Most HTIBs combine a 5.1-speaker package with an AV receiver that has an integrated DVD player, which these days is usually capable of upscaling DVDs via an HDMI output. The only missing piece is a TV. HTIB prices range from less than $300 to in excess of $3,000.
HTIB types:
Cheap thrills |
High on style |
Component packages |
Exotica: wireless and virtual surround
Cheap thrills
Upside: Affordable; compact; comparatively easy to set up.
Downside: Won't rock the house; spotty build quality; limited connectivity options.
Budget-priced HTIBs almost always feature small speakers and subwoofers. Sound quality is usually far from stellar, but some low-end HTIBs sound pretty decent.
Samsung HT-X70
Power ratings fall within the 25-to-50-watt-per-channel range. That's enough to fill a small room with sound; just don't expect massive loudness capability from a wee HTIB.
Surround formats are limited to basic Dolby Digital/Pro Logic II and DTS/DTS Neo:6, while connectivity options are typically restricted to just two or three AV inputs.
Most HTIBs, even in the budget range, include an HDMI output with upscaling, so look for that if you have an HDMI-equipped HDTV.
High on style
Upside: Elegant appearance; features galore; comparatively easy to set up.
Downside: Still won't rock the house; limited bass output; sleek-looking electronics usually have limited connectivity options.
A number of manufacturers offer sleek HTIBs with petite satellites (5 inches tall or even smaller). At the other extreme, you can buy HTIBs with tall yet incredibly slender floor-standing speakers. Some HTIBs tuck their amplifiers inside the subwoofer, which allows the manufacturer to trim down the receiver/DVD player component to truly svelte sizes.
Single-play and DVD-changer models are available. Single-play models are the most compact and smoothest-running, and they tend to be the most reliable. The changers, which typically hold three to six discs, may be either single-tray-loading or carousel-style mechanisms. Tray changers can be almost as compact as the single-play models, though they're usually noisier and slower as they go about their disc-changing operations. Carousel models are faster and quieter, but the drawback is they grab a lot of shelf space; many are 17 inches wide and 15 to 18 inches deep.
Component packages
Upside: Solid build quality; features similar standalone components; generous connectivity.
Downside: More involved setup; clunky component styling; speaker packages usually far below the quality (and price) of separate speakers.
Onkyo HT-S907
Rather than combine the receiver and the DVD player in one compact unit, some manufacturers offer HTIBs built around separate components. This approach forfeits most of the space-saving allure of the classic HTIB, but there are performance advantages to the separates route.
With component-based HTIBs, their larger size lets designers fit in more power and significantly greater connectivity options. Component systems provide inputs for a larger number of external sources, such as satellite, VCRs, and cassette decks, than one-piece HTIBs. HDMI connectivity is often included, along with the ability to switch between two sources, but more sophisticated features--such as HDMI upconversion and deinterlacing--are usually missing.
Exotica: wireless and virtual surround
Upside: Space-saving HTIB design still incorporates cutting-edge technology.
Downside: Sometimes expensive--you might as well buy first-class separates.
Niro Two6.1 home-theater system
HTIBs strive to take the fuss out of home theater, but for some people even HTIBs are too much of an imposition on their living room. That's where wireless and virtual-surround HTIBs fit in, eliminating many of wires and additional speakers that make even traditional HTIBs a hassle to set up. Wireless accessories are now included with many HTIBs, or at least are available as an add-on option. Of course, wireless doesn't always mean wireless--even "wireless" rear speakers usually need to be plugged into the wall--but the long cables from the front to the back of the room are eliminated.
Virtual surround, on the other hand, ditches the rear speakers and attempts to simulate the surround experience from three, two, or even one speaker. True audiophiles will complain that nothing beats the real thing--and they're right--but many of the newer virtual-surround systems offer good approximations, which is an acceptable compromise for design-conscious buyers.
Infinity Primus 360
