PS3 Cinema surround system.

Buyers opinion.
This system will do far more than I need it for. The key reason for this purchase was HD surround sound from the PS3 and it seems I've got it. I searched for ages but for all of you now with a PS3 that (like me) wonder will this work. Yes it will. I have hooked the TV up from the HDMI from the PS3 and Fed the sound from the PS3 via an Optical cable into the theatre kit. It is boomtastic and without exageration Blue Rays Discs sound like your in the movie.
It was straight forward to set up - Just plug in the mic and press the auto set up button on the control; Place the mic where you sit and it will balance the speakers.
The system is quiet and can be closed in a unit without the worry of overheating (Unlike the PS3).
Notes: I couldnt get the sound to work at all using HDMI and hooking it up using the Optical cable meant I had to set the Theatre to the SAT input rather than BRDVD one. (But this doesn't cause any running problems, it was just a moment of unexpected silence until I read this input is set aside for SATelite and switched it over) .Depending on the DVD, you sometimes have to tweak the PS3 or Theatre sound settings to get full 5.1 from all the speakers but you get the hang of how to do it and its a quick and easy pressing of a couple of buttons.
Conclusion:
As long as your TV has a HDMI in and you buy an optical cable you will get 5.1 at its best from this theatre set.

Excellent

This is a superb 7.1 channel AV receiver. It can also be configured for a 5.1 or 6.1 set up.

If you are using just 5 speakers and a sub-woofer, then the unused outputs for the two surround-back speakers may be used to bi-wire the front two speakers instead - a useful feature.

Sound quality is excellent - it sounds clean, detailed, and well controlled throughout the entire frequency range. Bass response is impressive and well delivered also, and thanks to the auto-setup feature, it is perfectly balanced and in proportion to the overall mix (not overblown).

The (microphone driven) auto-calibration feature takes the hassle and guess work out of setting it up. Although you can set it up manually if you prefer. The auto set-up is accurate and it only takes about 30 seconds to complete. There are also bass and treble equalizer (tone) controls available for Centre and Surround speakers (not only the front two speakers).

It has all of the inputs and outputs you could reasonably expect including HDMI, four optical digital inputs (including one on the front panel), one optical output, and two digital coaxial inputs. Not to mention a stack of standard line inputs and outputs (including a phono input).

It sounds very good not only with DVD playback, but also with stereo music as well. There is a very useful 'Multi Stereo' mode which outputs the two channel stereo sound (such as found on CDs) from all speakers plus the sub-woofer.

Other surround modes include: Dolby Digital EX, DTS ES, NEO:6, Dolby Pro-Logic IIx, and there is also a Digital Cinema Sound mode which enhances the sound further. It also includes a 7.1 Channel Analogue input - which may be used (for example) for connecting a Super Audio CD player.

This model was awarded `Product of the year 2006' by `What HiFi Sound & Vision' magazine - and there is a review available to download on Sony's UK web site (which is worth reading - if you are interested in what the professionals think).

I agree with the conclusions reached by 'What HiFi' - especially when they say:"There's real verve and enthusiasm in the sound".

I would recommend this receiver to anybody who is looking to build a quality home cinema surround system - at a reasonable price.

Excellent. Five stars. (Also available in silver).

Please note...

Even before listening to this stylish compact system, it came to my immediate attention that the ONLY auxiliary input is located on the front panel via a 3.5mm stereo mini-jack. This stereo is very much aimed at those who wish to maybe connect their MP3 player on the odd occasion - In which case this system would be adequate. It however provides very poor connectivity for those like myself wishing to connect their MP3 player via a dock. This to all intents and purpose is ok although it then provides no means of charging whilst you listen. So, on this conclusion I connected the dock to the system via a USB cable thinking it would solve all the problems, although still protruding out the front of the system. OH NO! Via USB, unless the MP3 player you own is a Sony of a specific model specified by their manual, it acts only as a storage device no longer allowing you to control what plays and when. By this I mean you can skip through the tracks using the remote or controls on the top of the unit, but have no control over the order nor can see albums available etc. I have a 30Gb Ipod Video. It is for this reason I cannot give this system an average score.

Never the less, it does look stylish and the sound quality, it has to be said, is not bad at all for a micro system. Although lacks `umph', especially down-grading from a mini system.

Carefull what you buy

This is a brilliant little tuner with fantastic sound. Digital it isn't !
Sony call this a Synthesized radio so if it's digital you want, this really isn't the one for you. If it's a small personel radio you want I would recommend this one. However eighteen months ago I paid about £80 for it I'm not sure I would have paid more.

Great tuner !

Excellent tuner, simple to use, sounds good, looks good. Great reception where I live (Luton, Bedfordshire). Another great Sony product ! Buy with confidence.

Sony - CMT-HX70BTR

CD player excellent, Ipod docking cradle works well, Tuner fine but probably needs a better VHF aerial, Speakers: good size, quality and sound. Overall quality of system 5 stars, first class

Great Sony amplifier

Another great Sony hifi separate, which I have teamed with a newly bought Sony DAB tuner (STSDB900) and an existing CD player, cassette deck and turntable (yes, I still have one of them but rarely use it these days!). The silver version is another good looker. It's easy to set up, delivers great power and sound quality (vastly superior to my 10 year old amplifier), and is very simple to use, either from the front panel or the remote control. Another great buy.

MD still great

This is a great MD deck and very easy to use. Editing, titling are a breeze. Although I do use MP3s as well, I still love Minidisc.

Fantastic Portable Speakers

These Sony speakers are great if what your looking for is a pair of speakers that you can take with you anywhere. Theve been with me all over the world and been thrown about much more than I inteneded them to be and I'm sure much more than they are designed for. Yet despite all that they still play my music to a very high quality without any distortion even on full volume, my old speakers started to destort and crackle at even half volume. These are well made, light, small and attractive speakers.

Good But Not Great!!

If you're like me, stuck in the past with a large cassette collection and feel safe when recording on to one, then this unit should suffice. After all it's a Sony! So it should have the build quality of most other Sony items. However! I was slightly disappointed with it. I had a Denon unit for about ten years. And that was superb, before It was getting a bit worn out and had to replace it.
Because cassettes are such obsolete media nowadays, I don't think Sony have put the same finesse into this particular item as they do with, say LCD TV's, MP3 Players and alike. So we are left with rather a clunky operating and metallic sounding box. That doesn't bear much resemblence to the Sonys of yesteryear.
Having said that, it does most things adequately and is a good general purpose double cassette player/recorder at the lower end of the market.