OTHER TECH

Pioneer HTD-630DV The Pioneer HDT-630DV system ($800) hops on the wire-cutting bandwagon by including a wireless surround speaker. A small transmitter plugged into the DVD player/receiver sends audio for the surround channels to the receiver/speaker module, which is about the size of a large loaf of bread and contains two drivers and an amplifier. (Of course, it isn't entirely wireless, since you have to plug it into an AC outlet.) Flick a switch on the speaker module, and it becomes a semi-portable stereo extension speaker that you can use anywhere within the transmitter's range (about 100 feet) - too bad there's no battery option.

PIONEER HTD-630DV

• DIMENSIONS (WxHxD, inches) DVD changer/receiver 16 1/2 x 4 7/8 x 17 3/4 satellite speaker 5 3/4 x 9 1/4 x 8 1/8 center speaker 12 1/4 x 4 x 3 wireless surround speaker 16 1/2 x 7 x 4 3/4 subwoofer 7 1/2 x 14 1/4 x 13 • SYSTEM WEIGHT 70 pounds • PRICE $800 • MANUFACTURER Pioneer Electronics, www.pioneerelectronics.com, 800-421-1404

The HTD-630DV also has a five-disc carousel changer that plays just about anything you feed it - even photo CDs. The changer makes this control unit the most imposing of the three systems, but Pioneer places the main controls on a beveled edge along the top of the front panel, simplifying operation when you're standing above it. On the other hand, the subwoofer's unprotected driver is exposed on its rear panel, making it vulnerable to damage by children or pets.

A quick-setup mode lets you tell the system whether your room is small, medium, or large and whether you sit in the front, middle, or back. You can also fine-tune the system conventionally, compensating for different speaker distances in 1-foot increments and balancing the channels using the internal test-tone generator.

The wireless surround speaker makes setup easy. Connecting the transmitter to the player/receiver and plugging in its AC adapter requires no expertise. In the master system setup menu, you have to remember to specify wireless surround, since you can also use the main unit with conventional wired speakers. Pioneer could have made this even simpler, though, by having an outlet on the back of the main unit for the AC adapter or, more elegantly, by building the transmitter into it.

The nonuniversal remote control resembles the Panasonic handset but is slightly larger and a little easier to read. I really liked the large horizontal volume bar above the diamond-shaped cursor pad. As with the Panasonic system, you have to use the shift key to access many functions.

The HTD-630DV provided an enjoyable movie experience, playing somewhat louder than the Panasonic and Denon systems. But the sound during Seabiscuit was boxy and vaguely hollow. While the horse gallops were a bit more resonant, voices tended toward chestiness. Getting the most out of the surround speaker module, which I positioned about 5 feet behind a loveseat in the middle of the room, required some adjustment. It was important to find the right volume, and it took me awhile to get used to the sound coming from directly behind me.

The Pioneer didn't produce as sharp a picture as the Panasonic, and the images were a hint noisier, especially during darker scenes. There were no obvious playback artifacts, but for the briefest moment I thought I saw the rail become a little jagged during one of the race scenes.

The wireless surround speaker of Pioneer's HTD-630DV is a nice perk that could bring true home theater to a room where it might otherwise have been impossible. The system was refreshingly easy to use, though I wish its remote was more versatile. PDF: Key Features PDF: In The Lab