The Sony HT-CT150 3D Sound Bar System is great sounding, easy to install and easy to set up. I have been waiting to see what this little home cinema system could do so I went to the local electronics store to find one. The were sold out so I guess that tells you something. I asked the sales girl n the floor if any of them were ever returned. She said no after checking the logs. I asked how accurate are those logs? She said it's updated every month and she had access to the last six months of returns. She couldn't find one Sony HT-CT150 on the list. Good Start!
Here is a review from a very happy customer who bought this system:
As a college student wanting to enjoy surround sound for movies and games, good stereo sound for music, and great sound for my laptop, there aren't many sound systems out there that fit the bill, let alone fit it affordabley and spacewise (living in a dorm room). This sound system is one of those rare gems that I came across, and I couldn't be happier. The bar itself is very lightweight and can be placed in great places under or over top of a T.V., depending on your mounting options. Its actual sound is amazing, it handles mid-range sounds (talking, music, etc.) extremely well, while the high ranges are crisp and clear (clicks, sound effects, etc.). How it handles a simulated surround sound is amazing as well. As long as you are sitting within 8 feet of the bar (max viewing distance in a dorm mind you) sound extends to your immediate left and right, something I would never expect to be possible from a bar with all the sound emmanating from the same location (I used the movie Salt to test it, there are multiple instances where virtual surround is noticable). On the same note, I'm glad Sony handled the acoustics of the surround well, it doesn't sound cheap or tinny like other surround simulators you may have heard Vizio advertise (like their TruSurround).
As for the subwoofer, it more than packs a punch, depending on the size of your room, it WILL shake the floor, which actually makes watching action content more enjoyable. Testing the range with a subwoofer test on youtube, it goes down to about 50 or so hertz, below that you can't hear anything. This is to be expected from a 250 dollar sound system, it can't be perfect after all. However, this range is irrelevant for almost all practical applications of this product, you simply won't need to go much lower for anything.
The other important feature this sound system has going for it is its bevy of input options. Something like 3 HDMI (which support Audio Return and 3D!), 2 optical inputs (ideal for 5.1 surround), 2 RCA inputs (great for a stereo sound hookup), a coaxial input, and even the DMPORT input (can hook up an iPod dock for great sound). Unless you are an audiomaniac, you will never run out of connectivity options that this soundbar system offers.
As for addressing a few gripes others have, if you purchase this system, it will not do well in a large home theater room, it is meant for small living rooms/bedrooms/or in my case a dorm room. Another thing, this is not a "true" surround system, some people are dumb, and compare it to an actual 5.1 speaker setup, it is currently impossible for any soundbar to replicate sound coming from behind you, so people really shouldn't be complaining! As for others complaining that the IR reciever is on the subwoofer, yes that COULD be an inconvenience, but if you use this system in the rooms that it is meant for (small, with little obstructions) then you should always be in view of the sub.
As for my own personal gripes, I wish there were an option to turn the different speakers in the soundbar up or down, as I notice in games a lot that the surround sounds sometimes overpower the center channel, where all the important sound effects need to be heard. Also, there should be a speaker test function that allows the user to check the status of all the speakers and the subwoofer to make sure everything is working okay, because lets be honest, if you use this system to play music on (which I will do a lot) you will forget to mute/turn off the system before plugging an iPod in, or hooking it up to a computer. The loud popping noise associated with it can damage ANY speaker, regardless of brand or quality, and I would like to be able to easily run that kind of diagnostic whenever that happens.
On a final note, this is the best system that you can currently own for the money, when you take into consideration the amount of sound it can put out for its size, and for the amount of inputs it can manage on its own. You will not be disappointed!
- end review -
I like to see other positive reviews when shopping for a home cinema. The review above is very convincing. You can get the Sony HT-CT150 3D Sound Bar System at Amazon by clicking HERE
Here is a review from a very happy customer who bought this system:
As a college student wanting to enjoy surround sound for movies and games, good stereo sound for music, and great sound for my laptop, there aren't many sound systems out there that fit the bill, let alone fit it affordabley and spacewise (living in a dorm room). This sound system is one of those rare gems that I came across, and I couldn't be happier. The bar itself is very lightweight and can be placed in great places under or over top of a T.V., depending on your mounting options. Its actual sound is amazing, it handles mid-range sounds (talking, music, etc.) extremely well, while the high ranges are crisp and clear (clicks, sound effects, etc.). How it handles a simulated surround sound is amazing as well. As long as you are sitting within 8 feet of the bar (max viewing distance in a dorm mind you) sound extends to your immediate left and right, something I would never expect to be possible from a bar with all the sound emmanating from the same location (I used the movie Salt to test it, there are multiple instances where virtual surround is noticable). On the same note, I'm glad Sony handled the acoustics of the surround well, it doesn't sound cheap or tinny like other surround simulators you may have heard Vizio advertise (like their TruSurround).
As for the subwoofer, it more than packs a punch, depending on the size of your room, it WILL shake the floor, which actually makes watching action content more enjoyable. Testing the range with a subwoofer test on youtube, it goes down to about 50 or so hertz, below that you can't hear anything. This is to be expected from a 250 dollar sound system, it can't be perfect after all. However, this range is irrelevant for almost all practical applications of this product, you simply won't need to go much lower for anything.
The other important feature this sound system has going for it is its bevy of input options. Something like 3 HDMI (which support Audio Return and 3D!), 2 optical inputs (ideal for 5.1 surround), 2 RCA inputs (great for a stereo sound hookup), a coaxial input, and even the DMPORT input (can hook up an iPod dock for great sound). Unless you are an audiomaniac, you will never run out of connectivity options that this soundbar system offers.
As for addressing a few gripes others have, if you purchase this system, it will not do well in a large home theater room, it is meant for small living rooms/bedrooms/or in my case a dorm room. Another thing, this is not a "true" surround system, some people are dumb, and compare it to an actual 5.1 speaker setup, it is currently impossible for any soundbar to replicate sound coming from behind you, so people really shouldn't be complaining! As for others complaining that the IR reciever is on the subwoofer, yes that COULD be an inconvenience, but if you use this system in the rooms that it is meant for (small, with little obstructions) then you should always be in view of the sub.
As for my own personal gripes, I wish there were an option to turn the different speakers in the soundbar up or down, as I notice in games a lot that the surround sounds sometimes overpower the center channel, where all the important sound effects need to be heard. Also, there should be a speaker test function that allows the user to check the status of all the speakers and the subwoofer to make sure everything is working okay, because lets be honest, if you use this system to play music on (which I will do a lot) you will forget to mute/turn off the system before plugging an iPod in, or hooking it up to a computer. The loud popping noise associated with it can damage ANY speaker, regardless of brand or quality, and I would like to be able to easily run that kind of diagnostic whenever that happens.
On a final note, this is the best system that you can currently own for the money, when you take into consideration the amount of sound it can put out for its size, and for the amount of inputs it can manage on its own. You will not be disappointed!
- end review -
I like to see other positive reviews when shopping for a home cinema. The review above is very convincing. You can get the Sony HT-CT150 3D Sound Bar System at Amazon by clicking HERE