SONY | SONY STYLE.COM

All in one system

Pros: Good sound, easy set-up

Cons: Not loud enough, no radio, no component, no HD radio

Very good sound for the price. Easy plug and play.

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

Pros: Small and looks good with my 52" LCD TV

Cons: Poor sound quality

The sound quality sounded like some a really cheep piece of electronics. I spent hours trying to get some decent sound out of the HTCT100 but no luck so I contacted Sony technician to help me which was also a waste of time. It was loud if that was all you wanted but that's it

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Managing Expectations

Pros: Only 2 components, BRAVIA SYNC feature and easy to hook-up

Cons: Lack of an on-screen display, no equalizer and volume may not be adequate with some media and/or input sources

I?m a casual but frequent TV/DVD user/viewer. My installation is an average 13x18 rectangular family room with the TV in one corner and seating for 2 to 3 people. My first visual impression of the speaker bar was that it would look better with speaker cloth rather than the perforate hard material used for the grill since it is intended to sit in a prominent location. The sounds effected by this system are largely subjective but I don?t think you?ll be wowed. Do NOT expect it to magically give you a 5.1 surround experience, but once in a while you MIGHT get the sense that a brief sound traveled ACROSS in front of you. It was certainly easy to install as compared to a wired 5-speaker home theater and the ?BRAVIA SYNC? is convenient and appreciated. In use there are some disappointments. The pre-set sound effects along with adjustable sub-woofer and center speaker outputs (+6 to -6) are not as satisfying as equalizer adjustments would be. And maybe it's just me, but since I want to hide the sub-woofer the lack of an on-screen display is a real nuisance. I especially miss some visual representation of the volume as it?s adjusted. The only indication on the TV screen of the volume being adjusted is a box that says ?Audio system: VOL +? or ?Audio system: VOL -?. Hope this helps.

Know ithe limitations.

Pros: Attractive form, decent simulated 5.1 surround, reasonable price

Cons: Cable length, speaker bar mounting, $$$$ accessories

I purchased this system because of the HDMI pass through options. We did not need a DVD player based system. It seemed like a economical and high performance substitute for a new receiver and speakers. Although the sound quality is fairly good, there are several significant limitations. For instance, the speaker bar cable is offset center. This posed a small problem for my installation as I had to make wide, narrow hole to meet the existing cable path for the wall mounted TV etc. Moreover, there is not a recess on the rear side of the bar to conceal the speaker cable (poor design). The speaker cable is also fairly short (length not disclosed in specs), severely limiting cabinet placement. Lastly, Sony hold true to its reputation for grossly overcharging for proprietary accessories. I would like to add the a DMP cradle for my iPod Touch 2G. To do so will cost an additional $99. Ridiculous! Especially in light of the Bravia sound systems. I could have purchased a 1000W true 5.1 system w/subwoofer and iPod cradle for less than the difference that the DMP cradle costs a la carte. Bottom line: investigate to ensure it suits your needs... especially if you may like to add components in the future.

great sound

Pros: great sound-reasonable price

Cons: HDMI jacks are not included

I purchased this system at the recommendation of a BB clerk. I didn't want lots of wires running around the living room but wanted the surround sound effect. Unfortunately, the clerk did not inform me that I needed to buy two HDMI jacks for optimal effects. Once I bought the HDMI jacks and got the system installed, I am very pleased with the sound quality and volume. It really sounds like you are in a theater.

big disappointment

Pros: size, it's a receiver

Cons: volume,volume,volume

When I got this I thought it would be the answer to my issues. I was wrong! Big plus for being a receiver but for me I need better sound than my flat panel tv gives me. Problem is the sound out of my tv is just as loud if not louder than the sound bar. Maybe good for a 22" or 26" tv but not for 32" or bigger. I thought maybe changing the optical cable to a thicker higher end cable might help, it didn't!!! Get this if you need a receiver for a small tv, otherwise buy something else. Maybe the htct500 will have better sound. Let's hope so! Good try Sony, try again!

Works For Me

Pros: Price and setup

Cons: none

It is a simple setup. And using the digial media is great for the sound. I would love to have surround sound but the cost and the wireing is just to much. This provides the extra sound that the TV just didn't have. I have the 46" XBR6 and it sounds great but when I added the sound bar the watching experence was enhanced 10 fold.

power box

Pros: great style and looks,eaey mounting

Cons: need 2 more hdmi ports

Real nice system if you are not looking for true surond sound, the speaker bar mounts easly while the sub stands on it own. Making inullation a snap. I bought mine when I had a kdl32s series, ,now I have a kdl40xrb6 series, the sound bar is a little short of ther overall width of the unit. I am going to upgrade the system to the ht-ct400 it has a little more atitude and new features