Samsung HT-E6500 5.1 Channel 1000-Watt 3D Blu-Ray Home Theater System
Samsung HT-E6500 5.1 Channel 1000-Watt 3D Blu-Ray Home Theater System
- 3D Blu-ray
- Smart Hub
- Woven glass fiber speaker units
- Built-in WiFi
- iPod Cradle Included
Samsung HT-E6500 5.1CH 1000W 3D Blu-Ray Home Theater System
List Price: $ 799.99
Price: [wpramaprice asin="B007JMNJSM"]
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Panasonic SC-BTT490 3D Blu-Ray Disc 5.1 Surround Sound Home Theater System
- Stainless Mesh Front Tallboy Speakers
- Wi-Fi Built-In, Universal iPod Dock
- HDMI Input x2/ x1Output
Panasonic Blu-ray Disc home theaters have been developed under the concept of reproducing an ideal theater-like surround sound environment. The SC-BTT490 employs advanced technologies to reproduce clearer, enhanced theater-like surround sound to skillfully match high-quality 3D imagery. It features a down firing subwoofer and Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc playback. The integration of smart networking functions including Smartphone remote control, DLNA, Wireless LAN, digita
List Price: $ 499.99
Price: [wpramaprice asin="B0078GCLUG"]
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Feature-rich, great sound, with some minor drawbacks,
The HT-E6500 is Samsung’s latest HITB offering, with a price tag placing it above most other HITB’s on the market. The bump in price is mostly due to a few high-end features: the vacuum tube amps, which Samsung claims creates a truer, analog-style sound (more on that later); the built-in WiFi, which really is convenient and should be a standard on all HITB’s; the wireless rear speakers; and the plethora of online features including Samsung’s Smart Hub web portal, app store and integration with other online services and wireless devices. Like Samsung’s last generation of HITB systems, the HT-E6500 contains two HDMI inputs and one HDMI output, as well as a variety of digital and analog connections and an ethernet port (still better for streaming HD content).
[EDIT: 4/17/12 - Originally I wrote that this system does not support lossless audio decoding on the included HDMI inputs. I was mistaken in this assertion, as I just played back a rip of The NeverEnding Story BluRay I made that has a DTS-HD MA track, and the Samsung definitely DID decode this track. I'm not sure why so many of my other movies are being automatically downmixed to standard DTS or Dolby Digital, but I'm going to do some more testing and research to see if it's related to the Samsung or to the content itself. For now, I think it's safe to say I was hasty in my original remarks, and that the HT-E6500W does indeed support lossless audio on the HDMI inputs.]
Visually, the BluRay unit is rather nondescript save for the clear opening on the right side that shows the vacuum tubes underneath. These glow orange when the unit is on (and the area does get warm, as it should) which makes for a really striking appearance in a dark room. Like all Samsung HITB’s, everything is a glossy piano black which shows fingerprints instantly, and the BluRay player has a subtle blue tint to it, kind of similar to their “Touch of Red” products from a couple years ago. The front LCD screen has a kind of oldschool digital clock display with big white characters, which I liked. The speakers are rather hefty for their size, and pretty attractive, especially the fronts – tall, solid, with a MTM layout (mid-tweeter-mid). Unfortunately, the fronts don’t come with any platforms to sit on, so they can be wobbly on certain surfaces; probably best to mount them to the wall. The rears are tiny and as such don’t really need platforms. The rears connect into a wireless receiver device that’s about the size of a hardcover book and can fit pretty much anywhere you want. All 5 speakers have glass cones which probably don’t improve the sound much but definitely look cool.
Sonically, I was impressed by my first tests of BluRay material. The center speaker – in my opinion, the most important part of a home audio system – is a noticeable upgrade from older Samsung centers and has a lot more power and focus in its delivery. It won’t rival a Polk CS2 or anything, but it will get the job done with minimal fuss. The sub sounds pretty decent for what it is – passive, with I believe a 6″ woofer. Incredibly small compared to older Samsung subs so if space is a premium this will be a welcome perk. Unfortunately, as is the case with most HITB’s, there is no way to change the crossover frequency, so you’re stuck with just volume on the sub; plus there are no speaker wire connectors on the back, this one is hardwired for some reason. Because of this I opted to keep the sub from my previous Samsung system, the HT-BD1250, in case I ever feel like upgrading the speaker wire or need to run a longer length. They sound pretty much identical and I actually like the look of the BD1250 sub better anyways. As for the E6500 fronts and rears, they are very similar sounding in nature, which I found to be clean, balanced, and for lack of a better word, warm. Absolutely no distortion at high levels or the cheap “ringing” sound I got from my old BD1250 speakers when pushed hard. The vacuum tubes that Samsung implemented work in conjunction with a digital amp, to provide a kind of hybrid analog-digital sound processing. Does it sound better than similar systems without this kind of processing? Is this all just marketing gimmick? I can’t say for sure, but it definitely does sound noticeably better than previous Samsung models. It’s a less tinny sound, and breathes more. Of course, we must remind ourselves that these are not hi-fi speakers and they will show their limitations if you listen too critically. However, for a bedroom or small media room, they are plenty good, and Samsung includes a software EQ and calibration microphone to further tune them to your liking. Overall I think when set up correctly this system sounds very capable and can rival more expensive component speakers.
I also want to comment on Samsung’s web implementation. Personally, I find the built-in WiFi to be a huge convenience, as I can download firmware updates as well as new apps and app updates…
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|Beautiful System, Small Speakers, Sonic Beefy Component Sound!,
In a nutshell, I looked “forever” for a component or HITB and decided whether to just get a blu ray BD player or a Home Entertainment System in a Box (HITB)…well, after reading one great review and taking a chance i bought this system from Amazon without listening or seeing it in person? I ordered, and was shipped within a few days, but I waited a week to open it since i had a few things going on at the time. Well, let me just say that the setup is as simple as it gets, color coded wiring, etc on and on. Although, i was NOT impressed with the speaker sizes and was a bit worried about sound since the speakers were so small? I hooked up the system and walah….magic and sound quality you’d expect from a component system!!!! Maybe it’s the vacuum tubes, maybe it’s the amp, maybe it’s the speakers, i really do not know? Nonetheless, with ALL the features, sound and quality this system DOES HAVE, I cannot complain!? My wife, brother, and I threw in a bluray DVD and it sounds FANTASTIC! TV sounded fantastic also! I’ve owned plenty of component systems in my time, but this beats most of them out of the water compared to the tiny speaker size…and the subwoofer is a little beefy which makes the bass terrific! We watched T2 on TV, and I thought a rumbling jet airplane was flying near our house, it sounded “so real” that we thought a motorcycle or multiple motorcycles drove by “outside” our home!? I mean, COME ON! That’s ridiculous SOUND QUALITY for such small speakers! All due most likely because of the vacuum tubes and digital amp!? Rest assured you can’t beat this system if you’re looking for something simple, solid, and with quality! Plus, the Bluray player looks really NICE, dark shiny blue with orange glow due to the tubes! Minor flaws aside, this is a VERY NICE system. The ONLY minor flaws we are having right now is finding a place for the tiny rear speakers since we have a loft-type kitchen-living room setup AND getting the bluray player to work separately with the cable box. These two simple issues; “I’m thinking” might be solved with either a new cable box or one HDMI splitter, etc. Mostly due to the cable box having one HDMI. More on that update later…after we resolve this very small issue. All in all: we are VERY SATISFIED with the look, fit, feel, sound and experience of this unit!
Update on 5/29/2012: Well, figured the best option to hook up the rear speakers…I purchased some speaker stands at Best Buy and which hold up to 4lbs since the rear speakers can’t be more than a couple pounds (lbs)? So, i hooked those in and the wireless rear reciever was tucked in the back of the room next to the CD/DVD case, then i ran the wires into the rear speaker stands that you can find on Amazon here:
http://www.amazon.com/Sanus-HTB3-Theater-Speaker-Stands/dp/B0000CFYOL
…it is one excellent setup let me tell you! We are VERY HAPPY visual listeners with this system and setup!
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|Do NOT trust Samsung Home Theater Systems…,
My unit was repaired and shortly afterward the warranty period, my unit had the same exact problem and Samsung did not acknowledge it. Samsung’s customer support is worthless, DO NOT for one second believe that you are in good hands! They refused to correct my problem given the circumstance and I will not spend my hard earned money on a product that will eventually fail.
Do not make the same mistake I have made, I know it looks appealing but Samsung has a very short life span!
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|GREAT !!!!!,
I purchased this home theater as an upgrade for my older panasonic home theater system which is a 5 disc dvd receiver 5.1 1250 watt home theater system with wireless surround . my older home theater was great but due to it being a dvd set was limited in what it could output as far as picture quality .. this new system however is better in every single way not only do you get a 3d blu ray player but you get some new type of speaker technology that delivers superior 3d sound or 7.1 virtual surround sound and the picture quality playback is great better than great … if you have a full hd 3d tv set this is the home theater to consider . also it has built in wifi which as i write is working great . i have had no problems in streaming netflix or using the other features available via wifi and you can also use your ipod on top of other features this unit has .. the only negative thing i have to say about this unit is that if you want to have wireless rear surround sound you have to spend an additional hundred bucks to buy the receiver .. my old panasonic system came with said receiver included but then again my old system was like six hundred bucks so with what i paid for this system plus the additional receiver it still cost me less than my old panasonic system .. all in all i think this is a great purchase
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|Really GREAT !!!!!,
System works great and I could not be happier. I also purchased the Panasonic SH-FX71 Wireless Rear Speaker System with two extra speakers. This thing connects to the Panasonic SC-BTT490 3D Blu-Ray Disc 5.1 Surround Sound Home Theater System and I can add two more speakers the the system. It also runs just under the 2.5Ghz of most wireless phones and has the same range. So I can play music from my iPhone (which connects to the Home Theater System) and extend the music anywhere in the house or back yard. Also I can place those two extra speakers behind my 5.1 system and essentially have a 7.1 system. Though I really just use the two extra speakers to extend my music outside the reach of the Home Theater System.
Also I use WiFi for the Panasonic SC-BTT490 3D Blu-Ray Disc 5.1 Surround Sound Home Theater System and have had no problems. You get free games, and if you are an Amazon Prime member a bunch of free movies.
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|Great Sound,
I have had this in my living room for about a week now. I love it, crystal clear sound, great picture.
I added on the wireless rear transmitter thing, and I would highly recommend, this thing is just about plug and play. If this this in your price range go for it! I am not regretting it at all, and have already recommended it to several friends.
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