Gadget Reviews
Break the sound barrier
Recreate the feel of the cinema while watching your favourite film
with these surround sound systems
SURROUND sound is great if you love movies. The downside, though, is that you
often find yourself surrounded by cables just as much as sound.
There are two possible solutions for the keen gadgetman: invest in a pair of
surround headphones or, if you want the whole family to enjoy the benefits,
lay out for a soundbar.
Soundbars are one-box surround sound systems that deliver an amazing, near
5.1 sound with the clever use of a multitude of mini speakers all bouncing sound
around your room from just one unit. All the speakers are contained in the one
unit and they achieve a surround effect by firing the soundtrack around a room
and bouncing off your walls.
So what's to be had?
YAMAHA YSP600
£499 www.yamaha-uk.com
This is the seventh unit from Yamaha.
They started the whole soundbar thing and this time they've managed to pack
in some decent features in an attempt to distance themselves from the pack.
A 'Night Listener' mode enhances subtle sounds when the sound is down, so you
don't miss crucial dialogue. It also boasts six separate settings for the delivery
of sound, so you can alter it according to the mood you're trying to set and
the type of music playing.
LOGIC 3 SOUNDSTAGE
£199.99 www.play.com
Ready for use straight out of the box, this new entrant to the market has a
claimed 150 watt output from 15 internal speakers (13 mid and high range speakers
and a couple of subwoofers). The classy black piano finish is the perfect complement
for any flatscreen TV system and you can use it with the speakers on show or
cover up with the supplied matching mesh.
Curiously, it has a built in FM radio. Not bad at the price.
DENON FS3
£499 www.amazon.co.uk
The delivery of an almost true 5.1 surround sound from this ultra-svelte box
of tricks is quite literally mindblowing. The matching subwoofer supplied with
Denon's soundbar helps it deliver a deeper richer bass, so your room really
starts to rumble, albeit at the expense of more cables.
BOSTON ACOUSTICS TVEE
£249.95 www.superhifi.co.uk
Another soundbar solution with an added subwoofer box for deep bass delivery,
but this time it's a little bulkier. This system redeems itself on this front
with its ability to learn from your existing remotes, so there's one less to
lose down the back of the sofa.
PHILIPS HTS8100
£560 www.1staudiovisual.co.uk
Behind the smoked glass panel lies a DVD player which can "upscale"
the picture quality of your existing DVD collection if you have a High Definition
TV set. Using Philips Ambisound technology, this unit tries to "steer"
the sound around you.
SONY RHT G800
£465 www.amazon.co.uk (stand only)
A very clever take on soundbars from Sony. They've incorporated a speaker system
within this stylish stand unit and integrated all the inputs you'll need. It's
designed as the perfect partner for their Bravia range, but other TVs are welcome
to sit atop it too. Certainly the bulkiest of the bunch.
3:20pm Thursday 24th April 2008
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