Sony home theater systems

Sony has debuted seven home theater systems, foremost being the Bravia Theater line, the company's first systems to bear the branding of their television siblings -- the notion being that customers will buy the former to compliment the latter. There are three Bravia Theaters in the initial lineup: the DAV-HDX265, DAV-HDX267W, and the DAV-HDX500, each of which has a DVD changer with upscaling to 720p or 1080i. Another common feature is the Digital Media Port, which enables input from Bluetooth and WiFi sources as well as portable audio players. The 267W adds wireless rear speakers, while the 500 has both optical and coaxial inputs, and support for XM's Connect and Play technology. The speakers are floor-standing models that can be adjusted for height. The 265 ($300) and 500 ($500) will be ready in March; the 267W is coming in April for $300.

Outside of the Bravias, the most unusual new offering is the RHT-G800, which is actually built into a TV stand. It integrates an amplifier and a decoder, and supports two HDMI, two component and three AV video inputs, plus eight audio inputs: four analog and four digital (three optical, one coaxial). Both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 are supported. The 800 will ship in May for $1,000.

Finally, the HT-DDW790, HT-DDW990 and HT-7100DH are component 5.1 systems, each with five satellites, an eight-inch subwoofer, and portable audio input. The 990 and 7100 systems are rated at 900W, and have two HDMI inputs; the 7100 adds XM support and a five-disc DVD player. The 790 and 7100 packages will arrive in March for $200 and $500, while the 990 will premiere in May for $300.

By Electronista Staff