OTHER TECH

If Man on Fire's soundtrack came across vividly, so did its picture. Both the orange of Creasy's shirt and a yellow dandelion that the girl hands him before going to her lesson looked exceptionally rich. And the system's DVD upconversion created a clean picture that preserved every shred of fine detail in the image. I could see individual strands of hair floating from the girl's blond head. Shadow detail was also very good, revealing both deep shades of black and lighter gray tones in moody shots, as in one of a tree-lined street where the abduction takes place. The only problem I detected was a slight patchy effect that occasionally showed up, like when the camera pans slowly across a cloud-riddled sky.

Also, for some reason, JBL's plasma wouldn't accept a digital connection from my Scientific Atlanta Explorer 8300HD high-def cable box. I've heard reports of similar problems with other TVs and the 8300HD (including the 65-inch HP rear projector reviewed in this issue), but this is only the second time I've encountered it.

Fortunately, high-def pictures on the Cinema Vision still looked very crisp using a component-video connection, so I can't complain. Watching Law and Order: Criminal Intent, one of my favorite shows, I could see the fine creases in a black jacket worn by tough-girl detective Eames (Kathryn Erbe) and the woven texture of the sweater on a woman she was questioning. The TV did an outstanding job of rendering accurate skin tones in this and other scenes. I could even detect slight variations in hue as the action moved from an outdoor courtyard to various indoor locales, including a kitchen, an office, and a warmly lit apartment. All in all, I'd rate the performance of JBL's plasma TV as very good.

BOTTOM LINE Are there downsides to JBL's all-in-one solution? Sure. First, its player doesn't support SACD, and there's no six-channel external audio input for an SACD player. Given the system's cost, it may also concern some buyers that you won't be able to swap out the integrated DVD changer for one of the new high-def disc players due soon (though the system's DVI input should accommodate either a Blu-ray or HD DVD add-on player). The receiver also lacks a Zone 2 output for multiroom audio - a feature you expect to see in high-end receivers these days. Finally, there's the price: you could mate a similar 50-inch plasma TV with some high-performance surround sound components and speakers for a good bit less.

But if you've budgeted fifteen grand for a full-scale home theater and either don't have the time or inclination to research which TV, speakers, and associated electronics to buy, JBL's Cinema Vision system can simplify your life. Its matched styling, seamless integration, and topnotch audio and video performance are bound to thrill both novices and hard-core home theater nuts alike. And though it'll take a while getting used to it, once you do you'll likely find the system a breeze to navigate and use. In a world of complicated entertainment systems burdened by multiple remotes and frequent incompatibilities among components, there's plenty to be said for JBL's high-end home theater in a box.