Panasonic SC-HT930 5-Disc DVD Home Theater System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Just recently purchased this item. The sound is great, extremely loud and clear for both DVDs and CDs. It is not the most user friendly piece of equipment ever, it was easy to set up and get working with DVDs, but some other things that you'd think would be simple, like putting CDs on random was suprisingly difficult. The instructions are all but useless.
The other thing that is obviously my fault for not realizing it, is it doesn't include digital inputs so you can't listen to cable shows that are broadcast in surround or video games that support surround in true surround. I didn't understand that requirement when I bought it and was disappointed when I figured it out. Seems like a system that nice should have the ability to generate surround sound from an outside source.
Also got the wireless rear speaker kit and it has worked really well so far. It will occasionally fight with my wireless laptop if I sit between the unit and back speakers, but it switches channels by itself and works perfectly after a few seconds.

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Add thumping power and serious style to your living room with the Panasonic SC-HT930 Home Theater System, which features 580 watts of total power output (1000 watts peak) and a slim design 5-disc progressive scan DVD player/changer with integrated reciever that measures just 2.7 inches tall. This system pumps 5.1-channel surround sound through two tallboy front speakers (that stand 48 inches high), two surround speakers, a center channel speaker, and a dual-unit active subwoofer. The surround, satellite, and center channel speakers are all magnetically shielded so as not to interfere with your TV's video signal.
This system also features built-in Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro Logic II decoders. It can be paired with an optional 2.4 GHz SH-FX50 rear wireless transmitter and receiver (sold separately), which eliminates the need for speaker cables running to the back of the room.
The 5-disc DVD player/changer is compatible with a wide range of disc formats, including DVD-Audio, DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, and CD-R/RW, as well as HighMAT, JPEG, MP3 and WMA file formats. The incorporated High-Performance Media Access Technology (HighMAT) provides enhanced the method of storing, arranging and playing back personal digital photo, music and video collections on recordable discs such as CD-RW media. Other features include a 10-bit, 54 MHz DAC (digital to analog converter), cinema mode, dialogue enhancer, and Depth Enhancer feature (for startling depth and true-to-life skin tones, as well as a soft, movie background focus). It also features an AM/FM tuner with 30 total presets (10 AM, 20 FM). It provides the following connections:
Composite Video Out: 1
S-Video Out: 1
Component Video Out: 1
Analog Audio In: 2
Headphone: 1

What's in the Box 5-disc DVD player/changer with integrated amplifier/receiver, 1 subwoofer, 2 tallboy front speakers, 2 surround speakers, 1 center channel, remote control, speaker cords, printed instructions

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A/S TX CARD ONLY / USE WITH SWA4000 AMP Review

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(More customer reviews)I returned this item. the way I read the order I thought had to buy this and the rear speaker wireless amp. It came with the amp and I could not be happier with the way the Amp gives me more control over the rear speakers and the fact that I don't have to run wires all over to feed the rear surround speakers for my Samsung Home Theater.

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Panasonic SH-FX50 Wireless Receiver Module Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently purchased this unit to go with my SC-HT930 surround sound system. It is worth purchasing so you don't have to run speaker wire to the back of the room. I hid the receiver behind my couch and it still gave out a strong enough signal. I'm very glad I purchased it and it works great.

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Thanks to the Panasonic SH-FX50 rear wireless receiver and transmitter, you can eliminate wire connections made from the main unit of your home theater system to the back of the room. Simply add this model to a compatible Panasonic home theater system and you'll be able to form a wireless connection between the main unit and the surround speakers; just set up your wireless receiver at the back of the room and connect your rear surround speakers to it.
It provides a stable, reliable wireless connection between the main system and the rear speakers via 2.4 GHz frequency. It delivers plenty of full surround sound with 70 watts per channel from the digital amplifier located in the digital receiver. The SH-FX50 is compatible with Panasonic SC-HT930, SC-HT830V and SC-HT730 home theater systems.

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NETGEAR Wireless Digital Music Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Now that I have this set up it does exactly what I wanted it to very well -- that is, in a wired network environment, it streams all the mp3 files that I have on my PC's hard drive through my traditional two-channel audio setup. It has a number of limitations: it doesn't support Internet radio, except for a paid service, and it doesn't support various rights-protected data formats. But it does do the one thing I bought it for extremely well: allowing me to enjoy my entire music collection in an organized, well catalogued way, through my home audio system.
As this whole field of products is still pretty new, I also didn't want to spend more money on one of the more advanced systems -- it seems that the customer feedback on all of these media players remains pretty mixed. So I stuck with something relatively simple, and this little box does what I want for a reasonable price. (Previously I was using my iPod on a docking station, connected to my stereo...for the modest price of this Netgear player I've now liberated the iPod that previously was wired up to my stereo.)
A couple of cautions:
1. A lot of the customer problems cited here at Amazon seem to relate to problems with wireless transmission. I did not even try to set this up in a wireless network; I just hard-wired it into the network port I had installed in my living room. I have had a lot of frustration in my home w/wireless devices so finally just gave up and dropped in wiring for a home network while I was having other electrical work done in my house. I am glad I bit the bullet -- the wired network is saving me a lot of time and trouble. This Netgear product is just one example of the kinds of things that are very happy tethered to a wire that seem to be much more problematic when they are wireless.
2. Throw away the software disk that comes with the hardware -- don't install it!. Instead, download the new software and firmware that is on Netgear's site. I couldn't get this to work at all at first -- tech support advised me to uninstall the provided software, download the software update on their site, and start over. This got more complicated than it sounds because I'd already built a database of songs for the Netgear and I had to hunt down this database file and kill it, too...it got a little bit tricky...so it took me a couple of hours in all to get this fixed. Had I started with the new software posted on Netgear's site, I would have had the whole thing done in 20 minutes. In any case, just go right to netgear's site and download their new software, and don't use the junk they ship with the product.
I also found netgear's tech support to be very, very good -- they answered the phone quickly (on Christmas Eve!) and were extremely helpful and patient.

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NETGEAR's Wireless Digital Music Player lets you enjoy your digital music files stored on your computers and unlimited, worldwide Internet radio with your friends and family throughout your home. It connects your existing home stereo to your home computer network so you can listen to the digital music collection from any PC on your home stereo system. You can also listen to music directly from a 30,000 track digital jukebox using the RHPSODY service (only available in U.S.) or hear thousands of Internet radio stations even when your PCs are turned off. Easy-to-install software on one PC automatically finds all your music files on any networked PC and collects them into one complete database. The remote control and stylish user interface let you sit on the couch and wirelessly stream MP3s or Windows Media format files from any PC on your home network straight to your stereo! The MP101 supports many PC operating systems, not just Windows XP, and the LCD display means you don't need to turn on your TV when you want to listen to music.

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Sony WAHTSD1 Wireless Kit for Rear Speakers Review

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(More customer reviews)This item was purchased several weeks ago for the new home theater system also recently purchased. It works great, the surround sound is just as great as the non-wireless alternatives. There is no delay in the sound transmission and it is very nice not to have to worry about all the wires. Definately worth the price and the 2 days it took for shipping. I would recommend this item highly for those who are interested in the wireless components.

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Cisco-Linksys WMA11B Wireless Digital Media Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)...
First Impressions:
Nice packaging. Nice looking device, it's not much bigger than a four port hub. It has both the Cisco and LinkSys logos on the face. Vertical or horizontal mount. The package contained the device, quick setup poster, and a CD.
Installation:
I have an existing server, running Win2K Server, that I store my MP3 collection on. This product works by installing an agent on a PC and then connecting the device over a hard wired LAN or WiFi (802.11b). My setup allows me to use either LAN or WiFi and of course I chose the wired setup for max bandwidth and so I could actually listen to music and use my phone or microwave without dropping packets and thus songs. The agent installation was flawless and the media adapter and my server were talking within a few minutes after cracking up the box. Once the agent is installed on a PC, you really only have one option: Point the agent to your media. So of course I decided to point it to my entire (29 gig) mp3 collection which began in a single MP3 folder. Well, it starts to "Search" and then simply would disappear. No error, no nothing. Ok, maybe my collection was too big, so I start dragging my genre folders which were maybe 1 gig a piece...same thing happend. Ok...so I decide to drag a single album over to the agent and finally it seems to take the 6 songs in the folder and I rush over to my TV to fire up the device...it was able to play three of the songs and then the entire folder disappeared and thus I had no music to pull up anymore. After a few reboots and trying different folders I had similar results. My trade, I'm an IT guy...so there were no 'technical user' issues...I can assure you of that. To this day the device is flakey. It forgets entire folders for no reason at any given time. I've even loaded XP with similar results.
Audio:
The sound is on par with my expectations, though I wish for the price the device would have at least coax digital out. Your stuck with a pair of RCA, which I hooked a pair of Monster cables up to for optimal sound. The unit is equipped with an Intel StrongArm 400 MhZ (The same processor the latest PocketPCs use) and thus is pretty good at decoding and playing the MP3/WMAs.
Display:
The menus are sloppy. There is absolutely no customization on for menus either. There are NO visualizations while songs are playing. You can't see anything important like bit rate or most of an ID3 tag (genre, year, etc.). You are stuck with an unsizable screen that shows you the track name and album name and running time. That's it. Plus they use such a huge display, that a band or song title with a long name (13 chars +) gets lopped off. Sloppy stuff all around on the visuals. Again, I expect more.
Photos:
Photos are displayed well. No real problems here. The device sure could flip through them faster though with this processor. One plus is the ability to play MP3s while viewing photos. However, some lag does occur on larger photos. Whether this is due to bandwidth, processor, or a combination I'll leave up to the "engineers" over at Linksys to figure out and hopefully fix over the next decade or so...
Support:
This is where the stars began to seriously dive. ... I doubt the engineers who designed this paper weight released this as a stable product under their free will. It's a joke.
Conclusion:
... I would recommend looking at the new Gateway DVD/MP3 network device or waiting as this market opens up more. We will all want to stream over DivX movies, MP3s, and every other type of media soon. I'm just going to wait a few years while they refine this technology better.

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The Linksys Wireless-B media adapter lets you bring the digital pictures and music stored on your computer to your home entertainment center, without running cables through the house. Using a wireless connection, the media adapter displaysyour digital photographs on the TV for the whole family to enjoy. And your digital music collection is finally freed from those little computer speakers and can play in full glory through your stereo system.
The Wireless-B media adapter sits by your home stereo and television and connects to them using standard consumer electronics cables. Then it connects to your home network by Wireless-B (802.11b) wireless networking or, if you prefer, it can be connected via standard 10/100 Ethernet cabling. Using the included remote c ontrol and the user-friendly menus on your TV, you can browse through the digital pictures on your computer by folder, filename, or thumbnail. You can view pictures one at a time, or watch an automatically created slideshow of all the pictures in a given folder. The media adapter supports five popular picture formats: JPG, GIF, TIF, and BMP. Use the remote control's Zoom button to get a close-up of the details in your pictures. You can also use the remote to browse your MP3- or WMA-formatted music collection by title, artist, genre, folder, or playlist. Choose the music you want, and let the Wireless-B media adapter play it through your stereo system. You can even let music play in the background while you browse your pictures.
Power and Simplicity

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Sony Blu-ray Disc Home Theater System - BDV-T10 Review

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(More customer reviews)Not going to buy another Bluray system till I have to. This unit has proven itself to me, so I got one for my Gramps. Great Sound, and beautiful picture with nice HDTV. Easy to navigate menu and access all content. Yeah, I'm very happy with this Sony.

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Sony HTCT500 3.1 Speaker System with Complete Built-In A/V Receiver (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is one slick little soundbar/subwoofer combination. A significant improvement over the previous offering, the CT100. The sound bar is bigger than that model and feels like it is better constructed. The subwoofer is a solid piece of work as well.
Now for the important part, sound quality. The sound quality is much better than the old model and I would say it approaches the quality of the more expensive Yamaha YSP sound bars. You will probably have to do a little tweaking with it to get it set up properly but once you do this baby will shine. Sound is strong from both the soundbar and the subwoofer. The subwoofer is where your connections are located. You can run your dvd/blu ray player and your cable box (among others) to the sub and then the sub will run an HDMI cable to the tv. You can pretty much plug anything into the back of the sub as there are three HDMI inputs, two component inputs and a composite input along with the normal cable tv coax.
One thing to keep in mind. This will not surpass the surround quality of a good quality seperate sound system with multiple speakers. But then again most buyers should know that from the start. This is an option for people who don't want speakers all over the place or who have space issues which make a soundbar solution the best option. I rated this item 5 stars in comparison to other soundbar solutions, not compared to a surround system with multiple speakers. While there are some better sounding soundbars they are at least twice as much if not more expensive. For the quality and price this is an excellent soundbar option.

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Klipsch LightSpeaker System 5.2.2 Wireless Sound and Efficient LED Lighting Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The first thing that struck me about this product is the quality of it's manufacture. These speakers were solid and well made. Below I will address the various information that is important to know.

PACKAGING AND INSTRUCTIONS:
As with any product what we first see is the packaging it comes in. This speaker system was no exception.
An expensive product, should be well packed and these speakers were in separate boxes within the main box, well cushioned. The various components were also well packed and obvious to find. The overall box when you open it, the first thing you see is the setup information. This card was the full length of the box and succinctly told you the steps you needed to complete installation. I thought this was all well done. Under that was the user's manual that if you had issues you could refer to.

INSTALLATION:
First of all you need to be sure you have the right spot to install these. They go into 5 or 6" recessed lighting tubes. The manufacturers provided two size flanges that could go on the end of the speaker/lights that would work with either of these sizes. One thing we found while installing these, is you could actually not get them properly seated in the light socket(not deep enough) and they would not work. It was the user's manual that alerted me to this and we resolved the issue. Another thing I found was, we could not use the metal arms spread out to stabilize the speaker in the recessed outlet, as the spread was too far. We had to keep them pulled in.

I liked the fact that the instructions warned me upfront that most recessed lighting fixtures had adjustable depths. I didn't know that. In telling me that I knew enough to adjust them and that is what took to get the speakers installed deep enough. You have to finesse this a bit and get the proper mix of deep enough while holding the flange flush to the ceiling and properly engaged to work. It took us about an hour to get both speakers properly installed. It was somewhat fatiguing as these speaker/lights have some heft to them. But, not a major problem.

Once installed properly the main unit quickly detected the speakers and they worked well. You can control the volume of the speakers and the brightness of the lights. You also have the abililty to choose two inputs. There is also a remote provided and this mimicked the controls on the base unit. Handy if you are not easily able to reach the base unit.

USAGE:
Once we had them up and synched to the base unit, everything worked fine. We are now planning on having these hook both to the radio as well as an ipod and you can do this as there are two inputs as well as the appropriate cables. I was pleased with the sound quality, but I'm no audiophile. Since the speakers were small and not only behind the lights but the light lens a more discerning listener might have concerns. I did not.

RANGE:
I have noticed that these speakers do not have much in the way of bass, so your music can sound a bit tinny. Not surprising due to their size.
OTHER POINTS:
Since we used these units in our kitchen on recessed lights over the countertop, which has 4 lights, in order to work you need to have that circuit on. This means the two lights that don't have the speakers in them need to be on all the time, that we use the speakers. The lights in the speakers can be turned off independently. At this time, I don't think that is a problem, as I kept the ones over the primary work area as non-speakered lights.

The speakers have convex covers on the LED light inside. This makes the light they shine down a bit different than the lights in the recesses. I find this light is more diffuse. Another reason why I did not put these lights over the primary work area. I would have to make it very bright to be the the most useful. The LED lights can get bright enough, but it seemed almost too bright in order to get the proper coverage. Too bad there was not a concave lens option for these speaker/lights to address this.

SUMMARY:
All in all we are pleased with this system. I will write more as we use it more.


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Wireless speaker system installs in minutes like a ceiling light bulb and allows enjoyment of music anywhere while saving energy & money

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Sony HT-SS370 Surround Sound Home Theater System, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Just wanted to share a few points about this product that weren't clear to me before I purchased it.
1.) The receiver does not decode Dolby True HD or Master DTS HD. HOWEVER, the receiver accepts LPCM signals. So, if your Blu-Ray player can send an LPCM signal and it has onboard decoders for those codes (and I believe they all do), then you can still experience everything Dolby True HD and Master DTS HD has to offer. If you're lost at this point, I'll put it this way. If you have a PS3 and this sound system, you're getting the full "HD" sound offered by Blu-Ray discs. Just make sure your PS3 is set to send Blu-Ray audio via LPCM, not Bitsreaming. Also, you need to connect your PS3 with HDMI to make this happen.
2.) The sound from this system is excellent. 1000 watts is plenty of power for your typical home theater. In fact, it's more watts than most home theater systems on the market currently offer. In my experience, a good rule of thumb is "more watts the better". This is true even you don't plan on cranking up the volume.
3.) The rear speakers on this system are not automatically wireless. That is, this system is CAPABLE of wirelessly transmitting to the rear speakers, but in order to do this, you need to purchase a transmitter to plug into the back of the receiver and an amplifier for the rear speakers. Sony calls this system AIR. So, in case it isn't clear, this system is only "wireless ready". I haven't purchased the transmitter and the amp needed, but installation looks like it would be very simple. It's nice to have that option in the future.
The only downside to this system, as I see it, is that the remote is overly complicated. Lots of buttons and I only seem to use about 8 of them. If my home theater had more Sony BRAVIA compenents, then maybe all of the extra buttons would be of more use. Overall, however, the bad remote is definitely not a dealbraker. The positives of this system greatly outweigh this one minor negative.

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Complete your entertainment experience with 5.1 channels of high-quality surround sound and 1000 watts of power with the HT-SS370 surround sound system. Connect multiple HD devices using a single HDMI cable per device and turn this great system into your entertainment hub, plus operate all your compatible BRAVIA Sync devices using one remote control. Add optional S-AIR accessories and enjoy the convenience of wireless rear speakers or multi-room streaming.

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Panasonic SH-FX60 Rear Wireless upgrade Kit Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The SH-FX60 is a recommended accessory for a Panasonic home theater. First off, the consumer should appreciate that this kit makes it so that the rear surround sound speakers have a wireless connection with the main unit. Wires still connect the two rear speakers to a wireless receiver unit. While the descriptor 'wireless' may be less than entirely accurate, this setup is all most consumers will ever need. Second, the system works very well. The audio signal is strong and clear. Unlike with the SH-FX80 (wireless second room speaker), the volume can be adjusted through the SH-FX60. Third, the range is excellent. My setup has the wireless receiver about twenty feet away from the main theater unit. Fourth, the kit is simple to install. The SH-FX60 Rear Wireless Upgrade Kit delivers what it promises.

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KEF Universal Wireless System (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The technical specs on these are already available all over the place, so I won't repeat them here. Instead, I'll give a pro and con review:
Pro:
1) Size - There are three units and each is small enough not to be a big problem to hide.
2) Set up - There is really not much to do. I was up and running in under 10 minutes. The main part attaches to your receiver speaker terminals and an AC plug. The other ends attach to each speaker and to an AC adapter (each needs its own AC plug - three in all).
3) Audio quality - Both a plus and a minus. When it works, the audio is very clear and does not really sound any different than a wired system would. HOWEVER, see my comment under the con section.
Con:
1) Interference - My baby monitor interfears with this system. I know it says it does some fancy type of frequency jumping, but the Garco monitor creates interference if it is too close to the speaker ends of the system.
2) Audio quality - This is a high end (and very expensive) system. It figures that those purchasing it will have equally high end systems. Remember how much you paid for those high end amps? None of that power is used to power the remote speakers. Instead you have an overtaxed 50 watt (I think) amp on the speaker end. For 90% of surround applications this is probably fine, but real audio nerds will not be happy with the result. Of course, would an audio nerd really ever use a wireless system? The lack of amplifier power is even more apparent if you try to use this to power a second set of main speakers. Using a McIntosh amp and mid-range Boston Acoustics speakers (VS240) the clipping was evident.
3) Wires - It should be obvious that a trully wireless system is really impossible. Each unit has a speaker wire hook-up and a dedicated AC adapter (although they aren't the massive brick type.)
4) Auto power? - Just a note that these are always on. It would be nice if they could sense a signal and turn themselves on and off (standby). I have no idea how much power these draw when off, but I imagine it isn't much.
5) Price - At the price point these are placed, I'm just not sure they really are worth it. For the same amount of money (or less) you could probably have an electrician fish some speaker wires for you.

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KEF is delighted to announce the introduction of an outstanding wireless system delivering a high-quality solution to speaker cable wiring problems. The KEF Universal Wireless System is an ideal add-on for any existing rear surround sound speaker set-up (regardless of the brand) and can also be used for stereo speakers in a hi-fi system where hiding cables is an inconvenience, especially when the amplifier is some distance from the speakers. Users can locate the speakers virtually anywhere they want to in the room whilst still receiving remarkable CD quality sound with exceptional clarity and remarkable lack of extraneous interference.

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Panasonic SC-BT730 Blu-ray DiscTM 5.1 Home Theater System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is my first blu-ray all in one home theater system. Before this i have used to Denon 2310 with Mirage Nanostat speakers.
Since wanted to buy a blu-ray and a simple wireless (primary factor for me) home theater system i went with this after reading very few review at that time.
You be the judge before you buy it after reading this review.
The things i liked:
-------------------
#1 - Wireless speaker.
Being staying at a rental house and changing my residence every year had forced me to look for wireless and it was right out of the box in this one.
#2 - Good customer support
After i hooked up all teh speakers, i did not get any sound from my wireless unit. Called the customer service. The great thing was, he knew what i was asking about and he helped me to trouble shoot and finally fixed the problem. Looks like there is a sequence to boot up the blu-ray player and wireless which i did not follow. That was easy.
#3 - You tube
Work liked a charm. No buffering issues. It was real good. (Not sure whether i can connect a keyboard in anyway to make the typing faster....any ideas????)
#4 - iPod dock
Another primary deciding factor for me.
#5 - ARC
Works well with my TV (Sharp 46LE810UN). As soon as i turn on the home theater, audio shuts off in the TV and comes from home theater (Though i like my TV audio much better when watching talk shows)
#6 - All in one remote
The things i did not like:
--------------------------
#1 - Wires all over:
There are no video pass through. Though i knew this earlier i thought it would be okay. But, this made me to run wires btn many systems. From cable box to TV, then from TV Audio out to Home theater. Wii is connected directly to the TV. iPod video cables to TV.
#2 - Lip sync issue with iPod (video)
If you play iPod video, you will NOT get the output in HDMI cable. You will have to use separate video cable for that. Another set of wires.
So, i connected the iPod through composite video and now what? The audio and video is out of sync (lip sync) issue.
#3 - Not enough power output:
I seriously doubt whether this is a 1000W system. The mirage nanastat is around 600w and it sounds way better than what Panasonic. Again, i do not want to compare apples with oranges. Cost may be the deciding factor in this case ($1,200 vs $500)
#4 Poor FM:
Very weak FM output. You will have to find a good spot to keep the FM antenna (just a wire) in order to get a very normal reception. I covered every sq. inch to get a good audio signal but i never got good reception.
#5 Simulated sound not from all speakers:
It is mentioned that we will get simulated sound when 2 channel audio inputs is given. But, for some reason my center speaker (which i consider as critical) did not get any sound at all. That was a strange one.
#6 Wireless speakers
Again, the quality of the sound is good. But, definitly not enough if you have a bigger room.
#7 Proprietary speaker wire
If you have already wired your house, you will have to think again before you buy this. This unit uses proprietary speaker wire and connections. Though the length of the wires are enough for my home with currect setup, this is a serious restriction if i want to use it at bigger houses. Other nice to haves:
#1 - Blutooth receiver - If there is a option to sync any blu tooth device with receiver, it would have been nice.
#2 - Shutting off wireless speaker using remote - I am really not sure whether this is a missing option or i did not explore it yet. I am 99% positive that we cannot shut off the wireless unit with remote. Which mean, if you really conscious about wasting power, you need to add this into your check list before you go to bed.
Other concerns:
If for some reason the wireless unit is not working (one day it is going to happen), then you have no way to use the rear speakers with wires directly running to the home theater.

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Get your home theater going right out of the box with the Panasonic SC-BT730 home entertainment system, which includes a Blu-ray Disc player/amplifier plus a complete 5.1-channel surround sound speaker system. The Kelton subwoofer adds impact to your movies and music with dramatic deep bass, while the two tallboy front speakers add dramatic visual impact to your home theater. Additionally, this system comes with two wireless rear speakers--enabling you to cut down on the cords--plus

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Soundolier Duo/Maestro Speaker Lamp & Wireless Transmitter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been hooking my tv up to my stereo since the seventies. Yes that means I'm an old fart! I'm one of those guys that has enjoyed electronic gadgets and good sound since we called it Hi-Fi.
This speaker system had a number of things going for it right away. It requires a small amount of assembly, little or no setup, it is about as stealthy a system as you'll find while performing fantastically, it was reviewed favorably by the people that write about home theatre, and the price through Amazon was incredibly low.
The hidden bennie is that because it's wireless, and they're very stylish, they can be the first step in redecorating the living room ( happy wife) as well as the final step for putting together the home theatre without really looking like a surround setup. What a concept!
Because of their stylish good looks, and superior performance as speakers, you won't find a better one for the average living room (mine is only 11.5 ft X 15 ft). One speaker can do both channels if you're on a budget. I bought 2 (both with wireless maestro transmitters) so once the new wears off I'm gonna do some experimenting.
The only shortcoming (and this is only probably in my setup) is the floor switches and power to the speaker amps is on the same cord (I'm going to set them up on an X-10 setup for convenience) and the floor switches seem to attract the admiration of my dog. I got them zip tied to the stems right now.
In closing, the looks and wireless archetecture make these a sure thing ticket to wedded bliss, and outstanding performance make them a must buy.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Soundolier Duo/Maestro Speaker Lamp & Wireless Transmitter

Soundolier's Duo is the world's first wireless speaker lamp.This unique blend of sound and light brings the rich beauty of wireless audio and the warmth of light to your home.Duo's sleek silhouette complements any decor and fits the vision of any decorator.This full-featured speaker offers volume and signal controls and can be configured as a single stereo speaker, a stereo pair, or as part of a home theater.A foot-controlled power and dimmer switch offer convenient control of the lamp for room lighting, theater style dimming, or anywhere in between.Maestro is the ingenious wireless audio transmitter that sends audio from any source throughout your home to Duo and other Soundolier wireless audio devices.This kit offers both a Duo Speaker Lamp and Maestro wireless transmitter in one convenient package.Duo Lamps work in conjunction with Maestro Wireless Transmitters, which are required for wireless operation.

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Kenwood RFU-6100 Wireless Module for Surround Speakers Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this unit through Amazon, who actually just forwarded the order to Crutchfield. Still, very fast service and shipping was free.
I have experimented with other wireless solutions such as X10 and Advent. The big thing about this unit was the 50W X 2 amplifier built into the receiver. Other systems require you to provide amplification after the receiver to power the speakers.
OK, a quick breakdown:
Looks - Good enough. Not an issue for me. My transmitter and receiver are both hidden from sight. Silver might not fit your scheme.
Ease of Use - Good. Need to connect preconnected speaker wire from the Xmitter to my amp, and power. Receiver needs power and user supplied speaker wire. Then, if needed, adjust the channel 1-4 on both units to avoid local RF interference.
Functionality - Good enough. I use it for rear channel speakers that generally don't need much amplification. Also, I stopped being an audiophile years ago as my hearing degraded, so the audio quality is fine by me. In 5.1 DVD movie use it performs very well and provides the surround experience I want, without the wires I don't want.
Gotchas - Antenna placement is very important. The box claims 100 ft range, but doesn't specify signal quality at that distance. My units are about 14 ft apart, and the antennae must be at the same height to provide the best sound. No putting the transmitter on top of your stereo rack, and the receiver under the couch. That orientation provided lots of pops and clicks as my wife walked between the two units. Also, I wish both pieces were squared off and had wall mount holes. This would provide additional mounting options.
Overall - Works as advertised/expected. I'm happy with it. However, if you aren't as lazy as I am, run the wires through your walls for better sound.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kenwood RFU-6100 Wireless Module for Surround Speakers

Eliminate the biggest hassle of home theater: wiring surround sound speakers. The Kenwood RFU-6100 is a wireless solution that features a transmitter and receiver that operate using RF (radio frequency), which eliminates the speaker AC plugs found on conventional wireless speaker systems. With the RFU-6100, you can use higher-quality surround speakers than are typically found in conventional surround speaker systems.
The separate RF receiver unit has a built-in high-power digital amplifier for the surround speakers (up to 50 watts x 2 channels), which dramatically improves sound quality over conventional wireless systems, and it can be used up to 100 feet away from the transmitter. Active circuitry reduces noise interference, and 4 selectable RF transmission channels eliminate interference from other RF devices.
What's in the Box Kenwood RFU-6100 wireless transmitter and receiver, 2 AC power adapters, 2 speaker wires.

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ButtKicker BK-LINK RF Wireless System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have to add my .02 cents here. First of all, the rambling review quoting transducer frequencies is wrong. He did give the unit 5 stars, however he tries to defend the unit by attempting to invalidate the reviews of the unit when used with a subwoofer rather than the BK shakers.
Guitammer clearly states this unit can be used with a standard subwoofer which is specifically what I needed it for. I read the reviews here and decided to keep looking but after a fair amount of research, I found no other devices claiming the (sonic) frequency range of the BK-Link. Other wireless units were offered in sets and were intended for use with rear surrounds. Along with being more expensive, they also claim 20Hz to 20KHz audio which is standard speaker range. It's also the range of human hearing (generally) but subs are also about feeling. Both of my subs go well below 20Hz and I wanted to be sure I would get all of the performance out of them that they are capable of giving.
The operating frequencies of the BK-Link unit start at 5Hz. The upper range is stated to be 350Hz. Much higher than anyone should need for the intended uses.
So... I went ahead and got this and figured I could return it if it was unacceptable.
I was prepared to chase down any hum, something I'm quite experienced at. But, there was no hum to chase. I plugged it in, hooked it up, and it worked.
I played one of my favorite sub tests, the crash sequence from "Flight of the Phoenix(2005)", as I am very familiar with my sub's performance with this material and I see, or should I say hear, no difference between a line and the BK-Link.
No discernible delay was added nor was any loss of volume or tone obvious. This held true for music tracks also.
Testing for speed and accuracy, I reached for "Fade to black" which has a prolonged rapid double bass kick at the end that will trip up inferior subs even with direct connection. Again, no difference with the BK-Link compared to a direct line.

The send unit sends, the receiver receives, the woofer woofs. End of story. It also does so out of sight and out of mind. Which it should.

I realize hum is a genuine issue in a lot of systems. I also know it can almost always be remedied. My $5K component pre/pro and amp had their share of (humming) gremlins when added to my somewhat extensive HT setup and that's with balanced interconnects. After working through my system, I resolved all issues one-by-one.

After seeing and now using the BK-Link, I think it is no exception. Although my system is already quite settled, the BK-Link brought no NEW issues to the party. Meaning, most likely, if you're having issues, it's with a system that was already prone to have issues. You may run into problems adding ANY new device to your system. You just need to do some homework and you will, with very few exceptions, be able to work it out. An added bonus is, you just may find your system sounds better after resolving your newly found latent electrical issues.
P.S. Audio (dot com) has a great essay on hum busting on their website. It is really a great piece with lots of great ideas for fixing these issues. Perhaps if some who've reviewed this item poorly happen to read this, they can take another shot at it armed with a little more information.
If you're having a problem with the BK-Link, I wouldn't be so quick to blame the unit. ALL HT components are susceptible to some extent. The BK-Link is no different.
As my Mama always said, "don't throw out the baby with the bath water".
The BK-Link DOES work with Subwoofers. It works as well as I could possibly have hoped and I am extremely pleased with it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ButtKicker BK-LINK RF Wireless System

If you have the ButtKicker LFE low-frequency effect system you already know what a powerful bass effect it adds to your home-theater entertainment or other audio system. Now you can add the ButtKicker LINK RF Wireless unit to your system's design, allowing you to expand the locations where your ButtKicker LFE units can go and remove the unsightly tangle of connecting wires.
The ButtKicker LINK RF Wireless package uses a transmitter and receiver that transmits radio-frequency waves, allowing your ButtKicker LFE unit to communicate wirelessly with the rest of your audio system. Set-up is simple, with the transmitter unit connecting to your subwoofer or audio/video processor, such as your stereo or television, via an RCA cable, and the receiver unit attaching either directly to your ButtKicker LFE or your ButtKicker Power Amplifier via another RCA cable.
Operating on the 900 MHz bandwidth with a frequency range of 5 to 350 MHz, these two units can communicate over several dozen feet -- even through walls and ceilings. Enjoy the amazing effect of the ButtKicker audio system anywhere in your home or business at ease by utilizing the ButtKicker LINK RF Wireless package.
What's in the Box Transmitter unit, receiver unit, two AC adapters, and two 1.5-meter RCA male to male cables.

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Wireless 5.8GHz Speaker Amplifier Rear Channel Digital Audio Link for Surround Speakers Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First one came DOA from shoptronics. The funny thing is, not only was it not working, but it had been obviously opened, tampered with and the box had an RMA # on it and said "BAD". :) A quick call to shoptronics fixed the issue with a brand new and functional system sent to my door within a few days. So for the most part, I'm happy.
As for the item, it does what it says - transmits two channels of audio wirelessly. However, regardless of placement of either pieces, sometimes a loud "POP!!" and smaller crackles occur. Also, regardless of volume or signal tuning, there's an audible "hiss" sound - not good for rear surrounds just a few feet away from your ears. Maybe that's due to AC line noise, but I'm using 16ga THX Monster speaker cable and known-good sattelites, so I know it's not that.
In all, it's a passable trade off for people not having the luxury of running wires under the carpet (i.e. hardwood floors or in an apartment), but I think RadioShack could have made this one a bit better. All of the other alternatives used the very volitile 2.4Ghz range though and seemed to have their own caveats so who knows...

Click Here to see more reviews about: Wireless 5.8GHz Speaker Amplifier Rear Channel Digital Audio Link for Surround Speakers

Click here for more information about Wireless 5.8GHz Speaker Amplifier Rear Channel Digital Audio Link for Surround Speakers

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