JVC TH-BA3

The TH-BA3 is the market’s first dual-wireless soundbar system. Users will not only get the simplicity of setup with the wireless subwoofer, but they’ll also get more depth of sound, with equally easy to set up wireless rear surround speakers. The system offers a total of 280 watts of sound and 5.1 channel surround sound. The soundbar has four speakers, two for the center channel and one each for the left and right. The two wireless rear speakers and the wireless subwoofer round out the 5.1 channel system.

The TH-BA3 offers one analog and two optical digital inputs and decodes Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby ProLogic II surround signals.

The JVC TH-BA3 is available this month for a suggested $549.95.

JVC TH-BS7

The JVC TH-BS7 is a stylish system that’s designed to pair well with wall-mounted HDTV panels. The system features 180 watts though four JVC Direct Drive speakers that cover the left and right channels, along with left and right surround channels and a wireless subwoofer. The soundbar creates a simulated surround sound environment without relying on rear speakers.

Complementing the slim design of the soundbar is the system’s amplifier/control unit. It measures just 1.2 inches deep and can be wall mounted. It decodes Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II, and offers one analog and three optical digital inputs.

The JVC TH-BS7 is available this month for a suggested $599.95.

We’ve seen a lot of sound bar systems this year and the general consensus is that they’re better than your TV speakers, but not quite up to the experience of full 5.1 or 7.1 systems.  The biggest advantage that sound bars have is the ease of setup.  You don’t have to worry about wiring and placing four or five speakers and they’re great for smaller spaces and secondary TVs, like in the bedroom or office.

It’s also been my experience that a subwoofer is an almost critical addition to a sound bar – there is no way you’re going to get the deep rumbling in a good movie with a simple sound bar.  The key, in my opinion, to having a sound bar with a subwoofer is that the connection is wireless.  If you have to connect a wire between your sound bar and the subwoofer, the whole argument for the sound bar — not having to wire and place speakers — goes right out the window.  Thankfully the TH-BA1 does have a wireless subwoofer unit which makes setup a breeze.

JVC TH-BA1 Specifications

• Center unit speakers: 4 x 8cm cone, full-range speakers, output of 30W each, frequency range of 84 Hz to 22kHz
• Center unit inputs: 1 analog (RCA), and 2 digital (optical)
• Center unit dimensions: 35-7/16″ x 4-15/16″ x 3-3/8″
• Center unit weight: 7.8 pounds
• Subwoofer speaker: 16cm cone, with 100W output and frequency range of 45 Hz to 5 kHz
• Subwoofer dimensions: 8-1/2″ x 13-7/8″ x 10″
• Subwoofer weight: 11 pounds

Setup

Unpacking and placing speakers is an easy enough proposition.  There is an AC adapter for the center speaker unit and the sound bar plugs directly into the wall.  I was expecting to find at least an analog audio cable in the box, but didn’t find one.  After checking the manual, I noticed that it’s not supplied.  This wasn’t a huge deal to me and wouldn’t be for a lot of people as most of us have a few lying around.  However, for a system that’s supposed to be easy to setup, I would expect to find everything I needed to get going in the box.  While I’m on the topic – the sound bar is wall-mountable, but the mounting hardware is sold separately.

Inputs

Once the system was powered up and audio connected, I was good to go.  I did have to re-pair the wireless connection between the sound bar and subwoofer, but the manual explained things well and I was up and running.

Usability

The settings for the TH-BA1 can be changed via buttons on the front panel of the sound bar or with the included remote control.  The settings are pretty self explanatory.  For volume adjustment, there is a “master” volume control that keeps the center, surround, and subwoofer volumes in sync with each other.  You can also modify these three “channels” independently, which is actually very handy.  Often, during movies, you need to bump up the center for better hearing of the dialog or you need to bump up the subwoofer to make you jump out of your seat.  However, if you’re watching a sports event you may want to tweak the settings so you hear the sounds of the crowd surrounding you rather than the “thump” from the subwoofer when the commentator clears his throat.

There are buttons to activate the different sets of inputs if you need to switch from listening to a TV broadcast to your game system.  A fade/mute button comes in handy for when the phone rings.

The surround feature can be disabled completely, or you can choose between two modes. They’re creatively named: “Surround 1″ and “Surround 2″.  According to the manual, Surround 1 is better for reproduction of multi-channel sources while Surround 2 is better for stereo music sources.

There are two remaining buttons on the remote – one controls the brightness of the lights on the sound bar’s front panel, and the other toggles the Dynamic Range Compression (DRC) feature that enables clearer sound quality at low volumes for Dolby Digital and DTS sources.

There are plenty of indicator lights on the sound bar to let you know what you’re doing: power, input indicator, surround mode, and a 2 digit display that shows volume levels and other info as needed (like SR1 when you turn on Surround 1 mode).

Controls on front panel

Overall, the system was extremely easy to use.

Performance and Build

We used the TH-BA1 to listen to several different sources – gaming console, TV programming from satellite provider, DVDs and music CDs.  Overall, I would rate the audio quality on the high side.  The system handled the different types of audio well and definitely outperformed the built-in TV speakers – even ones that can simulate surround sound.

Audio quality remained consistent at various volume levels. I was able to hear details during quiet sections of classical music, but it also didn’t get distorted when the volume was cranked up to uncomfortable listening levels.  I would have preferred just a bit more “crispness” to the audio, but that’s a subjective sort of thing that really comes down to personal preference.

A common occurrence with sound bars is their limited listening area, for lack of a better term.  They’re really meant to work for people listening right in front of the TV, which is fine for most home theater applications.  However, if you use a sound bar to reproduce music for a party or background dinner music, the sound isn’t quite ideal.  Once you’re out of the listening bubble, the audio from the sound bar and subwoofer can become unbalanced (you’ll hear too much or too little subwoofer, depending on its relative position).  You can probably alleviate some of this by adjusting the speaker locations.  Also, while we were testing, I found that I got the best audio when the sound bar was pretty much exactly level with my ears.  I was sitting about 10 feet away from the unit and just by raising my listening level by a foot, I could tell a difference in the way the sound effect worked.

Overall build quality was very good, but I think the design leaves something to be desired.  Construction was solid, with no mismatched plastic panels or molding issues.  The sound bar unit is a plastic housing with a metal mesh front.  The subwoofer is a wooden (MDF) cabinet and had a fabric cover.  It would have been nicer to have a better housing on the sound bar, but if you’re going to wall-mount the unit, the lighter weight of the plastic housing is probably a good plan.

The design of the system seems bit dated and ordinary, although you can hide the subwoofer.  On the sound bar, the two digit display is an old school LED display and the only attempt at making the controls/front panel looking trendy is the blue light that indicates the power status.  The system doesn’t look bad, but I think there could have been a better attempt to get it to match the current design trends – sleek and minimalistic.

Bottom Line

The JVC TH-BA1 is a very capable sound bar system.  Not only does the sound bar produce quality audio, the wireless subwoofer gives you the freedom to place your speakers where you need and get a better overall sound.  The build quality was very good, but the design could be a bit more up to date with current design themes.  Separate volume controls for the center, surround and subwoofer is an excellent feature that lets the listener fine tune the output for different types of programming.  Overall, given the price of this system, I would have liked to have seen just a bit more out of it.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The black, low-profile soundbars includes four individually housed 3 3/16″speakers, an amplifier and a sound processor with 220 watts of total system power. They decode Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS decoding. While most soundbars are using Dolby’s Virtual Speaker for simulated surround sound, JVC is going at it with their own surround technology. The two outside speakers deliver the left and right channel information, while the middle two speakers each deliver center channel information plus the surround/left and surround/right channels.

The subwoofer features a 6 5/6″ driver and is powered by an internal 100-watt digital amplifier. Like other wireless subs, JVC employs the 2.4GHz digital wireless band to connect the subwoofer to the soundbar sans wires. Both systems also come with a remote to handle power, volume adjustment, source selection and surround mode selection.

As noted, the JVC TH-SB100 adds a yet to be identified JVC Blu-ray player. We do know that it features support for the AVCHD, JPEG, MP3, WMA, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS and DTS HD formats, BD Live compatibility, HDMI ver.1.3. USB Host, Ethernet port, component and composite video outputs, and analog, optical and coaxial audio outputs.

Both the JVC TH-BA1 and TH-SB100 will be available this month for $399.99 and $699.99, respectively.

Update – JVC TH-BA1 Review Posted

Home theaters have been coming in kit form for years, now; gone are the days when you had to buy each piece all on its own. As a result, manufacturers have been forced to seek out new ways of differentiating themselves and appealing to the consumer. JVC is taking a shot at it with their new TH-G41, a 5.1 setup that offers 1080p DVD upscaling, video, audio, picture and FM playback as well as the opportunity to dock your iPod and play back media through your television and speakers. Let’s take a look at what JVC gives you for three hundred dollars.

Specifications

• Total output power: 1000 watts
• Front: 155 watts per channel
• Center: 155 watts
• Surround: 155 watts per channel
• Subwoofer: 225 watts
• Power consumption: Standby: 0.8W, Power on: 130W (max)
• Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic II capable
• NTSC/PAL compatible
• Supported formats: DVD, DVD+/-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, MP3, WMA, JPEG
• FM antenna
• iPod docking connector included (supports audio and video)

Setup

Easily the most frustrating part of any theater purchase and use is the initial setup of the components. Fortunately, setting up the the TH-G41 was frankly a breeze. JVC includes pretty much everything you’ll need in the box; the only issue is actually getting to it. Our review unit came heavily packed in Styrofoam, surrounded with those impossibly tight plastic bands. It’s nice that the system comes packed so securely, but it is a little annoying to try to get to when you’re setting things up. Once you manage to break apart the system, you’ll find that everything is neatly packed within its own little cubbyhole. It’s very neatly done, with every speaker and component — down to the wires — individually wrapped and taped.

Speaking of the wires, it’s nice to see that JVC cut things to a reasonable length, with generous extra length left for hooking up the rear satellites. Even though the speaker wire is all the same and completely interchangeable, each pair of wires is color coded to a specific audio channel, which should help users new to theater components set things up both quickly and with a little more confidence. Positive and negative wires are both easily distinguishable, with the negative wire wearing a little black sleeve to differentiate it from its partner.

Flipping the main unit over, it’s easy to see the speaker connections right about in the middle. All of the wires are are precut with finished ends, so all you need to do is pull back on the appropriate plastic clip, insert the wire, and release. To make sure it’s secure, it’s a good idea to pull on the clip in the opposite direction from before, just to ensure the wire is clamped firmly in place. It’s worth noting that both the center channel and the satellite speakers have holes in that back so that you can mount them to screws on the wall.

In terms of integrating the system into your current setup, the receiver does include a number of different audio and video connection options. To connect the system to your display, the TH-G41 uses composite (bad) and component (better) for analog options, and HDMI (best) for digital. Users with older HDTVs that included DVI instead of HDMI can buy an adapter online for a couple of bucks that will convert the signal (HDMI is simply DVI with an additional audio channel). There’s also an HDMI-in port so those with devices such as a PS3 or other theater component can patch their device into the setup. For audio, the receiver uses both RCA stereo and optical audio in. Rounding out the ports on the back are a coax-looking FM jack that works with the included antenna wire, and the iPod docking port that works with the included iPod dock.

Once you have your speakers connected and arranged as you see fit, JVC instructs you to walk through the on-screen setup using the remote control and your display. We were kind of let down here, as none of the on-screen menus looked very attractive; moreover, it felt like they were all upscaled instead of being displayed at a native high definition resolution. Given that one of the main selling points of the system is that it lets you hook up DVDs and other media to an HDTV with a 1080p signal, the menus could stand to be retooled. That’s a fairly minor quibble, though, all things considered, as they are easy to read, easy to use and pretty functional. The menu lets you make minor adjustments to your setup; each speaker can be set to output up to five decibels higher or lower (a total range of 10dB) than the standard signal. Additionally, the receiver lets users set the distance between the speakers and your main listening point if the distance between the front, center or rear speakers and where you sit differs between the satellites. The receiver uses the distance information to introduce delays or advances in the audio stream so that sound reaches the listener from all of the speakers at approximately the same point in time.

Usability

Most of the usability of a home theater setup comes down to the function and capability of its remote control. Fortunately, the included accessory doesn’t disappoint.

While we’ve definitely seen better in terms of intuitive button layouts and design, the controller JVC packages with the system is easy to use, providing access to core functions like scan mode (the resolution being played back over component and HDMI outputs), volume, DVD playback and access to inputs and features. The only real downsides I can think of are that the volume control could be better integrated into the rest of the remote, instead of relegated to the lower right, and the menu buttons can be confusing, since there are two for DVDs – TOP MENU and MENU, a third for the setup menu – SET UP and a fourth for the on-screen display – DISPLAY. Additionally, dedicated input buttons would be nice to see: it’s annoying to try and switch to the docked iPod and accidentally pass it by, having to go through the rest of the inputs and try again.

Performance

We tested the audio performance playing back several DVDs as well as using the iPod dock to play back a number of different audio files. Every time the speakers sounded great, without any one aspect (mids, highs, lows) overpowering the others. Surround sound differentiation was clear and defined when watching a movie. Listening to music through the iPod definitely gave me a bit more respect for both my iPod and the surround sound system. It’s a big change to go from headphones, even a nice pair, to being surrounded by music on all sides. The system was never turned all the way up to test how distortion impacted the quality of sound at the upper levels, but that was only because keeping the system at twenty percent or less was more than enough to fill my living room. I suspect turning it up much more would have been enough to fill the entire living space and more than likely bring angry neighbors knocking on my door.

The TH-G41 was hooked up to a 1080p-capable display for watching video. While home theater aficionados will definitely notice the difference between actual 1080p content, like what’s found on Blu-ray discs, and the scaled 1080p DVD video like what this unit provides, I was pleasantly surprised to see how well the interpolation performs. The display we used for testing has only a very basic scaler inside; just enough to pull content to the edges. The one inside the JVC unit worked pretty well, providing significantly more sharpness – as you can see in the image above, the upscaled image is on the right. It’s still not HD, but it’s good enough for most people and makes watching DVDs on an HDTV a much more pleasant experience.

iPod Support

The iPod dock that comes with the TH-G41 is functional and weighty, providing enough support to dock even the larger iPhone and iPod Touch devices. JVC claims that the system works with essentially every iPod out there save for the original first couple of generations. The dock itself sits at the end of a cable that plugs into the rear of the unit; since many HT receivers sit in a recessed location or behind glass doors, users can place the dock in a more easily accessible spot. The system provides two separate iPod inputs which are hard to differentiate without reading the manual. iPod mode lets users operate the iPod with the supplied remote control as well as still use the controls on the iPod itself. OSD iPod mode controls the iPod by using the supplied remote control and the receiver’s on-screen display. The iPod controls can’t be accessed while it sits in the OSD mode.

Audio worked without any problems whatsoever, and even though the iPod and theater system were playing back compressed music files, everything sounded great. The only problem came when trying to play back video. I used a first generation iPod Touch that was recently updated to the new 3.0 firmware and no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t get video to play back over the display instead of on the iPod itself; the system would tell me that this iPod wasn’t supported. If you have this system and a first gen iPod Touch, it may be worth holding off on upgrading to the new firmware.

Conclusion

Affordable home theater systems have come a long way, and the JVC TH-G41 shows just how far. For three hundred dollars, consumers get a system that easily outperforms generic units found at big box and department stores, with a number of extra features. Setup of the system was very easy, with color coding and end-finished wiring letting even relatively new users put things together. Audio performance was great for what most would consider the value segment of the market, whether watching a movie or listening to classical or punk rock out of an iPod. JVC rates the total harmonic distortion of this setup as up to ten percent, though any effect it had on our source media wasn’t noticed. In fact, the one and only disappointment we felt with the system was its inability to properly sync up with the iPod in order to watch video. Audio worked fine, however, even if the on-screen menus may not look very nice. Given that current iPods output video at significantly less than DVD quality, it’s not too much of a loss. As a whole, the system was functional, easy to use, and made DVDs entertaining, and at $300, how much more can you ask for?

Rating – 4 out of 5 stars

JVC NX-T10

The JVC NX-T10 is a 2.1-channel home theater system comprised of a low-profile main unit, two compact omni-directional main speakers and a powered subwoofer. The sleek, wedge-shaped main unit can be placed flat or stood vertically on a tabletop, or hung on a wall. Other highlights include two HDMI inputs, DVD player with 1080p upscaling, iPod dock and USB host support. It was initially scheduled for release in May but will now debut in July for $599.99. 

JVC TH-G31, TH-G41 and TH-G51

JVC TH-G31 and TH-G41

JVC TH-G51

The JVC G line offers three 5.1 channel 1000 watt models,  the TH-G31, TH-G41 and TH-G51. Each offers a progressive scan DVD receiver, five speakers, subwoofer and HDMI output with 1080p up-conversion. The TH-G41 adds iPod/iPhone music and video playback through a connected dock and the TH-G51 adds wireless rear speakers (wireless receiver to the far left of the TH-G51 picture)  to the feature set offered by the TH-G41. 

The trio were initially due out over April, May and June. Now they’ll all drop in May. TH-G51 will retail for $429.95, the TH-G41 for $329.95, and the TH-G31 for $249.95.

Update 9/8/09 – JVC TH-G31, TH-G41 & TH-G51 Review Posted

JVC TH-SB100

The TH-SB100 is JVC’s first Blu-ray home theater in a box system, a three-piece package that includes a sound bar speaker, wireless subwoofer and Blu-ray player (with BD-Live). The sound bar has an internal amplifier that provides 30 watts each to the left, right and center channels. Left and right channels are each handled by a pair of three-inch woofers and half-inch tweeter, while a single three-inch woofer handles the center channel. The eight-inch wireless subwoofer is driven by 100 watts. In addition, the system offers Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, plus six-mode digital signal processing.

The JVC TH-SB100 will be available in April for $699.95.

JVC NX-T10

The JVC NX-T10 is a 2.1-channel home theater system comprised of a low-profile main unit, two compact omni-directional main speakers and a powered subwoofer. The sleek, wedge-shaped main unit can be placed flat or stood vertically on a tabletop, or hung on a wall.

The main unit is a DVD receiver with a pair of repeater HDMI inputs and an HDMI output with 1080p upconversion. Other features include Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, and DivX playback for enjoying video downloaded from the internet. It includes an iPod dock, and the system’s video output allows for playback of iPod-stored video through a connected television. It also includes USB Host for playback of music files stored on a USB mass storage device or for recording CDs directly onto a USB storage device.

The system’s two compact main speakers, which can be wall-hung, feature an omni-directional design, each containing one forward-firing driver and a second upward-firing driver with a diffuser. This upward-firing driver creates a realistic surround sound effect without the need for a separate pair of rear speakers and the placement and wiring challenges they create. Five separate amplifiers are housed in the subwoofer cabinet – main left, main right, surround left, surround right, and subwoofer.

The JVC NX-T10 will be available in May for $599.95.

JVC TH-G31, TH-G41 and TH-G51

There are three systems in the new JVC G line, the TH-G31, TH-G41 and TH-G51. All are 1000-watt, 5.1-channel systems comprised of a progressive scan DVD receiver, five speakers and a subwoofer. Each system includes an HDMI output with 1080p up-conversion and the TH-G41 and G51 include an HDMI input with repeater. A front auxiliary input on each system makes connecting additional sources quick and simple. All three systems offer Dolby Digital and DTS decoding.

The TH-G41 adds iPod/iPhone music and video playback through a connected dock, with control play, pause and skip functions controlled through the home theater system’s remote. To make control even easier, there’s an on-screen display that shows the iPod or /iPhone menu on the connected TV.

The TH-G51 adds wireless rear speakers to the feature set offered by the TH-G41. 

TH-G51 will be available in June for $429.95, the TH-G41 in May for $329.95, and the TH-G31 in April for $249.95.

Update 3/24/09 – System images and updated release schedule announced

Update 9/8/09 – JVC TH-G31, TH-G41 & TH-G51 Review Posted

JVC has announced the NX-BD3 in the UK, their first home theater in a box that includes a Blu-ray player. While that’s a good start, it’s profile 1.1 and won’t be upgradeable to 2.0 and is only a 2.1 channel system.

The two main speakers purport to create a virtual surround sound scenario with a phantom center channel and virtual rear speakers. The subwoofer pitches in with 200 watts of bass.

Overall it doesn’t get a whole lot better, with a single HDMI input and a UK pound-converted price of $1460 in the US. The system is due to launch in September. Hopefully JVC will re-think its plans before launching here. [via Electronista]