OTHER TECH

Samsung A sexy system that's ready for its close-up

The Short Form

$1,000 / samsung.com / 800-726-7864

Plus

•Elegant design. •HDMI video output with 720p/1080i upconversion. •Plays louder without distortion than most HTiBs. •Auto speaker calibration.

Minus

•Can't record analog audio sources.

Key Features

•Rated power satellites, 650 W total; subwoofer, 150 W •Plays DVD and CD plus DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DivX, Kodak Picture CD, JPEG, DVD-Audio, SACD, CD-R/RW, WMA, and MP3 •HDMI video output and USB port •Auto speaker calibration •8 surround modes and 4 sound-field modes •Stands provided for L/R fronts and surrounds, plus control center •Virtual Headphone for surround sound without speakers •Control center 7.125 x 19.5 x 3.25 in, 6 lbs; supplied stand, 19.5 in high, 17.625 lbs •L/R satellite 2.75-in woofer, 0.75-in tweeter; 51.625 in high, 13.625 lbs including integral stand •Center 2.75-in woofer, 0.75-in tweeter; 21.625 in wide; 4.375 lbs •Subwoofer 8-in driver; ported; 10.625 x 19.625 x 15 in; 28.625 lbs

Calling Samsung's visually striking HT-P1200 system an HTiB stretches the definition by a few feet - not to mention a few pounds. Once you open the nearly refrigerator-size carton, a novel home theater system awaits. A sleek floor stand supports the vertically oriented control console, which sports a single-disc DVD player.

Beyond its pretty face, the system plays nearly every conceivable type of disc, handles ripped music and digital photos through a USB port, and offers a dizzying array of features, including Faroudja's DCDi (Directional Correlational Deinterlacing) technology for the best possible progressive-scan playback. For utmost convenience and video quality, there's an HDMI digital audio/video port to directly feed your digital TV, along with onboard video upconversion to either the 720p or 1080i HDTV signal format. This is a unique feature among these systems.

SETUP Assembly is straightforward, and Samsung supplies a microphone to balance speaker levels and set delay times automatically - the only system here to include this feature.

MUSIC PERFORMANCE I chose Dar Williams's "Blue Light of the Flame" from My Better Self to check out two-channel stereo. The sound poured forth full yet distinct, from a precise soundstage with notable depth - the best overall two-channel sound of the three systems.

Multichannel audio fared equally well. When Bonnie Raitt begged, "Have a Heart," the Samsung centered her voice and let the accompaniment spaciously unfold around the listener, precisely delineating each instrument. I went back to my Sara K. SACD, with her singing accompanied by Bruce Dunlap's nylon-string guitar on "Wouldn't It Be Loverly." This track showed off the system's smooth midrange and excellent stereo imaging.

MOVIE PERFORMANCE The HT-P1200 showed courage and valor in the opening battle scene of Sahara. Fortunately, the big explosions didn't overpower the creaking of the ship or the splash of projectiles into the water. While the bass was only a little deeper than from the other systems, it felt more visceral. Dialogue came through clean and clear, even while competing with the machine guns of the Mali militia, and extra detail was revealed during the fights in the rustling of clothes and slaps of skin.

OPERATION The system was a bit cumbersome to use. Loading the horizontal disc well as the two plastic doors slide apart requires pressing the disc onto (and later prying it off) the center clamp as on a cheap portable CD player. The overly complex 56-key remote uses too many similar or identical keys. And unlike the other systems, the only video adjustment is the choice of widescreen or regular 4:3.

BOTTOM LINE The Samsung HT-P1200 delivers the goods in terms of home theater performance and styling, though the pretty façade masks a lack of operational grace. Still, it filled my room with a richer sound than the other systems here, and when you consider features like Faroudja video processing, HDTV upconversion, and automatic setup, it's a great all-in-one option if you have more money to spend.

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