Design

The soundbar itself comes with one of the simplest designs you can find: a black cloth on top of a wide sound unit which you will place beneath your TV. The system looks great in its simplicity, but you have to make sure that your TV is large enough to look good next to a soundbar that is 31.5 inches wide and 2.6 inches high. This unit is only 2.8 inches deep, so you will always have the impression that the whole system is embedded into the wall. This part of the Sony HT-CT150 3D is just a little over 2 pounds heavy and it contains two drivers which measure 2 inches each.

The subwoofer, however, is a little bit bigger and it has a different design. At 23 pounds, you will have to find a solid shelf that can hold this large unit. It measures no less than 7.75 inches in width, 17.75 inches in height and 16.25 inches in depth. This piece of equipment normally looks a little bulky, but the simple design and great finishing touches make it blend into the environment quite easily. The top side of the subwoofer contains a small display screen and a few buttons and on the bottom side you will notice the Sony label and a nice slick design. Underneath the black grille, you will find a 5.1-inch driver which will certainly get the job done no matter how much you strain it.

Setting up the Sony HT-CT150 3D

After you find the perfect spot for both of the sound units that you will find in the package, you have to decide which connections you want to use. The Sony HT-CT150 3D comes with three HDMI inputs, one Digital Media Port, two stereo inputs, two optical S/PDIF inputs and one coaxial input.
Thanks to the BRAVIA Sync feature, you can control this soundbar and any other Sony device with a single remote which is included in the package.

Sound quality

The subwoofer certainly lives up to the expectations and you won’t be disappointed by the strong notes delivered by this system. However, the mids and highs might be a little underpowered and this is something that you will notice in clear dialogue scenes, right after the thrill of an action sequence. However, most of the time the Sony HT-CT150 3D will keep the sound in check and everything will be balanced. It is nice to see that this soundbar can actually offer a hint of surround sound and you will often feel immersed into the scene quite deeply.

Pros and Cons

One of the best parts about the Sony HT-CT150 3D is the fact that it supports 1080p HDTV, Dolby Digital, DTS and 3D. If you are planning on watching many movies, you should focus on getting a soundbar that offers these features. The design of this soundbar is also quite attractive and the three HDMI inputs shouldn’t be overlooked. Most systems that fall into the same category as the HT-CT150 don’t offer these many connectivity options and such exceptional built quality.

A big problem that might appear during the setup is finding the right place for the subwoofer. If you can’t see it, your remote control won’t work, so you won’t be able to hide it behind your couch. The sound quality is great for those who have small or medium sized rooms, but you might want to search for a more powerful unit if you want to place the system in a large, open area. Other than that, there isn’t much to say about this soundbar.

Conclusion

Those who are tired of listening to movies and music through their TV set will certainly be impressed with what the Sony HT-CT150 3D has to offer. It looks great, it can offer high quality sound to a certain extent and it even has the separate subwoofer. If you have a Sony BRAVIA TV set, you can also control both of the units with the same remote which makes things even easier. This is a system that you should certainly check out, especially if you want a soundbar that can be used for all of your audio needs.

Buy Sony HT-CT150 3D Sound Bar System from Amazon.com Now!

Sony has recently announced that two new soundbars will appear on the market: the HT-CT350 and the HT-CT150. Both of these systems will offer a great deal of connections: three HDMI inputs and one output, digital audio inputs and you can also connect your iPod through a special dock. These 3.1 channel systems are perfect for watching 3D movies since both of them were designed specifically for this purpose.

The HT-CT350 will offer around 400 watts of power: 100 from the subwoofer and the rest from 3 speakers. This model is dedicated to those who have 40 inch screen LCD TVs, while the HT-CT150 is perfect for 32 inch TV sets. This soundbar will only offer 340 watts from 3 speakers and one subwoofer. The CT350 will cost around $400 and the CT150 will be $100 cheaper. The more expensive version comes with an included wall mount bracket.

One of the best features offered by these soundbars is their direct compatibility with BRAVIA TVs and Blu-Ray players. You only have to use one remote and all of your video and audio equipment pieces will start working together. These units will appear on the market in May, so start looking for them if you want to get a new soundbar.

Buy Sony HT-CT350 Virtual 5.1 Sound Bar and
Sony HT-CT150 3D Sound Bar System
from Amazon.com Now!

The Sony HT-CT500 is a step-up version of the earlier HT-CT100, which is a single-speaker audio system. HT-CT500 retains the same basic two-part design that consists of a soundbar and a subwoofer, but sports a wider speaker unit and more powerful on-board 400-watt amplifier. The system delivers a 3.1 effect, with the left, right and center speakers within the soundbar.

Design
This system will delight enthusiasts with its 3 HDMI inputs with two component jacks. It allows analog inputs to be up-converted to HDMI output, hence eliminating the need for additional cables running to your TV.

The two components weigh only about 24.3lbs in total. The speaker measures at 37.7” x 2” x 3.5” (WxDxH) while the AV receiver with subwoofer measures at 8.3” x 14.3” x 14.7”. The slim loudspeaker design that matches Sony’s BRAVIA W5100 and XBR9 tv series supports full 1080/60p and 24p video, Deep Color™ and x.v.Color™. HT-CT500 is also S-AIR ready, with the ability to transmit wireless audio up to 164 feet for multi-room listening. Meanwhile, a Digital Media Port (DMP) makes connections with other external audio sources easy.

Although it may not be a choice for audiophiles, it may be sufficient for the average user. Generally, users can expect a well-balanced and good-quality sound from the speakers and the subwoofer. Sony practices its stylish designs on this system as well, hence it complements well and may seem like a part of any sleek, modern design flatscreen panel tv especially for those 42” and above.

The included remote control does not control other Sony devices.

Setting up the HT-CT500
Setup and configuration is easy, and users need not worry about complicated wiring to the back of the room for this system. The sub-woofer can be easily placed nearby on the ground, or wedged to the wall or to the electronics cabinet to the preference of users. As the soundbar is suited for 42” tv, it can be placed above or below a flatscreen panel tv and still looks like a part of the overall design. Users may also let it rest unaided on top of electronics cabinets above the TV or mount it to the wall.

There is no need to turn on the system as it wakes from standby mode automatically while the panel display is off. HT-CT500 automatically becomes active in response to signal from a connected unit. The system functions as a device concentrator and users can optionally select settings from the friendly GUI menu to pass HD video signals directly to the HD TV instead of going through the systems video processor first. Non-HDMI connected devices need not worry as they get up-converted by the system with the Faroudjas’ DCDi Cinema® chip.

Sound quality
HT-CT500 decodes DTS, Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II. Sony also deploys its S-FORCE Pro Surround Sound and S-FORCE Front Surround Sound effects for this system, and also included the Digital Sound Processor. The built-in receiver offers streamlined controls with a bass and treble equalizer. There’s also the LPCM playback and the Portable Audio Enhancer that expands sound quality of any connected device.

Sound fields include settings such as standard, movie, drama, news, sports, game, music, jazz, classic, rock, pop, live and p. audio. The effects may be realistic, however, still does not replace a real surround sound experience especially in a bigger room.

Pros and Cons
For the price it demands, HT-CT500 certainly delivers sufficient sound experience for an average user. While it boasts Sony’s audio technology, its remote control does not control other Sony devices, and some users may complain that they suffer from remote clutter. It is an ideal system meant for smaller rooms, and seems that there is a lag time of several seconds for full sound to come out of the standby mode. Speaking about the standby mode, while it automatically wakes up upon connection with a device, it does not switch back to standby on its own and users will still need to manually turn it back to standby after use.

As it is a Sony innovation, users may prefer to check with dealers to know exactly what model of TV would best couple with this to maximize the experience it can offer.

Conclusion
This latest Sony innovation is a good choice for apartment owners and the average user who does not want the hassle of messy wiring and cables, yet experience some of the most interesting surround sound experience based on a 3.1 system configuration.

It is no surprise that people are paying thousands of dollars for the best viewing experience which can be delivered by a top of the line HDTV. Watching a movie in high quality is a great method of relaxation, but the audio part is also important. TV sets will focus the attention on high quality video, but a full HD movie has a lot of audio potential. If you want to enjoy surround sound while watching a movie, you should consider getting a small, but powerful sound bar: the Sony HT-CT100.

With this particular sound bar, you will only get one piece of equipment and you will enjoy sound coming from all directions.

This type of unit has been around for some years now, but recent advancements in technology have increased the sound quality of sound bars dramatically. The Sony HT-CT100 is a small and affordable system; it only costs $299 and you might find it at a lower price if you get lucky.

Setting up the Sony HT-CT100
There are three HDMI inputs, one COAX connection and one audio input. This is more than enough for anyone who is planning on watching movies, listening to music or even playing games. The unit is quite small compared to other systems around. The subwoofer is 6.3 inches wide, 19.7 inches tall and 14.2 inches deep. It weighs around 22 pounds and contains a 6.5 inch woofer on its right side. The sound bar is 31.5 inches wide, 2.7 inches tall and 2.6 inches deep. Both of these unites are magnetically shielded. The sound bar contains three drivers which measure 1.6 by 2.6 inches. If you want to place it on your wall, you can easily do it because it only weighs 4.4 pounds. The only disadvantage of doing this is the cable which will hang loose. The distance between the sound bar and the subwoofer can’t be longer than 10 feet.

A remote is included in the package. This piece of equipment can control the sound bar, but it can also be used on many other components which are manufactured by Sony, such as TVs or Blu-ray players.

The Sony HT-CT100 contains two units; the sound bar and the subwoofer. You will have to aim your remote control at the sound bar, but the sub woofer is the control center. It has a couple of buttons along its top side. They control the volume, input and power. A small LCD panel can be seen on the subwoofer, but it only shows you the type of audio connection which is in use. The sound bar contains three speakers and it can be connected to the subwoofer through a cable which is included in the package. All the connections are placed on the back of the units, where you will also notice a cooling fan which is extremely quiet.

Features
The Sony HT-CTT100 can send video and audio signals through the HDMI cable with the help of the Sony HDMI Active Intelligence feature. High resolution audio is also available through the LPCM Playback feature. This means that the sound quality won’t disappoint you, no matter what you’re listening to.

An important feature of the HT-CTT100 is that is offers surround sound. This can be done through the Digital Signal Processing technology and most people will be surprised when hearing surround sounds coming from a simple sound bar. Other similar products can offer the illusion of surround sound. In that case, you will only hear noise coming from your left and right side. With the HT-CTT100, you will get a better experience because the system can make sound bounce from the back wall of your room. It won’t be the same as listening to a 5.1 or 7.1 channel audio system, but it will be better than having any other 2.1 channel product.

The Bravia Sync feature is perfect for those who have the right Bravia TV set. You just have to press the play button on your remote and the sound bar and your TV will start working together. The TV set will automatically turn on, detect the sound system and you won’t have to go through the settings or pick up the other remote.

The digital media port is a great interface which offers a lot of connectivity options to this system. You can connect your PC, Bluetooth adapters and many other devices, such as iPods.

Video and sound quality
The Sony HT-CT100 is capable of offering 1080/24p video quality. It can take uncompressed PCM soundtracks, but the unit doesn’t have the power to decode Dobly TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus. This means that your Blu-Ray player has to decode those soundtracks itself and pass them through the Sony HT-CT100, which won’t be a problem for most people.

The audio can reach 250w of power, 100 of them coming from the subwoofer. There are 3 modes which can be used for cinema, sports and game and two modes which you can try when listening to music or personal audio. A great feature of this system is that you can control the volume of the sound bar individually from that of the subwoofer. This feature is sometimes missing from other systems and it can affect the overall sound quality.

Pros and cons
The price is certainly a great reason for buying this system. You will get much more than what you pay for; the system is easy to use, it doesn’t take much space and you will get a high quality product. The remote is easy to use and it responds properly. Even if the Sony HT-CT100 has a lot of inputs and outputs, setting it up is not that difficult and anyone can do it. The design is attractive and the sound bar can easily be mounted on a wall.

As for the disadvantages, there aren’t that many. The remote could have been a universal one instead of one which just controls Sony products and the surround sound is not exceptional, but reasonable for its price.

Conclusion
If you are looking for a high quality sound system, but don’t want to pay thousands of dollars or waste a lot of space, you should definitely buy the Sony HT-CT100. At just $300 dollars, you will get a complete system which can accept connections from most of your equipment pieces. The sound and video quality are above average and there aren’t many things that this system can’t do.

Buy Sony HTCT100 Sound Bar with Subwoofer – Black
from Amazon.com Now!