Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I shopped and priced around extensively, and the Pioneer HTIB system was the clear choice to add on to my Xbox 360. First, and foremost, this is a well designed "compact" home theater system that goes very well with a 360. It's color scheme blends right in with the Microsoft game sytem. Pioneer got all the details right, even down to the XBOX-like "univeral" remote control.
The nearest competitor to Pioneer's HTS-GS1 is the Spherex 51000 HTIB 5.1 Channel surround system, also license by Microsoft specifically for the Xbox 360. In a head to head comparison, to me, the Pioneer integrates best, mainly because it "looks" like it belongs with the Xbox and also has more user friendly system controls and by far is more flexible to set up whether used with the Xbox or not. I cannot comment on differences in terms of purely audio performance, but the Spherex is only rated for 300 watts total output. The latter may not be a fair comparison - read on for more on this.
These two systems are currently selling in retail stores close to the same price point (around $200). Since there introduction, both have been deeply discounted from original list price of $499. Overall, I feel the HTS-GS1 offers the most bang for the buck.
The surround speakers are uniquely and cleverly designed. The front and rear speaker are actually "stackable" which allows a front surround stage 5 channel sound speaker placement arrangement. This stacking feature is not possible on Spherex system with its omni surround satellite speakers which must have free air space above each speaker to work properly.
Front speaker stacking is an extremely useful feature for the non-purist audiophile. It lends itself to a much faster and simpler system set up, eliminating need for long(er) - hard to disguise - routing of speaker wires to the back of your listening room area. However, this diminishes the full effectiveness of a surround sound system, yet in the case of the HS-GS1, I did not find it overly detracting from the system's "virtual" surround or front-only sound stage experience. Furthermore, I appreciate having a CHOICE in satellite speaker placement and opted to go this route for obvious advantages offered in eliminating the hassle of locating and mounting separate rear speakers and wiring complications.
The surround sound "effects" are still quite evident in this front only arrangement, because the unique stackable left and right double decker speakers can be rotated independently rotated to aim them in different dirrections. This design does an adequate job of simulating a four corner surround sound, if not fully "immersive" listening experience.
I may eventually take the additional time to separate and relocate the rear satellite speaker to the back of my listening area. Pioneer provides plenty of speaker wire for that purpose if so desired. But for now, I am enjoying the system in the front surround mode only, and saved at least another couple of hours of tedious installation work routing the rear speaker wires far away from the audio amplifier (subwoofer) origination connections.
One thing that the average consumer should know is that most comparable HTIB systems are "hyped" in terms of their true (
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Description:High impact gamers with limited space will appreciate the system's compact speakers and integrated 6-channel receiver subwoofer, which delivers a colossal 600 watts total system power (RMS). (Xbox360 not included)Key Features & Benefits:DTS /Dolby Digital /Dolby and Dolby Pro Logic II DecodersBuilt-in DTS /Dolby Digital /Dolby and Dolby Pro Logic II Decoders create realistic 3-dimensional sound fields for HDTV, movies, music and gamingSound retrieverDelivers improved sound quality of compressed music files (MP3)Magnetically shieldedSet up the system right next to your computer and don't worry about magnetic influence from the speakersAdditional Information:Receiver600 Watts Total System Power (RMS) Delivers Peak Performance at Maximum Volume Levels; Front/Center/Surround: 100W x 5 (RMS 10% THD@1kHz); Subwoofer: 100W x 1 (RMS 10% THD@100Hz)155 Watts Total System Power (FTC Output Rating)Front/Center/Surround: 25W per channel (200Hz C 20kHz, 10%THD, 4)Subwoofer: 30W (45Hz 200Hz, 10%THD, 4)Auto MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System)Built-in DTS /Dolby Digital /Dolby and Dolby Pro Logic II Decoders Create Realistic 3-Dimensional Sound-Fields for HDTV, Movies, Music and Game OptionsSound Retriever for Improved Sound Quality of Compressed Music Files (mp3)Front Stage Surround: Front Surround Movie, Front Surround Music, Extra PowerAdvanced Surround: Advanced Music, Advanced Movie, Expanded Theater, TV Surround, Sports, Game, Virtual Surround, 5 Channel StereoConnectivity & ControlComprehensive Xbox 360 Compatible Universal Media RemoteSound Control, Input SelectWindows Media Center and Xbox Guide ButtonSR (Smart Remote)/SR+ Terminal3 Digital Inputs (1 Coaxial, 2 Optical)/1 Audio InputFM/AM Presets (30 Stations)
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