Search for best under $300 Home Theatre System

If you're a Gadget-aholic like me, you always want the best at lowest prices when manufacturers introduce new models.

Over the past 2 months, I purchased and tested these Home Theatre Systems:
Samsung HT-Z410
Panasonic SC-PT660
LG LHT854
Philips HTS-3565
Philips HTS-3566
Philips HTS-6600
Samsung HT-Z310
so I can share some of the pros and cons I discovered with each.

PROS

In general, they all produce audio quality that is equal to or better than the $2000 Bose System I purchased about 10 years ago with a big subwoofer that you hide and 4 small satellite mid-range/tweeters. Worst sound is from this Samsung HT-Z310. No matter what EQ mode I chose, the high notes just aren't there. Best overall sound is from the Philips HTS-3565 which is why I gave them a second chance (bought another after experiencing one that died).

All units come with a cable or base for iPods. Best one is the Samsung which includes a special adaptor for my iPhone and when I place it in the base, it automatically switches everything so I can select and play songs using the remote control and very nice interface that appears on my 50” Samsung DLP TV. The other brands don’t mention using an iPhone but all do work with it. However, their switching is not automatic and the on-screen menus are not as user-friendly.

Cosmetically, all these new models have similar high gloss piano black facing which matches most current AV equipment. Most seem to have followed Samsung by using blue lighting around the dials and ½” high green or blue LCD mode indicators.

They all have one HDMI input. If you link to a current TV, you can expect them to act in unison (CEC, Anynet) when you turn on/off or change media from audio to DVD or iPod modes.

All upconvert DVDs to 1080p. Didn’t see any noticeable differences in picture quality between all I tested.

All have a USB port for playing music or watching images from a pen drive or similar device.

All have a headphone jack in mini-RCA format.

All include 6 speakers (except HTS6600 with 2 plus subwoofer).


CONS

None have an equalizer that lets you raise or lower each range to suit your personal taste. I personally like a “V” formation (deep bass, lower settings for mid-range and then gradually higher in high frequency range). Instead they give you names to choose from like Jazz, Concert Hall, Club, Church, Rock, Pop, Movie or Passive (normal). Passive is presumably unaltered from the source.

I record HDTV shows with a Samsung DVD AR650 on DVD-RW and despite the format and finalization, only the Panasonic SC-PT660 would play those disks. Samsung deserves a slap in the face for not allowing their own HTS systems to play disks made with their DVDR.

All have digital audio inputs a/k/a Toslink, with the exception of the Philips which has Coaxial Digital connection. Thus, if you choose the Philips, you may need to buy an Optical to Coaxial Converter which can cost up to $80. Best price I found was at MonoPrice for about $15 delivered.

Speaker wires. Most of the units come with new proprietary plugs on the speaker cables. Personally, I prefer push tabs both at the receiver and each speaker since I have already run the wires around my room. This means you’ll be doing lots of cutting and splicing if your room is pre-wired. The Samsung HTZ-310 does have push tabs for each speaker which reduces cutting and splicing. Philips speaker wires are permanently attached so you either like the lengths they chose for each speaker or you must cut & splice every speaker wire.

Only the Philips HTS-3565 sounds like it is delivering true 5.1 when watching HDTV shows. All the others sounded like they were reverting to plain old stereo except when watching a DVD movie disk.

You may be wondering why I bought and returned each of these systems in my quest, so here are the key reasons for each:
Samsung HT-Z410: CD/DVD tray is VERY slow to open and load or unload. If you choose Digital Audio it cuts off your TV sound (no choice to hear both).
Panasonic SC-PT660: Audio sync issues with TV
LG LHT854: Never could get the sound to properly balance for a true ‘surround sound’
Philips HTS-3565: Digital audio sync changed every time I turned TV and HTS off & on again. Then unit went into STANDBY mode and would not turn on or off unless I unplugged it from wall. After poor sound from Samsung HT-Z310, bought a 2nd Philips and the difference definitely makes the HTS-3565 the current champ.
Philips HTS-6600: 2.1 no where near as good as 5.1 despite their new acoustic technology
Samsung HT-Z310: Like the Z410, TV sounds not available if you choose Digital Audio. If you use AUX2 TV and HTS sound almost in sync but still missing high notes. None of EQ modes deliver high notes even close to the other models I've tested (sounds muffled).

Haven't tested any Sony units so their DAV 275 or 277 might have been next on my list but the Sony website won't let me view or download the User Manuals. In general, I've noticed a huge drop in overall quality of Sony products over the past 20 years. They were once #1. Today I'd rate them #4 below Samsung, LG and Philips.

JVC should be shipping their new TH-G40 system any day. If it includes features like their 2007 Model TH-D50 or TH-D60, I'm expecting it to have good ole Treble and Bass controls so I can adjust the sound to my liking. JVC has also bragged about their DVD player being able to handle the kind of video I use to record HDTV shows on my Samsung DVDR.

JUNE 7, 2008 UPDATE: While shopping for food at the warehouse club that begins with C (rhymes with Mostco) stumbled upon the Philips HTS-3566 being sold for same price as the HTS-3565 from W mart. Raced home to compare 3565 to 3566 on the Philips website. Didn't look like any real difference except getting 2 hi-boy speakers with the 3566 but decided they were attractive enough to make the switch. After 3 days of use I can tell you there is a VERY noticeable difference in sound quality. The HTS-3566 hi-boy rear speakers sound as good as my old/expensive Bose system. The center speaker of the HTS-3565 is slighter smaller than the HTS-3565 version but without a doubt, the overall sound quality of the HTS-3566 is the BEST of all the under $300 systems I've tested. Run, don't walk to your nearest C and maybe you can grab one for under 4200 like I did. Warning: The carton is large & weighs about 60 pounds.

You can check back for updates. Wonder if Guiness has a category for Most Stereos Bought & Returned in 30 days.