I was going to wait a bit longer but since there's only one more review so far, here is my first quick and dirty shot at Sony DAV-IS50/B system (look for updates as time passes by):
Considering my enthusiasm for HD video and surround sound and lack thereof for extra low and loud thumps, I decided to replace my Logitech THX Z-2300 2.1 speakers and go for a 5.1 surround sound home theater system that can fit my small condominium and similar budget. With prices of soundbars recently going down significantly I was considering them for quite a while, but decided to go for more surround. However, all the HTIB systems seemed too bulky for me until Sony came up with these and until the price dropped to a far more affordable $300 range. It is worth noting that the size of the subwoofer unit is approximately of a PC minitower, but the remaining components are very small and handy.
Pros:
- Very sophisticated looks (I love this, especially when you fire it up and let your friends feel the power behind the ridiculously small and seemingly toyish speakers)
- Wireless connection for back surround speakers can be bought if you don't want to run wires from front to back (still need wires to the wireless amp unit though)
- Additional DVD player if you want to save your PS3 or expensive Blu-ray system from being used for kiddie DVDs
- FM and AM radio receiver
- TDM-IP50 iPod port was included and works flawlessly with iPhone 3G without the annoying airplane mode message. Besides audio, I was also able to view video on TV after pressing the "OPR MODE" button on the port which hands over full control of your iPod or iPhone to the system and remote. However, on a big screen TV, youtube videos and podcasts look bad at a low resolution. I like the way you can use the very same IR remote to control iPhone iPod application and browse through songs, artists and videos. (Warning, some pictures of DAV-IS50 are showing it with the older TDM-IP1 port, so I'm not entirely sure you're getting this TDM-IP50 port, which by the way has shorter cable than TDM-IP1)
- Due to their small size, the speakers can be very easily mounted onto a wall with provided mounts (wall screws not included, but regular drywall screws from local hardware store did well in my case).
- Very good sound considering their size
- Great fit for small apartments and condominiums
- Seemingly proprietary speaker wire connections to the amp (subwoofer) unit can be released and same can be achieved on the speakers' side: after releasing the back screw and moving a lever switch that holds them in place, wires at speaker come loose and can be released and replaced or reconnected.
Cons:
- No HDMI in port (the only HDMI port is HDMI out, used to connect the DVD box to a TV)
- Only one port of each type (one optical so if you have more systems with optical audio out, you need a switch box. In this case I'm lacking second optical audio in so I could besides my PS3 connect my TV for over the air tuner)
- Programming preset radio stations is cumbersome and far from intuitive (I had to read the manual to do this, which I never do)
- No HD radio
- At $599 the price is too high for a product that's just been discontinued by Sony (I bought mine for $299 at local brick and mortar store when it was on sale). However, Sony often does this with successful products and it will provide you with good sound, but do yourself a favor and buy it on sale for $299 or at least not over $380)
- Works great for movies, but with music you can tell where the lows are coming from, because of higher cutoff point, so more mid-low-range sounds ends up in the subwoofer (sounds coming from the ideal subwoofer cannot be located because the cutoff is at frequency so low that humans can't locate the source).
I was skeptical about the sound that can come out of these little "miserable" pieces of nothing, however, they managed to gain my respect when I put my iPhone in the store model and played 320 kbps MP3 file and got the huge store filled with music. After marrying a woman who, although virtually half my size and weight, rules my world, I'm not surprised that these speakers at their size can be this loud and impressive. They cannot be used as a main system for a block party, but if you're into small and sophisticated like I am, you will love these. Bose does similar things, but at a price far more than twice higher and that's why most audiophiles can't stand them. Sony, however, (again) got my respect. Of course middle and low levels can never be superior to those of fully sized speakers, but they are there and if you close your eyes and forget about their size, you might be surprised with the effect. Highs and high mids are quite impressive and so are upper and mid lows. Unlike most THX movie audiophiles who prefer the always and every-reputable-home-theater-present unnatural abundance of artificially amplified extra low frequencies, I don't have a thing for the extra loud thumps, so I'm very happy with this system and I mostly keep it on "Night" settings which additionally lowers the mixing-enhanced bump and thump. On my PS3, driving cars and crashing in Burnout Paradise gives a full 3D experience and impressive sound effects and I don't dare to play with volume set louder than one half (maybe will someday if I want to test whether the neighbors can be provoked into calling the condominium association board president to throw us out).
Audiophiles won't buy these and neither will I once I move to a house, but they are great for the rest of us when in or around the $300 price range and I'm not one bit sorry I bought them for this condominium (soon to be sold with them). However, I think I'll replace them with HT-IS100 I just ordered (found them on sale at same price $299) because of the lack of HDMI inputs. For the average user who doesn't have too many inputs and just wants to watch a DVD once in a while, these would suffice and actually could be more desirable because they also provide the extra DVD player at approximately the same price... I already have a PS3 and I like my home theater to have more available HDMI inputs.
Bottom line: At $299 these were a steal. If you can get them under $400 with shipping and tax, go for it.
(to be continued when I receive HT-IS100...)Get more detail about Sony DAV-IS50/B 5.1-Channel Micro Satellite Home Theater System (Black).
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