OTHER TECH

The term "home theater in a box" (HTiB) has become synonymous with "low-end" thanks to the proliferation of inexpensive, poorly designed, bad-sounding all-in-one systems. Just because people are looking for a simple solution, though, doesn't mean they want to compromise on performance. Manufacturers are finally responding to this desire by producing packaged systems meant to sound just as good as their standalone counterparts.

Klipsch's KES-6100-THX system ($4,000, due in August) is the first HTiB to carry THX certification. Providing 100 watts for each of its six channels, it features Faroudja processing that upconverts all video inputs to component-video and scales them to 1080i (interlaced). Infinity introduced the TAS-1000 ($1,099, due this spring), a Total Audio Solution combining a progressive-scan DVD-Audio/Video player/receiver with its TSS-750 speaker system. The system decodes all popular 5.1-channel surround formats, along with MP3 and WMA files, and its 5 x 50 watts, coupled with the mini-monitor speakers, should easily fill most rooms.

Probably the biggest reason why people love HTiBs is that they're easy to set up. So wouldn't it make things even easier if you didn't have to run wire from the receiver to the surround speakers? Samsung's HT-DS490 (April, $499) and Sony's DAV-FR10W (September, $1,000) both use wireless technology to beam signals to the surround speakers.

If you want surround sound but don't have the space or spousal acceptance for a 5.1-channel system, KEF's Instant Theater (KIT 100, $1,499, April) might be the answer. It includes a DVD player/receiver and an unusual speaker design that integrates flat-panel dipoles directly behind the left and right speakers, creating a believable surround experience from just 2.1 channels.

Some high-end systems even throw in the TV. Jamo's 2F (Form-and-Function, price not set, available July) combines a stylish 42-inch plasma HDTV with a DVD player/receiver and surround sound speaker package, while JBL's Cinema Vision system ($15,000, available this spring) includes a 50-inch plasma HDTV, a 7.1-channel speaker package, and a main unit that includes a DVD-Audio/Video changer. JBL's Digital Link technology keeps both the audio and video signal paths 100% digital.

Spherex introduced a $499 system designed to provide high-quality 5.1-channel sound for Xbox gaming consoles. It includes five Omnipolar speakers (based on Mirage's Omnisat design) and an 8-inch subwoofer that houses the amplification, processing, and inputs - and doubles as a stool for those long gaming sessions!

- J.S.