Surrounded by sound

Two home-theatre systems can make the virtual world come alive

If you're a movie buff, you're probably eyeing a home theatre set-up, if you don't have one already. If you love open-world games, you're probably in the market for a 5.1 speaker system for your PC/console. And if you're a footie fan spending sleepless nights in front of your big-screen television, wouldn't you love it if the stadium's noise could be replicated? Provided you have an understanding family, of course!

Here are a couple of solutions which might catch your fancy.

Sony HT - IV300
(Rs 19,990)
This home-theatre system is specifically aimed at TV viewers - Sony, in fact, calls it India's first DTH home theatre. The moniker doesn't mean it contains a direct-to-home (DTH) box. Rather, one needs to connect the DTH box to the IV300 and then the IV300 to the TV (all via HDMI).

The IV300 is surprisingly compact, dominated by the massive sub-woofer. The satellites, made of shiny metal and angled so they can be kept on their sides, are stylish and likely to fit right in with the decor of your living room. The head unit is compact with three analogue inputs (stereo and video) and two HDMI inputs, with one HDMI output. It also has a LCD display at front and a USB port. But I expect a better finish for Sony products. I plugged in a TataSky+HD box into one HDMI input, a PS3 into the other and the HDMI output to an LCD. Switching on the IV300, I found a menu that greatly resembled that of a PS3. I found one could also connect to Wi-fi to download the latest updates.

Then I sat down to watch the decimation of Spain by the Netherlands. Every cry of pain, the look of disbelief on the faces of La Roja supporters (and their anguish) as team Oranje tore them apart, the flying header of Robin van Persie and the blistering pace of Arjen Robben - everything came together to create a stadium-like atmosphere. The IV300 even has a football mode!

After Spain's drubbing, I picked up a Blu-Ray of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. I got goosebumps hearing Darth Vader's deep breathing and the sound of the photon guns and light sabres.

All in all, the IV300 delivers on its promise of adding to the experience of your DTH watching. It's a pretty good FM radio as well, but the tuning can be erratic.

F&D F5500U
(Rs 7,990)
This 5.1 speaker system comes with a massive wooden sub-woofer unit, which also serves as something of a head unit. All inputs - stereo audio in, 5.1 audio in, USB and SD card reader - are present on the sub-woofer. It also connects to all the satellite speakers.

As all the satellites were labelled, setting up the F5500U was easy. The surround satellite speakers are provided with 8-metre-long cables, so positioning them at the back of a 10ft by 12 ft room wasn't a problem. I connected the 5.1 audio output from a PC to the F5500U's 5.1 input and a Moto E's audio output (via its headphones jack) to the stereo audio input on the system.

On the Moto E, I played the MP3 version of Light My Fire by The Doors. As Jim Morrison's vocals filled the room, I cranked up the volume. There wasn't too much of distortion, but the riffs became muddied at higher volumes, though it could also be because of the compression. Next, I watched James Cameron's Avatar on DVD, on the PC. I was blown by the experience - every word, every ambient sound, every rattle of the bullet was picked up. Plus, its fluorescent remote is every couch potato's best friend in the dark.

Finally I played two games - Hitman Absolution and Need for Speed: Most Wanted. I have to thank the system for the innumerable times I avoided detection - I could hear someone approaching very clearly on the F5500U - something my regular desktop speakers fail to pick up. The F5500U also doubles up as a pretty decent FM radio.

The F5500U seems an excellent choice if you are the sort whose primary source of entertainment is the PC. But it lacks HDMI inputs, limiting its connectivity with modern televisions.