Samsung HT-Z520T

• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 3 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 10 stars

  Transformational Experience!

  by CNETkeys on April 23, 2009

  Pros: Easy to set up; looks sleek; sounds great; integrates all needs; plays HDTV, FM, iPod, upconverts DVDs; wireless rear speakers

  Cons: No clock; uses 2.4GHz frequency for wireless rear speakers which interferes with wireless network...need to have dual band capabilities on network with 5.0GHz

  Summary: Okay, let me come clean and disclose that this is my first HTS ever, so I'm probably an easy sell. After researching Samsung's website and various electronics suppliers, ...

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  Summary: Okay, let me come clean and disclose that this is my first HTS ever, so I'm probably an easy sell. After researching Samsung's website and various electronics suppliers, I purchased online at Newegg.com (showed up in 3 days in perfect condition at the LOWEST price).
  
  That being said, this system works awesome in it's first 2 days and I'm extremely happy with the purchase...a LOT of bang for the buck for our family's moderate HTS needs. Here's my observations and addtional thoughts...buy this if you're looking middle of the road for an HTS and you have HD service for TV.
  
  -We own a 56" Samsung DLP 1080i bought in 2006 so this is a good addition to the "family".
  
  -We typically buy movies off our satellite provider and don't purchase DVD's...when we rent, we don't go Blu-Ray, but if we ever do I can hook it up to the HTS at that time.
  
  -The piano black finish is a blessing to replace our hideous silver DVD/VCR player...the system is sleek...the SW hides behind our stand, serves as a stand for the iPod dock, and is barely visually noticeable...you notice it in terms of sound! Wow.
  
  -iPod dock is great and easy to use...our teen daughter loves it...hopefully she'll be motiviated to do more chores now!
  
  -Be aware if you're running a 2.4GHzwireless network, the HTS wireless rear speaker set up and frequency will probably interfere...should be an easy fix since we have a Dual Band (2.4 & 5.0 GHz) Wireless router...I've ordered an upgrade mini-PCI card for the laptop that can use the 5.0 GHz freq and should solve the problem.
  
  -LOVE the wireless rear speakers! My wife would NEVER had gone for wires going over the hardwood floors so that was a big selling point...I have noticed a very faint humm on the wireless receiver, but I think that again is just an adjustment on placement I need to make and it's largely unnoticeable.
  
  -ProLogic Dolby options are plenty along with many speaker options and effects...great versatility.
  
  -I've read where people complained on earlier versions of this HTS that the TV doesn't produce surround sound...does for me! I use HDMI cables (not incl) from HTS/DVD receiver and my satellite reciever to my TV, plus use an optical cable (not incl) from the satellite receiver to the HTS...makes regular programs seem like movies...e.g. Fringe!
  
  -Complaints: No clock display (must be a Samsung thing) and the display and onscreen display are a bit archaic looking...reminds me of my cutting edge hi-fi stereo in 1984...but they do the job; a few seconds of delay for the sound at startup...again, not a big deal; trying to sync the sound from the TV speakers with HTS...kind of depends on the program you're watching...it's fairly close and if the "echo" is too much, the TV sound is just turned down to zero since it is so inferior; wish the remote controlled my satellite reciever too...have to keep track of 2 remotes...no biggie.
  
  That's it!!! Hope it helps and happy listening...don't listen to the people who bought the "wrong product" and blame Samsung for their own lameness. Our living room has been transformed and my wife has quickly been won over...phew!

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  2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 3 stars

  nice looking but not well made

  by stu016 on December 19, 2009

  Pros: Alot of nice features, but did not get to try them all as the CD/DVD tray was defective so the unit will be returned

  Cons: Cheaply made plastic dvd tray that would neither open or close correctly.

• 4 stars

  Cheap hardware, noisy wireless

  by quisk on November 10, 2009

  Pros: Looks good - high gloss black, rounded edges
  Easy installation - speakers/wires color coded
  DVD player works fine

  Cons: Noisy rear speakers - wireless interference
  Doesn't work well with CATV box
  Manual lacks information
  Long wait when changing functions

  Summary: My girlfriend bought a Samsung HT-Z520T home theater system to replace a Panasonic surround system that was damaged by a lightning strike recently. Installation of the Samsung was simple, plug ...

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  Summary: My girlfriend bought a Samsung HT-Z520T home theater system to replace a Panasonic surround system that was damaged by a lightning strike recently. Installation of the Samsung was simple, plug and play with color coded speaker wiring. Unfortuantely, getting the CATV to work wasn't so simple - sometimes the receiver would recognize the CATV signal, sometimes it would just show "weak or no signal" and require lots of menu searching, powering on/off, etc. to point it back to the correct input and recognize a CATV signal existed. A more detailed search through the manual was competely useless - it has single sentences for subjects that should contain a lot more of detail - no explanations for anything, etc. - just "plug this wire in here", that's it. We had HDMI cables for both input (from CATV box) and output (to TV), so the wiring was as simple and straightforward as possible. When the system actually worked (found the CATV signal), the rear/wireless speakers had both a very annoying high pitched whine and a low pitched rumble (like a fan, but none existed), apparently interference from other wireless devices in the general area. This was the dealbreaker - a surround sound system with noisy rear speakers is not a viable surround sound system. The Samsung system is going back for refund, and we're looking for a replacement that has hard-wired speakers. BTW, "wireless" is a misnomer - there are plenty of wires involved in these "wireless" rear speakers, just none that run from the main receiver to the rear speakers. The rear speakers get wired to a "wireless receiver", which gets plugged into a wall outlet for power. Also, I noticed the speakers and speaker hardware are generally very cheap looking, expecially the sub-woofer. The sub has a very small speaker, no cooling fan, etc. - just a simple little speaker mounted in the side of a box. Compared to the (similarly priced/2006 model) Panasonic system my girlfriend was replacing, the Samsung system appreared to be heavily outclassed.

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