http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665186457

I think it looks pretty damn good for the price ($399 at the Sony store but I found it for $319.00 at B&H)

- 3 HDMI in, 1 out
- Accepts 1080P
- 1000 watts
- Slim design

I'm not an audiophile, plus the system is for a small room. What do you guys think?

Frankly not much but if that is what your budget will allow . . .

OMG...

ONE THOUSAND WATTS....best laugh I have had all day (ok boring day and a travel day).

Hummm....don't get it.

Get some low end KEF's (or see if they still are clearing some out at CC) and an Onkyo receiver. Don't worry about the HDMI, 1080p, blah, blah, blah. Worry about the sound quality. That is the point of having a surround receiver.

I'm glad I could give you the best laugh you had all day!

Why? What's wrong with the speakers/receiver that this system comes with?

Sorry, I wasn't being insensitive to you or your request for help. I was laughing at Sony and their insistence on the way they rate their receivers. It really is a joke. As an example, my Harmon Kardon I use in my living room puts out 40 watts and I assure you it is more powerful then that Sony (and I'm NOT say my H/K is extremely powerful). I think the H/K in my dedicated theater room is 45 watts!! (Ok, ok, the H/K is rated at 45watts per channel, and I'm sure Sony is lumping all channels together. Even with that, it is a joke).

Simple answer is; Sound Quality. The Sony's are terrible sounding. Both receivers and speakers (yes, I'm sure there are some very high end Sony products out there that are decent sounding, but that's not what we are talking about here and even if true, for the cost of the high end Sony, I would buy something else).

Agreed, the low priced Sony stuff is just shiny nice looking plastic for the most part. And if you went to the "ES" line, you could spend a whole lot less and get a much nicer system.

My Marantz is rated at 85 rms per channel with 7 actual amps built into it, but they dont call it a 600 watt amplifier just to make it sound impressive.

To be fair to Sony, many cheap HTiB list their wattage as a sum for no good reason, and Sony doesn't do this on any of their stand alone receivers. At least they are listing RMS unlike a JVC (?) system I had to clue people in on on Slickdeals a few weeks ago. But yes, this is total crap.

What's the "ES" line? Do you have any examples?

and why do so many reviews (one's I've read throughout the internet, from regular people) say it's a great system?

Yeah. My first HT system was a Sony because I really really thought they were a good brand. They arent.

I couldn't even make out the dialog through my center channel speaker. The sound quality was absolutely TERRIBLE and it was rated at 100wpc.

I replaced it with a Yamaha receiver (rx-v595a) which made a little improvement but it wasn't until I changed the speakers to Paradigms that I really learned what Home Theater was supposed to sound like.

Sony makes some good products...their speakers and receivers aren't one of them (ES line excluded).

What do you mean by "regular" people?

Usually people who buy Sony audio products don't know any better. It is usually their first "real" system and they bought it based on the Sony name...I mean it must be good, right?

Also, they need to justify their purchase. How many people will admit the $500 they just spent was wasted?


Companies can't do everything right. Yamaha makes great receivers but their speakers are shit. Most companies usually just stick to what they do best and don't even manufacturer other products.

Walk into a high end store and find a speaker company that makes receivers, or a receiver company that makes speakers. There just really aren't any.

Sony is taking advantage of their name by putting out sub-par products to capitalize on their standing in the market.

Don't fall for it.

I think he means non-professional reviewers and such.

Audioholic's is actually pretty kind to it,

http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/htib/sony-ht-ss2000

Yes,

so what do you guys thing i should look at instead? I want to spend no more than $400 for everything.
Remember, I'm not an audiophile, i just want something that will sound good. my living room is very small.

Thanks Sdallnct!!

I guess we would have to define "good". But I can't imagine the Sony sounding "good" by any real definition. The size of the room has nothing to do with sound quality (again, not being snippy, just a lot of folks come around here saying "I got a small room" so...).

Like the review said, if you like the looks of the unit, the way it hooks up, the fact it is a Sony, then the system may be for you. But imo none of those are really a reason to purchase a surround system. There is only one real purpose and is to deliver quality sound. If it also happens to have video switching and a bunch of bells and cool lights, great. But start with a good sounding unit.

$400 isn't much, but lets take a quick look anyway....

Some KEF's for $300 tho you might see if your CC is still clearing out the 2005's for about the same price.

http://www.accessories4less.com/make...Package/1.html

I kind of the like the 505 from Onkyo

http://www.ecost.com/Detail.aspx?edp=38513098

but that puts you $64 over budget....humm....lets see what else

You could pick up a referbished 304 directly from Onkyo for about $120

http://www.shoponkyo.com/detail.cfm?...il=1&ext_war=0

And it use to be if you signed up at Onkyo you could get $10 off. But don't know if they are still doing that.

do you live in an apartment or a house.. if an apartment you really cant turn up the thunder anyway.. so for a starter sytem, that probably isnt bad. I would still recommend you go to radio shack and get their cheep spl meter and balence your system.. so all speakers are at the same level. (it makes a huge difference).

Also, I would avoid mixing and matching speakers, if you buy key, kliptch, nht.. yadda yadda, but all 5 speakers at the same time, in the same model line. That way they will all have the same sonic qualities.

Have you listened to this system or any other?

If you are happy for the money then buy it. You did howwever, come here asking for an opinion and generally these type systems are mediocre performers at best.

My recommendation for you....

Klipsch Quintet 5 speaker package from Vann's...

$199.99

Onkyo 605 Refurb from Shop Onkyo. Price is $399 currently but they ALWAYS go to to $329 and then you get another $10 off for being a new user.

Just watch the price every day here


This package will be head and shoulders better than that Sony package.

Es is just a label that Sony tags onto their higher end audio product line.

Hey guys,

I appreciate all your help and opinions. Despite what most said, I picked up the Sony system (was able to get it for $250). I plan on using it for the next year/2 years, then upgrading to a better receiver/speakers. i understand that this system isnt going to be great, but for now I think it will be good enough. I should be getting it in a few weeks (ordered it today) and will def be coming back in here and giving you guys an update on what I honestly think of it. thanks again guys!