JVC TH-BA1 Soundbar System with Wireless Subwoofer Review

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(More customer reviews)You should know that a soundbar is not replacement for a home theater system. You are not going to the full impact bass and big room filling sound with a soundbar. What are you going to get? Convenience, simplicity and, if you set your expectations right, pleasing sound.
The JVC TH-BA1 delivers high value performance. It's an attractive, well built unit which provides sound that will probably put your TV audio to shame (it did mine - a Panasonic Viera plasma). The wireless subwoofer is a little muddy and undefined but does not overpower or boom. The unit has no variable crossover control but the factory setting sounds very balanced. You just plug it into a wall power outlet and follow the extremely simple pairing instructions and you are up in less than a minute.
The 2 surround settings are very subtle and natural sounding, avoiding that fake effect of many units. There are 2 optical inputs, so if you are not using HDMI this could come in handy for game consoles, disc players or DVRs. The small remote has the basic controls, plus the ability to control the relative loundness of the the center and surround channels, and the subwoofer. For you Tivo owners, the JVC codes work and you can control volume with your Tivo remote.
I choose this JVC unit over the Polk and Boston Acoustic offerings. I'd be curious to hear those units, but am very satisfied with the JVC. I recommend the TH-BA1 to anyone who wants to upgrade their TV sound without the expense and hassle of a full blown home theater system.

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Featuring a low-profile 4.1-channel front surround speaker, the JVC TH-BA1 Soundbar System is matched to a wireless subwoofer for a fully immersive sound for your movies and favorite music. The soundbar is configured to fit neatly under a TV or can be wall-mounted and its front surround technology eliminates the need for rear speakers and the placement problems, clutter, and extra wiring that comes with them. A single cable connects the soundbar to a source (DVD or Blu-ray player) or TV.

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BIC AMERICA RTR-1530 15-Inch 3-Way Floor Standing Speaker (BIC AMERICA RTR1530) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had these for 4 months and they are excellent in sound reproduction, the 15 inch bass woofer, produces nice bass, and most the time i dont even have to use my subwoofer at all. Very well constructed. Be sure to uderstand that the price is for only one speaker, Amazon shows a pair, but that price is for each one, not a pair, but still its a excellant buy, compared to higher name brands. Only con is that try to find a online store that uses Fed Ex, I had one speaker shipped by UPS and the carton was tore,and the top of the speaker had lite damage. The other speaker I bought to match I had shipped by Fed EX with no damage.Trick is to find a closer vender to you with less freight handling from mulitple trucks. Happy listening. You will be very happy.

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Coby DVD-224 Compact DVD Player (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I wanted to be able to watch DVDs from the UK that weren't available in NTSC. So far the Coby has handled everything I've put in it with no trouble. It impressed a friend so much he got one too.
I'm not expecting it to last forever - it is a mega-cheapie after all - but at this price, I can buy a new one every year, and consider it worth it. I haven't found any other box that does multi-region with on-the-fly PAL/NTSC conversion at any price.
UPDATE - I've had my Coby for two years now, and it is still working fine. I have found some commercial DVDs don't play well in it, but it is a fault of the DVD manufacturer, not the player (I work in the industry). Basically, Technicolor don't test for compatability with the software codec used in this box, and frequently the only way to play DVDs duplicated by Technicolor is to go to the Select Scene menu and pick the first scene. It plays fine from there. This affects many cheaper DVD players, who all use the same software codec.

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Forget thinking outside the box--now you can stop worrying about the box altogether. Coby's DVD-224 is about the size of a hardcover book, so whether you're ferrying the player between the kitchen and the bedroom or hooking it up for periodic use by the kids, the DVD-224's small size permits enjoyment of DVD programs and music CDs in just about any room you want. While not portable in the traditional sense--the unit has no screen and requires AC power--the DVD-224 is much easier to move around, set-up, and use than a traditional component DVD player.It handles not only your DVD-Videos (both NTSC- and PAL-formatted discs, depending on your TV), but it plays your music, too--everything from standard CDs to home-burned CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and MP3-encoded CDs. Further, you can load a disc brimming with digital photos for custom slide shows in the comfort of your home theater.An onscreen display simplifies setup and operation, and the unit comes with a compact, full-function remote control. Other features include parental controls (with PIN lock), frame-by-frame slow motion, picture zoom (2x, 4x), and multiple-angle viewing (with applicable discs).Like to travel? The DVD-224 won't hog space in your bag, and an auto-switching universal power supply handles inputs from AC 110 to 220 volts (50/60 Hz) for use in most countries. Accordingly, the unit's onscreen display offers a choice of 5 setup languages: English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian.A composite-video output ensures compatibility with nearly any television and many newer computer monitors. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (choose from either optical or coaxial) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver. A set of standard left/right RCA analog outputs simplifies hookup with traditional integrated amplifiers and most televisions.What's in the Box DVD player, remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, and a stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable.

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One Pair of Adjustable PA DJ Club Satellite Speaker Stands for Front or Rear Surround Loudspeakers 1SP Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought these for a pair of studio monitors, but If you spent more on the monitors than these stands cost I wouldn't suggest it. The bases are warped (you can tell just by looking at them) and the adjustable height gives way unless you tighten them so hard you really dent the metal. They also don't come with mounting hardware and the bases are only 4"x4". yuk.

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HDMI M / M Cable, 50 FT / 15 M Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros: cheap price, long length, works up to 1080i
Cons: does not work with 1080p
I am using this cable to connect my computer to a 47" LCD. It works perfectly up to 1080i. With 1080p (both 50 and 60 Hz), there is much extra green and some blue band distortion, indicating the cable cannot deliver the bandwidth necessary for these resolutions.
For my use, since I'm not willing to pay for a more expensive cable at this time, I will be using 1080i. In the future, I'll be upgrading the cable to one that can do 1080p 60Hz.
If all you need a long cable up to 1080i, this cable is an excellent deal. If you need 1080p, this cable will not be usable.

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Sony DVP-NS700P Progressive-Scan DVD Player Review

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(More customer reviews)The magazine reviews rightfully claim this to be the best progressive scan DVD player under $1,000. You can use it as a regular DVD player at 480i or click a setting and see a true progressive scan 480p. The difference is breathtaking. Then you can tailor other settings to extend the range digitally, to your own liking.
After seeing the competitors from JVC, Philips, and others near this price point, I felt bad for the rest. It's not just the picture. Many of the features that used to be buried in menus are now buttons on the remote such as Subtitle languages, Audio Options, camera angle, Noise Reduction, etc. The instant replay option is great fun. The Surround sound options are also an easy to find button and include all the current options (Dolby 5.1, PCM, DTS, etc.) The DTS sound was amazingly better than our previous DVD player.
As one reveiwer pointed out, don't buy this DVD unless you have or expect to have HiScan or HDTV which will have the composit video inputs that progressive scan DVD players need. You also get a variety of outputs for 5.1, RCA, SVideo, digital fiber optic, and digital coax so you should no trouble outputting the sound to your receiver. If you have a choice, use digital coax, if not digital optical to really hear the DTS come alive.

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Equipped with both progressive scan (with 3-2 pulldown) and digital video equalization, the Sony DVP-S700P DVD player makes your favorite movies come alive. Progressive scan output delivers a higher scan rate (480p) than traditional DVD players--which interlace the frames rather than scan each separately--making film images appear more intensely lifelike when seen on a HD-compatible TV. Digital video equalization optimizes the picture quality of these images, allowing the user to seek the best video option between factory preset and custom settings. Other options include a digital video enhancer, which improves the contrast and picture detail, and block noise reduction, which minimizes the data noise that often interferes with DVD images. The unit also includes a 12-bit/54 MHz video digital-to-analog converter for 480p output, and a 10-bit/27 MHz video DAC for 480i output.
The DVP-S700P also delivers enhanced performance from an audio standpoint. The player's Dolby Digital and DTS outputs provide 5.1-channel surround sound when connected to a compatible receiver. In addition, the Digital Cinema Sound feature simulates the acoustic performance of Hollywood's greatest sound stages, while the TV virtual surround lets users simulate surround sound in a two-speaker setup, or even through the TV's built-in speakers.
Functionally, the player includes SmoothScan fast forward and reverse and SmoothSlow slow motion for crisp, clear scene searching, along with bookmarking, picture memory, and strobe playback. Parents will rest easy with the included parental lock feature, while everyone will appreciate the convenience of CD and DVD Text, which display artists, titles, and even jacket covers on the front panel and TV. The unit is compatible with CD, DVD, CD-R/RW, and Video CD formats.
What's in the Box DVD player, AV cord, component video cord, remote control, two AA batteries, user's manual.

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Yamaha YST-SW315 10-Inch Digital Pro Series Subwoofer (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I picked up the Sony 8" (SA-WM250 100-Watt) Active Subwoofer recently, and it's quite nice (especially the price at under $100.00). But this smaller system can't hold a candle to the Yahama. This 10" system pumps out clean, crisp base and its cut-off option allows the user to limit the higher frequency response of the sub-woofer (and let your mid-range speakers do the job). The result - a pretty massive, well defined bottom that can be as subtle or as "in your face" as you like it and which will nicely compliment just about any existing audio/visual system.
Because I use a pair of smaller AAD speakers, I keep the volume level for the subwoofer at below 50%, but the frequency cut-off a bit higher (110 hz out of max 140hz) for a nicely balanced, very full sound. Another nice feature is a bass button selection for either (i) music, or (ii) movies. The latter provides maximum bass response - suitable for achieving something similar to what you get in movie theatres - the rumbling bass that lodges in your stomach. The former, music option, is ideal and very complimentary to my existing stereo arrangement.
If you're unhappy with the response of your shelf speakers (want more oomph?), you'll love this Yamaha subwoofer. It'll add depth to your existing system, and add real luster to your audio-video setup. I recently re-watched "The Two Towers" on DVD using the Yahama - the experience was truly like a return to the theatre.


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Yamaha's YST-SW315 offers 250 high-efficiency watts--enough power to deliver shattering, movie-theater-like bass effects. Full enjoyment of Dolby Digital and DTS surround sources requires deep, clear bass. This is especially true with 5.1- and 6.1-channel sound, because the ".1" channel is dedicated to the bass frequencies. That means you not only need a subwoofer, but a high-power subwoofer capable of handling extremely low frequencies. The YST-SW315's down-firing 10-inch driver translates power into clean bass sound, and the YST-SW315 boasts a frequency response of 20 to 160 Hz (-10 dB at the extremes of the range).The YST-SW315 delivers high power at deep bass frequencies, with excellent stability and low power consumption. This is made possible by the sub's highly efficient PWM (pulse-wave modulation) digital-drive power amplifier. The amplifier achieves superior conversion efficiency by minimizing power loss from the power transistors. It delivers stable audio power while minimizing AC power consumption and heat production. As it requires no output filter coil, it's extremely quiet with low distortion.Yamaha's patented Advanced Active Servo Technology (Advanced YST) generates incredible bass from small speaker enclosures. This system uses negative-impedance feedback in the amp and a Helmholtz resonator in the speaker to provide strong and accurate bass.QD-Bass (Quatre Dispersion Bass) technology uses a down-firing driver with square, pyramid-shaped reflective plates to radiate sound efficiently in four horizontal directions. The reflective plates (not used in other brands' down-firing subwoofers) negate any effects caused by the floor surface and reduce resonance between sound waves reflected from the floor and the unit. Most other systems use circular cones, but the YST-SW315 avoids firing sound into the legs of the cabinet by radiating in four directions. Changing the height of the pyramid varies the acoustic load, permitting relatively simple high-cut adjustment and improving bandpass properties. QD-Bass also grants greater freedom of placement, since the sound radiates with equal effectiveness in all directions.The user-adjustable, continuously variable high-cut filter sets the highest frequency the subwoofer will deliver. It can be set anywhere from 40 to 140 Hz. For instance, if the filter is set at 75 Hz, only frequencies 75 Hz or below will be delivered by the subwoofer. This allows the sub's output to be matched to the lowest reproducible frequency of other speakers in the system and the room's acoustics for a seamless presentation.The rotary volume control permits the perfect matching of the sub's output to the overall volume of the system. The YST-SW315 has a signal-sensing circuit. When the subwoofer detects an audio signal, it turns its power on. When it senses no signal for several minutes, it shuts itself off.Yamaha's BASS (Bass Action Selector Switch) tailors the sub's output for video or music at the touch of a switch. Two sets of inputs let the sub accept either line- or speaker-level inputs, while a handy phase normal/reverse switch makes it easy to phase the subwoofer with the other speakers in your system.Three-way speaker terminals accept banana plug and a variety of other connectors, as well as speaker wire, and the YST-SW315's thick, rigid MDF cabinet reduces vibrations and resonance. The speaker's handsome black-ash finish blends in with room decor and complements many furnishing styles, and it's magnetically shielded so you can place it near a TV or computer monitor without degrading the picture.What's in the Box Subwoofer, user's manual, and warranty information.

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VideoSecu 2 Adjustable Steel Speaker Stands Universal Floor Stands for Front or Rear Surround Sound Speakers MS06BP 1SP Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The first pair of stands I bought (from Amazon also) were the same price, but much flimsier in quality. I guess they were better for really light, mini, plastic htib speakers. I'm using Sony SS-B1000 bookshelves, which are larger and heavier, so back they went. These are of a more industrial design, and are perfect for my speakers (these stands claim to handle up to 30 lbs).
Unlike the first pair, these came completely assembled. They arrived neatly boxed and unharmed. The shipping was quick and non eventful.
They aren't the prettiest for in home use, but that's not an issue for me at all. There are plates at the top with 4 holes at the corners to screw your speakers to the plates. Right there, their use is limited because if you have really nice expensive speakers, you're probably not about to drill holes into them no matter how great the stands are. But for $50.00 a pair Sony's, I'm willing to drill. I guess you could use double sided tape if you really wanted, but then you'd have tape glue on your speakers, and I wouldn't trust that the glue might not dry out or a firm bump to the stand might not knock them off.
A small issue was that if I attatched the speaker flush to the plate, I wouldn't be able to run the wire down through the center of the pole. So when I went into the hardware store (carrying one speaker and the top of one stand)to have the hardware guy sell me the correct screws, I also had him sell me 16 rubber washers to raise the speaker about 1/2 inch above the plate. (Each corner got 2 washers, stacked). I was kind of dreading trying this approach because I was sure the washers would fly out when I tried to pass the screws through, or something else wouldn't work.
I had a friend drill the holes into the speakers for me, and voila-the washers didn't fly and the wires were passed through the poles effortlessly. Now they're perfectly sitting on top of these stands looking clean as a whistle. The bottom plate is raised from the floor with rubber feet, so the wire passes out fine. My Sony SA-W2500 sub sits on the floor next to the left stand completing the sound.
If you want to try this, just remember to remove the plastic cap on the bottom of the top tube so the wire can go through.
The locking knob works fine, but it's just a plastic knob on a screw, so I wouldn't use more strength than necessary when tightening it. They're stable enough for my little bookshelf speakers in my home (they're raised up) but I don't think you could raise 30 pound speakers with them. Maybe if the 30 pounders were on them unraised, they'd be fine.
So I removed a star because I had to modify them to run the wires through. However, I would reccomend these stands as a good choice for 30 bucks if you don't mind drilling your speakers, and don't mind the commercial design. Perfect for casual environments such as a dorm or a bachelor pad, using less expensive speakers.

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SANUS SYSTEMS BF-24B Wood Speaker Stands Review

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(More customer reviews)The stands are pretty nice given its price. Although it's not made from solid wood, the stands are very sturdy and can hold surround speakers that are quite large. I'm using them to hold up Klipsch RS-7 speakers, which are 22" wide, and the stands do not wobble or tilt. I only dislike the design of the gap between the two vertical panels which does not adequately hide speaker wire very well. Thicker speaker wire likes to push against the front of the unit where the gap is. I ended up taping the wire to the back panel. For those that are interested, each box contains TWO stands (one pair). I made the mistake of buying two boxes since I couldn't find any information on how many each box contained.

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Atlantic Satellite SPSCUR47 2 Speaker Stands (Titanium) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The reason I have given 5 stars is due to the price, the height, and excellent functional design. As you know, speaker stands are ridiculously overpriced. These are reasonable.
Speaker wire can be completely hidden. The wire feeds through the stand and comes out the top for connection to your speakers. There is a cool little "U" shape on the front foot where the speaker wire comes out on the bottom. It keeps the speaker wire directed where you want it to be directed on the base. It's a very well thought out design feature that I've not seen on other stands. With tile floors, it makes a big difference for me. It keeps the speaker wire directed under the sofa where I want it so it can't be seen.
Now on to stability-
If you have hard flooring, you will be able to extend the stands all the way up if you screw the speakers to the bottom plate. The base is surprisingly stable and it has rubbery stuff on the bottom to keep it from sliding. If the stands will be on carpet, you may not be able to fully extend them unless you have small speakers. My son's system has small speakers. They are back mounted to the stand with a screw and nut that fit inside a metal bracket that can be removed for screw mount. His speakers are on berber carpet. With his small lightweight speakers he is able to fully extend these with no wobble.

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If you want to enjoy stereo and surround sound to its fullest, it's important to install your speakers at the proper listening height. That's where these Atlantic speaker stands come into play. Each of the two cast-iron stands is adjustable from 27 inches to 48 inches, giving listeners an array of heights from which to choose. Merely install your satellite or surround speaker on the platform and experiment with your favorite music and movies. The stands aren't built for bulk--they support up to 2 pounds each--so users should take care to use them only for lightweight speakers. The hidden-wire design, however, is a definite bonus, as it conceals the unsightly speaker cable within the poles. In addition, the stands' titanium finish adds a sleek touch to a room's décor. The stands measure 10.5 by 50 by 11.75 inches (W x H x D) each, which includes the brawny base, and weigh 11.75 pounds. Atlantic covers the stands with a limited lifetime warranty.

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Apex PD-500 Portable DVD Player with 5-Inch LCD Screen Review

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(More customer reviews)This is my second portable DVD player. Just wanted an extra unit for the kids and for the money this one is great. It has many of the features of the more expensive units. I like the small size for travel, but some might find this a disadvatage. The picture was clear and the sound from the speakers was okay. It sounded better using the headphones. Lots of extra's were included including the car adapter. The only negative I found was the battery size, it was much larger than most other units I looked at.

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The ultra-affordable Apex PD500 portable DVD player features a five-inch standard (4:3 aspect ratio) thin-film-resistor LCD, and onboard Active Full-Screen function magnifies widescreen images to utilize the full LCD, eliminating the black bars that normally accompany widescreen programs. he player also offers built-in stereo speakers for headphones-free listening and compatibility with DVD-Video, VCD/SVCD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3-encoded discs, and JPEG and Kodak Picture CDs. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio output (through a .125-inch minijack-to-Toslink optical cable, not supplied) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver.
S-video and composite-video outputs simplify hookup with a home TV. The composite-video and stereo analog audio outputs are switchable as inputs so you can use the PD500 as a monitor for a camcorder, VCR, or gaming console if you wish. Playback options include frame-by -frame slow motion, 2x and 4x zoom, and multiple-angle viewing (with applicable discs). Supplied accessories include an AC adapter, rechargeable battery, user's manual, and a full-function remote control. Headphones are not included.

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VIZIO VBR231 Blu-Ray Player with Wireless Internet Application, Black Review

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(More customer reviews)I love Vizio products and just bought a 42 inch LCD flat panel which I am quite happy with. Needless to say, I was looking forward to purchasing the Vizio 231 blu-ray player expecting the same level of quality. On the outside the VBR231 is gorgeous and well styled and designed. Everything is perfect. However, the blu-ray player has 3 major flaws that cannot be overlooked.
Firstly, this model cannot stay connected to the internet. So once you log off any internet app, you have to go thru the entire reconnection process using setup all over again. This gets tiresome after about 3 times. Tech support has confirmed with me that this model cannot stay connected with internet unlike their other blu-ray models. No explanation as to why.
Secondly, because the blu-ray player cannot stay connected to the internet, every time you turn it on, it tries to reconnect to the internet on its own. It never succeeds but these means you have to wait to use it for up to 5 minutes until it's done trying to reconnect. Just putting in a dvd or blu-ray disc can take a looong time and it's very frustrating.
Thirdly, the VBR231 has no function codes for the remote. This means you cannot control the player with any universal remote and are forced to use Vizio's remote. This oversight is made even worse when you discover that the VBR231 has one of the worst remotes I've ever seen. You have to be Frankenstein just to press these buttons and get it to work. What were they thinking when they made this?
Because of these three major issues I'm returning my model and starting over again.

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CyberHome CH-DVD 300S Progressive-Scan DVD Player , Silver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Don't be frightened by the small-name brand and tiny size. This player works just fine. Good picture and good performance. I bought mine primarily because it can be programmed to play discs from other regions than Region 1 (North America's DVD region, for those who do not pay attention to such things.) It does this to perfection! I have had no problem with color shifts or distortion with PAL discs on my NTSC television, but be sure that you use the manual when you go through the "Setup" menu - you will need to make sure your player is set to NTSC, not PAL, if you live in North America and want PAL discs to play properly on your NTSC set.

Not familiar with the PAL/NTSC thing? It's like this - if an American buys a DVD from England, for example, he or she will find that it will not play in the average North American Region 1, NTSC DVD player because in England, DVDs and players are Region 2 and PAL TV format (North America has NTSC format TV broadcasts). They are incompatible and will not play. This player will play both PAL and NTSC DVDs, and will play them from any region!

There is one minor caveat - there are no instructions as to how to change regions included with the player (but can be found with an internet search).

Not to worry, though - this is how you do it:
1. With no disc in the tray, push "Menu" "1" "9" (ignoring the "No" symbol that appears on the upper left-hand corner of the screen).
2. A menu will appear that shows in highlight the region it is set to (almost certainly Region 1). Push the "Enter" button and the region number will change. You can set it to any region (1 through 6) or to Region 0, which means it will play PAL or NTSC DVDs from all 6 DVD regions!
3. Push the "Open/Close" button to close the menu, and you're done!

Enjoy!

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Offering a downright amazing feature set for such an affordable price, Cyber Home's compact CH-DVD 300S makes a rich and promising starter player. You get everything from top-of-the-line progressive-scan component-video outputs to built-in MP3 decoding, JPEG image viewing, and 3:2 pulldown for viewing movies in their native frame rates. Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the CH-DVD 300S stands ready to deliver the full potential of DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, providing higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. Composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television. With 3:2 pulldown support, the player corrects for a common distortion in DVDs when 24 frames-per-second movies make the leap to 30 fps video; 3:2 pulldown removes the redundant information to display a film-frame-accurate picture. A set of multichannel analog-audio outputs routes decoded Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround signals to your audio/video receiver. Dolby Digital and DTS signals can also be channeled through the player's digital-audio outputs (one each of RCA coaxial and optical) for direct connection to a surround-featured AV receiver. The player has left/right analog audio outputs, too. The CH-DVD 300S is compatible with DVD-R/-RW and DVD+R/+RW media, handling just about any recordable disc you give it. It can even play both PAL- and NTSC-formatted discs, handy when viewing non-region-specific European discs. Other features include motion zoom, screen saver, last-disc resume, and repeat play. What's in the Box DVD player, AC power cord, multi-function remote control, remote batteries, and a composite-video/stereo analog-audio interconnect.

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Magnavox NB530MGX Blu-ray Disc Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great player that offers an excellent picture, and is easy on the wallet. I bought this at Walmart for under $200 and I have been very pleased with the quality. I was blown away by the great picture blu-ray has to offer! Dont expect to many frills such as BD-Live, but do expect a great, "pop in your movie and go" player! It does have an sd-card slot that allows you to save bookmarks and view photos and video clips through the player onto you tv which is really great.
So if your on a budget and want an excellent player for any price, you cant go wrong with this one!
On a side note, some people complain about load times, and although it takes a bit longer to load BD discs than regular DVDs, its quite understandable and really only takes about 30 seconds (give or take a few).

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Panasonic DVD-RV31K DVD Player, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The good?
- Superb picture and sound
- Plays everything: DVD, CD, VCD, XVCD, MP3, CD-R, CD-RW
- Supports MP3 CBR and VBR
- Quick loading mechanism
- Front panel (display and controls) is fairly complete
- Supports black level expansion
- Brightness, contrast, and color adjustments
- S-Video, component, optical, and subwoofer connections
- Icon based menu system is very polished

The bad?
- Feels cheap, especially the remote
- Cannot play SVCD or XSVCD
- No coax digital out
- Surround sound, dialogue and bass enhancers, and cinema mode are useless
- MP3 player has NO features

The MP3 player does not display filenames! Any directory structure that exists will get flattened. You'll get to know your songs by number... "1 of 122" or "24 of 122" etc. Programmed or random play would make things better, but unfortunately, those features are not supported during MP3 playback.
The bottom line?
If you watch DVDs most of the time and occasionally listen to MP3s, then the Panasonic RK31 is highly recommended!

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Panasonic's DVD-RV31K DVD-video player delivers a combination of qualityvideo and special features usually found only in more expensive players, if atall. Among many other features, the DVD-RV31K offers MP3 playback, robustconnectivity, and an advanced version of Panasonic's simulated surround soundwith proprietary Bass Plus technology and a dedicated subwoofer output.
This unit's state-of-the-art component-video outputs allow for digital videotransmission to compatible video equipment. It also offers standardcomposite-video outputs and an S-video output. A built-in 27 MHz/10-bitdigital-to-analog video converter maximizes picture quality from these outputs,while brightness, color, and contrast controls let you fine-tune picturequality.
A digital-cinema mode illuminates the picture and fine-tunes color, even inlow-light scenes. Additional video features include one-touch cinema memory,freeze frame, frame advance, and black-level controls.
An optical digital-audio output channels a bit stream for DTS and Dolby Digitalsurround sound, fostering glorious home theater sound when decoded with anappropriate surround receiver.
Advanced Virtual Surround Sound simulates a surround effect using only your twofront speakers. Furthermore, the DVD-RV31K's dialogue enhancer pumps up thecenter-channel output to emphasize a movie's spoken audio. A 96 kHz/24-bitdigital-to-analog audio converter and dynamic-range compression (for late-nightviewing) complete the DVD-RV31K's robust audio arsenal.
If you're not quite ready for 5.1-channel audio but already have a poweredsubwoofer, you'll appreciate the versatility of this player's discrete subwooferoutput. The DVD-RV31K's pair of analog-audio stereo outputs along with itssubwoofer output simulate theatrical sound by setting up a two-channel-plus-bassoutput that sends all low-frequency information to your subwoofer.
A built-in stabilizer and twin-laser pickup offers improved playability with theDVD-RV31K. Playback formats include DVD-video, Video CD, audio CD, MP3-encodedCD, CD-R, and CD-RW. (Please note, however, that MP3 playback may vary dependingon the content and disc type used.)For your viewing convenience, Panasonic's high-speed scan comes with fivespeeds, and the player also offers chapter preview, updated onscreen menu icons,a front-panel jog-shuttle dial, and a multibrand remote control.Panasonic's DVD-RV31K comes in black and is Energy Star compliant. This model iscovered by a warranty for a year on parts, 90 days on labor.

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Sony SA-W2500 Performance Line 100 Watt Subwoofer Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you're thinking about buying a subwoofer, it is unlikely that you are a garden variety movie fan or lover of music. People looking for subwoofers usually already have a decent system, but know that there is something lacking.
When it came for me to buy one, three factors weighed in my decision: power, brand, and (of course) price. I've grown up with what I have always believed to be a 'healthy skepticism' when it comes to Sony products. My father had an early generation (1990ish) 5.0 Sony 250 Watt surround amp that performed extremely poorly in just about every function. The only advantage it had over his earlier (1978) Rotel non-tube amp is that it had multiple component inputs. The sound quality of the 50 Watt rated Rotel amp blew the Sony out of the water.
In my search for a subwoofer, I was surprised to find so many good reviews of the Sony line. I was looking for a better name than Sony, but when I compared prices, I was compelled to give the Sony at least a listen. Comparable subs by Velodyne and others were far more expensive (double the cost of the Sony or more). Listening to the Sony at the stereo shop, I must say that I was extremely impressed.
Is the Sony sound as good as the Velodyne or other high end subwoofers that cost 2-3 times as much as the Sony? Of course not, but I quickly discovered that difference in sound quality was not at all closely related to the difference in price.
Keep in mind that this is one of Sony's smallest and lightest subs (only 25 lbs), but once I brought it home and hooked it up to my 6.1 surround system and configured the frequency and volume on the back of the sub, it seamlessly expanded the low end range of my system for music and movie playback. Before I learned (by experimenting with them) how to adjust the levels on the back of the sub, it was quite boomy and there was a bit of a gap between the low end on the six surround speakers and where the sub picked up. When I made the appropriate adjustments, by trial and error, I found that this sub is an extremely versatile fit for my home. My family room is 17'x14', and the back opens into a 10'x15' living room, and the sub easily fills the room. When I crank the system for rock and roll music and movies, the sub has no problem keeping up and is easily capable of playing more loudly than is safe or enjoyable.
Would I have liked a bigger sub made by a better brand? Sure, but this one does the job (and then some) admirably, and for less than half the cost. This sub gets 4 stars as a product, but I gave it 5 because of the extremely good value. If you have a big budget and can afford to spend what it would take to buy a speaker that actually sounds better than one of these Sony subs, go for it, you will not be disappointed. On the other hand, if you would rather spend less on a sub and still get excellent power and sound quality, this is as good as it gets without spending several hundred dollars.

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Feel the power of 100 amplified watts of pure bass. The SA-W2500 performance line subwoofer makes music come alive and elevates the movie-watching experience to theater-like levels. For cinematic effects, crank up the bass level and let the 10" mica-reinforced cellular woofer do the rest.

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Sony DVP-S530D DVD Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm a SONY freak. From my XBR projection set to my pro-DV cameras at work, it's all SONY. I love the company but they, like anyone else, can drop the ball once in a while. The lip-sync problem gets worse as time goes on because newer DVD releases employ the latest MPEG-2 codes which these players were not properly set-up to decode. So SONY will now pick-up via FED-EX any 530-550 player still under warranty and install a new processor chip and firmware and deliver it back home within 2-3 weeks free of charge. (Not Bad, right!) However, a buddy of mine had this done and it still has the lip-sync problem! Oh Nooooo! ..as Mr.Bill would say.
Not sure what I'm going to do. My player is 3 months old. One other thing, this player will not play CD-R and CD-RW discs, the new PIONEER 626D's will. You may want to look into this one. I wish I did. Good luck out there!

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DVD Player with built-in dolby digital decoder and 5.1 channel output. Plays DVD's, Audio CD's, and Video CD's.

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