Current What Hifi Home Cinema Review Scores for five systems.

[bonzobanana]

1. Jamo DVD 50/A305 package.

4 out of 5.

The good.

Superb picture quality. Good sound for small speakers.

The bad.

It has more convincing sound with the more expensive speakers. Also no speaker wire is included.

2. JVC THA-75R.

3 out of 5

The good.

6.1 sound, good picture, neat speakers.

the bad.

While fine but lightweigtht with movies it sounds thin and unconvincing with music either cd or dvd.

3. Panasonic SC-HT900

3 out of 5

The good.

five disc changer, dvd audio feature, ntsc progressive, floor standing speakers.

The bad.

Sounds rather thin and metallic on movies and music alike. Confusing remote.

4. Pioneer NS-DV990.

4 out of 5

the good.

Style in bucketloads, punchy and very well integrated sound, good picture..

the bad.

no video inputs for external sources. Its the most expensive system on test.

5. Sony DAV-SC6

5 out of 5

The good.

Style, flexibility and performance, easy to setup and use.

the bad.

no progressive scan.


What hifi seems to consider audio cd performance and sacd and dvd audio as major reasons to choose your home cinema system as comments about these features take up a fair bit of space. Obviously if your mainly buying a system for home cinema use like I suspect many are their views may not be too helpful.

Seems like the Sony SC6 is a really nice bit of kit though and a real step up in sound quality over the SC5.

 

[nano2nd]

Wierd, I got speaker cable with my DVR50 set....

I didn't use it though as I wanted white (to hide on the skirting boards)!

 

[Gazzad]

Typical really, how can you make a decision based on these magazine reviews? Most of these systems have been reviewed in a few of the magazines, and it's pretty rare for them to give similar views. Just goes to prove it's all down to personal taste. Heh, who wants dvd audio anyway.

 

[bonzobanana]

Originally posted by Gazzad
Typical really, how can you make a decision based on these magazine reviews? Most of these systems have been reviewed in a few of the magazines, and it's pretty rare for them to give similar views. Just goes to prove it's all down to personal taste. Heh, who wants dvd audio anyway.

I tend to agree with you. I'm not bothered about audio cd, dvd audio or even SACD at all. However I would say when a system is rated highly in all magazines then your on to something which is the case with the Jamo and Pioneer. The Panasonic has got mixed reviews and some of the criticisms about thin sound has been mentioned before. Also when a system is critiscised by all magazines as poor I think its safe to say it will be poor.

Anyway I posted the results as many people read this forum with regard choosing a system and thought this info would be useful to them.

 

[Rampage]

Yeah, my DRV50 came with speaker wire too, it even says it does on the contents on the side of the box!

 

[Bigmonty69]

Ditto