Gadgets & Gizmos

SAMSUNG C6730W – Best Overall Value

amsung’s l.330W. 7.l-channel system includes a sleek Blu-ray receiver that boasts super-sharp HD images and attractive tallboy speakers with stylishly ripped-open innards. Audio quality may lack the clarity and control of the Oh and Onkyo systems but it’s no sonic slouch and the spec sheet is a home cinema A to Z – DLNA networking. USB playback. wireless rear speakers. built-in Wi-Fi. dual HDMI inputs and extensive format support i-the only thing missing is 3D. For ease of use and breadth of features the C6730W is great value.
Price : £550

HARMAN KARDON BDS 800 – Best Audio-Visual Quality

 

This Harman Kardon made kit is reassuringly expensive. with slick design and performance to match. The BDS 800 offers clean, crisp HD audio with 65 watts per channel and tight bass from the 200W sub; the reproduction of audio detail shames cheaper systems. The HD visuals from the Blu-ray drive are similarly awesome. Concentrating on performance the BDS 800 offers little in the way of extra features beyond a USB port – there’s no media streaming. web access or HDMI inputs. You do get really great surround sound though.
Price £1,100

PANASONIC SC-BTT350 – Best for 3D Lovers

 This 1,000W,5.1-channel system plays 2D and 3D Blu-rays with pristine picture quality and streams media wirelessly from any PC – albeit via an £80 dongle. It also offers online content. with YouTube and Picasa widgets on VieraCast.  There’s a built-in iPod dock, plus an SD card slot and digital audio input. There is however no HDMI and sound quality is disappointing – sharp,  shouty and lacking in bass punch. The basics seem to have been overlooked on this budget system and you won’t exactly fall in love with its clunky, boxy looks either.

 

TEUFEL IMPAQ 3000 – Best Build Quality

 

Teufel’s first Blu-ray system is a curious one with a surprisingly light spec list for £600. There’s no media streaming, internet access or 3D. Instead, what you pay for is the robust quality and design of the 5.1speaker system and connections, including two HDMls, a USB port and iPod dock. That’s no bad thing in theory, but the Impaq doesn’t deliver a £600 performance. The 600W speakers occasionally sound harsh and the150Wsubwoofer is too overpowering for them. These are flaws for which eBventhe brilliantly crisp lu-ray pictures can’t quite compensate.
Price £619

ONKYO BD-SP308, TX-SR608 AND OH BY TUTUNDO – Best high-End Options

And now for something completely different… We’ve teamed the mind·bogglingly pricey Oh by Tutundo 5.1 system with the more reasonably priced Onkyo SR608. an AV receiver with six HDMI inputs, and the BD-SP308 Btu-ray deck. The Oh’s five 80W. mic-stand-like speakers and beefy 200W sub suck every bit of detail from the SR608, providing detailed, powerful and finessed audio that all-in-ones ystems simply can’t compete with, The price tag reflects this. clearly.
Price £6,365