The subwoofer integration saves you the trouble of making room for an extra component, although how well it kicks out the bass remains to be seen. Still, as much as we can disagree about how much clutter your entertainment center can stand, it's always great to save space when it's possible.

The YHT-S400 also features UniVolume, which is Yamaha's way of keeping audio levels consistent from channel to channel and from program to commercial. The system has three HDMI inputs, is compatible with Yamaha's iPod and Bluetooth receiver, and is on sale now for $599.95.

YAMAHA'S INNOVATIVE TWO-PIECE HOME THEATER PACKAGE
COMBINES HD AUDIO AND SUBWOOFER-INTEGRATED RECEIVER

YHT-S400 Offers Several Installation Options with Ultra-Slim ‘Sound Bar,' Exclusive AIR SURROUND XTREME, UniVolume and Extended Stereo for Immersive Audio

BUENA PARK, Calif.––Yamaha Electronics Corporation, the innovator in home theater and digital audio and video reproduction, today introduces its innovative YHT-S400 two-piece home theater audio package. The system, which consists of an ultra-slim "sound bar" front speaker and a first-of-its-kind subwoofer-integrated receiver, provides HD Audio compatibility, three 1080p-compatible HDMI inputs (and one output), the company's exclusive AIR SURROUND XTREME, UniVolume and Extended Stereo technologies for immersive audio for movies, sports and music experiences.

The YHT-S400's sound bar stands at 2-inches high and fits in front of most 32 to 50-inch TVs without blocking the screen. In addition, the feet of the sound bar can be adjusted horizontally or vertically, or taken off entirely, for additional installation flexibility. By integrating the system's subwoofer into the receiver, Yamaha is able to offer users an easy connection to a full-featured receiver without adding a separate component and the ability to place the unit in a rack or on the floor in tight spaces.

For optimal sound quality, the YHT-S400 accepts HD Audio signals (linear PCM transmission) from Blu-ray disc players. Three 1080-compatible HDMI inputs enable three different HDMI sources to be connected to the receiver.

Yamaha's UniVolume feature maintains a consistent volume level between different channel, programs, commercials and input sources. For instance, when watching TV, the volume of commercials will not be louder than the program being viewed. The same is true when switching sources to watch a DVD or Blu-ray movie or to listen to music on CD. This is particularly helpful for late night watching and listening when spikes in volume can disturb others in the house or apartment building.

Yamaha's proprietary AIR SURROUND XTREME technology better delivers sound around the listener than other "virtual surround" systems. Dialogue is clearly heard from the center while ambient audio from on-screen action is clearly heard from the right, left and behind the viewer with smooth sound movement from position to position. AIR SURROUND XTREME can also deliver surround sound from 7-channel sources. Yamaha's exclusive Head Related Transfer Function (HRTF) maintains the dynamic virtual surround sound regardless of the viewers' positioning or direction they are facing.

Yamaha's proprietary Extended Stereo technology moves the stereo image further to the sides. With it, audio from the 31 ½-inch sound bar sounds as if it is emanating from speakers that are five feet or more apart, resulting in a wider optimum sound field.

The YHT-S400 also has HDMI CEC functionality that allows the unit to automatically power on with CEC-compatible TVs. In this scenario, the TV remote can also control the YHT-S400's volume. CEC-compatibility also provides advanced functions with other components.

The YHT-S400 also supports Yamaha's YDS-11 universal iPod dock and YBA-10 Bluetooth wireless audio receiver to stream A2DP audio from Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, PCs and Macs.

The YHT-S400 is currently available for MSRP $599.95.

The uBoom (pictured below) is a beast at 3kg, and its 24 watt sound (total RMS) does need a power supply. The 400g uBoom Q (2.4 watts) is USB powered. Both have an auxillary audio input, and the uBoom adds a microphone jack.

The speakers just went up on Asus' site for you to check out, but there's no pricing info yet. [Asus]

(Sadly, Mitsubishi's 3D tech traditionally requires glasses, and all 3D displays need 3D source video to work.)

That 82-incher is part of the 737 "home theater" TV line. Mitsubishi also has updated their soundbar-integrated LCD TVs with their latest 16-speaker-wielding Unisens. Those televisions start at $1800 for a base 40-inch model and work their way to $3,300 for the 52-inch.

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America Announces Its Large Screen 2009 Home Theater TVs with 3D-Ready Technology

New Line-up Offers Incredible Picture Quality and Exceptional Value and Includes World's Largest 3D-Ready TV at Giant 82" Screen Size

IRVINE, Calif. - April 8, 2009 - Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. (MDEA) today announced its new Home Theater TV series for 2009, offering a larger than life, vivid viewing experience and includes 3D-Ready1 viewing technology – a feature becoming more in demand among consumers as 3D content production continues to increase. In addition to 3D-Ready, the new Home Theater TV product line features a solid offering of large screen sizes including an impressive 82" model. All eco-friendly MDEA Home Theater TVs are highly energy efficient, consuming approximately one-half the operating power of similarly sized flat panel TVs.

"Based on current economic conditions, consumers are looking for products that marry high quality with significant value, and TVs are no exception. Our new Home Theater TVs provide unparalleled picture performance and value, and are the best performing displays for large screen entertainment," said Frank DeMartin, vice president of marketing, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America. "We view Home Theater Television as a growth category, and our new 2009 line-up provides larger screen sizes, new technology enhancements, and notable efficiency in operating power consumption, which is becoming a prominent factor that consumers now consider when making a TV purchase."

Best in Large Screen Entertainment

MDEA continues to lead the competition with the largest Home Theater TVs available. The new 737 Series will include the all-new 82" 1080p model along with 60", 65" and 75" screen sizes - all featuring 3D-Ready viewing technology. The models will also include Smooth 120Hz™, New Advanced Video Calibration Mode, JADE Activity Based User Interface, Improved DeepField™ Imager, SharpEdge™, Video Noise Reduction, UltraThin™ Frame and Mitsubishi's Exclusive 6-Color Processor™ which provides significantly more color reproduction than typical flat panel TVs. All models are EnergyStar™ 3.0 qualified.

The MDEA 837 series boasts three premium Home Theater TV models ranging from 65"to 82", offering consumers outstanding picture performance with the ability to take advantage of the 3D-Ready capability. All of the Home Theater TVs are highly energy efficient and are EnergyStar 3.0 qualified offering another layer of value with each model consuming approximately one-half the operating power of similarly sized flat panel TVs, at around half the price. Other features include PerfectTint™, 4 HDMI 1.3a, Dark Detailer™, NetCommand®, USB Media Input, ISFccc Certified, and RS-232C Interface.

"As the home theater market continues to flourish and the cinema space continues to embrace 3D, we clearly see MDEA's 3D-Ready Home Theater TVs playing a key role in meeting consumers craving for the best and most advanced home theater experience," said David Naranjo, director of product development, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America. "MDEA's is clearly keeping pace with this increased demand and our new line-up of Home Theater TVs offer consumers the opportunity to bring 3D into their own home to enjoy 3D movies and games."

3D-Ready Redefines Home Theater Experience

MDEA's entire Home Theater product line re-defines the large screen entertainment category by offering 3D-Ready viewing technology. Mitsubishi is committed to making 3D a reality in consumer's homes worldwide and over the past several years, MDEA has worked closely with leading technology and content providers to develop the most compelling 3D experience for consumers, particularly for 3D gaming and movies.

Availability and Pricing

MDEA's Home Theater TV models are available now. Retail pricing is as follows:

737 Series

WD-60737 - $1,499.00 WD-73737 - $2,499.00

WD-65737 - $1,799.00 WD-82737 - $4,199.00

837 Series

WD-65837 - $2,199.00 WD-737837 - $2,999.00 WD-82837 - $4,999.00

About Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc.

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc., the Official HDTV Sponsor of The PGA TOUR, manufactures and markets a comprehensive line of premium quality 1080p Home Theater TVs and Unisen™ Flat Panel TVs along with the world's first laser TV: LaserVue™. Recognized as the world leader and innovator of large display high-definition televisions, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America builds products that lead the industry in quality, performance and ease-of-use. For additional information about MDEA, visit www.mitsubishi-tv.com.

¹In order to display 3D images, Mitsubishi LaserVue™ & Home Theater DLP TVs require source devices to support checkerboard display formats for display of 3D gaming or 3D cinema content. A 3D standard format does not currently exist for Blu-Ray or DVD prepackaged media. A 3D standard may emerge that is not compatible with Mitsubishi LaserVue™ or Home Theater DLPs.

6-Color Processor, Ultra Thin Frame, Smooth 120Hz Film Motion, and DeepField Imager are trademarks of Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. DLP is a trademark of Texas Instruments. x.v. Color is a trademark of Sony Corporation.

Expelling 260W over 2.1 channels that can simulate surround sound, the system is only 2.6-inches deep and appears wide enough to distinguish right and left channels, plus it includes a wireless subwoofer to avoid any cord runs in your simple speaker setup. The HT-WS1 will be available this April for $350. And if you can stand the lack of HDMI input (optical only for 5.1 decoding), it might be worth investigating further. [Samsung]

The 2.1 setup doesn't say how many individual drivers create the simulated surround (Yamaha's sound bars use up to 42, which are calibrated automatically via a plug-in microphone), but it's rated at 300W. It'll also handle Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA decoding.

But the audio component is not what's exciting here. What perked up the most ears here at Samsung's press conference is the built-in inputs: a profile 2.0 Blu-ray player, a network connection for streaming Netflix and Pandora via subscription, USB for adding a storage device or an optional 802.11n wi-fi dongle, and an iPod dock.

In short, it's a pretty soundbar package (wall mountable) with everything you'd need for a pretty solid home theater; just add TV and a cable box. It's available in the "first half of 2009" at an as-yet unannounced price.

"ces 2009" "samsung HT-BD8200 blu-ray soundbar" samsung HT-BD8200 blu-ray soundbar "sound bar" HTIB "home theater" "home entertainment" speakers

The Price: $550

The Verdict: Almost soooo good. While soundbars are ever more popular, in many cases, they fit awkwardly in front of your television. I fit a 40" LCD on the ZVOX box comfortably. The ZVOX feels very stable—probably more solid than my entertainment center. So that part works.

As for the sounds itself—also excellent. I simply don't have the equipment available to compare it to other $550 audio systems (and really, there's no perfect analog product). But I will say that highs, mids and lows were all crisply represented across a variety of genres. The bass, especially, made me more than happy to forgo an extra standalone subwoofer (which the system supports should you need it). And I easily filled my tiny apartment with sound.

The cabinet does vibrate a bit, though it's very quite unless you crank the bass up to max. The only reason I'd be wary is that the shaking might damage a TV over time...but my immediate, visceral response is that things are fine.

Where the cabinet falls short to me is its inputs. It supports two sources of stereo RCA plugs. And while it offers some virtual surround tech along with the option to mix the two sources, it's just not going to work for many (or most) general home theater purposes without an optical input. Even if the ZVOX only technically plays back 2.1 channel sound, it's still a vital connectivity option.
Also, while I appreciate the minimal design, the tiny remote coupled with a single LED light on the system to signal power/remote commands, it's tough to know where your levels are (Is treble maxed? How much louder can I crank this?).

So given the omission of optical inputs and a limited UI, the ZVOX 550 is not quite the universal home theater product that it could be. But if you want an excellent one-cabinet audio system that can hold your giant LCD, then it may be worth the few inconveniences. [ZVOX]

Update: ZVOX has responded with this note:

I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to address the "lack of multiple/digital inputs" issue that many editors comment on regarding the Z-Base 550. I feel the need to share some insight on our design decision-making process at ZVOX:

Our primary aim is to combine great sound with simplicity. The typical TV viewer, in our opinion, is very comfortable using their TV set as a switching/control center. That's what they've done for years — plug everything into the TV, and use the TV remote to switch back and forth. It's intuitive and really simple. And modern TVs have loads of inputs of all kinds. At ZVOX, we say "use 'em!" I can connect my DVD player, Fios box and my kid's Playstation 3 to my Panasonic LCD TV, then run the analog audio out from the TV to the ZVOX. The fact that the digital-to-analog conversion is taking place in the TV, rather than in the ZVOX system six inches away, doesn't seem to make any audible difference. The system sounds great. It has all the switching I need. And it's simple to use.

If we had included 3-4 digital inputs and switching functionality, our costs would go up (Micronas boards, HDMI costs, and last-but-not-least...Dolby royalties — which for smaller manufacturers are quite substantial) and, more importantly, the switching process becomes non-intuitive. A simple example (which presumes I don't have a Harmony or other smart, macro-programmed remote): I'm watching cable and want switch to DVD. If the DVD's video is going to the TV, and it's digital audio signal is going directly to the ZVOX, I need to switch the video with my TV remote and the audio with my ZVOX remote. If I (or my wife) forget, then we end up watching DVD video while listening the cable box audio. (My wife HATES when this happens!!)

We could get around this by adding a bunch of HDMI inputs and outputs — as well as a front panel display (like the Yamaha YSP-4000), but frankly, the ZVOX 425 might then sell for the same $1400 as the Yamaha. I'd rather keep our price point relatively low, while still being able to build cabinets of real wood and use top-notch drivers and amplifiers.

Enjoy the holidays!

Tom Hannaher, ZVOX

While only offering 2.1 channel sound, the system does feature 32W of SRS-XT virtual surround, and each of the two speakers can be detached from the bar base and angled/positioned as you see fit.

Compatible with both PCs and Macs, the speakers can connect via USB or 3.5mm jacks, but USB users will benefit from the system's built-in 3-jack USB hub. Not available until June, the iSP200 will run $100 if you're still excited amidst the summer heat.

YAMAHA INTRODUCES THE YSP-3050 DIGITAL SOUND PROJECTOR,

ITS LATEST SINGLE COMPONENT SURROUND SOUND SOLUTION

—New model to its market-leading line offers HDMI, video upconversion, iPod and XM Satellite Radio compatibility, FM tuner and advanced listening settings —

BUENA PARK, Calif.—Yamaha, the innovator in home theater and digital audio and video reproduction, today unveiled the YSP-3050, the latest in its award-winning line of Digital Sound Projectors which focus audio signals into precisely controlled and directed "beams" that provide true multi-channel surround sound from a single component. The YPS-3050 fits neatly underneath a flat-panel television and gives consumers a space-efficient option to installing multiple speakers throughout a room for immersive audio for watching movies, television and sports programming.

The new YSP-3050 features 21 beam drivers, and two woofers, 23 corresponding digital amplifiers, three Cinema DSP programs (movie, music and sports), analog to HDMI video upconversion, high definition video upscaling to 1080i/720p and a 1080p (24Hz and 60Hz) compatible HDMI interface with two inputs and one output to facilitate pure digital connections with the latest home theater components.

The YSP-3050 is XM Satellite Radio ready with XM HD surround sound powered by Neural Surround. The YSP-3050 also offers iPod compatibility via the new optional YDS-11 dock (more information on the YDS-11 below). Once docked, the iPod can be operated (song selection, play, etc.) via the YSP's remote control and on-screen display. Yamaha's proprietary Compressed Music Enhancer technology compensates for the lost detail of audio that is compressed during the "ripping" process, recapturing the essence of the original recording. An integrated FM tuner further broadens the user's entertainment choices.

The YSP-3050 creates a wide soundstage designed to fill the whole room with convincing surround sound regardless of where listeners are seated. Sound settings include 5-Beam, 3-Beam, 3-Beam + Stereo, 2- channel Stereo, My Beam, 5-Channel Stereo and My Surround modes. My Surround mode delivers surround sound to even the most difficult installation environments where walls may not be present or are covered with unsuitable materials. My Beam mode focuses the sound at a specific listening position, so the listener can hear all program audio clearly, including dialog, without disturbing others in the room.

Yamaha's proprietary IntelliBeam™ automated system calibration enables users to quickly and easily set up each system for the optimal listening experience and intuitive, multi-language on-screen displays.

The YSP-3050 offers full support for surround sound standards, including Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Neo:6, as well as CINEMA DSP technology, to create realistic soundscapes in any room. For late night movie and music enjoyment, a Night Listening Enhancer mode allows dialog and quiet passages to be heard clearly, even at low volumes. The TV Equal Volume mode prevents sudden startling bursts of sound from TV programs and commercials. The model also features SRS TruBass technology to provide exceptionally deep and rich bass response.

The YSP-3050 is currently available for a suggested retail price of $1,399.95.

One great thing about the set is that you can change the way it does sound depending on room size and TV placement using simple menu options. Oh yeah, and the picture on the 120Hz set wasn't bad either. The 149 comes in two flavors, a 46" for $3300 and a 52" for $3700, out soon. [Mitsubishi]

The Price: $1200

The Verdict:And again, it's very valuable that this bar does not block the screen. The piano black finish is great. And it's loud, like all Denon gear, although the bass gets a little cloudy at high volume. What's sad is that this expensive set up does not do any sort of cool sonar-like bouncing of soundbeams off walls like the YSP series by Yamaha. (See below.) So, you get good wide imaging, but you can definitely tell the sound is coming from the center bar. Nor does it have a mic for room calibration. (All the delay and room settings are done on the little LCD.) What's more, with so few inputs, you'll either have to rig the sound to output from your TV, or switch your sources often. But with no HDMI or pass through, you'd better check if your TV has an output before even considering this unit. All in all, that's academic. With less than great surround presentation, I'd recommend you try the YSP line from Yamaha (even if that means you have to cough up for a sub and wall mount or block some of your TV.)
[Denon]

Yes, unlike surround bars from Yamaha, Denon, Philips and Polk, which provide either virtual, psychoacoustic or projected surround sound, the TVee Model Two is just stereo. It takes over the sound coursing through your TV set, supplanting your TV's crappy speakers. As low-tech as that sounds, the unit itself can learn the volume commands off of your TV's remote, for instant control. Also, the subwoofer is wireless, and can be placed anywhere in the room (near power, of course) thanks to a 2.4GHz RF connection. And in case you never heard of the Model One, don't feel bad: Boston Acoustics decided to skip straight to Model Two.

Boston Acoustics Introduces Groundbreaking Video Accessory to Dramatically Improve Television Sound: "TVee™" Model Two - A Television Entertainment Enhancement System"

— Innovative TV Accessory Enhances Enjoyment of Watching Everything from Sitcoms to Game Shows,
Sports, Movies and More! —

Peabody, MA, August 13, 2007 — Boston Acoustics, Inc., a world-renowned manufacturer of highperformance
loudspeakers and entertainment products, today announced the introduction of the TVee Model Two, A Television Entertainment Enhancement System (SRP: $399.99). This simple TV accessory is designed to enhance the enjoyment of TV watching. The innovative system consists of a slim single "soundbar" that can be placed above or below a television, or easily mounted on the wall, along with a matching wireless woofer that can be placed anywhere in the room to deliver added dynamic bass response. Once hooked up, viewers will enjoy an overall enhanced TV experience.

Convenient "One Wire" Hook-Up - and No Additional Remote Required!
Everything about the TVee Model Two is designed to make it quick and easy for anyone to add enhanced performance to their TV viewing. Users simply plug a single wire from the sound bar into their television's line-level output, and because the woofer is wireless, it can be placed virtually anywhere, even in a corner behind the couch, and still provide added bass response. Adding to user convenience, the TVee system features a special "Learning Function" which simply learns a user's existing TV remote to control TVee's volume and mute commands, eliminating the need for a separate remote control.

Eli Harary, Boston Acoustics Senior Vice President & General Manager noted, "TVee Model Two was
designed from the ground-up to improve the Television experience, especially in flat panel sets... simply! With TVee there's no tangle of wires, no extra remote, and no clutter of loudspeakers. It simply adds great sound to enhance your enjoyment of watching TV."

Like all Boston Acoustics products, TVee utilizes the highest quality loudspeaker components and build materials to achieve high quality and natural sound. TVee's soundbar features four 2.5-inch Mid Bass drivers and two 1/2-inch Dome Tweeters to deliver powerful room-filling audio, and the wireless woofer features a 6-inch Down Firing Bass Driver, and delivers a total system output of over 100 Watts RMS.

"Make It Your Own" with Boston Personal Option Plan (P.O.P.)
To make it easy for customers to individualize the look of their TVee Model Two and "make it their own," the system features the company's new P.O.P. (Personal Option Plan) design concept. P.O.P. lets users customize the look of their product using easily removable & replaceable cloth grilles that are available in a wide variety of colors, including Glacier, Rosebud, Onyx, Pearl Gray, Caramel, Chocolat, Silver, and Chili Pepper. To purchase a new grille, customers can simply visit the Boston Acoustics website (www.bostonacoustics.com/POP) and select the color of their choice or contact those dealers that will be stocking the grille color options. Boston Acoustics TVee Model Two and its optional P.O.P. cloth grilles are scheduled for shipment to retailers in September 2007.

At first glance, this SoundBar doesn't look like it can do much, because it's rather thin and not very heavy. However, its accompanying subwoofer is quite a bit more substantial, supplying the power for both units. That SoundBar's diminutive size is a big advantage, because it's small enough to be hung just under a wall-mounted flat panel display. It holds the controls and DVD player, while the subwoofer can be hidden any on the floor, and does the heavy lifting. Put a DVD or CD into the SoundBar, and its door gracefully slides aside, inviting you to mount the disk inside with a reassuring click. Both pieces of this system are exceedingly handsome, and would go well in even the most chic home theater.

The first thing we wanted to try on the HTS8100 was a couple of CDs we normally use to test sound quality. We turned the volume up all the way using the beautifully designed piano black remote control, and we were astonished at this speaker's clean, crisp and extraordinarily powerful sound.

Even sitting 12 feet away, there was still enough stereo separation to create a well-defined soundstage, with plenty of presence and depth. It was even able to simulate surround sound rather convincingly when we placed it into multichannel mode, and there were a couple of passages where we could have sworn there were speakers behind us.

The 120-watt subwoofer rattled the rafters here at the Midwest Test Facility, literally scaring some of our coworkers with its clean, tight bass. Meanwhile, the precise tweeters offered crispy and sweet-sounding highs and upper midrange. The midrange sounded a bit hollow for our tastes, but was still able to pull its weight, accurately reproducing voices that didn't sound the best we've heard, but acceptable nonetheless. Overall, the system put out some extraordinary sound, and it surprised everyone with its force, power and high quality.

Next it was time to test the included iPod dock, and that also worked well. On a system of this high quality, the sonic deficiencies of compressed music were immediately obvious, but the SoundBar still handled the sound well. Connecting into the side of the speaker, the docking unit lets you plug in just about any iPod. When you place your iPod inside, after a quick touch on the remote, the iPod's functions are all available via remote control. We also like the extended control that shows you all of the iPod's functions on your TV screen.

Next we mounted a DVD into the sliding vertical compartment, and here's where we realized the system's forte. Dialog came through loud and clear, and the movie's explosion scenes must've made the neighbors jump. Its simulated surround sound was not quite as realistic as an actual 5.1 system with rear speakers positioned behind us, but we found it good enough to satisfy our surround sound jones. It would be perfect for someone with a room not well-suited to 5.1 speakers, where the rear surround speakers might be inconvenient or impossible to place behind the listeners. That said, there's an astonishing amount of audio coming out of this slim SoundBar, and we were all quite impressed.

As for the video scaling, its Faroudja upscaling system, attempting to turn garden-variety 480p video into 1080i or even 1080p high definition video, did an admirable job, but we've never been a fan of upscaled video. It's always a poor stepchild to the real thing, and tends to amplify flaws as well as sharpen the video...somewhat. We've never seen upscaling that was worthy of being called true HDTV, and the output of this Philips unit was no exception. However, the system's enhancements were every bit as good as the best 1080p upscaling we've seen thus far on players with similar technology such as those from Oppo. Even so, the whole up-rezzing ruse is one of those selling points that looks great on paper, but has yet to measure up in reality.

Summing up, this Philips HTS8100 Ambi Sound DVD Home Theater System is easy to set up, gives you a lot more options for speaker placement than you'd have with a 5.1 surround system, delivers decent simulated surround sound, is unobtrusive in the living room, looks great and sounds even better. We think it's an outstanding value, especially at its $700 street price.

Soundmatters Slimstage: Surround Sound from One Speaker [Crave]