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Going to college might mean leaving behind that home theater you’ve put together, but who’s gonna put up with watching movies or TV shows on some little television with dinky speakers? There’s all kind of choices that don’t care how big the space is, or what kind of budget you’ve got. E-Gear’s got you covered, so check this out:
APARTMENT
Dorm Room
Just because there’s not much space or you have a roommate doesn’t mean you have to give up on the home theater experience.
OPPO LT-201 LCD TV/DVD Combo $599 | www.oppodigital.com
The LT-201 doesn’t take up much space and combines an enhanced definition (800×600 resolution) 20-inch flat-panel LCD TV with a slot-loading DVD player. Extensive connections include a digital audio output for connecting to home theater systems and a VGA input for gaming and computer multi-tasking.
Using your laptop’s DVD drive and a pair of headphones gives you personalized viewing, but add these to turn it into a full fledged entertainment center:
AVerTV Hybrid USB
$149 | www.avermedia.com
This TV tuner pops into a USB port and works with Microsoft Windows XP Home/Professional, Media Center Edition 2005 Vista to let you view both analog and high-definition TV programming up to 1080i (an off-air antenna is needed). Use it to watch live TV, listen to FM radio, and digital record and save programs to the hard disk.
Replay TV PC Edition
$99 | www.replaytv.com
It’s like their digital box, but it’s all software to give your PC full-fledged PVR control. That includes a program guide for scheduling recordings and plenty of viewing features to personalize TV your way.
Onkyo CS-V720S Universal A/V System $399 | www.onkyo.com
Small enough to fit on a dresser, desk, or night stand, the Onkyo combines a two-channel receiver, universal DVD-A/SACD disc player, and complete 5.1-channel processing. A pair of two-way loudspeakers, progressive scan video output, and pre-outs allow for expanding into a full-fledged 5.1-channel home theater mini-system. Match it to an Onkyo DS-A2 Remote Interactive Dock > $109 | www.onkyo.com, grab the remote and you’ve complete control over all iPod functions. It even charges the iPod as well.
Razer Mako 2.1 Bi-Amplified
Speaker System
$299 | www.razerzone.com
The Razer’s futuristic design and compact shape contains THX technologies that use desktop and bookshelf surfaces to improve the overall sound experience. Connected to a PC/laptop, game console or MP3 player, downward-firing drivers and tweeters provide exceptional audio performances.
Polk Audio iSonic Entertainment System
$599 | www.polkaudio.com
The Polk Audio i-Sonic entertainment system includes four-speaker technology, a CD/DVD drive, plus a HD Radio tuner and optional XM Satellite radio. Two auxiliary inputs allow for inputs from an iPod, gaming console, etc.
Dorm “Common’s Area”
Hanging out in the Common’s room doesn’t mean giving up watching a great picture. In fact it has to be better since there’s a lot more guys crowding around.
Viewsonic PJ258D Digital Lifestyle iPod Projector
$1399 | www.viewsonic.com
Pop an iPod into the slot and blast out a big picture in high-definition from this front projector (it even charges while playing). Of course there are connectors (like S-Video and VGA), for PC, DVD players and game consoles to be hooked up too. Resolution of 1024×768 XGA combines with a 2000:1 contrast ratio for a bright and crisp image, and weighing in at under 4 lbs. means it can be tucked away after being used.
Optoma Panoview DS-3072PM Projection Screen
$99 | www.optoma.com)
This 72-inch 4:3 diagonal screen can be mounted on the wall or even the ceiling. It can quickly be pulled down and locked for use, and then just as quickly hidden away.
Pioneer HTZ-370DV Home-Theater-in-a-Box
$399 | www.pioneerelectronics.com
A single body 5.1 surround sound system; it features a DVD player with HDMI output and a 360 watt system using a passive subwoofer with four satellite speakers and a center speaker for surround sound. There’s also a room tuning feature with calibration microphone that sets all the speakers to their optimum levels.
Off-Campus Room
Living off-campus means your own room, small as it might be. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go large when it’s time to watch something.
HP Pavilion dv9000
Entertainment Notebook PC
$1524 | www.hp.com
What makes this laptop special is that it has an HD DVD Player for watching movies with six times better resolution than that of standard DVDs. Video shines on the large 17-inch widescreen LCD, and the laptop is powered by Intel Core2 Duo mobile processor and NVIDIA GeForce graphics technology.
Sharp LC-32GP1U 32-inch Game Players Aquos 1080p HD LCD Display
$1,699 | www.sharp.com
The name’s a mouthful, but the picture’s even more an eyeful—32-inches of 1080p high resolution in a flat panel whose special features enhance and boost game playing. The custom-designed remote lets you “jump” into game mode, access the side-placed terminals (including HDMI and Component) for a quick connection, as “Vyper Drive” Game Reaction Speed kicks in to reduce lag time to virtually nil. With a response time of 4ms, 10,000:1 contrast ratio and a wide viewing angle of 170 degrees, what’s not to like?
OPPO DV-981HD Up-Converting Universal DVD Player
$229 | www.oppodigital.com)
This DVD player has an HDMI output and upconverts DVD video to 1080p/720p. Video formats DivX and Xvid are also supported. Plus it plays the high-fidelity DVD-Audio and Super Audio CD (SACD) digital audio formats, as well as supporting CDs, MP3 and HDCD audio.
Samsung HT-Q100 Home-Theater-in-a-Box
$579 | www.samsung.com
This 2.1 channel system saves on space, but 300 watts and virtual surround keeps the volume loud and wide. The progressive DVD player has an HDMI output, upscales video to 1080i, and USB Host Play means DivX, MP3, WMA, DVD Audio, MPEG and JPEG files are good to go.
Having an apartment means more room for your gear; but it’s all about big picture and big sound, not using up lots of space. So the components need to know their place and fit in easily.
HP SL4778N 1080p 47-inch MediaSmart LCD TV
TBA | www.hp.com
This 47-inch LCD HDTV is a fully networked digital TV, allowing users to access their digital media and a range of internet services wired or wirelessly from a PC. Resolution is 1080p and you can stream standard/high-def video (including DiVX, WMV, MPEG-2, etc.) and photos (JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG formats), with music support including MP3, WMA, WMA-Pro, Internet radio and services such as Real Rhapsody.
Pioneer VSX-817 A/V Receiver
$299 | www.pioneerelectronics.com
This 110 watt, 7-channel system has sound processing for Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES and DTS 96/24, plus multiple A/V inputs and a front mini-plug for iPod/MP3 players. Also included are dual connectors for XM Satellite Radio and Sirius (tuners and subscriptions required), support for XM HD Surround, auto room-tuning and other functions.
Infinity TSS-500 Home Theater
Loudspeaker System
$549 | www.infinitysystems.com
This home theater loudspeaker system includes four satellite speakers and a center channel that can stand or be wall-mounted, and are cooly curved and contoured (the subwoofer’s rounded enclosure complements the others). Available in a platinum or charcoal finish, high-performance dome tweeters and cone woofers achieve clear and dynamic movie soundtrack and music reproduction.
Ambisound HTS8100
$999 | www.usa.philips.com
How cool is a single speaker that does surround? The long bar integrates a tuner and the DVD player has HDMI output and upconversion of video to 1080p (the center console features a glass door that slides open to reveal the disc compartment.) Just put the companion subwoofer in a corner and hit it.
Luxurious Apartment
Should you have the room and the green, your apartment’s home theater can be tricked out as good–if not better–than what you had at home.
HP PL5072N 720p 50-inch
Plasma TV > TBA | www.hp.com
Designed to look good even when turned off, this 720p 50-inch high-definition Plasma has deep blacks and a high contrast ratio of 10,000:1 for delivering a picture filled with detail and color. The table top stand is detachable for wall mounting.
Sony XL3 Digital Living System
$3300 | www.sonystyle.com)
Designed to be the hub of an entertainment center, you can watch movies in high-definition as well as record, store and play personal content using the included Blu-ray drive and 500GB hard drive. Built-in NTSC and ATSC tuners give you television, with a CableCard slot letting you forego the need for a Cable box. Internet connectivity is simplified with the included wireless remote and keyboard.
Onkyo TX-SR674 7.1-Channel Home Theater
Receiver
$799 | www.onkyo.com
Delivering a wide array of features and power, the Onkyo features 7.1-channel processing, 95 watts of power and Audyssey 2EQ acoustic calibration for insuring all speakers are outputting the best sound possible. A/V connections are extensive and include two 1080p HDMI inputs, with upconversion of all video source material via HDMI.
Atlantic Technology FS-4000
$999 | www.atlantictechnology.com
Three speakers “live” in a proprietary single-cabinet design that is well suited for wall mounting underneath a flat panel. Each speaker can be tailored via rear panel controls to fit a wide variety of room acoustics and listener preferences.
Velodyne DLS-5000R Subwoofer
$799 | www.velodyne.com
Pounding bass is the result of 1000 watts RMS and 2000 watts of dynamic power driving a 15-inch woofer. Use the remote to choose from four customized listening presets or pick Night Mode and limit the maximum output of the sub for late night listening or to be considerate of the neighbors.
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