Go to Windows 7 Insider GuideSony HT-CT100
Manufacturer: Sony Part number: HT-CT100
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Sony's HT-CT100 soundbar/subwoofer audio system is a phenomenal value that sounds great with movies and music.
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CNET editors' review
Sony HT-CT100 price range: $197.99 - $299.99
- Reviewed by: Steve Guttenberg
- Edited by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 06/05/2008
The good: Superslender soundbar home-theater system eliminates the need for an AV receiver; comes with a potent subwoofer; three HDMI inputs; supereasy setup.
The bad: Subwoofer-based connection jacks may require creative placement or cable runs; only supports four AV sources (plus Sony's proprietary DM Port accessories).
The bottom line: Sony's HT-CT100 soundbar/subwoofer audio system is a phenomenal value that sounds great with movies and music.
Editors' note: The rating of the Sony HT-CT100 has been changed since publication to better reflect its value compared to competing home theater systems.
It's a familiar story in consumer electronics: Start with a luxurious, expensive, and exclusive product category, and within just a few years, you'll see a sea of imitators delivering the same basic item with more features, less money, and--ideally--better performance. Take single-speaker audio. Once the exclusive domain of Yamaha Digital Sound Projectors, the category is exploding, with boutique brands (Zvox, Soundmatters), home-audio stalwarts (Polk Audio, Definitive Technology), and major manufacturers (Samsung, Sony) all throwing their respective hat into the ring. But even in this hotly contested category, the Sony HT-CT100 home-theater system is a standout design. The two-part (speaker plus subwoofer) 3.1-channel system is one of the smallest soundbar speakers we've tested to date, and it boasts better-than-average connectivity highlighted by three HDMI inputs. Best of all, it costs just $300, and--considering that modest price tag--it sounds great. And because the HT-CT100 handles power and surround processing, you don't need to buy an AV receiver--just plug in your components and enjoy some powerful audio with more than a hint of faux surround.
To reiterate, the Sony HT-CT100 is a two-part system: a small soundbar designed to sit under the TV, and a modest-size subwoofer that also houses all of the electronics and connections. The skinny speaker is a mere 2.75 inches high and 2.6 deep. Its 31.5-inch width is also smaller than most soundbars and will make a nice match with TVs with 32-inch screens or larger. The speaker sports a satin-finished black plastic cabinet and perforated (nonremovable) metal grille; it's a no-frills look that won't win any beauty contests, but it's unobtrusive enough. The soundbar has three oval-shaped 1.6- by 2.8-inch drivers (left/center/right). You can wall mount the 4.4-pound speaker with its keyhole slots, so long as you account for the permanently attached 10-foot umbilical cable that connects it to the subwoofer. The cable terminates with a 9-pin serial connector that plugs into the subwoofer--if you need to run it a longer distance, check out our related tip.
The medium-density fiberboard sub feels more substantial than the speaker and its black-matte vinyl finish looks a bit more upscale. It's 19.75 inches high and 14.25 deep, and weighs 22 pounds. A black cloth (nonremovable) grille covers the 6.5-inch woofer mounted on the sub's right side. The front edge of the top panel has power, input, and volume controls; the display on the front baffle offers info about volume level, the selected source, and surround processing. There's a bass port smack dab in the middle of the 6.4-inch-wide front baffle. The subwoofer's built-in power amplifiers deliver 50 watts to each of the speakers' three drivers, and 100 watts to the sub's woofer.
All of the system's connections are found on the subwoofer's back panel. There you'll find three HDMI inputs; four digital-audio-only inputs (three optical, one coaxial); one analog stereo input (red/white RCA jacks); and one Digital Media Port connector. However, not counting the DM Port (it's a proprietary connector that works with only a quartet of proprietary Sony accessories), those inputs are really limited to just four AV sources--three audio or HDMI, and one audio only. In other words, you'd use the optical audio inputs (for instance) in lieu of, not in addition to, the HDMI inputs. Obviously, HDMI is the preferred connection, since it allows you to toggle audio and video at the click of a button on the HT-CT100's remote. (And, with the addition of a sub-$50 HDMI switcher, you could more than double the unit's HDMI capacity.) For non-HDMI sources (anything from a Nintendo Wii to a VCR to a non-high-def cable box), you'll use the TV for video switching, and the HT-CT100 for audio.
The unit includes standard Dolby and DTS surround processing modes. For Blu-ray, it can accept uncompressed PCM soundtracks, but it won't decode Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, nor any DTS HD flavors. (The better Blu-ray players, such as Sony's own PS3, decode those soundtracks internally and output PCM anyway, so that's not going to be a big deal for most folks.)
After we had everything hooked up and ready to go, we couldn't get any sound out of the thing. The controls on the sub brought the HT-CT100 to life, but it didn't respond to the remote's commands. We changed the remote's batteries; still no luck, so we thought the remote was defective. Turned out our mistake was pointing the remote toward the subwoofer--the sensor is in the speaker. With that hurdle out of the way setup was easy, and the remote allows for adjustment of the speaker's center channel and subwoofer volume levels. The remote can also control Sony Bravia televisions.
The HT-CT100 strutted its stuff when we fired up the Blu-ray version of ZZ Top's Live From Texas disc. The band's sound filled the CNET listening room, so we could hear the hometown crowd was clearly having a great time, Billy Gibbon's trademark guitar thrash was in fine form, and Frank Beard's drums kicked pretty hard. Clearly, the Sony soundbar's gutsy sound was a force to be reckoned with. Surround ambiance was huge, extending well into the room. And when we stood up and walked around, the surround held up pretty well. That's not true with most single-speaker surround systems; their surround collapses back into the speaker for listeners not seated directly inline with the speaker.
We next popped on the Talladega Nights Blu-ray and pummeled the HT-CT100 with a full dose of pedal-to-the-metal NASCAR horsepower. Between that and the heavy metal score, we expected the HT-CT100 to cry uncle. But no, it sounded awesome! Dynamics and power were on par with some of the better budget priced 5.1-channel home-theater-in-a-box systems, and ahead of some far more expensive soundbar systems. The HT-CT100 didn't hold anything back when the cars smashed into the racetrack's retaining walls.
We did notice one important key to maximizing the surround effect: beyond the overall volume, you can control the subwoofer and center channel levels. The more you crank the center up, the narrower the soundfield became. In other words, keep the center channel level at the baseline "zero" setting or below for the most pronounced surround effects.
CD sound was also far better than average. The acoustic tunes on Cat Power's Jukebox CD were natural and clear, which was all the more impressive when we stopped to remember the speaker doesn't have any tweeters! The HT-CT100's refined sonics with the orchestral score to the movie Birth were again beyond what we've come to expect from soundbar systems. True, the score's big bass drums didn't have their full weight and impact, but the Sony's low bass oomph was respectable. Not quite the equal of much pricier soundbar/sub systems, but not at all bad. Stereo imaging stretched out beyond the edges of the speaker.
In the final analysis, we suspect that the Sony HT-CT100 may not have the gravitas to anchor a primary home theater--don't expect it to deliver the same pronounced surround effects you'll find on the Yamaha Digital Sound Projectors, which use a sophisticated beam system. But those systems cost two, three, or even four times as much. The Sony is certainly well-suited for smaller dens and bedrooms, and it easily trumps rival soundbar/subwoofer models, including the Yamaha YAS-70 and Boston Acoustics TVee Model Two, delivering better sound and more features than both for less money. As such, the HT-CT100 is an easy pick for the best sub-$300 soundbar/subwoofer system we've heard to date.
User reviews
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Great sound in such a small package
by Shaner000 on July 22, 2008
Pros: Smallest sound bar you can find. Great Sub Woofer for such a low cost.
Cons: Surround Sound effect is minimal, but expected.
Summary: This system sounds great especially if you use it in a smaller room. Turning the volume pretty high really does create a surround sound effect that will rumble your couch. ...
Summary: This system sounds great especially if you use it in a smaller room. Turning the volume pretty high really does create a surround sound effect that will rumble your couch. If you don't want to spend much money and don't want to see wires running all around your room, this unit will blow you away. I was very skeptical after seeing how small it was, but it really does fill the room with booming sound. However, it is important to remember that is it made for small to medium sized rooms and will not fill a big room with as much surround sound as a higher end five speaker system. You really can't beat the price tag and the quality sound!
10 out of 10 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Bye, Bye wire clutter! Bye , Bye good sound?
by AugustRain on May 14, 2008
Pros: Three HDMI inputs , one HDMI output capable of 1080p. Extremley easy setup. No rear speakers to have to run cable for and no drilling.The price is seductive.
Cons: No speaker calibration tool to tweal the speakers to your particular room dimmensions. Surround effect is negligible.
Summary: If your used to a real 5.1 Home Theatre in a box such as one of Sony's other Dream sytems You'll be dissapointed in the strength of ...
Summary: If your used to a real 5.1 Home Theatre in a box such as one of Sony's other Dream sytems You'll be dissapointed in the strength of sound, but come on for $300 bucks your getting a pretty sophisticated and up to date setup with all the proprietary Sony Bells and whistles. I have my HD cable box, PS3, and Xbox 360 running through it and I must say it looks amazing on my 65" Sony Bravia DLP. My entertaining area is only about 725 square feet and rear speakers wouldn't have fit symetrically for optimum sweet spot listening. The only other sound bars I considered were the Polk SurroundBar and Yamaha YSP-4000, both solid choices but much pricier and require you to buy other peripherils.
11 out of 13 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good, affordable system
by VictusMaximus on June 7, 2008
Pros: Works with Xbox360
Cons: Maybe not so good for large rooms
Summary: If you live in an apartment, condo or have a mid-size living room that needs a system, this'll work.
I purchased the system because I live in a condo, ...Summary: If you live in an apartment, condo or have a mid-size living room that needs a system, this'll work.
I purchased the system because I live in a condo, needed something for my HDTV/Xbox 360, didn't want to spend a ton of cash, and my better half does not like wires and clutter.
The sound bar is small and powerful. The bass is impressive. Default settings are nice, and you get a pretty crisp range of sound considering the unobtrusive size of the unit. I set it up in five minutes and played with GTA IV, Halo 3 and a few movies. All sounded much better than they did off the HDTV's speakers.
It may not be true surround sound, but for a smaller place, this bar is an exceptionally solid value. And unless you're a huge audiophile, this system is a good value. You probably won't find a better system at this price that doesn't have a lot of wires.6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I should have listened to the personal reviews (Argghh)
by DirectOh on December 4, 2008
Pros: Lots Of Inputs, Good Bass, Nice looking Cabinet, Easy hookup and contrary to other reports, it can be very loud.
Cons: No High End Sound, Just lots of Bass and muddled Low Midrange. Forget surround sound. The Menu system is counter intuitive
Summary: I bought this based on CNets review and this is the second time they have been dead wrong and coincidently it's on a Sony product again!
My Panasonic 46" ...Summary: I bought this based on CNets review and this is the second time they have been dead wrong and coincidently it's on a Sony product again!
So after 3 weeks of playing with this system I have some better news. What I have found is that if you can change the device you are using to PCM audio output you will get much better sound from the speakers, but if your device will only output 5.1 or AC3 sound you will be stuck with the flat sound and no highs.
My Panasonic 46" Plasma's internal speakers have much better sound than these speakers, the sound from the CT100 is muddled and low toned, you won't be hearing glass breaking or any high pitched sounds, just a low rumbling kind of audio. In order to get even half way decent sound I have to keep my TV speakers "ON" so I have some highs and then use the CT100 as basically a Subwoofer only.
Trust me on this one, anyone who says this thing sounds even reasonably good has never owned a real 5.1 speaker system or has never heard a good stereo system.
It's not that I am picking the CT100 apart based on comparisons with $1000+ systems, I am comparing it to straight sound coming out of my Plasma TV and I can also tell you that even in the Bass Category it does not compare to the Sound my old Sony 36" XBR Tube TV had. The XBR's internal subwoofer was on par with the CT100 and the treble was 10x better.
The Menu system on the CT100 is a real mess, but in the end that does not really matter much because you will rarely use it.
Using A Bluray Disk of Transformers I tested the different Audio setting on the CT100, I tried "Concert", "Movie", "Standard" etc. all these settings dont make any difference to the overall sound, it still sounded exactly the same no matter which setting I used.
There is no Bass or treble controls so your pretty much stuch with whatever sound the unit produces.
The Sub woofer is very nicely built, I have cranked it up ver high and it still has not buckled or distorted, so I can overall say that the Sub is very good, the LCD display etc is very nice and informative although most people won't ever be able to see it since there sub will most likely be hidden away. The inputs are numerous and very good, this may be the single most attractive part of the CT100.
My Advice:
If your Tone Deaf to the high end spectrum the CT100 will be great for you, everything above about 4 Khz is attenuated to almost zip. (The human voice goes up t0 about 3 KHz) so you get an idea that even a womens voice starts to sound a bit bassy on the CT100. If your willing to open the Speaker Bar and maybe replace some of the speakers with better quality speakers you may get much better sound, this is the option that I think I am going to go with because quit frankly I cant afford a Yamaha system so if I spend another $50 on the CT100 I may be able to get it to reproduce sound up to 10-12 KHZ which would make it ideal. Your best bet if you have not already bought these speakers is to just look else where! While the Price, the cabinet and everything else looks great, the sound will disappoint.
Updated on Dec 18, 2008
For some really stupid reason the amplifier inside the subwoofer seems to decode 5.1 or Dolby sound and de-emphasize all the high notes while pumping up the Low Bass notes. When you input a PCM signal the signal processor in the Amp seems to be in a custom mode so you can change the sound using the Soundfield options and at least get a jist of treble from the speakers. Overall I would still say that these speakers are never going to be impressive just OK at best.6 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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It's Going Back...
by aeneas01 on August 30, 2008
Pros: aesthetically and physically a perfect for my ht needs - sleek and well made.
Cons: extremely signal dependent. absolutely shines with some signals and provides all of the volume range you would ever require - but also fails miserably with far too many other signals while providing extremely weak volume even when set to max.
Summary: before tossing out the packing box and allowing the return window to close, i highly recommend playing a dozen or so dvds and going through all of your sat & ...
Summary: before tossing out the packing box and allowing the return window to close, i highly recommend playing a dozen or so dvds and going through all of your sat & ota channels to get a firm grasp on this unit's severe volume limitations. so close, yet so far...
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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I wanted to like this product, I really did.
by radrider82 on November 8, 2008
Pros: super easy setup.
Cons: Very bad for videogames, Very little additional options.
Summary: I was in the market to get an HD receiver. So when I read this CNET review, I almost ran to my nearest electronics supplier to buy this. The maker ...
Summary: I was in the market to get an HD receiver. So when I read this CNET review, I almost ran to my nearest electronics supplier to buy this. The maker plus the price was too good to pass up plus CNET's blessing? Sold. I mean, I was a little put off by the User reviews but figured these guys were super audiophiles and were being picky. I wish I had listened to them. It started off really good. The setup took about 5 minutes and it started off immediately, then things got ugly. I first tried the HD Cable and it sounded ok. I kind of missed the surround speakers. Then, I tried some PS3. Absolute mess! I couldn't hear the enemies coming from behind so I kept dying. the sound of guns sounded less realistic and more like toy guns being fired. After trying to watch Pirates of the Carribean on Blu-Ray, I'd had it with this product. Maybe it was just me. Maybe the product I got was defective. I ended up taking it back today. Next time I'm going to learn to listen to the actual product instead of rushing based on someone else's review.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good Sound at a Good Price
by bobm128 on August 14, 2009
Pros: Unobtrusive, clear sound, 3 hdmi in's, decently priced.
Cons: Menu requires the manual to understand, no on-screen display, remote must be pointed at the sound bar, sound quality not as rich as the top rated models.
Summary: I've had the Sony BRAVIA 3.1-Ch. Home Theater Soundbar Speaker System with Subwoofer for about a week now and am happy with it. I have a small condo (~...
Summary: I've had the Sony BRAVIA 3.1-Ch. Home Theater Soundbar Speaker System with Subwoofer for about a week now and am happy with it. I have a small condo (~550 sqft living room area) and wanted some decent, affordable sound for my TV & iPod, without running wires. Also, I needed a system that wouldn't shake my walls and irritate my neighbors.
The Sony provides clean sound that fills the space well. It provides some surround sound simulation, which is nice. The bass is more than I need in my condo. I keep the subwoofer set at -2 to 0; this provides some rich lower frequencies without transferring sound into the surrounding units. The sound bar provides much better sound than provided by my new Samsung LN52B750 TV. I hooked up my system (PS3, satellite, Xbox360) with HDMI cables.
The control menu visuals are on the subwoofer, not the TV screen so it's more difficult to read.
I think it's well worth the $247.99 that I paid. I recommend the Sony HT CT-100 sound bar for providing good sound in its price range.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great sound at a great price
by cosmosjoshys on June 3, 2009
Pros: 3 HDMI inputs, easy to set up, sounds great with movies and music, great price
Cons: Could use one more HDMI, but that might be a little picky.
Summary: I got this rather than a home theater in a box system because I wanted a small speaker set up. I think it sounds better than some of the cheap ...
Summary: I got this rather than a home theater in a box system because I wanted a small speaker set up. I think it sounds better than some of the cheap 5.1 systems. It also sounds better than the vizio, samsung, and boston sound bars. If you want great sound for a small apartment this is a perfect choice.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent sound, no more wire clutter.
by ubpfc on February 6, 2009
Pros: Easy to set up
Lokks great
Sounds superbCons: Paying $70 for the Sony Digital Media Port to play my iPod.
Summary: Got this at a Best Buy January sale for $199. The sound is very impressive for such a small sound bar, we never need to use max volume and we ...
Summary: Got this at a Best Buy January sale for $199. The sound is very impressive for such a small sound bar, we never need to use max volume and we have a very large room. Comes in an extremely large box. Connected to my Xbox, PS3 and HD DVR. Hated all the wires from my surround sound so this is the perfect choice.
In reply to some of the negative posts. It's a $300 soundbar people! Of course it's not going to sound like Concorde going over your head, you get what you pay for.
What stops me from giving it 5 stars is having to buy Sony's proprietary DM Port accessorie to play my iPod (retails for $129 but I found one on Ebay for $66) when some of Sony's surround sound packages come with it already.
If you have been thinking about buying one for a while don't worry you won't regret it.
Updated on Feb 6, 20092 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good sound, lacks features
by amphigorist on September 3, 2008
Pros: I didn't want cables everywhere. This does it. The sound is clear. I suggest taking the bass to its lowest output at -6 and upping the treble to its highest at +6. Even at those levels, there is enough bass.
Cons: There is no headphone out jack, which means late-night movie watching is out. Just ask my neighbors or girlfriend. Other than no headphone jack, there isn't much wrong with this set-up -- especially considering the price.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Sony
- Part number: HT-CT100
- Description: With three HDMI inputs on tap, this system is tailor made for the gamer looking for an easy, quick and great sounding solution for their next gen gaming system. It can playback LPCM from the HDMI connection, plus you can listen to your favorite music from the digital media port that works with various accessories (sold separately). The HT-CT100 can also control a select number of BRAVIA televisions with BRAVIA Sync via the HDMI interface. With "One Touch Play," operations that took several steps have been reduced to one.
General
- Product Type Home theater system
- Dimensions (WxDxH) / Weight Speaker system : 31.5 in x 2.6 in x 2.7 in, Speaker system : Subwoofer : 6.3 in x 14.2 in x 9.7 in
Audio System
- Components AV receiver, Speaker system
- Sound Output Mode Surround Sound
- Built-in Decoders DTS decoder, Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II
- Surround Sound Effects S-FORCE Pro Surround Sound, S-FORCE Front Surround Sound
- Digital Sound Processor (DSP) Yes
- DSP Presets Game, Music, Cinema, Sports
- Surround System Class 3.1 channel
- Output Power / Total 250 Watt
- Amplifier Output Details 50 Watt - 3 channel(s) ( Front ), 100 Watt - 1 channel(s) ( Subwoofer )
- Built-in Display Fluorescent
- Additional Features Bass-reflex, Magnetic shield
- Digital Storage Media None
Connectors
- Coaxial Digital Input Yes
- Optical Digital Input Yes
Radio
- Type None
Turntable
- Type None
CD System
- CD system type None
DVD
- Type None
Cassette System
- Cassette system type None
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
MD System
- MD system type None
Headphones
- Headphones Type None
Microphone
- Type None
Remote Control (2nd)
- Type None
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x HDMI output ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ), 3 x HDMI input ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ), 3 x Digital audio input (optical), 1 x Component video input ( RCA phono x 3 ), 1 x Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 )
Power
- Power Device Power supply - Internal
Miscellaneous
- AV Furniture None
Manufacturer info
- Sony
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Sony products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.sonystyle.com
- Address:
16765 W. Bernardo Dr., San Diego, CA 92127 - Phone: 1-877-865-SONY
- Email: contact@sel.sony.com
- Fax: 941-768-7790
