I am taking the renovation of my basement as an opportunity to upgrade the sound on my 40" Samsung HDTV with a sound bar. I thought about going with a true surround sound system, since the wall panels in the basement were taken down and would facilitate wiring. But I have decided against it, given how small the room is.
In the price point I am looking, I have narrowed my search for the moment to the Sony HT-100 and the Boston Acoustics TVee2. The Sony sounds like it is the better quality system (more powerful, simulated surround sound) but the TVee2 has a wireless sub-woofer and gets positive reviews for its sound, which might serve my needs in a small room.
I would greatly appreciate anyone's views on the similarities/differences between these two products. Many thanks in advance.
Sliv
Welcome to the forums Sliv.
I think the real difference between the units is the connections.
The Sony HT-C100 has 3 HDMI inputs on the sound bar (one of them being 1080p capable) where as the Boston Acoustics TVee has a simple RCA input to link the sound from your TV in. Personally I prefer more connectivity and would go with the Sony model but if you are trying to keep things simple than the Boston Acoustics model is the better choice.
Current Gear: Sammy DLP Sony DVD [pre-HDMI] Sony STR-DE 995 Sony speakers
Thanks so much for the reply. Currently, I have an HDMI connection going from my DVD player to my TV set and the sound for DVD's coming through my TV (poorly, at that). If I went with the Boston Acoustics unit, and only have RCA cables connecting the sound bar to the TV, do you think that it would limit the effectiveness of the sound on DVD's? I think I should go with the Sony for the digital connections. I would like the wireless subwoofer option though, but figure that the subwoofer will be close to the TV either way. Thanks again for the advice.
Sliv:If I went with the Boston Acoustics unit, and only have RCA cables connecting the sound bar to the TV, do you think that it would limit the effectiveness of the sound on DVD's?
Yes. HDMI or even digital audio processing at the sound bar will provide much better sound than what the TV set could decode and send out via RCA terminals.
Sliv: I think I should go with the Sony for the digital connections.
I'm thinking the same.
Sliv:I would like the wireless subwoofer option though, but figure that the subwoofer will be close to the TV either way.
Depending on your setup (wall mounted TV I'm assuming) you could possibly get a small wire hider to conceal the sub connection. Then you're not worried about everyone staring at that wire dangling in the air.
Hi again and thanks again. I am all but sold on the Sony unit, but just have a couple of questions for educational purposes. Why would the Boston Acoustics TVee2 be priced comparably to the Sony HT-100 if its maximum power is lower (100 watt vs 250 watt for the Sony), has RCA cable connection vs the Sony's HDMI inputs, and is basically just glorified stereo sound vs the Sony's psuedo-surround sound? Is a wireless subwoofer that big a selling point?
We are here to help so don't worry about the questions... You are probably not the only one considering these two pieces.
Both are really comparible units that take different approaches. One being geared for connectivity and digital quality and the other for simplicity.
The difference in speaker power is probably just on paper as I imagine that both provide similar improvements in your TV audio.
My personal preference is to not have a wireless audio connection because I think the lag time / plus handling of the signal is prone to interferance from the rest of the modern world. But again, just my personal opinion (my HT / TV room is wired)
I purchased the Sony HT-C100 sound bar this morning and am eagerly awaiting its arrival. I would be glad to post a review in an appropriate forum after I have the opportunity to set it up. Thanks again for the advice!
I am more familiar with the car stereo products, but regarding pricing - in car audio, Boston Acoustics, JL Audio, Focal, etc would be considered "Premier" speakers while Sony, Kenwood, Pioneer, JVC, etc. would be considering "mainstream" and priced accordingly. Sometimes it also reflects higher quality, sometimes not.
For the review, CF actually posts customer reviews on the actual product pages on the site and that is likely the best place.
I hope you enjoy the new sound bar.
2002 Ford Focus Sony CDX-GT410u Sony XT-100HD HD Tuner Stock speakers, no amp, no subs