larger than it really is and the crossover with the higher end sound is spot on. As far as the available volume, I wasn't able to max out the system before my wife cried mercy. There is more than enough muscle for most any application. I can't imagine the needs of those who gave a low rating based on volume level. Probably people you'd rather not live next door to. In short, don't hesitate for an instant and make the purchase. There will be no buyer's remorse. Something that sounds this good for less than the price of an iPod rates this as one of the best purchases I've ever made for the price. It will also negate the need to litter your living room with speakers.Digital camera Review: Easy and great sound from inexpensive system!
Summary: 4 Stars
I just purchased this on "Black Friday" at another retailer for $199.00, and I am not disappointed! I purchased this system for a new house that we moved into without pre-wiring for surround and in a room that was not really a great set-up for multiple surround speakers. I was looking for something to add to my HDTV/DVD setup without breaking the bank and would give us much more sound than just the TV speakers. I have to say that I was really surpised with how much sound came from the system. I had it setup in 5 minutes and turned on the first action movie I came to "Live Free or Die Hard" The subwoofer really sounded great with all of the explosions and the dialog was easily understood. After tweaking the setup a little, I sounded even better. VERY easy to setup and great to listen to. Well worth the $199 I paid and even the $299 Amazon has it listed for. It also has multiple HDMI inputs for TV, DVD, and GAMING SYSTEM. Does it have the full effect of a true 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 system? No, but if you want to add some great sound to your system without adding wiring, mounting speakers, and shelling out big bucks, this is the way to go!
Digital camera Review: Elegant and effective solution for audio upgrade.
Summary: 4 Stars
Much has been written about this system already. I refer you to CNET for a comprehensive review (and endorsement--it was one of their products of the year). I will focus here on some of the practical considerations involved in purchasing this system, as well as its benefits and shortcomings. In case you want to skip the rest of this, here is a brief summary:
This is a great system for people with:
1. High standards for audio quality from their TV, game console, dvd player, etc, but do not want a good true surround set-up, which requires an AV receiver and at least five speakers plus a subwoofer.
2. A desire to integrate multiple audio sources (blu-ray or DVD player, cable/satellite box, game console, and MP3 player) into a single system of speakers.
3. Little kids and/or a spouse who hates clutter. (Kids and speakers scattered throughout a room do not mix.)
I am an actual owner of the htct100, and I love the system. It offers a unique set of capabilities. My DVDs and Xbox games have never sounded better, and my music sounds fantastic, as well. It has excellent connectivity, and it also meets our household's kid safety requirements (and equipment protection--intentionally or otherwise, kids break stuff and this system is less in the way and therefore less likely to get damaged). Its simple design saves space and is aesthetically pleasing. I highly recommend it.
Now, the long version:
Soundbars are ideal for people who want high quality audio from a home theater (or what used to be called a television) but for various reasons may not want speaker wires running throughout a room. Small children and interior-decor-conscious spouses are the most common motivators of this decision. In my case, I have both, and neither the money nor the inclination to run wires through the walls/floor to recessed, in-wall speakers... some day, perhaps, but not yet.
This system, unlike the more-expensive yamaha and polk soundbars, does not "bounce" sound off of walls using digital projection. This is NOT a virtual surround system, so don't expect that. However, those systems cost several times more and typically do not include a sub-woofer.
So what do you get with the htct100? The soundbar produces extremely high quality audio, albeit all from the same location. There is a sense of left and right audio from the soundbar, and the sub couple with the soundbar occasionally creates the illusion of surround sound, but it is not the experience you get with true surround speakers. Nevertheless, once you accept that this is not a true surround system (and some other reviews suggest that some people were expecting that), you will find that music and movies sound excellent. In fairness to those reviewers, Sony claims that "rear sound is generated from the front two speakers using sophisticated digital sound processing and does not need to be bounced off of side walls. No matter what the size or shape of the room or what's on the wall, it's possible to hear sounds from behind you without needing to place speakers behind you." That is classic marketing slickness. The key word is "possible". Moderate your expectations.
If you're looking at this product, chances are you are unhappy with the tv's audio output and want an upgrade. The soundbar alone, with its 3.1 speakers is DEFINITELY an upgrade over all but the most elite tv speakers. The audio pre-sets (Standard, Movie, Game, Music, etc.) provide good general tuning. The subwoofer is fantastic...it can rumble, and you won't get that from any television. I am not a physicist but I know that a good subwoofer can really fill a room with sound--to the point that if you did not know where the woofer was you would have a hard time locating the source. This system meets that test. The sub feels substantial. Indeed, I wish it were a little smaller--at 19" tall, it stands above most PCs. But Sony has packed a lot in there--it's basically a sub and a bare-bones AV receiver in one, with an HDMI switch for three sources.
How is mine set up? I have an Xbox 360 wired into the DVD input using the optical audio cable. (Sony includes one, though it's not great quality and if you are using the optical input(s) you will probably want to purchase a cable separately.) I have the cable box wired in with an HDMI input. My Zune (yes, I have a zune... don't knock it until you try it) is connected to the two RCA audio inputs. That leaves one input open (for a blu-ray player perhaps...). All three sound great, though the Xbox (games or dvds) definitely produces the most impressive audio. You can't make steak from hamburger and that goes for audio, too. If the cable provider is sending two-channel audio the sony system has software to improve the quality, but it won't sound as good as your dts dvd soundtracks, etc.
Finally, the bad: First, as I wrote above, the sub is a bit big and you may have difficulty making it fit in visually with your setup. Then again, you may not mind a giant shoebox standing under your TV. (One point of clarification: although the system's display is on the sub, the remote sensor is on the soundbar. You can therefore place the sub somewhere inconspicuous and still use the remote.) Unfortunately, if you put it somewhere out of sight you will not see the display. This brings me to the second shortcoming, and one area where the competition--Yamaha's yas (70 and 71) systems--is superior. Yamaha sensibly put the display on the soundbar, where it would always be visible no matter the setup. My TV is in a cabinet and the sub is on the floor to the right. I can see the htct100 display but it's not easy to read. This is by no means a deal breaker. The sony remote (which is ugly but functional and gives me the full range of functions on my sony TV) has buttons designated for each audio source so it's not necessary to see the display to know that you have switched the source to "DVD". The display shows the volume level, but your ears can help with that, too. When switching the sound field, however, you do need to see the display to know whether you are in "movie", "game", etc. You also need to see the display when maker finer adjustments to the sound levels on the sub and the soundbar. Despite these shortcoming, Sony's comprehensive connectivity capabilities make it a more compelling choice than the yamaha systems. It doesn't hurt the sony that the yas-71 is considerably more expensive.
The Yamaha yas-70 just doesn't compare to the sony in sound quality. I have not heard the yas-71 but I imagine it is a marked improvement over the 70 and it is probably worth exploring--it certainly looks nice. For my part, I wasn't willing to spend $100+ more on the Yamaha and forego the HDMI connectivity options that the Sony provides. The htct100 really offers a unique combination of capabilities.
Digital camera Review: Even good for large room
Summary: 5 Stars
After purchasing a 40" Sony LCD 720p, I quickly determined the need for a supplemental speaker system. The TV is in a 30x20 room with a 18' ceiling. Speech from the TV is too muddled. I was concerned after ordering the HTCT100 that is would not be suitable for a larger room. However, Im very pleased. For the price, it improves the HD experience significantly.Digital camera Review: Every Good product when set right!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
The Sony Sound bar Ct-100 is very good for the price, use HDMI cables for most of your inputs to get the best and maximum sound without having to turn up the device. use this
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to set the system according to most HDMI devices, the sound bar gets very loud at 12 when on the PS3. Playing Bad company 2 with this system, you feel the tanks and helicopters as they pass by, just puts a smile on your face. Good product for the price, you'll be surprised.