Name: HD Theater 500 (Klipsch)

Type: 5.1 speaker set

Specs: Click here for full specs

Price: £499.99 from Klipsch

No matter what the brand or size, buyers of a flatscreen TV have to be ready for pretty woeful audio quality from nearly every set. This isn't necessarily a problem however, as ever-more-affordable home cinema speaker packages hit the market, making 5.1 surround sound far more accessible than it ever was. Klipsch's HD Theater 500 package sits at the top end of mid-priced speaker packages. As veterans of the silver screen cinema speaker scene, can Klipsch bring the Hollywood magic into living rooms too?

Comprised of four satellite speakers, a centre speaker and an active subwoofer, you've got nearly all you need to get a home cinema system set up straight out of the box, barring an AV receiver of course. For the most part, build quality on Klipsch's HD Theater 500 is very good; aimed at smaller rooms, the speakers are sensibly discrete. The surround satellites measure up at 6" x 3.6" x 3.85". the centre channel 3.6" x 9" x 3.85" and the subwoofer 13.9" x 12.5" x 12.5", each finished with a gloss matte finish and with removable grilles on the satellites that reveal the woofers and tweeters. Each had a solid weight to them, with smooth, well-finished casing. However, we were disappointed to find spring-clip wiring connections on the speakers, usually the reserve of cheaper all-in-one box 5.1 systems. They're fiddily and not as reliable as binding posts.

Wall-mounting the speakers shouldn't pose much of a problem, helped along by a collection of brackets in the box. In a nice touch, the speakers can be angled within a 40-degree cone, allowing you to fine tune the arc of the sound image.

On the rear of the 100-watt subwoofer you'll find a range of dials to tweak volume and crossover settings. Crossover range can be put between 80 and 160Hz, with something around the top end of that range best suited to the included satellites. A 150Hz subwoofer-to-satellite crossover seemed to be optimal during our testing. Line inputs, and switches to control flipping the phase 180 degrees are also housed on the back of the subwoofer.

Moving onto the satellites, each house a horn-loaded 0.75-inch aluminium tweeter and a 2.5-inch woofer, with the larger centre speaker using two 2.5-inch woofers either side of the tweeter.

We popped on the Star Trek Blu-ray to try out the Klispch HD Theater 500's movie performance in the film's particularly-testing opening scene, and came away very impressed. As explosions and alarms fire off all over the show, the speakers managed natural separation, with little notable join between the audio sources. Shattering glass and booming explosions felt measured and appropriate, with particular praise going to the subwoofer. While the satellites distorted slightly with the highest frequencies at louder volumes, the subwoofer massaged bass tones to a warm and satisfying degree, giving full-bodied sound that remained clear rather than grumbling. Also worht noting is the centre channel, which admirably pushed dialogue to the fore.

Playing back a range of CDs of many musical styles, covering everything from Lady Gaga to Metallica through to classical works by Verdi, all showed the Klipsch kit performing well, though we often again found the satellites making higher frequencies sound a little harsh.

Verdict:

They're not the cheapest speaker option, but you could do a lot worse than the Klipsch HD Theater 500 set. They'll easily provide smaller rooms with a significant cinematic audio upgrade over flatscreen TVs, pushing blockbuster sounds to your sofa. The spring clips may seem a little cheap, and there's the odd minor niggle with the satellites, but that subwoofer is a joy to listen to, with literally earth-shaking performance without compromising clarity.

Name: EH-TW5500 (Epson)

Type: LCD Full HD Projector

Specs: Click here for full specs

Price: £3,573.44 from Epson

LCD projectors have in the past had a notoriously poor black level response, but continued improvements to Epson's DeepBlack system have consistently impressed. However, the EH-TW5500 projector comes with a premium price tag, significantly higher than comparable LCD projectors. Can it justify it?

A sturdy, no-nonsense build, the curved black chassis of the EH-TW5500 is an intimidating 360 x 450 x 136 mm. It's not frilly, but will comfortable sit among most cinema set-ups, be it floor or ceiling mounted thanks to its non-reflective matte finish. Inputs are sensibly rear mounted, with two 1.3a HDMI ports, a component video input, and an RGB PC input among the connections. The long, black remote control was again sturdy and simple, but a nice back-light feature beneath the buttons made it easy to use in a darkened room.

Set up, via a manual 2.1 optical zoom and manual focus and lens shift dials was simple, allowing images from as little as 30 inches to as large as 300 inches to be produced. While we found the manual horizontal and vertical lens shift dials preferable to the sometimes shoddy results motorised units deliver, we were a little disappointed with the way that turning one dial often knocked out the positioning of the other, making it sometimes difficult to fine-tune the projection placement. Two retractable legs below the projector are also offered, should the lens shift not be sufficient.

Menus are again workmanlike, overlayed onto whatever you're watching on screen, but clear and concise, offering colour temperature controls, calibration tests and frame interpolation intensity settings.

If it all sounds a little safe-but-prosaic right now, you'd be mostly right. But fire the projector up and you'll be totally blown away.

Though the claimed contrast ratio of 200,000:1 is probably a little bit generous, there's no denying the quality of black level response on the EH-TW5500. It's astonishingly deep, retaining texture and detail in the Predators Blu-ray we watched, with no wash-out in dark scenes thanks to the dual-layer notched iris design, which adapts intelligently to jumps in light output. Colours were equally well catered for with natural skin tones, and bold, solid bursts when watching Avatar. Extensive scene mode options, including everything from "Vibrant" to "Cinema Night" modes, made the projector usable even in strong ambient lighting. Of course it was quite washed out, but with the brightness setting pushed high we could quite comfortably manage plenty of daytime viewing. It's worth noting that the projector does get reasonably hot at times though; an Eco Mode does well however to counteract this at the expense of brightness, also managing to make the fan system nearly silent at the same time.

Of equal merit to the black response levels is the afore-mentioned frame interpolation settings. Whereas previous Epson projectors have struggled with terrible artefacting when interpolation is switched on the EH-TW5500's system performs admirably, even on the highest settings. Movement is smooth and clean, and scaling it back made for a significantly smoother experience when gaming, with little notable drop in response time.

Verdict:

The Epson EH-TW5500 is one of the finest, if not the finest LCD projector we've ever seen. Superb HD clarity, vibrant colours and black response levels usually unheard of in an LCD projector, it goes a long way to justifying its premium price tag. It lacks the 3D capabilities that the latest wave of LCD projectors are touting, but for a unit capable of almost industrial-level performance, it can't come recommended more highly.

In a world first, Spotify and Onkyo are to team up, putting direct access to the music streaming catalogue in select home cinema receivers.

Spotify Premium subscribers from UK, France, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, and Norway will be able to connect directly to the service through the £450 TX-NR609 receiver, with the Spotify catalogue hitting more Onkyo kits in the future.

"This will be an absolute must have for Spotify Premium subscribers who want to hear their music in the highest quality at home," said Nick Hamada, Onkyo's Product And Marketing Manager.

"We're extremely excited to be working with the legendary engineers from Onkyo, who's sound quality and product excellence is renowned,' added Pascal de Mul, Spotify's Global Head of Hardware Partnerships. 'Onkyo makes our vision of effortless access to music a reality which we're sure will impress even the most discerning audio enthusiast."

Spotify is accessed through the onscreen menus of the TX-NR609, giving scrolling access to playlists, starred tracks and the "What's New" tracks. Album artwork will also be displayed.

Name: Consono 25 (Teufel)

Type: 5.1 speakers

Specs: Click here for full specs

Price: £179 direct from Teufel

With prices of all-in-one 5.1 home cinema receiver and speaker packages falling all the time, it's easier than ever to turn your living room into a mini-Odeon cinema. However, while the receivers in these boxes are often reasonably good, the speakers are usually as cheap and weak as they come. Those looking to upgrade their entry-level speakers may want to take a look at German audio specialist Teufel's new Consono 25 5.1 speakers.

The Consono 25 is comprised of five satellite speakers (four surround CS 25 FCRs and a single centre CS 35 C) and the US 5108/1 active subwoofer.

The floor or wall-mountable CS 25 FCR speakers are of average size (12.5 x 9 x 9.8 cm), each with a removable front grille and equipped with a dual 80 mm mid-range-driver and 19 mm tweeter construction. The longer CS 35 C speaker measures up at 20 x 9 x 9.8 cm and contains a 19mm high-range dome driver alongside two 80 mm diameter mid-range drivers. The subwoofer's dimensions are 42 x 24 x 36.5 cm and it's a heavy old thing at 12.80 kg. Each has a glossy black finish that should sit nicely in most living rooms, with a blue LED glowing when the sub is on, red when inactive. This is purely a speaker set, so do make sure you have an appropriate receiver and cabling before purchasing the Consono 25.

After initially connecting the speakers to the receiver, we were unimpressed. Balancing was all over the place, with the rear speakers far too dominant. We had to tweak our receiver settings in some unexpected ways to level out the soundscape, but once we'd done so the Consono 25 speakers were actually reasonably good. The 100 watts RMS power, 200-mm active woofer boomed out Inception's ominous soundtrack, with the dampening feet doing well to counteract rattling. Crank the volume up anywhere beyond the medium volume levels however and the satellites suffered a little, with voices lost in the central speaker. Still, keep in mind that these speakers are aimed at beginner's flats and not a cavernous cinema setting and the lower volume levels, in which the speakers perform best, should be more than adequate.

Movement between the surround speakers was also nicely spread out, once we'd given the set a fair bit of tweaking of course. We ran through a handful of matches of Modern Warfare 2 on the Xbox 360 online, and were pleased to be able to pinpoint enemy fire with great accuracy, just from the speaker placement.

While it's more than capable of providing a solid step up from most speakers found with all-in-one home cinema packages, the inconsistencies at higher volumes will leave a lot to be desired for more demanding audiophiles. However, providing you've already got a decent AV receiver, the Consono 25 set will ramp up a beginner's home-cinema set-up nicely, without breaking the bank.

3/5

Orbitsound may have put themselves at the top of next year's Christmas card list for the lazy armchair music enthusiast with the CES unveiling of their T14 soundbar. Mixing home-cinema audio tech with wireless wizardry, with it you may never have to leave your sofa to enjoy all your favourite music.

Comprising an iPod dock, wireless soundbar and wireless subwoofer you'll be able to beam tracks to the two speaker sets using a docked iPod that can be located anywhere thats convenient. Which potentially could be your bedside table, letting you enjoy a lie-in and your fave tunes without ever getting from underneath the covers.

Plugging into a PC, laptop or extended home-cinema kit, the T14 uses patented spatial technology to give a far greater sense of separated surround sources than is usually possible from a soundbar.

Due out in Q3 of 2011, the T14 soundbar will set you back £385. Hit the video above for a peak at the gear in action.

LG's 3D home entertainment range is set to expand dramitcally after CES 2011, with news of a whole new range of 3D AV devices waiting to be launched.

Taking centre stage will be the HX996TS Real 3D Sound Home Cinema System, the HB906SB Blu-ray 3D Home Cinema System and the BD690 Networked Blu-ray 3D Disc player.

"3D entertainment is set to explode in the year ahead and LG is setting the pace with our new 3D AV line-up," said Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG Home Entertainment Company. "From picture to connectivity to sound, we've tailored all our products to produce the best 3D home entertainment experience possible and we're eager to show these off at the largest consumer electronics show in the world."

Here's a run-down of each of the device's specs:

HX996TS Specifications:
• 7.2ch 1280W total output power with 3D sound
• LG Sound Gallery with parabolic speaker
• USB recording (MP3 file creation from music CD)
• 2 HDMI In (HDMI 1.4), ARC (Audio Return Channel)
• Firmware upgrade for advanced function and services
• External HDD playback (DivX HD, MKV)
• Music ID capture and streaming (Gracenote)
• iPod / iPhone cradle
• Wi-Fi direct, Ethernet, DLNA compliant
• Smart TV Technology: Premium Content and LG App. Store
• Mobile Remote App.

HB906SB Specifications:
• 5.1ch 1100W total output power
• LG Sound Gallery with parabolic speaker
• USB recording (MP3 file creation from music CD)
• 2 HDMI In (HDMI 1.4), ARC (Audio Return Channel)
• Firmware upgrade for advanced function and services
• External HDD playback (DivX HD, MKV)
• Music ID capture and streaming (Gracenote)
• iPod / iPhone cradle
• Wi-Fi direct, Ethernet, DLNA compliant
• Smart TV Technology: Premium Content and LG App. Store
• Mobile Remote App.

BD690 Specifications:
• Smart TV Technology: Premium Content and LG App. Store
• Store Digital Media in Built-in HDD (250GB)
- Audio CD Archiving
- Photo Download
- User Made Contents Copy to HDD
• Blu-ray 3D Playback
• Built-in Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) / Wi-Fi Direct
• Stored Contents Sharing
- Bi-Directional Content Sharing (DLNA Server and Client)
• Mobile Remote App.

A few weeks ago I had the chance to see the latest Epson projectors in action.

For a while now I have been a big fan of projection home cinema set ups, and I'm not alone. They have continued to rise in popularity over the past few years due to their increasingly good quality and ease of use. In addition it can be one of the most cost-effective ways to create a home theater/media room at your home. Projectors often offer more value for money providing you with a larger screen for less than an equally-sized plasma or LCD would cost.

At the event I had the chance to check out a number of different projectors from top of the line to more entry models.

However, the two models that really caught my eye were the Epson EH-TW5500 and the Epson EH-R4000. The first is a Full HD projector that uses super resolution technology to give you a real-life cinema experience. I watched Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho on it and was blown away by the quality this classic was displayed in. The projector boasts an impressive 200,000:1 contrast ratio, explaining the stunning image.

The other projector that really caught my eye was the Epson EH-R4000. This is the latest ultra-high-quality projector from the maker and is aimed at the serious home cinema enthusiast. The projector features Epson's new 3LCD Reflective panel technology and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, offering a full imersive experience to the viewer. Epson's projectors have previously received criticism that the blacks are not dark enough, however after watching The Dark Knight on this latest offering, I am going to have to say this is definitely no longer a problem.

For more info on all of Epson's projectors go here

If you're looking for a nettop box as sleek as the flatscreen you're planning on pairing it with, take a look at Acer's latest offering, the Revo 100. Stylishly slim, the Revo 100 can sti vertically or horizontally by your screen, grabbing media content from your home network over Wi-Fi and more.

It's rammed full of cool tech too, so it's not just a pretty case. A dual-core AMD Athlon II Neo processor and next-gen Nvidia Ion graphics chip make 1080p playback a breeze, while a built in TV tuner will be handy for those not rocking a set-top box.

A DVD burner or optional Blu-Ray drive are available, the latter of which plays back full 3D content should your TV allow. 750GB of hard drive space is available to store files on, with three USB ports and a multi-card reader built-in to help move content around.

Not content with just a slick box, Acer's remote for the Revo 100 is a touch of class too. A touch-type QWERTY, features a toggle which turns the device into a multi-touch gesture pad.

Out now, prices for the Acer Revo 100 start at around £600. Check out some more images of the gear below.

Kaleidescape are bringing their nifty Cinema One DVD server system to the UK. Storing up to 225 DVDs or 2,500 CDs, it turns your music and movie collection into an easily navigated visual library.

Expandable by connecting other pieces of Kaleidescape kit, it connects to the web to provide loads of info on the albums and movies you store on the device. A kid-friendly mode is activated when using the inluded Child Remote, while independent music zones can be configured to allow movie viewing in one room and music playback in another.

"Our dealers and customers have been asking for a simple-to-install Kaleidescape System," said Michael Malcolm, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Kaleidescape. "The Cinema One makes it possible for many more customers to enjoy the richness of the Kaleidescape experience."

At £4,200 it's not cheap ( you could, afterall, just get up and swap the disc in your DVD player), but if you like your home-cinema experience to be silky smooth and just a few button presses away from all your favourite flicks, it's worth a look.

Click here for more info.

Home entertainment specialists Onkyo are putting together an iPhone / iPod app that will allow users to control the company's networked receivers through their smartphones.

the app will allow your mobile to sync up with Onkyo's connected AV units, turning it into a touch-driven wireless remote.

"The App will replicate day-to-day operations such as altering volume/balance/mute/input selection/listening modes etc. Gesture control will also be incorporated and owners will be able to browse Internet Radio station lists as well as content held on NAS (Network Attached Storage)", reads the press release.

In other words, you'll pretty much be able to carry out any task of the next wave of Onkyo AV receivers without hunting around for the right remote; your iPhone will do the lot instead.

Compatible kit will include the forthcoming 2011 range and Onkyo's 8 series AV receivers (TX-NR708, 808, 1008, 3008, 5008, and PR-SC5508). Owners of 7 series AV receivers will also be able to use the app, though only basic functionality, such as volume and input control, will be accessible.

Keep an eye out for the app early next year.

If you've got a spare £1,700 lying around and are looking to beef up your flatscreen TV's wimpy audio capabilities, take a look at this latest home cinema set up from Jamo, the D500 THX Select 2.

Going up to £2299.99 for the pricier packages, Jamo offer a few different options for those looking to get that true silver-screen soundscape in their living rooms.

In terms of satellite speakers, you've two sets to choose from with Jamo. The 3-way D500 LCRs are best suited to left, centre and right channel set-ups if you're not fussy about having noises creep up on you from behind, while the D500 SUR with closed dipole design are optimised for the full surround set up.

Both are fully compatible with a whole host of audio formats, including Dolby True HD and DTS-HD for Blu-rays, as well as FLAC music playback. As the THX Select 2 moniker suggests, both are also fully THX certified, with a frequency response range of 80Hz - 20,000kHz.

Once you've sorted the surround channels, you then have a few subwoofer options too, with either the D600 SUB with 380mm woofer and 600w amp or closed-box SUB 650 with a 305mm woofer.

Available in black or white, the Jamo kit is up for grabs now.

If you're looking to give your tinny flatscreen TV speakers a boost, but cant afford to break the bank in the process, it might be worth having a look at the Logitech Z506 5.1 surround system.

Designed to connect with as many devices as possible, the Z506 will play nicely with a PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, iPod or a DVD player. Capable of creating a 3D stereo surround sound experience from a two channel audio source, the surround system blasts out 75 watts (RMS) of cinema-style audio, and includes a down-firing subwoofer.

"We designed the Logitech Surround Sound Speakers Z506 so you can set them up the way you want to in any room of your home," said Mark Schneider, vice president and general manager of Logitech's audio business unit. "The Logitech Z506 speakers can support nearly any home-entertainment configuration, letting you quickly connect to a game console using an RCA connection, a PC through its sound card, or a digital music player using the 3.5mm input. Now, getting engrossed in whatever entertainment you love is a snap."

A headphone jack is also included for those preferring to keep their noise a little more private, while the kit also has the ability to connect up and play back from two different audio sources simultaneously.

Best of all though is the price. Rolling out in August, the Z506 speaker system should cost no more than £79.99 when it hits the shops.

So you've got your 3D ready TV and 3D Blu-ray player, but playing back your copy of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs still sounds a little, ahem, flat. You may want to think about investing in a 3D-supported surround sound system then, just like the HT-AS5 that Sony are preparing to launch.

Compatible with the surround sound signals sent from 3D sources, the HT-AS5 5.1 system has three HDMI inputs and one HDMI output, each with 3D pass-through, meaning you can hook up a fair few 3D sources and get cinema sound for each without having to keep swapping and unplugging leads. There's also an audio return channel, giving your TV's audio signal a boost from the system.

You get an overall output power of 1000W from the HT-AS5's S-Master digital amplification, while two optical inputs and a coaxial digital input are included for hooking up the now 3D-ready PS3 console if you should so desire too.

An auto-calibration setting makes setting up the system a piece of cake, while there's even an analogue radio tuner built into the subwoofer if you fancy listening to Desert Island Discs one day.

You're looking at around £429.99 for the system, though one eagle-eyed reader has already spotted it for £60 cheaper than that over at Play.com.

Related | Onkyo HT-S3305 review

Onkyo have today announced the release of two brand-new networked receivers. Featuring THX Ultra2 Plus certification, the TX-NR5008 and TX-NR3008 will also be fully compatible with the incoming wave of 3D capable gear.

Both receivers feature eight HDMI v1.4a inputs, 1080p upscaling and ISF video calibration, as well as networked playback of FLAC, MP3, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, WMA, WMA Lossless, AAC, and LPCM files thanks to a rear-sided Ethernet port.

Both also have dual HDMI outputs for connecting up two HD displays, as well as the ability to set up multi-room set ups for stereo sources around the house.

Lossless Blu-ray codecs Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio are supported, as well as having 9.2 audio channels boosted by Audyssey DSX or Dolby Pro Logic Iiz.

The TX-NR3008 features a front sided USB port, while the TX-NR5008 has them front and back as well as a torodial transformer and 22,000uF power capacitors.

Out in August, the TX-NR3008 and TX-NR5008 will cost £1,700 and £2,400 respectively.

Teufel home cinema systems offer a lot of bang for your buck, but usually the amount of buck you'd need to nab one can get pretty pricey. Looking to offer a more affordable set of gear, Teufel are launching the System 5 home cinema surround package, which they are dubbing "the perfect equilibrium between uncompromising sound quality, ergonomics and economics".

Based on the previously available System 5 THX Select 2 system, the System 5 features a a single S 5000 SW subwoofer with 300mm neodymium woofer in a down firing configuration, two rear S 50D dipole speakers and three THX-certified front satellite speakers.

"Many of our customers want the THX Select 2 experience, but their homes or budget can't support the extra space required for these systems," explains Teufel's Florian Szigat. "At Teufel we don't like to limit the experience our customers can have - in offering the System 5, users can have close to the full THX Select 2 experience without the added cost or space considerations of a second subwoofer."

The Teufel System 5 is available now in two different configurations. The standard set will set you back £899, while the "Concert 5.1" version will cost £999, featuring S 500 FCR speakers for users who are unable to wall-mount dipole speakers in their living rooms.

Still perhaps a bit steep for most wallets, if you're interested, check them out here.

Name: HT-S3305 (Onkyo)

Type: 5.1 Home cinema package including 5 satellite speakers, passive subwoofer and HT-R380 A/V receiver

Specs: Click here for full specs

Price: £299.95 (Richer Sounds)

Onkyo's range of one-box home cinema kits have always paired good value for money with solid audio performance, often featuring the kind of functionality you'd only expect to find with much pricier gear. The Onkyo HT-S3305 home cinema set is no exception. Bundling in an A/V receiver, 5 satellite speakers and a subwoofer, and priced at just shy of £300, it'd give packages twice the price a run for their money.

First up, the receiver. It's a HT-R380, measuring in at a fairly sizeable 435 x 150 x 330 mm, so make sure you've checked you've room for it in your TV cabinet set-up or similar before you grab it. It's cased in a no-nonsense metal chassis with a black finish and features a clearly defined display for tweaking and calibrating the speakers, with a chunky volume dial on the front as well as a range of buttons for switching between audio sources and listening modes.

Connectivity options go beyond what you'd expect within this price bracket. Three HDMI inputs can be routed to one output, there are two optical-in ports and one coaxial-in, composite and analogue support as well as a headphone socket, Aux line-in, room for an FM antenna and Onkyo's Universal port for connecting a sold-separately iPod dock and dasiy-chainable DAB+ module called the UP-DT1.

In terms of audio processing, the HT-R380 can handle bitstream formats that are once again usually the reserve of far more expensive receivers. There's support here for Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio, as well as multi-channel PCM sources and 2 channel expansion using Dolby Pro Logic II. Add to that a 32 bit-processing chip and Burr-Brown 192/24 DACs across all channels and you'll get some seriously impressive, jitter-free audio reproduction from this receiver.

It's also worth noting that the HT-S3305 is compatible with HDMI version 1.4a, the latest HDMI build that is fully compatible with 3D video and audio sources. Unfortunately I was unable to test the kit with a 3D source (3D TVs are just a little bit above my pay-bracket I'm afraid). While I can't speculate on the HT-S3305's performance here, at least Onkyo have made provisions for making it a long-term investment in what seems destined to become the future of home entertainment.

Next up are the 5 satellite speakers and passive subwoofer. The satellites are 8cm cone numbers with a max input power of 120 W, while the sub has a 16cm cone, bass reflex cabinet and a maximum input power of 130 W. They're well balanced (though the rear surround speakers needed a bit of a volume boost when the master volume was down low) and were able to draw out minute detail, especially from the high-definition lossless sources. Blu-ray playback of the Schwarzenegger classic "Total Recall" produced an explosive and resonant response from the subwoofer, while the iconic x-ray glass smashing scene had the sound of crisp tinkles of debris moving convincingly from the front to rear speakers.

The speakers have a black lacquered finish, but felt a little lightweight considering the clarity of sound that they produce. The subwoofer is a little boxy, with the black lacquer finish only on the front side, but has a solid wooden build overall. Keep in mind too that the HT-R380 receiver can be expanded to accommodate a 7.1 set-up too should you later want to boost your system.

Onkyo have also compiled a handful of DSP listening modes for getting the most out of music and game sources. Orchestra, unplugged and studio-mix settings highlight and isolate important frequencies for their respective musical situations, while there are settings optimised for console games in the RPG, action, sports and "Guitar Hero" rhythm genres. The game modes in particular were impressive, especially for picking out dialogue in intense action scenes, while the music game mode, which threw crowd cheers around the room, gave the impression that you were rocking out at Wembley.

Onkyo have done a good job of making the set-up process as painless as possible too. Each 5.1 speaker is discretely colour coded so that there are unlikely to be any mix-ups when connecting to the HT-R380 receiver, while each input is clearly labelled, with specially assigned HDMI slots for TV, Blu-ray/DVD and game console signals that correspond to dedicated buttons on the supplied remote control. It's pretty much fool-proof, and the inclusion of a clean on-screen menu overlay for HDMI sources makes fine-tuning the set-up as simple as it can be. The transparent on-screen menu has clear white fonts that are easy to read and navigate, and while it's a no-frills look, it gets the job done, fitting the myriad options into a simple system that doesn't require multiple levels of menu trawling.

For what you get at this price it's hard to find fault with the Onkyo HT-S3305 package. You could arguably complain that the subwoofer is a passive rather than active unit, but this wont be an issue for anyone other than those looking to upgrade from the bundled speakers in the future. Unless you live in a cavernous mansion the provided speakers and subwoofer will be more than capable of delivering a punchy and impressive sound anyway. I did also occasionally notice some garbled audio very low in the mix when the receiver was processing 5.1 from a 2.0 source, though never anything jarring enough to really dent my enjoyment of the system, and was likely a Dolby processing artefact beyond Onkyo's control.

The HT-R380 receiver bears a striking similarity to the TX-SR308 which is 300 quid on its own, which should give some indication towards the sort of bargain you're getting here. At under £300 the Onkyo HT-S3305 home cinema package is an absolute steal, massively improving on the audio capabilities of pretty much any flatscreen TV on the market without breaking the bank.

4/5

Onkyo have announced the launch of three new mid-range receivers. Compatible with new 3D TV technology, they don't scrimp on specs, nor do they do too much damage to your wallet either.

With full FLAC playback support, the TX-NR1008, TX-NR808, and TX-NR708 receivers are fully compatible with DolbyTrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio HD codecs, stamped with the THX seal of approval.

While each receiver has seven HDMI 1.4a ports and 1080p upscaling features, the TX-NR1008 offers a crazy 9.2 channels compared to the TX-NR808 and TX-NR708's still-impressive 7.2 channels.

There are plenty of extra function the receivers can carry out too. With an Ethernet port you can connect up to your home network through DLNA, and access services such as Napster, LastFM and vTuner. You'll also get to see any artwork that accompanies your iTunes collection too. The receivers support FLAC Lossless, MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, AAC, and LPCM file types.

The TX-NR808 and TX-NR708 are both out in June, priced at £1000 and £800 respectively. The TX-NR1008 will follow in July, marked at £1300. 

LG have just announced the launch of a brand new Blu-ray home cinema package, the HB965TZ. Slim enough to be discretely wall mounted, this 5.1 set still has enough punch to output 1110 watts of audio oomph.

With two HDMI inputs, audio expert Mark Levinson has lent his skills to the product to ensure the home cinema set "retains every detail of even the richest soundscapes", according to the LG press release.

The built-in LG Sound Gallery presets offer fine-tuned audio options for various playback situations, including Natural Plus, Game Equalizer, Night Mode, Clear Voice, Bass Blast, MP3 Up-Scaling and VSM Plus to ensure that you can choose the best sound for what you're watching.

Wirelessly connected to the web, the HB965TZ Blu-ray player also allows its owners to stream content from YouTube and web photo albums, as well as connecting to DLNA devices for mp3, image and video playback of files stored on your home network. The online options also open up the BD-Live features of your Blu-ray collection.

With a port to connect up to an iPod or iPhone for charging and media playback, the home cinema set can also connect to external hard-drives via a USB port and play HD-quality DivX and MKV files.

"LG's HB965TZ home cinema looks are designed to blend in and its features are designed to stand out," said Stephen Gater, Head of Marketing, Home Entertainment, LG UK. "Its possibilities are limitless with the ability to wirelessly connect to content on the internet or on a home network. It also has an integrated iDock for playing and charging your iPod or iPhone for even easier access to your complete digital library."

The HB965TZ Blu-ray home cinema package is out now.

Panasonic has launched its latest range of Home Theatre kit with which to tempt the pounds from your pockets. The SC-BT735, BT330, BT230 and BT222 home cinema kits are touted as having the most "realistic" cinema surround experience outside of your local multiplex.

This "realistic" experience is achieved by using a mixture of both real and virtual speakers to throw audio at the viewer from all manner of angles. PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus is standard across the entire range too, making for more accurate colour reproduction on screen.

The BT375 features "Pure Direct Sound" speakers at the front and "Advanced Bamboo" cone units for the front and surround speakers. There is also a slim-type speaker box included which "reduces unwanted reflection from the baffle and brings out high quality pure direct sound."

The SC-BT330, BT230 and BT222 also feature the Advanced Bamboo cone speakers as central speakers.

All kits except the BT222 are wireless ready for the rear speaker units, and feature DLNA capability, BD-Live, VieraCast and wireless LAN functionality. YouTube videos and Picasa photos can all be accessed through VieraCast.

Panasonic also announced its Full HD 3D Blu-ray Disc Home Cinema System. It will also feature Pure Direct Sound Speakers and will include Full HD 3D playback with 1920x1080 frame-sequential method, VieraCast, and BD-Live. It is expected to launch in the Autumn.

Pick up the BT375 here for £698 once it become available in the UK shortly.

Epson have announced two new projector deals to coincide with this years 2010 World Cup, and they looks very tempting indeed.

Customers who pick up a EH-TW 450 projector will receive a complimentary 80 inch Epson portable screen, worth £157. Those who go instead for a EH-TW3500 will pick up a free Philips BDP2500 Blu-ray player instead, worth £99.

Both projectors, particularly the EH-TW3500 (pictured) are very capable pieces of home cinema kit, while that Philips Blu-ray player isn't to be scoffed at either. Click here for details on the EH-TW3500 and here for info on the EH-TW450.

Graeme Davidson, Marketing Development Manager, Epson UK, commented: "With an Epson projector, football fans can now bring all the excitement of the game into their homes. With these two projectors, Epson offers a HD, widescreen experience that can be shared by friends and family."

The offer runs from today until the 11th July 2010.