Samsung HT-C5500 Blu-ray Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)The HT-C5500 is a solid all-in-one home theater package at a good price, but you need to know what it can--and can't--do before you decide to buy.
First, some pros and cons:
Pros:
*Low cost
*Compact
*Easy setup
*Integrates with Samsung AnyConnect+ TVs for one-step DVD playback
*Decent enough sound and sufficient volume for a family room
*Netflix and YouTube connectivity work well
*Completely integrated in one relatively small unit
*iPod/iPhone dock included
*Speakers look nice and are very small and unobtrusive
Cons:
*Very limited inputs (Audio only; there are no HDMI inputs--the description above is wrong)
*Flabby bass response (no surprise given the 8lb passive subwoofer)
*Completely integrated--if one part dies, your entire home theater system is offline
*Wireless Internet use requires optional ($70) proprietary Samsung LAN adapter
*Proprietary speaker connectors
*AnyConnect+ can be a little wonky: If you have a disc in the tray, DVD playback seems to override all the other functions such as Internet services or the AUX input.
Even given all the Cons, this system suits my needs very well. I already owned a Samsung TV. I didn't want a proliferation of remotes or components. And the odd shape of my living room meant that I wasn't going to get optimal surround sound in any case, so I wasn't willing to pay a fortune for a system.
I ran the HT-C5500's HDMI output to one input on my TV and connected my FIOS box's optical audio output and my Mac mini's analog audio output to the appropriate inputs on the HT-C5500. The HT-C5500's remote is nothing special, but it makes it quite easy (after a little practice and reading of the manual) to switch between setups. You still need, however, to manually switch between HDMI inputs on the TV depending on what source you want to watch.
Note, however, that I'm at the absolute limit of what this system can do. I couldn't add, for instance, a game console into the mix.
Still, I'm very happy with my purchase. Yes, the HT-C5500 hits a wall quickly, but if you intend to stop before that wall arrives, you won't be disappointed.

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Yamaha RX-V665BL 630 Watt 7-Channel Home Theater Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I chose the Yamaha V665 after careful comparison with other units, and was very impressed with ease of setup and features. The sound quality is excellent, and while I had initial concerns with power output, at 90 watts it demonstrates more useable power than my previous NAD unit at 100 watts. I particularly like the four "Scene" buttons which allow linked input sources and sound fields and switch the unit on with one action. Contrary to other reviews on Amazon you can easily assign whatever input you wish together with a preferred sound field and assign it to any of these buttons. On the downside, you cannot assign different tone adjustments to these four "Scenes" which means I have to manually attenuate the bass to listen to spoken radio broadcasts which tend to create disturbing bass reverberations at times.
However the one big disappointment, which because of its nature I only discovered too late to return the unit (and I would not have purchased this unit had I known beforehand) is evident when a TV input from some (possibly all?) cable boxes is connected to the unit and passed through using the receiver as a switching unit (one of the key features of any modern receiver after all). In this mode the signal is subject to frequent dropouts of sound and video. Some days these dropouts are hardly evident and only for a fraction of a second, other days they are frequent and last long enough to leave the screen blank for a second or two or to delete entire words on the audio track. This happens with every possible connection I have tried, whether HDMI or component video (I have also tried monster cables to no avail). I have since seen other reviews reporting this same problem on other Yamaha units. My cable box is Time Warner but there are similar reports with Verizon Fios, so the problem seems endemic. Updating the current Yamaha firmware seems to have no effect.
There are always so many variables that it is difficult to track down the source of the problem, and I would hate to criticize Yamaha unfairly, but as the problem apparently occurs throughout the Yamaha product range, it would seem wise to hesitate on purchasing Yamaha until this problem is resolved.

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Yamaha RX-V665BL 630 Watt 7-Channel Home Theater Receiver

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Yamaha RX-V1065BL 7.2-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I needed to replace a couple of old receivers so I found a great deal on the RX-V1065 and RX-V765 on Amazon. I ended up getting both of them for aboout what 2 V665's would have cost me a a Big Box store. I first setup my Main Theate Room with the 1065, I thought it was somewhat difficult to get everything the way I wanted it but the automatic speaker setup was slick and the sound is fantastic compared to my old Sony I had previously. The Menu system takes some getting use to but once you do it's not bad to navigate. All in all I was pretty darn happy with my purchase, My JBL's sounded much better then before and although I didn't really notice any difference in video quality, it was as good as before and now I had everything coming thru the same box. Surround sound was a huge step up from my old receiver also, you are almost looking behind you now because you'd swear someone is behind you, where on my old Sony it was more or less a quieter front speaker.
I then went to hook up my 765 in my cave TV room, first thing that I noticed was that is basically identical to the 1065, sure the menu system is not as polished but as far as the functionality that I need it is the same. I have a few year old Bose surround sound in this room with a JBL center chanel speaker and what a HUGE difference this receiver made over my old Onkyo, the Onkyo was really good for music but surround sound was sub par, but it was 10 years old I guess. Granted I'm only hooking up a Xbox 360, blue ray and TV in this room but watching Vikes beat up the the Packers in surround sound with this receiver was great, I haven't figured out which sound field I like best but there are a couple perfect for sports.
One of the coolest things was when I grabbed the TV remote from my Samsung LCD by mistake to turn the volume down and it says RX-V765 un the upper corner and starts to tun down the volume of the receiver from the TV, displaying the volume the whole time it's changing. I guess that Anynet capability on the Samsung TV's with a HDMI reciever gives you a few more bells and whistles. Also really cool is when I turn on the Xbox or turn off the TV the receiver will come on or off accordingly. I haven't setup the remote for additionaly devices yet, but it seems to be easy to use and is exactly the same for the 765 and 1065, I actually expected the remote to be better for the 1065 so i was a little disapointed when I saw it, but in using it it seems OK/
One thing I do not like is the Zone 2 ability on the 1065, I almost wish is was more or less a A/B speaker selector, I have a normal 5 speaker surround setup, in addition to that I have 2 speakers in the kitchen, right behind the TV room which are connect to Zone 2 that when I'm listening to music we like to have on so that you have more sound. The problem is that Zone 2 running the same input as the Main Room is off by a few fractions of a second and if you stand right between the 2 rooms, it sounds like the song is a half a second behind in the kitchen, I tried the lipsync thing, which only made it worse, I haven't given up on it yet, but it's not obvious how to fix this.
Bottom Line -
Both the 1065 and the 765 have more inputs than I know what to do with.
Neither have HDMI on the front, I didn't want it anyway, as I think it looks stupid to set all your equipment up and then have a big cable hanging off the front of your system anyway. That's why the put the jacks on the back, right???
May not have quite as many sound fields as some others out there, but I pick the 2 or 3 I like for movies, sports and music anyway and don't care about the rest.
The YPAO is cool and works great to setup the speakers.
The onscreen Menu is better on the 1065 but adequate on the 765.
HI-DEF Radio sounds amazing on both.
Don't think I will ever use the remotes as universal remotes, but they are adequate for running the receivers.
I cannot comment much on the video conversion, as everything I am running is HDMI and looks the same as it die running straight into the TV.
Sound on both of these is fantastic, even at volumes that start to hurt, the sound is clear, the bass is crisp not slow and there is no distortion, my old receivers would make my speakers start to hiss at a much lower volume, and these receivers never do.
Save yourself some money though get the 765, once it's all setup and you don't need to go into the menu anymore, you'll never notice the difference.
I read a lot of reviews and narrowed it down to Onkyo and Yamaha, at last second I pulled the trigger on Yamaha and for what I paid on Amazon for the 2 of them I am thrilled with my purchase

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Yamaha RX-V1065BL 7.2-Channel Digital Home Theater Receiver

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Samsung HW-C700 AV Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)The HW-C700 sounds nice, however it has faults. My setup is all new 2010 Samsung 3D components (TV = UN55C7000, Blue-ray = BD-C6900). The setup has all new HDMI 1.4 cable connections as recommended (and new optical cable from TV to AVR as recommended for Anynet in the receiver manual).
- Sometimes, there are repeated drop outs when streaming audio/music using Allshare and the proper Samsung server software on the PC (PC is fine). Sometimes, the audio streams fine. Netflix does stream well, even in HD so that rules out the network.
- Had to disable Anynet+, even though configured precisely as stated in the manuals/enabled on all devices. The receiver would keep forcing me to use the Audio Assign button on the remote to set the TV to HDMI vs. Optical (every time I powered on devices using BD-C6900 remote). I did make sure TV and BR Player had latest firmware updates.
- There were no firmware updates available on the Samsung website for the HW-C700.
- My inquiry email via the Samsung support web page from 5 days ago was never responded to where I reported these problems and asked if there was a firmware update/fix. They did respond to my second inquiry (sent them this review), but they only suggested I reset the receiver. That was not acceptable as I don't want a receiver I need to "reset" when it flakes out.
- In the middle of viewing a show/movie, you get a black screen with a message "Disconnecting Anynet Device". The new Logitech Harmony One remote I purchased would not work properly/consistently unless you train the remote (yuck)! Not sure who has the weakness here (Logitech or Samsung). That was my backup plan as Anynet+ is pretty bad.
- I hate to return it, but I thimk it's better to wait until the other companies release their 3D receivers later this month and over the next two months. I think this type of product is new for Samsung. The HW-C700 going back.
I don't see the point in having all Samsung components to use Anynet if casues more problems than is solves. Anynet aside, dropouts are not acceptable, nor is unresponsive support from Samsung, hence only a two star rating.

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7.1 Channel,(120Watt x 7),3D Surround,True HD Decoder,Active Subwoofer

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Samsung HW-C770BS Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)Sound quality is where you get what you pay for. If your trying to fill a large room, 20x30 or larger, this is not the system, but for smaller rooms it's perfect. Your not paying for Hi End Speakers or a lot of power, but what you get is an excellent level of power and sound. Ease of operation is somewhat excellent once you learn the sequence to make the changes. Other than switching from Dolby Pro IIz and x should be about the only changes you may need to do. Some tone adjustments if using the tuner. The only weakness I ran into is the mounting key for each of the speaker. Plastic is thin and weak. When mounting using brackets, do not force or the key will stretch and break. Too bad they didn't use a threaded mount that was strongly secured to the speaker cabinet. You also may want to double check the automated sound control setup, check distance and speaker size especially, may take a couple of tries.

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7.1 Channel,(120Watt x 7),3D Surround,True HD Decoder,Active Subwoofer

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Sony STR-DN1010 7.1-Channel A/V Blu-Ray Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)Introduction:
So, I finally found myself in a position to upgrade my home audio. For many years I used and rather enjoyed my 5 dic DVD changing home theater in a box (Sony DAV-HDX500/i BRAVIA Home Theater System) but still didn't feel like I was getting the full audio experience out of my movies and music. Since I recently purchased a new 3D TV Samsung UN55C7000 55-Inch 1080p 240 Hz 3D LED HDTV (Black) and I already had a PlayStation 3 160 GB I figured my best option was to find an A/V receiver that would make the most of the 3D Blu-Ray functionality of the PS3 and the Samsung UN55C7000. After much research, and slowly piecing together a 7.1 collection of quality speakers, I decided to take a gamble and purchase the Sony STR-DN1010.
Initial Setup:
When the STR-DN1010 arrived via UPS I was excited. Upon unboxing, I immediately noticed the sleek and contemporary design and was pleased that it went so well with the decor in the family room. Having already run the speaker wires all I needed to do was; connect the wires to the appropriate receiver ports; connect the PS3, DVR/cable box, and TV; and plug the receiver's power in.
I open the user manual and it takes you through the usual inital setup steps I previously accomplished, so I flip to the speaker calibration section. Included in the box is a Auto-Calibration microphone which works surprisingly well. All I needed to do was plug it into the front of the receiver and follow the steps in the manual. This is where it gets a little complicated. I wanted to manually adjust my speaker but was having trouble navigating the on-screen GUI (graphical user interface). Response from the GUI had slight latency issues (as in it wasn't a 1:1 response from the remote commands). The manual seems to be made for above average tech consumer but I managed to figured most of it out and everything worked flawlessly.
Audio and Video Performance:
After everything was tweaked to my liking I first tested the audio performance from the cable box. Sound was great for the most part but after cycling through the numerous sound modes I noticed that in Sports mode audio sounds like someone speaking into a plastic tube, this was a minor complaint. Sports in general look and sound phenominal.
Next I tested Blu-Ray performance via the PS3. I checked the audio quality using The Matrix Blu-Ray on the scene where Neo and Trinity break into the building where the agents have Morpheus held captive. From the booming shotgun fire to the loud thud of guards getting kicked to the high twinkling of expended shells hitting the floor, I was in awe of the clarity of sound not to mention the crisp quality of video. Next I checked out the 3D video quality of Despicable Me 3D. Absolute perfection I couldnt find a thing to complain about here.
Since I had a Sony TDM-IP1 Digital Media Port iPod Dock from my previous home theater in a box I connected it to the receiver and plopped my ipod onto it to test my digital audio collection. Since I like The Roots (hip hop band) and they use live instrumentation in most of their music, I decided to use the album "How I Got Over" as my test material. Bass guitars sounded smooth and organic, percussion was precise and thumping, and vocal sounded live. Basically it all sounded like I was right in the studio with the artists. Great reproduction from the receiver, once again no real complaints here.
Conclusion:
In closing, this A/V receiever was everything I was looking for. I purchased an open box item here on Amazon so I only paid a little over $300 USD for it with free super saver shipping. Considering the price and performance I got this receiver, I feel like I got a hell of a deal. As far as gripes and complaints they're minor. The plastic speaker terminals used to connect the speaker wires to the receiver are a little cheap but sturdy enough to get the job done. I suggest you buy banana plugs to offset this. Another drawback is the lack of HDMI inputs this receiver has compared to comparable receivers of other brands (this has 4 in and 1 out, most others have 6 HDMI inputs). And lastly, not so much a problem for me but if you dont have a Sony Ipod dock you have to shell out roughly another $100 just to get on screen control of your Ipod through the receiver. Of course, you could always just use a 3.5mm audio cable to connect your ipod/mp3 player but you miss out on the on screen control. The manual requires a Rosetta Stone to decipher it, nuff said. I hope this review was helpful and if it was please vote up for me. Thank you for taking the time to read this.7.1 Home Theater Speakers:
-Sony SS-CN5000 Dual 5.25" Center Channel Speaker (each, black)
-Sony SSF-7000 Floor-Standing 4-way Speaker with 8" Woofer (Pair)
-Sony SS-B3000 Bookshelf Speakers with 8-Inch Woofer (Pair, Black)
-Sony SS-B1000 5 1/8-Inch Bookshelf Speakers (Pair)
-Sony SA-W2500 Performance Line 100 Watt SubwooferBy the way, check out the images above to get an idea of the STR-DN1010's scale

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Take your high-definition surround sound experience to the next level with the STR-DN1010 7.1-channel Blu-ray Disc A/V receiver. Enjoy 3D images while hearing sound closer to the way it was captured, plus improve image quality of non-HD video sources to HD using one convenient cable. Offering plenty of connectivity options for your expanding lifestyle, this A/V receiver features 4 HDMI inputs, 3 component inputs and is SIRIUS Satellite Radio-ready. You can also share your music in multiple rooms with wireless 2nd zone technology.

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Denon DHT-391XP 5.1 Channel Home Theater System with HDMI 1.4a connectivity and 650-Watt Total System Power (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I did a lot of research, like most of you will do, and determined that this was the best I could do with my budget. My primary concerns were sound quality and getting enough power for a large room (19' x 20') This does well in those regards, while you sacrifice in other areas. For this price you can't have everything!
Pros:
The components seem quality built. The receiver is heavy and well ventilated. The speakers are heavy and wooden. Everything is just sturdy. It shipped well packed in a heavy box.
The amplifier itself is the same circuitry and power rating you'll find in more expensive Denon receivers, like the 591 and 1611. From what I gather it's THD and power compare well with more expensive models. It certainly does a good job with the included speakers. It will get ridiculous house party loud, no worries.
The HDMI inputs gave no problems. Denon is sometimes noted for handshake problems, but I did not encounter any. I have a Motorola DVR, a Sony BDP-S570 blu-ray and a Samsung PNC50C450 and they all sync up perfectly. I did the latest firmware updates on each device prior to the Denon arriving.
The sound is pretty tweak-able, if you have the patience. More on that later.
The included speaker wires are long.
Cons:
Setting this thing up is tedious. There's no surround auto setup. You need to measure your speaker distances manually. You need to tweak the loudness of each speaker to your liking. They should all be equal. You need to specify the type of each speaker.. etc. The menus are not very intuitive. The included speaker wire is pretty thin 22 gauge. I suppose this is ok, but it seems fragile and I prefer some more durable, less resistive 16 gauge wire for the long runs in my room. You may want to play with the crossover frequencies also. Letting the sub handle everything below 200Hz provided the best results in my case.
At first I thought the sound was muddy. I then did some research on room acoustics and speaker positioning. Most real experts (the ones that work in the field and/or adhere to the scientific method) agree that the room it's acoustics and the position of you and your speakers is the single most important variable in sound quality. I completely agree after re-positioning my speakers three times. The most significant change was moving the sub-woofer out of the corner and into the open. I also got some quality mounts. In conclusion, do some research, put your speakers in the right spots, work with the setup for 3 or 4 days until you get the sound you want and crank it up. After all that, holy cow! Crank it up!

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The Denon DHT391XP raises the performance bar for "HTIB" systems. It features the powerful Denon AVR391, a 5.1 channel home theater AV reciever boasting 3D compatible, 1080p capable HDMI 1.4a repeating technology (4 in, 1 out). This allows simple one cable connectivity to any HDMI equiped HD TV. The HDMI connectivity also supports the latest generation surround sound formats available on Blu-ray disc, including Dolby TrueHD and DD+, dts-HD and DTS-HR. The AVR-391's 5 x 110-Watt (6-ohms, 1kHz) amplifier section features discrete circuitry to deliver detail and dynamics to your music and movie selections. Complimenting the AVR-391 is a relatively compact, yet powerful 5.1 speaker package. The front speakers are a 2-way "LCR" design using dual 3-inch woofers flanking a 1-inch tweeter. The surround speakers feature a 3-inch full range driver. Providing depth and impact is an 8-inch, 100-watt powered subwoofer. Combined with the AVR-391, this package delivers 650-watts of total system power. That's a lot of bang for the buck! Enough to please any value orientated movie and music enthusiast.

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Samsung HT-C6730W Blu-ray Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this product after comparing the features and the price to other systems. I've had a couple of similar systems from Samsung in the past and have been happy with their performance and reliability. So, this time I decided to upgrade to 7.1 surround sound. This is where Samsung messed up.
Samsung tried to modify their existing 5.1 channel system to accommodate two other channels via a wireless signal. They did not add the wireless feature to make anything easier or more convenient for the customer. The channels that are common to 5.1 surround sound are the front (L&R), back (L&R) and center. The difference in 7.1 channel surround is left and right side speakers. It is the side speakers that connect to the wireless adapter, so you are still running wires to the back of your room, past these side speakers. More than that, since side speakers generally go across the middle of your room, you have to find a way to run the wires from the single wireless unit to both sides of the room and the wires provided aren't likely to run around even a 10' x 10' room. I'm not even sure I'm going to hook up the two extra channels because of the hassle. I probably would have been better off sticking with the 5.1 channel system from Samsung or purchasing a different 7.1 channel system. Oh well, I'll make the best of it. I just want to make sure all of the other purchasers know what they're buying before they unpack the giant box of components in their living room.


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Samsung HT-C550 Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great, great home theater! I went to Wal-Mart with the sole idea of buying the Philips HTS3372D/F7 for half the price of this one. However, they were out and this was the only one they had left... and I was desperate. Installing my new home theater (which took only minutes), I was a little underwhelmed. I'll start at the auto calibration. Now in order to begin the calibration you must hook the microphone into the front and place it where you commonly sit. Sounds simple enough, right. Well, yes and no. The speakers then proceed to blast you with the MOST annoying static "sounds". The whole process takes about 3 minutes. This wouldn't be too bad if it actually worked the first time. Most of the speakers couldn't be read the first time and I had to redo it about 5 times til I got it just right. So now that its all hooked up, its time to mess with the settings. This is where I had the most problems. Samsung has kind of embedded the settings in the remote and while not really the fault of the machine its a real pain to access. Although, to be fair to the home theater, it had it all in the manual (which I only skimmed). So in other words, make sure you read the manual! Now that everything is as it should be, it's time to test it out. In order to get the best sound possible, I connected it to my PS3 with the Digital optical cord. Now let me say that this particular Home Theater has excellent sound! I used to have difficulty hearing what was being said in the movie, but not anymore. Everything is crystal clear. However, I was surprised that the Bass didn't feel as strong as I thought it should. That all changed when I put in The Relic. I was completely blown away! The sound was scarier than the movie! It felt and sounded like the monster was in my room! My floors and walls were shaking from the footsteps, the roars and wheezes chilled my spine. The point: make sure you have quality audio movies. It's now been about 2 months and everything is still working and am still loving my favorite impulse buy. While setup was a little tedious the sound more than makes up for it, I would recommend getting the Samsung HT-C550 DVD Home Theater to anyone with the money.
Also, the back speakers are only wireless READY meaning you have to get the adapter, which will run about $99!


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Enjoy immersive surround sound and 1080p high-definition visuals with the Samsung HT-C550 Home Theater System, which includes a DVD player, a 5.1-channel surround sound speaker set (subwoofer, center channel, and four satellite speakers), and 1000 watts of booming power. Additionally, you'll be able to connect your iPod or iPhone and listen to music or watch videos thanks to the included dock.
The Samsung HT-C550 home theater system (see larger image).

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Samsung HW-C560S Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)This receiver comes with a 6 Speakers-set (as shown); and, the sound is remarkably good. Only thing, I don't like, is that I seem to have erroneously believed the rear speakers were wireless, but so far, I have been unable to figure out how; and, folks at Samsung USA, were of no help, because they are not even aware that this Samsung theater set, is even out yet (their site, says: "It's Coming")--- seems, that Amazon.com, is among the first to have received this new Samsung product line, so far. My satellite TV engineer that installs and configures my samsung and other such products ---- is very pleased with the simplicity of this speaker system and how well it integrates with my other Samsung products via HDMI and even component hook-up. Very low cost, but excellent receiver and speakers system to use with the more modern Samsung Plasma / LCD Wide Screen HDTVs and Samsung (Samsung, for benefits of the HDMI CEC feature) or other modern components with HDMI connections. For Samsung users, there's likely no other modern 5.1 channel Stand-a-lone Receiver/speaker system of this superb quality and price, so thanks Samsung, and also thanks to Amazon.com, for being among the first to have received this new Samsung system.

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5.1 Channel,(100Watt x 5),Crystal Amp Pro,4 HDMI inputs,2 Component inputs

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Samsung HT-C6900W Blu-Ray Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)We got the system a week earlier than initially projected - nice gift for Christmas to replace the underwhelming sound of the Sony DAV-IS50 system. Purchase decision was based on integrated feature set, Blue-Ray DVD, iPod docking, wireless speakers, InternetTV ready with wireless LAN. The initial installation took little more than 1/2h. The lack of at least one HDMI cable in the package was just an annoyance, since we had already the needed set of cables. This system has 2 HDMI inputs which turned out to be necessary when I realized that the Netflix function provided via the InternetTV mode does not include browsing the full Netflix Instant offerings but showed only my own Instant Queue. I still prefer the full search functionality of the ROKU box for streaming Netflix movies and gave up the built-in streaming feature. The provided iPod docking integration was another disappointment. I am used to hear music from my iPod library of >6K songs all the time and expected a simple enablement to get this going. What is provided however is a relatively cumbersome interface requiring multiple menu's to go through and have the TV on to set things up while I normally run my full library in shuffle mode. I ended up dusting off my old DLO HomeDock and connecting it to the AUX port. After updating my Harmony One universal handset I am back in business. The sound quality of this system is great and meets all expectations.

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Be surrounded by superior sound with the Samsung HT-C6900W 3D Blu-ray home theater system.

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Onkyo HT-S7200 (B) 7.1-Channel Home Entertainment Receiver/Speaker Package with Dock for the iPod Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Well I upgraded my television to High Definition back in 2003 with a rear projection Panasonic 720p TV & again in 2007 with a 1080p DLP Samsung, a PS3 blu ray player, and have since built a huge collection of Blu Ray movies of over 250+ and counting. I had owned an old Sony 5.1 HTIB from way back in 2001 and really hadn't thought about High Definition SOUND. Boy was I short changing myself. After spending a large fortune on the HD Television, Movies, and player I thought I had it all covered & I have been extremely satisfied with my experience, until I realized I was only getting 1/2 of the benefit of the Blu Rays.
After doing quite a bit of research I finally understood that the Blu Rays were not only High Def video, but also Audio, and I was only using a lowly 5.1 system w/o HDMI inputs, thus missing out on a good chunk of the value of my movie collection. I started looking into 7.1 systems and new receivers and whatnot, but decided building my own system piece by piece may not be the way to go. I have always known Onkyo to make superb products and this was my first choice in upgrading to a new system. After comparing difference HTIB's between the 7200, 6200, 7100, and a few others I decided the 7200 had all the features I was looking for & was a lot more "future-proof" than the others I was looking at. It has a whopping 5 HDMI Inputs all supporting 1080p pass through as well as a plethora of older connections.
My main reason in upgrading was to take advantage of the Master Audio and True HD tracks of the blu rays & boy was it worth it, after a short swapping out of speakers from my old Sony's to my new Onkyo's I was ready for the super easy automatic calibration, with the help of the Audyssey EQ calibration microphone (included in the package!). I simply plugged it in, it prompted me to place the mic where I would be sitting & off it went, automatically calibrating the speakers for the best performance! Took a matter of 10 minutes and the system was finished & the sound was incredible. I immediately popped in one of my favorite concert Blu Rays, Nine Inch Nails Beside You In Time, and was BLOWN away by the True HD sound I was hearing, it was like being at the concert again, but with far less raging alcoholics and the smell of smoke, lol.
In short, this system supports all the latest and greatest audio codecs, passes 1080p through all of its 5 HDMI connections, included an amazing speaker package including 2 tall boy speakers (which all look fantastic once set up) and is a HUGE bang for your buck. I'm sure there are better systems out there, better receivers, etc. But for this being a complete package right out of the box with literally everything you need to get going, its crazy not to pass this up, especially at amazon's low prices! I shopped around for a few weeks before finally getting a price I was happy with & with amazon prime, got scheduled delivery within 2 days after ordering, that's just amazing.
My ps3 and samsung TV could not be happier, playing PS3 games in 7.1 is insane and now I have an excuse to go back and play through some of my old favorites & watch all of those old blu's that I haven't seen in quite a while. As an added bonus this system also included the iPod/iPhone docking system (works with my 3GS w/o a problem), even though it has no on screen guide you can easily set a playlist and be off & running!
Again, if you are looking for a great 7.1 system, are on a bit of a budget, and don't want to go through the trouble of piecing together you're own system, then by all means BUY THIS NOW! (PS. the only recommendation I have for you is to replace the dental floss speaker wire that comes with this system to something a bit more meaty, 14-16 gauge should be fine!)
Thanks for reading & hopefully this helped you in making your decision in making this purchase.
~Higgs

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Samsung HT-C6600 Blu-Ray Home Theater System Review

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(More customer reviews)I was originally planning on getting the 6500, but couldn't find one locally. During that search, I ran into a store that had one 6600 left and it was on sale, so I went ahead and got it. The only apparent difference that I've found is the 6600 has Bluray 3D capability, but other than that they seem pretty identical.
Setup was relatively easy. Everything is color-coded and Samsung has their own little speaker wire plug, so it's hard to screw up. That makes it easy, but more difficult to do any kind of customization of your own with other speakers. The speaker calibration seemed to work pretty well, although now and the audio track randomly gets out of sync on occasion, requiring a re-boot to reset things. So far this has only happened when I've been watching the DVR, so I'm not sure if it's specific to that device or input or not.
I have my Xbox 360 and HD Cable plugged into the HDMI inputs, and it plays everything well. It's great playing games in surround sound, too. That adds a whole new dimension to the gaming experience. All of it is running to a 50" Panasonic plasma TV, which has one of the best pictures in the TV business to begin with, so the video quality is awesome.
I expected the sound to be marginal at best, coming from a bit of a home-theater customization background. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it actually sounds, though, particularly when playing DVD or Blurays. Don't get me wrong here, though. This provides the most basic of surround sound, which still greatly enhances watching movies, but it does not provide the same depth of sound as much more expensive and more powerful systems. That said, the subwoofer does get low enough to simulate most sounds, and the rest of it sounds pretty good. Dialogue is the best part, as this is actually sometimes the hardest part of a soundtrack to find a happy medium for comfortable listening without having to keep the remote handy for turning it up and down as the scenes change. The Samsung finds a balance between action and dialogue where you don't have to constantly adjust things, which is proof that they have the auto-calibration down pretty well.
I have mine wired directly to my home network. I didn't even bother with the wireless dongle, as I've yet to use one that works to my expectations. Even with a wired connection to a 10gb connection, I experienced Netflix issues. The entire internet-based menu and apps system is sluggish at best, so I will probably only use the internet for firmware updates. I believe this is a Samsung issue, not my internet, for the simple reason that I can watch full HD Netflix movies through my Xbox wirelessly with no issues at all. And that's fine with me...I still play them through the Samsung surround sound, so it's not a loss, although it would be nice to see Samsung come up with a fix to smooth things out.
There are various apps and whatnot you can play with online, but the remote is clumsy and poorly designed in my opinion. It lacks any intuitive way to type, for one thing, which limits what you can do efficiently on the web. You have to create an account at the Samsung app store, and another at their internet@tv or whatever it's called site, and I just haven't had the patience to sit through it all. I have enough computers and apps already, so I guess I'm happy with just being able to play Blurays in surround sound for now. :)
For the price, I don't think you can beat what you get with this system. $450 and it does almost everything. I do wish it would tell you what resolution it was outputting to the TV and what kind of sound it was playing in (i.e. DTS, Dolby 5.1, etc). As far as I've been able to discover, there is no way to tell if it is truly playing the encoded surround signal.
Pros: Price, good sound, easy setup, better than normal auto-calibration system for speakers
Cons: Confusing remote, unexplained slow-down in internet signal run through system that makes using Netflix almost impossible.

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Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH - AV receiver - 7.1 channel Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This was my first receiver that I have ever purchased and am very pleased overall (4 months of ownership). Set up was a breeze and the auto calibration (MCACC) works like a charm. Originally I had cheap speakers hooked up to the receiver (still shopping for quality speakers) and the sound out of them was horrible... Well, I ran the auto calibration and it made my cheap speakers sound spectacular!!! I couldn't believe what I was hearing and was starting to wonder if spending hundreds on speakers was going to be worth it. I have listed some pros and cons below. The only reason I did not give the receiver 5 stars is due to the cons that I listed which seem a lot because I tried to explain them in detail. Overall I would defiantly buy this receiver again due to the fact most of the cons listed could be fixed with a software upgrade and a new remote.
System:
Receiver-Pioneer VSX-21TXH, Monitor-Samsung LN46B-530, Center Channel -Polk TSi CS20, Fronts-Polk TSi 200s, Surrounds-Polk Monitor-30s, Subwoofer-? (Came from a computer system 300-W, 8in. woofer)
Pros
1.The auto MCACC calibration (microphone included!)
2.Price!! Buy buying from a non-authorized Pioneer Elite dealer off of Amazon I paid half the price my friend paid when buying the VSx-23 receiver from best-buy. The dealer also had a warranty and good customer service.
3.Being able to assign inputs
4.The amplifier power (Cranked up the volume in a 5.1 channel setup to uncomfortable sound levels and did not notice any distortion
5.Looks, I like the glossy front....well as long as it is kept clean, smudges are very noticeable
6.FM tuner works great!!! All stations come in very clearly. I know that some of the receivers I had listened to in the past need huge outdoor antennas to pick up stations. I just used the antenna that came with the receiver (single wire) and now get all stations in my area
7.Video up scaling. Hugh difference from using the TVs up scaling.
8.Inputs, Had all the inputs I needed excluding the third component input (Wii, PS2, DVD, VHS, HTPC, iPOD)
Cons
1.I wish it had one more component input (I still have to use my component switch)
2.Remote is a little hard to use due to the location of the buttons
3.When trying to change audio parameters when listening to a source the silver round button stops working after one push. This problem is only intermittent and has been noticed when multiple sources are selected. If your trying to change the channel level of a speaker you have to push the buttons (receiver then audio parameter then the circular Arrows) This must be done for each arrow button push. Switching to another source corrects this problem but then you can't tell how your modifications effect the sound in real-time.
4.Cheap speaker binding posts. Not really a major con but before I had purchased banana plugs for my speakers I used the post and screwed them down. I thought I was going to break them.
5.I wish the connection to the computer was a USB instead of a RS-232. I have still not connected it to my HTPC but will once I get the right cable
6.TV control seems to only work when I push the TV source button on the remote even though the remote has a region of buttons dedicated to the TV specifically (Was told that I probably just have the incorrect TV code in my remote but I still haven't gotten to correct)
7.No HD Radio, I didn't know how much I would miss this feature until I bought a receiver and now listen to the radio hours each day.
8.Receiver has to be reset when using my Home Theater PC that is connected through a HDMI cable. The receiver does not send the signal to the monitor after I turn on the PC until after I switch the receiver to HDMI source the turn off the receiver and then turn it back on. If I don't do this then the receiver just says its looking for a source. This could be an issue with my video card (ATI4650) but I'm not sure.


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Sony Digital Media Port Cradle for iPod (Black, TDM-iP50) Review

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(More customer reviews)I love this little gadget! I was buying the Sony Sound Bar for my Sonia Bravia TV and happened to see this accessory so I ordered it. I have an I-pod Touch (1st Gen) and got this particular one because it said you could watch your videos on the tv. Well this arrived yesterday (my sound bar is supposed to arrive today) and I hooked it directly to my tv and it worked perfectly! It took about 2 seconds and all I had to do was change the input on my tv to the Digital Media Port and it was good to go. I have a few videos that I purchased from I-Tunes that I had never seen any bigger than the screen of my I-pod but they were perfect on the 46" screen. I can't wait to hook up the sound bar tonight and see how my videos look and sound then!

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Onkyo TX-SR606 7.1 Channel Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I'll start by saying I'm not an Audiophile. I just wanted a decent mid-range receiver that does all the latest lossless audio formats and has 7.1 channels so it's ready to take advantage of BluRay as that format evolves. So my primary focus is on a system that plays audio for movies and video games as it's primary function. Currently I have this receiver setup in a 5.1 configuration since that's the type of receiver it replaced. I have more speakers on order to expand it out but to be honest, right now if you're building a home theater from scratch, you only need 5.1 . The 7.1 specs aren't really supported yet and DVDs and Playstation/Xbox are all 5.1, so if you're starting from scratch save some money and setup for 5.1 first and expand as support grows.
I used the automated speaker calibration feature to setup all the channels. This is where you place the provided mic at ear level at three different listener positions. The receiver then sends out tones which will drive you and your dog nuts for about 15 minutes while the entire process goes on. Once it was done however, I was/am very pleased with the results.
I've heard some people ask about humming, i can detect no humming. I have some WiFi equipment close by which is 2.5 ghz and so far have not heard any humming. Some other people have said the Receiver runs hot to which I would ask those people, is this your first receiver? They do run hot ! This one runs no hotter than the old one i replaced from a different manufacturer so as far as I'm concerned, the heat issue is normal. I have it in a small component rack that's enclosed on the sides and back with a door on the front, it's got maybe half an inch space around the sides and 2 inches of space on top and so far everything is good.
The back has tons of inputs, but the primary reason I waited for the 606 over the previous model is the number of HDMI ports, the next generation audio/video cable which is a requirement for full resolution BluRay playback. They're rev 1.3a to support all the latest audio formats as well (none of which are currently supported by the discs themselves yet though). The receiver will pass through a 1080p signal from a BluRay or other high def video source. If you feed it a standard def 480i video source, it will upscale it to 1080i or 720p. It does a decent job but i would say upscaling isn't the receivers strong point, it does an acceptable job though. But lets face it, Onkyo doesn't build TV's, their bread and butter isn't video, it's audio.
I'm pleased with the performance and the styling of the receiver, it's just very basic and sleek. No built in graphical user interface and all that other nonsense that receivers 3x this price but no more times the performance come equipped with. This receiver for a mid end system for movies and video games just really can't be matched in terms of performance per dollar spent.
I have matched this receiver with some Polk Audio speakers. Specifically i have a Polk CSi3 center channel and six Polk RTi4 bookshelf speakers (all of which you can find at great prices here on Amazon where I ordered them from) and I am very very happy with the results. The Polk speakers like the Onkyo 606 receiver are over achievers for their price point, so they match together extremely well.
The only thing I have left to say is buy it, I wouldn't hesitate recommending this receiver to anyone looking for a solid movie/video game home theater experience.

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As part of the second generation of Onkyo high-definition-capable receivers, the TX-SR606 is at the forefront of affordable home theater. The key is to have the most capable version of HDMI. The TX-SR606 provides high-definition video and audio processing for four source components—another first for Onkyo at this level. From Blu-ray Disc players to gaming consoles and cable/satellite boxes, you have everything in the digital realm covered. Apart from 1080p video, the TX-SR606 can upscale all video signals to 1080i, regardless of the connection, for output via HDMI. Onkyo's own RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI) also gives you inter-operability with the displays and playback components from other leading brands. And with an expanded version of Audyssey's room correction technology, the TX-SR606 maintains the fullness of surround sound audio quality at low volume levels. The TX-SR606 offers all-round excellence rarely seen at this level.

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Onkyo TX-SR607 7.2-Channel A/V Surround Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)My previous receiver was a 9 year old Sherwood. It was a little above a low end unit. It started buzzing and I decided it was time for a replacement. I have 2 nice Wharfdale floor speakers, a nice center, decent rear surrounds and 2 really decent sub woofers.
I read extensive reviews on several brands and decided that I would purchas Onkyo. I went to Fry's looking for the 606 model. They were sold out and just received the 607. I purchased the 607.
I wanted something HDMI based that allowed audio through the HDMI cables. The thing was a snap to set up. Make sure to run an HDMI cable to your TV from the receiver so that you can do on screen programming.
As I said, I have 2 sub woofers and the 607 has two output RCA jacks to enable 2 subs. No more RCA splitters. I fired the thing up and was shocked at the sound quality. The thing sparkles and the lows are clean and deep. I adjusted the individual speaker levels with a Radio Shack db meter on an easy to use Onkyo menu. I did not use the calibration system built into the receiver. A few trips through the menus and you have them mastered. The menu system is REALLY SIMPLE.
Unless you have some REALLY expensive speakers, this is the unit for you. Great sound quality, simple setup and easy menus make this a good choice for the novice or mid range home theater enthusiast.
I highly recommend the unit.

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The TX-SR607 raises the bar once again in the competitive world of mid-range home theater. With HDMI 1.3a inputs for up to six components, it's ready to handle all your high-definition video and audio needs. Whether it's a Blu-ray Disc player, a cable or satellite box, or a gaming console, your video signals will be traveling first class. Lower-resolution analog video signals, meanwhile, can be upscaled to 1080i and fine-tuned by Faroudja DCDi Edge™. HDMI version 1.3a also transports the master-quality HD audio formats, DTS-HD Master Audio™ and Dolby TrueHD. The very latest Dolby technology, Dolby Pro Logic IIz, enhances the spatial sensation

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