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Luxury Living
THEATER SOUND – AT HOME
BY RASHAD MAHMOOD
In the good old days, setting up two speakers on either side of your television was considered having an advanced sound system. Now, it’s all about surround sound. What used to be a technology used exclusively in movie theaters is now available for the home. In a stereo sound system, there are two options, left or right. But with surround sound, dialogue and background music can come from near the screen, while off-screen action can come from the sides or behind, and a subwoofer provides that deep bass vibration that adds authenticity and heft to everything from explosions to rap.
Pioneer HTZ282 DVD – LE 3,000; HTZ787 DVD – LE 4,000
Pioneer’s home theater options are well priced for the value they provide. Both the 282 and 787 are full Dolby 5.1 setups featuring USB, letting you play, and transfer, audio and video directly off of a USB memory stick. These are only DVD players, requiring a separate player for Blu-ray. For sheer volume, it’s hard to beat the 600 watts of power the 787 puts out, compared to the 300 watts of the 282. The 787 also provides an optical connection missing on the 282. Perhaps the most convenient feature is the 787’s auto-calibration capability, which reduces setup time.
Sony DZ870 – LE 4,300
The Sony DZ870 is a complete home audio system featuring Dolby 5.1. It is a little pricier than some of the other models discussed, but features one huge benefit – wireless speakers. One of the nightmares of setting up a home theater system is hiding all the cables, but this system makes it easy with wireless rear speakers. It comes with a DVD player, so to take full advantage of your big screen TV you’ll need to add a Blu-ray player. Another important feature is the ability to play multiple media formats, from MP3s to VCDs. It is also region-free, meaning it works with DVDs from any part of the world.
Panasonic SC-PT865W – LE 4,400
This Panasonic is another Dolby 5.1 system, and like the Sony it features wireless rear speakers. It also comes with a built-in iPod dock to facilitate access to your favorite tunes. It includes a high-quality optical input and can play multiple file formats. It is also the most powerful system so far, with 1,250 watts. However, don’t blame Business Monthly when neighbors complain that their windows are shaking. The older SC-HT800 is also available in Egypt for LE 3,000, but it is a bit outdated.
Bang & Olufsen BeoCenter 2 – Price, high
For those seeking the highest level of quality and design, Bang & Olufsen is the ultimate choice. In addition to amazing sound, the BeoCenter 2 features a separate dock for most connections, allowing the cords to stay out of the way. Speakers and other components must be bought separately. The BeoLab 9 and 5, at the highest end of the range, are famed for their stirring sound quality and sleek, space-age looks. If price is no object, then at least take a look at Bang & Olufsen.
LG LH-T755 – LE 4,500; LH-RH7506 – LE 6,600
Though nearly twice the price of some of the other systems, the LH-RH7506 might just be worth it. While the sound quality is not necessarily a huge upgrade – all these systems sound great – it has a built-in 160 GB hard drive that can store 42 hours of high-definition video in its top-quality mode. Basically, it’s like having a digital video recorder built into the entertainment system that allows recordings from TV, DVDs or any other source. While it is possible to attach a computer to any of these systems and achieve similar functionality, it can be quite a chore. Its little brother, the LH-T755 is also a solid system, but without the hard drive or power of the 7506.
Yamaha V363 receiver, plus speakers and subwoofer – LE 5,000
The Yamaha receiver, being a dedicated device without any disc-playing capability, can do what it does best – produce amazing sound. This mid-range model has been well reviewed by critics and provides all the basic features one would want, with HDMI connectivity, full 1080p support, a potent 500 watts of power and the ability to attach an iPod through the separate Yamaha universal iPod dock.
WHERE TO BUY:
Radwan El-Ogail
4 Gameat Al Dowal Al Arabiya Street, Mohandiseen
36 Abdullah Al Araby Street, Nasr City
Sony CityStars
CityStars Mall, Omr Ibn Al Khattab Street, Heliopolis
Mansour Electronics & Technologies – for Bang & Olufsen
114 Omar Ibn Al Khattab Street, Heliopolis
Gaballah
41 Makram Ebeid Street, Nasr City
B-Tech
32 Ahmed Oraby Street, Mohandiseen
and other branches around Cairo
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