Creative Inspire T5400 5.1SPEAKER with sub Wired Remote 115 Watt Review

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(More customer reviews)This is my first sound system for my PC and I'm very happy with it. Being a music student sound is very important to me and so I made sure to hear a lot of systems and frankly most just sucked until you got to the $300-$400 range and I just didn't have that much money to shell out. So giving up on the computer stores I went to cambridge soundworks and I actually bought their Megaworks 210D it was $200. I was extremely disappointed with it, while the 150 watt subwoofer was killer, the two satellite speakers hissed which was annoying. It didn't treat all music styles equally and was easily distorted when playing music without a lot of low end such as movie soundtracks and classical music. The highs were piercing and hard on the ears as well. This was true on all music styles even with the treble turned all the way down. So I returned it the next day and bought the Creative T5400 system after talking with a neighbor who had the 5200. I was extremely pleased after I got it setup. (By the way setting it up is very easy and mounting the speakers on the walls couldn't be easier, its like hanging a picture frame. All you need is a nail and hammer.) While it doesn't have the power or the bass that the cambridge megaworks had, the 5 speakers are clear and comfortable to listen to at high volumes. The subwoofer isn't going to blow the windows out of your house but it does its job nicely and compliments the speakers very well. Mine is setup in my bedroom which is about average size and it delivers a nice balanced sound that fills the room. It's a very nice system at a very good price that does well with music, games, and movies. You definitely won't be disappointed. Whatever you decide get a 5.1 system, there wasn't one 2.1 system out there that I would recomend buying. For the same price or a little more you can get a 5.1 system. I was concerned with space as some of you might be, but don't worry about space you'll figure something out. Like I said these speakers are very easy to mount on your wall. Good luck to you! I hope this helps.

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Pure 5.1 Performance From 115 Watts Of Power And High-Fidelity Two-Way Speakers

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Wharfedale MovieStar 70 Surround Sound Speaker System (Beech) Review

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(More customer reviews)I wanted a home theater speaker system, that was good with movies and music too! I listened to Polk 6700 speakers (very good) JBL 160 (nice) Energy 5.2 (very nice) Athena (ok+) and Wharfedale Movie Star 70's (awesome)! The biggest difference was the music end of the spectrum! All of the mentioned systems were very good to excellent for movie/tv viewing, but ranged from good, to adequate, to so-so on music! Except the Wharfedales, which were excellent for theater use, and awesome on music, probably due to the fact they are a bit larger than most! No tubby lower midrange, or ear bleeding, thin highs! Bass was rendered very well too! A great value, and they are decor freindly.

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Wharfedale's Moviestar 70 subwoofer-satellite speaker system offers a no-compromise solution for those who seek a small, tidy loudspeaker package, but refuse to tolerate the inadequate sound traditionally found in such systems. The Moviestar 70 combines chic retro styling in a package of loudspeakers with modest dimensions. But despite their diminutive size, these stars of the silver screen pack plenty of punch when it comes to home cinema. Speakers as small as these are made possible by the system's powered subwoofer, which fills in the bass below about 80 Hz. Further, the subwoofer is still effective when hidden from view.
The package includes all the speakers you need. The four satellites are front-ported, single-way units that dispense with crossovers, which can cause phase and frequency problems in two-way and three-way speakers. The frequency-matched subwoofer has all the features you'd expect of any subwoofer, such as phase and crossover adjustment. All fixings are supplied to allow wall or ceiling mounting, and plenty of cable is included for easy installation.
What's in the Box Four satellite speakers, center channel speaker, subwoofer, speaker cable, mounting brackets, user's manual.

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ZVOX 550HSD Low-Profile Single-Cabinet Surround Sound System with Optical and Coaxial Digital Inputs Review

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(More customer reviews)Before purchasing this speaker/amplifier system, I read every review I could find. However, no matter how well a speaker review is written, the proof is in the actual listening. After some careful measurements of the space where I intended to put this speaker, I decided to go ahead and spring (also known as "putting a dent" in the credit card) for the system. Quick background - I've been using a Yamaha 5.1 channel surround receiver with Bose AM-3 speakers and an OPPO BDP-83 Blu-Ray player. One of my biggest gripes about compact systems has been high levels of total harmonic distortion. But the simple convenience of fewer remotes and easy adjustments does have its charms.
I received the system about 3 days after placing the order and I set it up the day after I got it. Did I say setup? This marvelous audio soundbar/box sets up faster than an egg on hot asphalt. I ran a set of RCA cables from the TV's analog output to the ZVOX analog RCA inputs. Everything else, video and audio-wise, is plugged into the back of the TV. An optical digital cable from the Blu-Ray player to the optical input on the ZVOX takes care of the DVD audio. Even my PC's audio goes through the ZVOX unit.
The unit itself is wonderfully "invisible" in that it sits under the LCD TV base and does not call attention to itself. The sound? With a little noodling on the included remote (which is larger and easier to use than the chiclet size remote provided with the standard 550 model), I was quite impressed. I played my Blu-Ray copy of AVATAR and with the PHASE CUE setting near maximum, the BASS on maximum, treble on about three-quarters of the allowed adjustment range, I began my listening test. After several minutes, I was struck by the fact that the sound was so full and clear that I got lost in the movie. The speakers just "disappeared".
Several observations: The bass output doesn't have quite enough "oomph" for my taste, so I purchased an inexpensive Yamaha YST-50 subwoofer that worked out just nice. It's compact, provides a nice punch to the bass, and fits almost anywhere. As for the surround effect - the system broadens the soundfield more than adding weird surround effects. Truthfully, I like its overall balanced sound much better than some of the other soundbar manufacturers attempts at faux surround.
In summary, if the complexities of today's audio/video receivers and multi-channel rat's nest of connecting cables is driving you to distraction, try the ZVOX 550 HSD system for small spaces (I'm using it in a third bedroom space which is quite small), or the ZVOX 575 HSD system in larger living room spaces. Simple is best!

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The Z-Base 550HSD is the only surround sound system designed to act as a base platform for most 26" - 50" flat-panel TVs. Only three inches thick, the Z-Base virtually disappears when placed beneath a flat panel TV. But don\'t let is low profile fool you -- the 550HSD sounds absolutely terrific-reproducing music and movie soundtracks with lifelike accuracy. The entire system-speakers, amplifier, virtual surround technology and powered subwoofer-fits into the super-slim cabinet. There are no external speakers, no external subwoofers and no speaker wires.The Z-Base 550HSD complements the design of modern TVs by incorporating beautiful hand-lacquered high-gloss black end panels. The top of the Z-Base 550HSD is finished in rugged, scratch-resistant black vinyl that is less likely to be marred by objects such as the TV placed on its surface. Set-up of the Z-Base 550HSD requires very few steps: Simply place the unit on a stable shelf, table or cabinet. Place your stand-mounted flat-panel TV on top of it.Plug in AC power, one connecting cord to the TV. Sit back and enjoy big, realistic sound including thunderous bass from the builtin powered subwoofer. The Z-Base 550HSD uses the ZVOX PhaseCue virtual surround system to create wide, three-dimensional sound, as if you are listening to speakers eight feet apart from each other, with movie sound effects that literally surround you. You get a room full of sound without a roomful of speakers and wires! TV base should not exceed 27" in width or 13" in depth. TV should not exceed 90 pounds in weight. Safety instructions in Z-Base 550HSD Operating Instructions and in TV's Operating Instructions should be closely examined and followed.

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Denon DHT-FS3 Home Theater in a Box Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased the DHT-FS3 hoping not so much for a 5.1 sound-alike experience but simply hoping for a good "TV speaker replacement" system. Unfortunately, while the Denon is the best sounding system of its type, it simply wasn't to be for my application.
First, the size of the unit is a bit larger in some ways that one would expect and smaller than others. Denon obviously designed the unit to fit in front of a flat screen TV, as they thoughtfully provided feet that are widely spaced (about 20") so that the unit can straddle the front of most TV manufacturer's flat screen pedestals. But it's also wider than one might expect - it's wider than a 16:9 32" TV, but a bit narrower than a 37".
The sound is GOOD, but not great. At no time will you think you're in front of not only a 5.1 surround system but even a decent stereo system using bookshelf loudspeakers; however it does sound better than any built-in TV speakers could, and it outdoes most "mini" systems as well, likely including offerings such as Denon's own S-101 HTIB system. Like most such systems, the bass is a bit "thumpy" - the sub just doesn't integrate well with the satellites and crosses over fairly high - around 125-150 Hz - so you never lose sight of the fact that most of your sound is coming from "up there" but the bass notes are coming from "down there."
The unit has multiple inputs - two sets of RCAs for analog, including one set that can be used with one of Denon's iPod docks, two optical digital and one coaxial digital. The setup has many nice features, including distance to the listener, bass/treble (unlike Bose systems, but here the adjustments are in fairly large 2dB increments) and a nice universal remote to control your TV, DVD player and the speaker unit. It can play in straight stereo, "wide" surround, Dolby Digital or even DTS, and all sound reasonably good for this application.
The design flaw? While not Denon's fault, most every flat panel TV manufacturer puts the sensor for their remote control along the bottom of the TV, meaning if the Denon's sitting in front of the TV, I can just about guarantee it will be blocking the TV's remote sensor unless you're using it with a larger set (40" or more) and the sensor's in the corner, or your TV somewhat more intelligently placed the sensor along the TV's sides or top frame.
I don't mean to come across as overly harsh, but I really had high hopes for a product like this from Denon, and sound-wise it really didn't sound as good as I thought it would. That's not really their fault; you can only do so much with smaller drivers in a rather small enclosure. But on the other hand, it does do a better job of producing a virtual surround effect than any TV's built-in surround effect (e.g. "SRS") or the similar Yamaha Sound Projectors.
So in short, it's worth a try if you're looking for a product like this, but the fact that it would block my TV's IR sensor immediately made it a non-starter for me as soon as I removed it from its box. Perhaps in a future model Denon can thoughtfully provide an "IR blaster" on the back of the unit to automatically repeat IR signals it sees to any TV sensors that may be located behind it.
It's truly a beautiful LOOKING unit, the piano black finish blending nicely with the similar finish used on most flat panels that don't use a silvery frame. It's certainly a reasonable value for the price, given what it would cost to build a similar quality system for components or find as high quality a HTIB ("Home Theatre in a Box") system.
However, for the sole reason that it blocks my TV's remote sensor, I've no alternate place to place it, and it neither has an IR blaster nor provision to drive one, it's back in its shipping box just about three hours after first opening it.

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Home Theater in a Box

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Paradigm Cinema 110 CT 5.1 Home Theater Surround Sound System (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)To start off by no means am I a Sound geru. I just wanted a better sounding system in my living room for movies I had a bose lifesyle system prior to this and it was just a waste of money. So I shopped a round at the local stores. With price as a consideration I decided to go the the ct110 theather speakers they are small yet put out termendous sound. The subwoofer works good and trys to make up for having smaller speakers for the most part it does it's job quit well. This speakers work well in a mid to small rooms. I would deff buy them agian IM running a marantz sr5004 reciver and am getting rich warm sound. Over all they look nice, just the right size. and for being one of paradigms budget lower line products they produce amazing sound. Probley can easly compair this to higher end jvc,polk,dennon,etc. I have less invested in this system with reciever and blueray player then I have in my lifestyle system wich is my bedroom now. The sound diff is incredible. Dont be fooled by what you hear in the stores with bose. I swear to you it will not sound that good in your home. The paradigm speakers make watching movies at home fun agian. I hope this helps. But please dont take my word for it. please research your speaker choice before buying them. I did and found nothing but good reviews for this speakers all over the internet. AAA++++ product thanks Paradigm.

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6-Pc. Paradigm Cinema 110 CT 5.1 Compact Theater Surround Sound System. From the #1 Brand in Loudspeakers comes Cinema 110 CT 5.1 Compact Theater Surround Sound System for music, home theater and computer gaming. 3 Cinema LCR speakers, 2 Cinema ADP surrounds boasting Paradigm\'s ADP (Adapted Dipole) technology for extraordinary surround performance (visit www.paradigm.com for more info on ADP technology) and a powerful subwoofer with 10˝ driver. Wall brackets for mounting speakers included. Paradigm CT systems deliver Performance and Value like no conventional Home Theater in a Box (HTiB) system can! Buyer beware: Typical HTiB systems are all about price, not sound. Or even worse, expensive marketing hype and still not sound. When it comes to sound quality, those other systems simply cannot deliver. Paradigm Cinema CT\'s are all about performance. They deliver 5.1 audiophile-quality sound without sacrificing lifestyle size, good looks or a great price. They\'re every bit affordable as those other HTiB systems, but when it comes to performance, they leave conventional HTiB stuck in the box! Cinema CT systems integrate beautifully, delivering a seamless soundstage that brings movies and gaming to life and makes music sound \'live." Price/Value in Inside Track Annual Dealer Survey, an annual independent nationwide survey of consumer electronics specialist retailers and custom installers. About Paradigm The Ultimate in Sound for Music and Home Theater. For over twenty-five years, Paradigm has set the standard for sonic excellence in every product category we offer. Our focus on providing the best in performance and value pushes the boundaries in speaker design. Stunning accuracy, a spacious soundstage with pinpoint localization, powerful, well-defined bass and thrilling dynamics are hallmarks of our advanced speaker designs. For more info on Paradigm products visit www.paradigm.com or contact us: +1 905 696 2842.

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Bose Acoustimass 5 - Speaker System, ideal for stereo or home theater use - White Review

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(More customer reviews)I was having issues myself with sound quality with these speakers until I went to Bose.com and read the user guide. These speakers are meant to produce sound both directly and reflectively. If you have all of the elements pointing forward with no surfaces to bounce off of the experience is not satisfying. You need to tuck the sub away in a corner (to reflect off the walls) and the smaller speakers I find work great with one element pointing directly and the other pointing at a wall (each speaker has 2 elements). The sound with the reflection is much richer and satisfying than when everything's pointed directly at you.

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Experience enhanced sound from Bose's most affordable, next-generation Acoustimass stereo speakers. The Acoustimass 5 system in white delivers bass that's the deepest and fullest yet. Two single-cube speakers--smaller than ever before--are elegantly designed to fit virtually any decor. And the module easily hides away behind furniture or off in a corner, so all the lifelike sound seems to flow from the tiny cubes.

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New 5.1 Multimedia Powered Home Theater Surround Sound Speaker System TS511 Review

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(More customer reviews)These speakers are something incredible. They re much better than many more expensive speakers in the market.
Pros:
* Clear sound, powerful, with good definition.
* You can set the speaker volume independently.
* Remote Control.
* 5.1 + RCA inputs + Auxiliar input (Left and Right)
* The speakers do not distort.
* A powerful subwoofer with very good low.
Cons:
* Short cord (the cable from the speakers left, right and center are not more than 5 feet and the back of no more than 7').
* Does not have Coaxial or Optical input for receiving a digital signal.
This is an excellent speakers systems. I have it installed on a 28 mts2 family room and the sound is really big. The subwoofer make vibrate the glass accessories of the room. It has more quality than many of the most expensive equipment on the market. Now, I have to buy a signal converter stereo to 5.1 surround to get you maximum advantage of this set of speakers
Anyone would think that a set of speakers with 18lbs (small speakers, small magnets) can not be so much quality but is the opposite. I recommend this product for its sound quality, power and clear sound.

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SpecificationsNew 5.1 / 2.1 Switchable Home Theater Multimedia Speaker SystemPower Rating: 500 Watts RMS System PowerFrequency Response: 40Hz - 20KHzDistinctive Design: Features high tech design to dampen distortion and deliver crisp clear responseAdditional Features: Pro Logic function for incredible Surround Sound, Stand By function, Infa-red remote sensor lampRemote Control: At your fingertips separate volume controls for Sub, Center, Rear and FrontEasy Set-upMagnetically shielded systemSubwoofer Speaker: 1pcSub Unit is 6.5" x 12.5" x 11.5"Satellite Speakers: 5pcsEach Satellite Speaker is 3.75" x 3.75" x 5.75"Two Front and Center Speaker have 6' Single RCA CableTwo Rear Speakers have 12' Single RCA Cables25' Extension Single RCA Cables Available 2RCA1 (2 Cable Pack) and 5RCA1 (5 Cable Pack)Audio Cable: 1 pc 3.5mm (headphone) jack to RCA jackAudio Cable: 3 pcs RCA jack to RCA jackRemote ControlUser ManualThis Listing and Price is for 1 Complete SystemTheater Solutions TS511 5.1 Home Theater Speaker Systemis a compact, high-definition 5.1 home theater system that's simple to set up and use. The TS511 features a Pro Logic channel switch to integrate all your Dolby Surround formatted movies, music and games and deliver a true surround experience. The Speaker system consists of five speakers - left, center and right front channels with two rear surrounds - and one powered subwoofer. All five speakers in this home theater are identical, creating a seamless blend of sound and style.Inside each modern, high-gloss black enclosure, you'll find durable, high-quality components that will provide superior performances for years to come. Each speaker is magnetically shielded - so it won't interfere with your TV picture - and can be positioned vertically or horizontally next to your HDTV or other type of flat-panel.

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Panasonic SC-BT230 5.1 Surround Sound System Review

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

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

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