Logitech Z906
Once you cross the $151 threshold that
denotes a low-end 5.1 surround system and enter genuine home cinema territory,
speaker prices rapidly inflate. You won’t’ find even a half-decent 5.1 system
for under $226.5, and more frequently prices fly past $302 and beyond. But
despite the high cost, few would deny that this is the sort of area you have to
venture into if you’re looking for the best sound a home theatre PC can offer.
Logitech’s reputation is built on supplying
high-quality hardware at lower-than-average price, so it’s a surprise to see
that the Logitech Z906 doesn’t really line up with that outlook. Positioned as
a successor to the critically acclaimed Z-5500, the Z906 system is a 5.1 setup
with THX certification, consisting of a subwoofer, decoder and five satellite
speakers. And in case you hadn’t noticed, it’s quite expensive.
Still, for what you pay, the hardware is
sturdy and well-designed. A remote control means you don’t’ have to move much
more than a finger to tweak the sound’s volume or mix, which is ideal when
you’re watching a movie and don’t want to get up. The cables for each speaker
are more than long enough for any room, with 4.6m for the front speakers and
7.6m for the rear ones. All input and output ports are all located on the
subwoofer, although unusually there’s no support for HDMI, which could lead to
problems if you wanted to use a separate Blu-ray player instead of an internal
one.
It’s
not bad, but It could (and should) have been better.
Assuming you’re using this as a sound
system for an HTPC, you’ll probably need a dedicated sound card to get the most
out of it. There is the option to use 3.5mm jacks, but digital inputs are
required for the best experience. Of course, the sound is gorgeous: clean,
crisp and loud, and even if you are bound to annoy the neighbors with it, it’s
worth doing for a cinema-style experience in your own home.
The big problem is that even at $377.5,
you’re paying a massive premium for a home theatre system that, let’s not kid
ourselves, doesn’t properly support the most current home theatre technologies.
That makes it difficult to recommend, even if it is punching above its price.
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Details
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Price: $357
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Manufacturer: Logitech
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Device type: Speaker system
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Technology: 5.1 surround
Ratings
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Features: 8/10
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Value: 6/10
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Overall: 7/10
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Acer H6510BD
Acer’s line of home theatre projectors have
a reputation for being both high-quality and low price without compromising on
performance. While the pricing might be relative, given that this costs only
few quid shy of $1,132.5, it’s hard to deny that the full HD 180p projector
with 3D capabilities is a must-buy for home entertainment enthusiasts
Unlike some projectors, portability isn’t
an issue. The H6510BD is reasonably compact and light enough to carry around
easily. Contrast and brightness are fantastic, and the high resolution means
that with proper placement you can get fantastic, high-quality images. The unit
has the standard 2W speaker and ceiling out, and a special ‘Bright Mode’ which
cranks the image up to a somewhat excessive 2524 lumens (almost twice the
average) but at the expense of color fidelity.
2D-to-3D software can turn any game of film
into a 3D experience, albeit with variable success, but a wide range of
supported technologies ensures that the 3D works wherever supported. The 3D
capabilities use DLP link synchronization, and while you will have to buy them
separately, they aren’t difficult to find and are priced between $30.2 and $75.5.
The cooling fan is quieter than most, as you’d expect for a premium product,
and the bulb has an average life of 4,000 hours, which is adequate if not
impressive. An ‘eco’ mode can extend the lifespan to 7,000 hours but, let’s
face it, that’ a bit like buying a Ferrari and never exceeding 30mph.
It’s
extravagant bordering on ridiculous. That’s probably why we want one so much.
Connectivity includes the usual range of
video ports, and crucially that includes HDMI. Again, it’s hyperbole to
describe a projector as an essential accessory, but if you want the full home
theatre experience, this can provide it. Blockbuster-style entertainment from
your own sofa. Let’s try not to let the fact that it costs the best part of a
grand sour anyone to just how fantastic it is when you’re actually using it.
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Details
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Price: $1,112
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Manufacturer: Acer
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Device type: Data projector
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Technology: HD, Blu-ray 3D, DLP 3D, NVIDIA
3DTV Play
Ratings
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Features: 8/10
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Value: 6/10
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Overall: 7/10
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Optoma DX327
If you want to turn your HTPC setup into
something far more impressive than the average, the addition of a projector can
allow you to have a picture larger than any equivalent-priced TV could hope to
offer.
Although projectors don’t’ come cheap, the
Optoma DX327 is reasonably priced for a 3D-ready model. The XGA resolution can
be resized up to 1600x1200 allowing HD output, while the 120Hz refresh rate means
it can be paired with an active-shutter 3D system to give fully 3D visuals
(although this does cost extra). A long-life 6000-hour bulb reduces the cost of
replacements, and the projected images is both high-contrast and bright.
“It’s hard for projectors to beat
high-definition TVs unless you spend a lot more”
Setting up the device is fairly easy, and a
dedicated audio-out port makes it easy to attach directly to any speaker system
if need be. There is a built-in 2W speaker, but for obvious reasons HTPC users
may wish to avoid using this in favor of something with a bit more heft ot it.
The box also contains a remote control and a reasonably lengthy VGA cable. The
projector also supports the usual variety of video inputs and outputs,
including two VGA ports, RCA and S-Video although not newer ones like DVI and
HDMI especially this low down the market. There’s no denying that projectors
certainly look impressive and they’re a lot of fun, but in terms, of pure
quality it’s hard for them to beat high-definition TVs unless you spend a lot
more than this.
It’s
as good as budget projectors can be, but that’s hardly a reason to buy one
That said, Optoma is considered a
high-quality projector brand, and it’s easy to see why. Any HDTV setup can be
enhanced by the addition of a projector, even if you only break it out once.
Every few weeks to show off. We wouldn’t call it essential, but it’s hard to
imagine anyone who wouldn’t enjoy using it.
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Details
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Price: $468
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Manufacturer: Optoma
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Device type: Data projector
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Technology: HD
Ratings
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Features: 5/10
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Value: 6/10
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Overall: 6/10
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