Sony slims component HTIB system

David Katzmaier | Mar 03, 2009

The Sony HT-SS360 component system is slimmer than previous efforts, down to its center channel speaker.
(Credit: Sony)

When seemingly every home theater system is shrinking its number of speakers or doing away with rear speakers altogether, full component systems like the Sony HT-SS360 are getting ever more rare. But full in terms of speaker complement doesn't have to mean bulky.

With all six speakers--slim center, left front, right front, surround right, surround left, and subwoofer--joining a central A/V receiver, the HT-SS360 is aimed squarely at the mainstream, selling for US$350 when it hits US shelves in May. Styling is reminiscent of the company's BDP-S360 and BDP-S560 Blu-ray players, also announced at the show. The slim A/V receiver is a nice departure from the fatter units in current Sony component HTIBs.

The new 1,000W HT-SS360 can handle the full video capabilities of Blu-ray players since its three HDMI inputs are compatible with both 1080p60 and 1080p24 sources. Its audio is limited to LPCM for Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master soundtracks, so your BD player must decode those high-resolution formats if you want to hear them via the system.

Sony also throws in a calibration routine, a nice touch on an HTIB at this level, as well as a Digital Media Port which allows you to connect one of its four proprietary accessories. These range in price from US$80 to US$200: The TDM-NC1 (a Wi-Fi music streamer), the TDM-BT1 (a Bluetooth adapter), the TDM-NW1 (a dock for certain Sony Walkman MP3 models), and the TDM-IP50 (an iPod dock).

Via CNET.com

Filed under: Home AV
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