One-box systems have more limited sockets a possible problem if you need to connect a wide range of ancillaries such as an Apple TV (see InGear s review at tinyurl.com/3a6btn), an Xbox and Sky Plus. But they are more stylish and easier to set up.
In testing, we gave equal status to video and audio by playing standard audio CDs and movies, but we also assessed DVD recordings of live music concerts. As none of the systems apart from the Meridian includes speakers, the tests were conducted with the same high quality B W loudspeakers. These were arranged as a 5.
1 surround-sound setup but with the two front speakers larger for optimum performance in stereo-only use. The results were surprising, but all the systems were impressive certainly by the standards of budget home cinema. They were judged relative to each other and also compared with a midrange Audiolab stereo amplifier and CD player costing 800 together.
It may seem illogical to invest in a system based on a current DVD player in view of the advent of Blu-ray and HD-DVD high-definition (HD) discs, yet there are compelling reasons for doing so. There are still very few high-definition movies available, they cost a lot more, and there is still no outcome to the HD format war. Also, the first HD disc players don t sound anything like as good as the audiophile-tuned systems we reviewed.
However, InGear is testing a group of HD players and will report the results over the next few weeks. Most current standard DVD players claim to eke out the best from existing discs by upscaling the video, boosting the picture to a clarity approaching HD if viewed on an HD-ready screen. Budget DVD decks offer only modest upscaling improvements, but all the premium-priced players here (apart from the Meridian and Linn) did a good job of providing far crisper video.
The special audio circuitry in these systems made the best of standard DVD soundtracks and several worked wonders with high-resolution DVD-Audio discs and SACDs two audio-disc formats that haven t really caught on. Playback from CD was more variable, but the one-box systems were all excellent. With internet downloads and the ability to wirelessly beam movies or music throughout the home, the days of the silver disc are numbered.
And if convenience is your raison d tre, these premium systems may not be for you. But if you own a large library of DVDs or CDs, hanker for top-class home entertainment and don t want to faff with too many gadgets or a computer, a high quality system that squeezes the best from your discs is a good investment, and you can always add an HD player later. One-box systems have more limited sockets a possible problem if you need to connect a wide range of ancillaries such as an Apple TV (see InGear s review at tinyurl.
com/3a6btn), an Xbox and Sky Plus.
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