April 2003
Have you looked at the back panel of a high-end surround sound receiver lately? Just about every square inch is covered with connectors of one kind or another, and even a quick peek is enough to blur one's vision for the rest of the day. Needless to say, those connectors are associated with an equally daunting array of controls, both on the receiver and its remote control. Learning how to work one of those monsters can be like opening up your head and pouring in a bucket full of hot nickels.
Historically, high quality home theater systems have been costly and fiendishly complicated to install, setup, and operate. One reason for this is the component-oriented nature of the process. You have to choose not only the surround sound receiver, but a DVD player and speakers. For some, this process is part of the adventure, but others would prefer a simpler, and less expensive solution. That solution comes in the form of a product called Home Theater in a Box (HTB), which is exactly what the name implies. One box contains all of the hardware you need to turn your modest TV into a full-fledged surround-sound home theater.
HTB systems generally consist of six speakers -- left, center, and right front, left and right rear, and subwoofer -- and either a surround sound receiver and separate DVD player or a receiver/DVD player combination. The box will also contain a remote control unit, speaker wire, and (at least) the basic interconnect cables needed to connect the system to the TV. We've seen HTB systems selling for as little as $300, and are confident that even those bargain basement models are an improvement over listening to the TV's own speakers. But our goal isn't to achieve an improvement over the TV, but rather to see how close "real" home theater performance the better HTB systems can get. For that purpose, we decided to look at systems in the $600-1,200 range. For that kind of money, we reasoned, the compromises were likely to be less significant.
That turned out to be the case. All four systems did a credible job in filling the smaller of our test rooms with great big movie sound, and most could cope with the more demanding large room as well. They could all decode Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks, and included at least one surround mode to use with older program material. HTB systems might not deliver all of the quality of a component-based home theater, but the gap is narrower than you might expect. We'd be happy to own any of the systems reviewed in the pages that follow.
Cambridge SoundWorks MegaTheater 505
We've been fans of Cambridge SoundWorks since the company hit the streets
running in 1988 with the the original Ensemble sub/sat system. It's been quick
to react to the realities of the marketplace, and has managed to do so without
compromising the founding principle of delivering excellent value for the money.
The MegaTheater 505 is the least costly in CSW's four-model HTB line, and based
on our positive experience with it we can only imagine what delights are in
store for those who pony up the extra dough for the costlier models. (Those
models share the same subwoofer and receiver/DVD player, but come with better
satellite speakers.)
The MegaTheater 505 consists of five of the company's tiny (4-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 5-1/4 inch) Newton Series MC50 satellites, the 11-1/4 x 11-1/2 x 13 inch BC851 subwoofer, and a receiver/DVD player with remote. The subwoofer differs from those supplied with most HTB systems by incorporating not only its own power amplifier, but those for the satellites as well. The subwoofer's amplifier is rated at 150 watts, while each of the five satellites is given 60 watts. The brushed aluminum finish of the receiver/DVD console gives it a high end look that belies the system's low price.
The looks are backed up by a feature complement that includes a seven-band graphic equalizer and playback support for most of the popular audio and video formats that can be burned to a disc. The back panel is equipped with two sets of composite video/audio inputs and outputs, an S-video output, and component video outputs. CSW is unusual in that it supplies not only composite and S-video cables, but a set for component video. An optical digital audio input is available for use with a cable box or satellite receiver that provides a complementary output. A digital output is provided as well. Front panel A/V jacks make it simple to connect a camcorder or game console to the system.
The manual that accompanies the MegaTheater 505 is one of the best we've seen in this class. Despite the non-conventional setup required by the amplifier's location in the subwoofer, we had the system connected and running in under ten minutes. The more complex aspects of the MegaTheater 505 setup, configuration, and operation are handled via a series of nested onscreen menus that are models of simplicity.
Given CSW's origins as a hi-fi company, we weren't surprised at the quality of the sound pumped out by the tiny satellites. Aided by the subwoofer, they delivered plenty of punch during action sequences: explosions, gunshots, and the low rumble of a passing spaceship had a satisfyingly visceral impact. When the action slowed down, the speakers were able to cope with the subtle nuances contained in many of today's soundtracks. Overlapping conversations didn't sound garbled, and soft music didn't sound thin. Our positive impression of the speakers was reinforced when we played some concert DVDs and music CDs. The system can decode Dolby Digital and DTS program material; its only other surround mode is Dolby Surround.
The system's video quality was also excellent, without any need to qualify that judgement with a "for the money" tag. Because the system comes with cables for all three types of video connection, we decided to run an informal comparison of image quality. There was an obvious improvement when we moved from composite to S-video. The difference between S-video and component, while less dramatic, was noticeable and worthwhile. (The TV used for this comparison was a conventional 36-inch direct-view set of recent vintage.)
Although CSW has stores in New England and the San Francisco Bay area, most of its sales are direct to the customer, through its catalog and Web site. To prevent buyer's remorse, the company offers a 45-day in-home trial period: if you don't like the product, just send it back for a full refund (less shipping). We can't imagine that too many people take advantage of this policy, especially if they've ordered the MegaTheater 505. It's a great product, at a great price.
Onkyo LS-V500C
Onkyo's LS-V500C consists of a large receiver/DVD player, a 150-watt powered
subwoofer, and five compact satellite speakers. The receiver, also available
separately as the DR-C500, for $600, is rated at 100 honest watts per channel,
which is more than enough power to drive not only the supplied speakers but just
about any replacements you might choose as upgrades in the future. The receiver
can decode
Dolby Digital- and DTS- encoded discs, and is equipped with Dolby Pro Logic II for dealing with older video soundtracks. The disc player is a five-disc changer, in Onkyo's familiar carousel configuration that allows discs to be added and removed while one is playing. In addition to standard DVDs and CDs, it can play CD-R, CD-RW, and MP3 CDs.
The first thing you encounter upon opening the large, heavy box in which the LS-V500C is shipped is a large diagram that shows the basic hookup scenario. Aside from being a terrific guide towards getting the system up and running quickly, it serves as an indication of the attention Onkyo has paid towards making even the more complex aspects of the package accessible to the average user. Each speaker is labelled with its intended position in the room, and the spring-loaded terminals are color-coded to match those on the back of the receiver. Color-coded speaker wire completes the package, making it next to impossible to mis-wire the system.
The receiver's back panel might seem sparsely populated to those familiar with home theater separates, but the I/O complement has been chosen with care. In addition to the more common composite and S-video outputs used to deliver the picture to a TV, the receiver sports component video jacks outputs. It also has component video inputs, which facilitate the hookup of an external component such as an HDTV tuner. The front panel is nearly bare, with most of the controls being handled by the multi-function learning remote. Some of the controls are less than self-explanatory, so it's worth spending a little time with the excellent owner's manual. You'll learn, for example, that while there are no traditional bass and treble controls, they're replaced, at least in part, by the remote's "acoustic" button. That button is adjacent to a "late night" button that compresses the audio's dynamic range.
The front grilles of the satellites are stylishly convex, and the silvery finish is dark enough to blend in with most decors. They're equipped with keyhole slots, which is convenient for wall mounting; however, since the speakers are vented to the back, they sound quite a bit better with at least a couple of inches of clearance to the back and sides. The subwoofer has a level control on the back panel, and is ported to the front.
We set the up LS-V500C in a fairly large, very live-sounding room and put it to the test with a selection of DVDs chosen for the occasion. Given the amount of power delivered by the receiver, we expected the system to do justice to the more dramatic sections of "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" and similar program material. It lived up to those expectations, filling the large room with plenty of sturm und drang when appropriate. We were pleasantly surprised at how natural the sound was during less dramatic intervals, and how good music--both acoustic and electric--sounded. A lower-midrange bump tended to give male voices some extra chestiness, and the highest octaves lacked some of the transparency you'd expect from a true component system with "store-bought" speakers. Within the context of a sub-$1,000 system that has big-room capabilities, though, the LS-V500C does a fine job.
Samsung HT-SK6
With a "minimum advertised price" that remains, even if by only a single
dollar, in the magical three-digit realm, Samsung's HT-SK6 delivers a hugely
attractive combination of value and performance. The Samsung-branded
DVD/Receiver is a first rate piece of gear, but--unusual in an HTB--the system's
appeal is rooted equally in the company's choice of speakers. Rather than slap
its own logo on a set of generic boxes from one of the myriad suppliers of such
things, Samsung went shopping at the factory of one of the more highly respected
companies in the speaker industry. They came back with the Klipsch Synergy
Quintet system, which itself sells in the $349 range, and the KSW-10 powered
subwoofer, which stickers at $399. It doesn't take much of a head for figures to
realize that this system's speakers are the real deal.
The speaker complement starts with four identical two-way satellites whose tweeters nod in the direction of Klipsch tradition by virtue of their MicroTractrix Horn loading. The woofers are ported to the rear of the elliptically shaped cabinets. Each of these satellites is mounted on a swiveling pedestal foot that allows both wall and shelf mounting. The center channel speaker is designed to sit atop the TV, or in a shelf above it. It has a pair of woofers and the same tweeter as the satellites. The KSW-10 powered subwoofer is equipped with a down-firing 10-inch driver and has controls for level, crossover frequency, and phase.
The DVD/Receiver is a gorgeous low-profile component whose mirror-finished front panel bulges to highlight a large volume control. That control, and the power button, are surrounded by blue halos when the system is switched on. The front panel's control complement is limited to six additional buttons, which open and close the disc tray, cycle through the core functions, and provide basic disc transport and up/down tuning functions. The remaining controls are on the universal remote. At first, the remote doesn't seem to have enough buttons to cover the complexities of a full-featured home theater system. Sliding the blank portion downwards reveals it to be a cover, keeping the buttons controlling more arcane functions from confusing the issue.
The receiver's surround-sound complement includes Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, and--to accommodate older program material--Dolby Pro Logic II. The DVD player can deliver a progressive scan signal to compatible TV sets via the component video outputs. Component video inputs are provided, as well, for external devices such as a set-top HDTV box. In addition to playing DVDs and CDs, the receiver can decode MP3 CDs. The same on-screen display that makes overall setup so simple is also used for MP3 navigation and selection.
In order to maintain a competitive posture in this market, Samsung is pretty much forced to specify power at a 10 percent level of distortion. This lets it plaster a 500-watt notice on the outer carton. Fortunately, whatever the power numbers might be, they're sufficient to drive the traditionally-efficient Klipsch speakers to near-painful levels without the onset of any noticeable distortion. We installed the system in what's justifiably called the Great Room, and those tiny satellites combined with the subwoofer to deliver plenty of clean sound. Klipsch speakers are noted for their relatively bright timbre. When playing movie soundtracks, they impart a real sense of immediacy to action sequences and sound effects. Fortunately, the system doesn't fall down when playing music. With the subwoofer's crossover point properly adjusted, the system delivers a near-seamless soundfield, with plenty of thump to the bass drum and the right amount of air around the cymbals.
In a nutshell, the Samsung HT-SK6 lived up to, and surpassed our expectations of what a product in this price class should deliver. It looks great, is easy to set up and use, and sounds wonderful.
Yamaha DVX-S100 It helps, when you think about Yamaha's DVX-S100 home theater system, to forget the company's motorcycles and jet-skis. Instead, think instead about the musical instruments--including world-class grand pianos--they've been building for more than a century, and the superb components that heralded their entry into the U.S. hi-fi market in the seventies. Many of those components have become working collectibles in the systems of those who consider that era to be the golden age of two-channel audio. The DVX-S100 is probably not destined to achieve collectible status, but its clean design and fine basic performance echo the principles established by those bellwether models.
The core of the DVX-S100 is its receiver/DVD player. Its I/O complement is reminiscent of significantly more expensive separate components, and includes three A/V inputs (one with output) in both S-video and composite format, monitor video outputs in composite, S-video, and component formats, optical and coaxial digital audio inputs, and an optical digital audio output. The progressive scan video output features Faroudja DCDi deinterlacing. In addition to Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, the DVX-S100 has Pro Logic II circuitry that provides simulated surround sound from older source material. Given Yamaha's long history in the DSP arena, it comes as no surprise to find several enhanced audio modes, including a 6.1 Matrix mode that simulates the back-channel image provided by true 6.1 systems. There's also a silent cinema mode that simulates 5.1 sound through two-channel headphones.
The DVX-S100's six-piece speaker system consists of four identical "corner" satellites, a wide, slender center channel speaker, and a tall subwoofer that contains all of the system's amplifiers. A single cable connects the receiver to the subwoofer; color-coded wires with proprietary connectors go between the subwoofer and each of the five satellites. The connectors are easily removed, should you want to use them with different wire. Thanks to the receiver's six audio pre-out jacks, the unusual amplifier and hookup configuration doesn't preclude an eventual upgrade to more powerful amplifiers, such as might be needed to drive other, less efficient speakers. The satellites are equipped with keyhole for wall mounting and threaded slots for use with third-party speaker stands. The comprehensive, well-illustrated manual makes hookup a fairly painless process, as does the light weight of the satellite speakers. Delving deeper into the system's many setup and operating options is complicated by the absence of an on-screen display. Instead, you must rely on icons and abbreviations delivered by the receiver's own front panel display.
Once we'd come to terms with the lack of on-screen aids, and with remote's insistence on being switched between DVD and amplifier mode in order to control fairly basic functions, we found the DVX-S100 to be a decent performer. The video quality was excellent, as was the sound as long as we didn't crank the volume up too high. Hauling the system from the main listening room--nearly 500 square feet, with a cathedral ceiling--to one of more intimate dimensions allowed the sound to blossom nicely, but the room's absorptive acoustics made us regret the absence of tone controls beyond a simple bass-boost button. Ramping up the treble would have added some of the sparkle removed by the drapes and upholstered furniture.
In all, Yamaha's DVX-S100 is a fine system when used within the capabilities of its amp and speakers. Entry-level users might wish that its more advanced capabilities were more readily accessible, but careful study of the owner's manual reveals all.
An Out-of-the-Box Alternative
The HTB category was created to provide a simpler, less costly alternative
to conventional home theater components. Our experience with the
carefully-chosen systems reviewed in the accompanying article indicates that an
HTB can deliver a very satisfying movie experience. This is especially true if
your frame of reference is a TV set's own speakers, in which case just about any
HTB will sound like the voice of heaven.
The more demanding listener--one familiar with the level of quality delivered by more traditional audio components--might be less than thrilled with the HTB experience. He (and, increasingly, she) is likely to want similar quality in a home theater, but still balks at the cost and complexity traditionally associated with achieving that goal. With that in mind, we decided to seek an HTB alternative that would appeal to a more critical audience, without adding too much complexity or breaking the bank. Naturally, our thoughts turned to NAD, which has been offering that sort of alternative four some three decades. NAD made its initial impact with a line of components that featured simplicity, sound quality, and value at a time when much of the market's focus was on arcane specifications that had little real-world impact. What NAD products lacked in bells and whistles, they made up for with performance that often rivaled that of considerably more expensive audiophile-oriented gear.
As it happens, NAD recently introduced a product whose characteristics directly address the needs of our target audience. The $999 L70 DVD/CD Surround Sound Receiver packages all of the requisite home theater electronics in a single box, but does so without sacrificing any of the quality associated with the NAD brand. This means, for example, that the five-channel power amplifier doesn't use digital chip or IC-pack technology. Instead, it's based on the same considerably more stable discrete component technology as the company's separate components. The power and stability provided by this amplifier technology means that the L70 can drive just about any moderately efficient speakers you're likely to choose. That's right: choose. Unlike a traditional HTB system, the L70 allows you to select the speakers.
Deciding that $2,000 was a reasonable upper limit for our out-of-the-box alternative, we mated the L70 with $976 worth of PSB speakers. Well-respected within the audiophile community, PSB offers a full-line of models that, happily, includes several whose prices are surprisingly low. Our package consisted of a pair of Alpha B satellites ($249/pair) and an Alpha C ($229) for the front, Alpha intros ($199/pair) for the rear, and a SubZeroi ($299) powered subwoofer to anchor the bass. With the obvious exception of the center-channel speaker, none of these was designed specifically for home theater use.
When hooking up the L70 we were pleased to find a coaxial and optical digital audio inputs, designed to accept the output from a digital cable box or other source, and an optical audio output jack. The back panel also sported S-video and composite satellite/cable and VCR inputs, along with composite, S-video, and component video outputs to the TV. The decoder supports A set of 5.1 analog audio inputs provides an upgrade path for future decoder formats. The L70's onboard decoding complement consists of Dolby Digital, DTS, and the company's own 5.1 music format called EARS (Enhanced Ambience Recovery System). There's also an all-channel stereo "party" mode called Enhanced Stereo.
Thanks to the limited -- but well-chosen -- array of options, connecting and configuring the L70 was no more complex than the HTB systems. The end result, however, was surprisingly different. It's hard to avoid trotting out a string of clichés, but
the difference was truly night and day. The improvement in sound quality over the HTB systems was truly dramatic. Given the quality of the electronics, and the music-oriented nature of the speakers, we expected this to be true when playing music. For one thing, the transition between the subwoofer and satellites was considerably smoother. Simple acoustic music (think "unplugged") lost the graininess that we noted in the HTB systems, while more dynamic material opened up and filled the room. The HTBs, by contrast, sounded strained and constricted. When we switched to movie soundtracks, dialog was cleaner and more natural sounding, and effects better-defined than was the case with the HTB systems. The L70's universal remote is about as good an example of its type as we've encountered, which further enhanced our positive experience with the system.
When it comes to spending money on hardware, we're big believers in staying just south of the point of diminishing returns. Our NAD/PSB system exemplifies that notion. It's significantly better than one-box systems, and well worth the jump in price over even the best of them. However, spending even twice the two grand the NAD/PSB package will set you back would yield only a marginal improvement in performance.
That's what we call value.