We’re always looking for pics of people’s home theatre setups, and it seems like there are PLENTY of people ready to oblige!  Like parents of newborn babes, people eagerly post photos of their home theatre setups to let us have a look at the ups and downs, and also give us some ideas for our own.

Now, this guy went all out, doing complete replacements of the TV, the speakers, everything.  And he’s really got in a whole lot of nifty new items–a fifty two inch plasma TV (which was selected because where he was, South Africa, the LCD variety wouldn’t have been as good in standard definition, and there’s not a whole lot of HD television broadcast yet.  So, why bother with the LCD?), a couple of floorstander speakers with a subwoofer and a couple smaller speakers to go after the full surround sound.

This guy has definitely done his homework, and is actually looking at expanding the system down the line with further amps and some Dreamcard systems so he can network his TVs and allow the various other members of his family to enjoy their favorite programs as well.  He’ll even recount his experiences in setup for you right here.

So enjoy your sweet home theatre setup, naughty001–and if any of you want YOUR theatre shown here, just drop a line.

Bowers & Wilkins, the international recognized British manufacturer and world’s leading sources of loudspeaker technology, has added a new subwoofer to its kitty, the ASW12. The new ASW12-CM stands in the line of the highly acclaimed CM Series.

Doug Henderson, VP of Sales and Marketing say, “Our CM series has proven to be a global winner. It has been difficult keeping up with demand, especially with the gloss black finish, but we are catching up and now adding the ASW12-CM to complete the formidable line up.”

The ASW12-CM subwoofer will add a new dimension to bass performance in your home theater system. The subwoofer features a 12-inch Kevlar/paper cone along with a long-throw driver with a higher power amplifier. Other outstanding features of the subwoofer include low-pass filter frequency and bypass, auto-sense on and standby and a phase switch.

The ASW 12 CM, available in glossy black finish, looks as good as it performs. It will be available in September, with a SRP of $2,000 each.

You know, it’s tough to find a good array of speakers.  True audiophiles can argue the sun clear around trying to figure out just what the best of the best is.  But sometimes, you can find speakers that are good enough, and extra nice when you consider the price.  That’s what I thought of the RCA RT2870 speaker system–that it’s good enough for the job you ask it to do.

It’s a five-speaker combination with one thousand watts of power, digital AM / FM tuner, Dolby digital, a USB input and a front-mount input for an MP3 player, plus a subwoofer for extra bass.

The plain and simple on this one is that it is, in fact, plain and simple.  There aren’t a whole lot of jacks or interesting functions or anything like that–just a nice, solid system that produces nice, solid sound.  Voice reproduction is surprisingly clear, and the controls on the front are also easy to work with.  It’s a nice system, even more so when you consider that this “nice system” comes at about a hundred and fifty eight bucks.

The RCA RT2870 may not be much of a system, as systems go, but one thing’s clear–it definitely does the job, and without breaking the bank.

Let’s face it, folks–with the way the economy is today, we’re ALL looking at our wallets a little more closely than we ever did.  We’re all feeling every last dollar flow out like we were losing blood.  And we’re all thinking about ways to save.

Now, to that end, some people think that now is a really good time to set up a home theatre.  They figure–and who can blame them?–why spend gas money and wear on a vehicle just to go somewhere to spend ridiculous prices to watch movies when I can go to the video store and get more movies for less money, or even have Netflix (or Blockbuster) deliver them right to my front door by mail?  Why pay four bucks for a large soda when I can buy three, four two-liters for the same price?  A sack of popcorn is two bucks here, but a “large popcorn” at the movies is twice that and maybe a tenth of the bag!

These are, naturally, fair arguments.  They advance the idea that you can actually save money by spending a whole lot of it all at once then not spending it any more for a good long while.  But the components can be downright pricey, and some people look to save money by getting a so-called “home theatre in a box“.

These all-in-one systems are definitely inexpensive, and vastly simplified for the non-technological crowd, but the question is, are they worth it?

Some would say no, that the quality of the components is vastly less than what you would get buying piecemeal and assembling yourself.  That if you start with a good receiver and work your way down to speakers you’ll get a much better system than you do out of the boxes.

Some, meanwhile, say that the incredible value of a box system takes precedence over any perceived lack of quality, and that toward the upper levels, quality differences aren’t even that perceptible.  After all, some will say, look at a 1080p and a 720p system–do you see a whole lot of difference there?  Some people will, of course, but for a lot of people, 720p may well be more than enough, especially if they’re used to standard definition systems.

So is it worth it?  It really depends on your needs.  If all you need is to be able to see your movie and hear it, then a box system might be just fine.  If not, well, then piecemeal is the way to go.

From the headline above, you may have thought I’ve lost my mind, but the Bay Audio HomeBase Sub is actually designed to be BURIED.

It’s an outdoor subwoofer, with a cabinet made from underground-rated PVC pipe that produces bass up to ninety decibels from a hundred feet away.  You bury the thing in a hole measuring twenty five inches by thirteen inches fourteen inches deep, and a six-inch port sticks out eight inches above the ground, from which the bass emerges.

Bay Audio, the designers of the thing,  recommend that you use their rack 500 watt PowerPack for amplification.  And just the HomeBase sub by itself will set you back a whopping three grand.

I see a lot of strange possibilities with this–one, don’t try mowing your lawn anywhere near that subwoofer post unless you’re REALLY sure of yourself.  I’d hate to try digging that thing up because a mower clipped the eight-inch port.  Two, what if you had a mole problem…and you buried the thing completely?  Then you crank up something with a lot of bass…maybe you don’t have a mole problem any more.  I wonder if you could play Dragonforce and run them off the lawn completely….

Anyway, for three grand a pop, I’m not likely to try it soon.  But if you do a lot of outdoor entertaining and have deep pockets, this may be just what you need.

These may well be the smallest speakers I’ve ever seen in a home theatre package before, folks.  Like, EVER.  When I first saw the Sony HTIS100 sitting on a shelf, I was absolutely mystified by the speakers.  So much so that I was seized with an overwhelming compulsion.

Frantically I reached into my pocket and pulled out a quarter.  George’s face sat there, serenely, as though saying “Dude…try it.”  And so I agreed with George and held his likeness up against the speaker.  Sure enough, the speaker grill was almost completely covered up by George’s grinning mug.

But here’s the really WEIRD part–the sound that emerged from these speakers was downright amazing.

And that’s not the only downright amazing thing here, either–the Sony HTIS100 comes with a huge array of features and options, including 3 HDMI out jacks, 1080p capability, fifty watt speakers and a two hundred watt subwoofer.  When you hear quality sound pouring out of speakers large enough to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, you know you’re looking at something REALLY special.

And a fast way to describe the Sony HTIS100?  Something really special.

KEF, a British speaker maker, has recently let us in on their latest 5.1 surround sound home theater offering, the KHT2005.3 K1.

This particular setup will be for the budget concious folk who don’t want to skimp on sound quality. It features 4 HTS2001.3 satellite speakers, a HTC2001.3 center speaker and a KUBE-1 subwoofer.

If you’re living in the UK and seem interested in this setup, you can purchase it now for £700 (about $1,180). Remember, budget concious folk who don’t wnat to skimp on sound quality which means it’s cheaper than top of the line hardware.

via Pocket-lint

PBS is excited to announce that they will soon bring a lineup of their Image-series speakers to the American market.

In fact, they are updating the entire series with a line of high quality speakers perfect for completely outfitting your home theater. Pictured above is said series and according to EngadgetHD will run you $899 and $1,999 for the T5 and T6 floor standers, respectively, Additionally, you are looking at $399 for the B5 and $499 for the B6 monitors, $299 for the B4 sub-compact speakers, $275 for the C4 and $375 for the central channels and last but not least $799 for the S5 bipolar surrounds.

It’s definitely a lot of money but in this case you’re paying for quality and that’s what it comes down to in terms of home theaters, right?

Philips has a new gadget to help you setup your home theater. The HTS8160B Soundbar will offer you a Blu-ray disc player, a subwoofer and integrated speakers. Ready to pair this Soundbar to your fabulous new HDTV? How about pairing it with your iPhone or iPod touch? That’s supported too! But let’s check out some of the specs of the HTS8160B first!

While the Blu-ray player and subwoofer are not that impressive, that speakers sure are. Philips will offer you an Ambisound HD speaker system capable of Dolby True HD and 7.1-channel surround sound.

The Soundbar is available in Singapore right now for around $1,500 so you’ll have to wait a while until your favorite electronics store will start selling it.

If there is one part of an audio setup that is hard to mix, it has to be the subwoofers. Known to carry mostly the bass power, all that may be addressed know that there is a specific sub equalizer courtesy of Audyssey. The Sub Equalizer uses the award-winning MultEQ XT technology to correct the most difficult problem in home theater sound: low frequency distortion caused by room acoustics.

The Sub Equalizer solves acoustical problems in both frequency and time domains. By utilizing MultEQ XT, it measures the entire listening area in the time domain and uses thousands of correction points to create a high-resolution equalization solution.

“Our intention is to enable deep and accurate bass in any listening environment for every listener,” says Michael Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of Audyssey. “This is part of our mission: to extend MultEQ and solve the most challenging sound reproduction problems for audio enthusiasts.”

So if you are not satisfied with the audio delivery of your current home theater equipment speakers and woofers, here is one device that can resolve all that. The Sub Equalizer will be made available starting July 1.

(Source) Press

A subwoofer can normally do the trick if you want some attitude in your home theater setup. Subwoofers are known to add more bass and power towards you listening and viewing pleasure but nothing beats the brand that has become familiar in the audio world.

Further, the JBL ES150PW is wireless thus eliminating the problem of entangled wires that provide a messy feel. The ES150PW can be placed here, or here, or here or even over there — no wires attached — up to 70 feet from a transmitter module that is, in fact, wired to a home-theater receiver’s subwoofer connection. The signals travel in the 2.4-gigahertz radio frequency range, a popular pathway for cordless phones and home networks.

Both the sub and the transmitter have a tiny, pivoting antenna. The ES150PW ($599 list, less than $375 online) otherwise is a knockoff of JBL’s wired ES150P ($499 list, $250 online). A subwoofer, in an ideal installation, is frequently placed near, or behind, one of the home theater’s front speakers. Don’t waste money on a wireless subwoofer if you can fit a less expensive, wired version in one of those spots, with easy access to the receiver.

(Source) Courant

Here is a great subwoofer to consider adding to your home theater setup, especially if you are sorely lacking in audio quality. A great addition to ante up the perk up your home entertainment system, the Klipsch Synergy Sub10 Powered Subwoofer is not just a powerful subwoofer. The Sub 10 also delivers a clarity, tightness, and undistorted deep bass response that you find on more expensive subs.

The Klipsch Sub10 is a large, heavy, unit with a powerful built-in low frequency amplifier. The driver is downfiring, so the driver cone faces downward. There is also a rear firing port. Below the rear port are the connections and controls.

The Klipsch Sub10 has adjustments for Phase (which matches the in/out subwoofer driver motion to the satellite speakers), Gain (subwoofer volume level), and Crossover (sets the point at which you want the subwoofer to produce low frequency sounds, against the ability of the the satellite speakers to reproduce low frequency sounds).

(Source) About

It looks like Vizio is not only penetrating the HDTV market. They seem to be covering other areas of the home theater requirements today and this can be seen through this new offering in the Vizio Sound Bar that features a wireless subwoofer as well.

Vizio has taken the wraps off its new VSB210WS Sound Bar, a new home theater audio system that works with most HDTVs and aims to provide an audiophile-level experience while offering technologies that enhance users television and movie viewing.

The VSB210WS Sound Bar features

Price: $349.99

Solus recently unveiled its small and powerful SC-Richter-8 subwoofer ideal for musical and home theaters. Get used to enrich enjoyment now and land into a new world. The extended frequency response is one added advantage.

The front vented 10.875” wide and 12” deep subwoofer delivers deep bass sound. The subwoofers offer a sensitivity of 90dB/1m/w, Long-Throw Surround and 1.5” voice coil makes it one versatile device to fall for. It also features Long-Throw Woofer, Internal Triple Bracing and Hi-Damped Amplifier for Tighter Bass Control.

Place it anywhere on your shelf, thanks to its compact size. The subwoofer in Italian Black Oak Vinyl/Black finish is available with a 10 year limited warranty, though the price has not been disclosed.

The EISA awards are selected by a panel of judges who represent more than 50 well-known photo, video, audio, home theater, and mobile electronics magazines from more than 20 European countries.

As quoted from the Award Citation of the EISA Jury: “JL Audio´s many years of experience in high quality subwoofers has directed its development of this extremely shallow subwoofer. By employing many new, patented technologies in the 13TW5-3, JL Audio has managed to create a drive unit that measures just a little over 60 mm thick - and compromises neither sound quality nor sound pressure. By incorporating a huge seven-inch voice coil (built to house the magnet) and advanced materials, this subwoofer can handle up to 1,200 Watts of power. JL Audio even made the 13.5-inch cone fit a normal 12-inch mounting aperture, and it requires only a very shallow 23-litre enclosure. All in all the 13TW5-3 provides a fascinating blend of newest technology, high-tech construction and outstanding sound quality in its class.”

The selected products for EISA award are well reviewed for their unique designs along with highly advanced technology, required features, attractive look, and even their highest value for money. Moreover, the JL Audio 13TW5 subwoofer is just available worldwide.

Velodyne Acoustics, Inc., world’s leading manufacturer of powered subwoofers, has recently unveiled its new DEQ-R Series Subwoofers. Designed with a super combination of an easy front panel user interface these new subwoofers come with remote controls to delivers high quality bass performance.

Featuring a one-touch and five-band Auto-EQ room bass correction system, the new DEQ-R Series takes less than 60 seconds to integrate the subwoofer with the room. The newly launched series comprises of four great models, including, the DEQ-8R, the DEQ-10R, the DEQ-12R and DEQ-15R.

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Velodyne Acoustics, Inc., world’s leading manufacturer of powered subwoofers for home-theater and consumer audio, has launched its new DEQ-R Series Subwoofers. These newly launched subwoofers combine an easy front panel user interface and a fully functionally remote control to deliver an exceptional bass performance.

Velodyne’s DEQ-R Series Subwoofers feature five-band and one-touch Auto EQ function that is capable of integrating the subwoofer with the room in less than 60 seconds. The latest series comprises of four new models, including, DEQ-8R, DEQ-10R, DEQ-12R and DEQ-15R.

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Velodyne Acoustics, Inc. recently launched stylish low distortion, high-output Impact Series subwoofers. The range of model includes Impact-12, Impact-10 and Impact-Mini. The high quality crossover system and 2" copper-wound voice coils deliver outstanding audio quality.

The 300W Impact-Mini boast 180W RMS power amplifier, dish-shaped aluminum cones, 8" down-firing passive radiator and 6.5" forward firing driver eliminates the distortion. The 275W Impact-12 and 250W Impact-10 subwoofers feature down-firing port for minimized distortion.

The subwoofers boast MDP amplifiers resulting in high performance. While the Impact-Mini subwoofer is priced at $549, the Impact-10 and Impact-12 is available for $399 and $499 respectively. All the subwoofers are available with black gloss trim.

Via: Press

Recently, Velodyne Acoustics, world’s leading manufacturer of powered subwoofers, launched its new Optimum Subwoofers. Designed to deliver ultimate bass performance, these speakers can adjust for any source material. The Optimum Subwoofer series sports an elegant styling and deliver high performance.

"We’ve created extreme bass performance for the home that’s easy to understand and use, in a beautiful sub using quality craftsmanship that can be shown off, but is small enough to fit into any application," said Bruce Hall, president of Velodyne. "It’s the perfect combination that will please the most demanding audio customer."

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Velodyne Acoustic has proudly introduced its SC-600 subwoofer series. The SC-600 subwoofer line is quite affordable as compared to already available Velodyne current SubContractor series. The SC-600 series consists of SC-600 IW (in wall) subwoofer, the SC-600 IF/IC subwoofer and SC-600 amplifier. Moreover, it also has 400 watts dynamic power amplifier, which can easily control both subwoofers for better results.

The SC-600 IW subwoofer can be easily installed in new construction, as well as application with the help of its one-piece sealed corral. The SC-600 IF/IC (In floor/In Ceiling) is also a high-quality subwoofer and it can be fixed in the floor, ceiling, riser, closet or other areas.

"The SC-600 Series is the best concealed bass for under $1000," said Bruce Hall, president of Velodyne. "The Velodyne engineers have perfectly matched the cabinet, drivers and amp for the best sound possible and installation is truly as easy as cut, plug and play."

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