Sony Unveils HT-CT 500... - Page 3

I am no advocate of VIZIO. Do not own any of their products! But I have to give them credit for posting ANY frequency response of the subwoofer. Did not see anything on SONY. Of course it does not include a frequency response curve. But 35 to 80 is pretty good. And for all the posters on here who espouse the different audio connections-can you really HEAR the difference?? It brings to mind those that would not listen to CDs-not the same sound as vinyl LPs. Or those who would not listen to solid state amplifiers-only tubes will do!

For $350 (or less once Walmart and COSTCO get involved), it's worth a listen.

And for all the posters on here who espouse the different audio connections-can you really HEAR the difference?? >>

Without a doubt DD 5.1 sound is VERY distinguishable from the analog stereo sound a bar like the Vizio bar outputs,,,,

As far as Vizio I personaly like their products,, I purchased their new 55 inch LCD recently and gota say its a great LCD TV, the speaker attached to the bottom of the TV aint that great but the TV itself,, very impressive picture.

As to your statement of : And for all the posters on here who espouse the different audio connections-can you really HEAR the difference?? It brings to mind those that would not listen to CDs-not the same sound as vinyl LPs. Or those who would not listen to solid state amplifiers-only tubes will do!,, that whole rant really has nothing to do with much of what is of concern as far as connections,, as in, the Vizio is very very limited in the availabilty/options for connections.
For example, the Vizio does not have all the HDMI connections that the Sonys have, its not a matter of how either system sounds, its a matter of which system offer's the best way's to connect a BluRay, HD DVD, HD cable box and any thing else that can be connected with HDMI's.

Cheers
Davyo

Hey guys. Anyone heard any updates about the release of this bad boy? I know someone mentioned earlier in the thread that it might be released by the end of the month or early next month or something like that. I just returned my ct100 to amazon for the full price. not sure yet, but I'll probably go and get another ct100 from walmart or bestbuy and exhaust another 30-day trial. Hopefully the ct500 will be out by then.

spellitlikeFRAUD wrote - "I'll probably go and get another ct100 from walmart or bestbuy and exhaust another 30-day trial."

hey, way to screw companies (and other consumers) by buying, using, and returning products you have no intention of keeping. these return policies will start shrinking due to abuse, and have already (Costco).
the rest of us pay for 'consumers' like this. be responsible.

In case you haven't noticed, big companies have been screwing common folk for decades by selling over priced products you can get online cheap like on amazon or newegg. It's their own fault and my right to buy and return as I please. I'm not breaking any rules and unless I'm hurting you directly in any way, you should keep your opinions and namecalling to yourself. I don't shop at Costco; in fact, I've never even been there. Plus, you make it seem as though I'm the only person on the entire forums who does or talks about this. In fact, I was advised these kinds of things by several members here. So back off dude.

Big companys are screwing the common folk because they charge more for products than Amazon and NewEgg,,,, REALLY ????

Did you ever take the time to think about all the bill's these big companys like BestBuy, C. City, Ultimate Electronic's and Fry's have to pay ????
They have to pay for the building they are in, they have to pay their power bills, they have to pay their employee's, advertising, tax's, insurance, phone bills and a whole list of things I have not even included in order to keep their doors open.

Online dealers are able to sell cheaper because they dont have all that overhead,,,,,, big companys are NOT screwing anybody,,, they are paying their bills and overhead to keep their stores open and try and make a profit while doing so.

And YES, you are hurting all of us directly by returning products.

Costco had killer return policys but because people abused and took advantage of those policys Costoc had to stop being so nice to there good customers,, that hurt all of us directly.
Ohhh I forgot, you have never been to Costco so you could care less about that.

No, you are not "the only person on the entire forums who does or talks about this" there are a few others here on AVS who also dont understand or care,, and that really sucks that a few people like you, can, and have, ruined it for everyone else.

Those are my opinions,,,,,,dude !!!

Davyo

Yep, the few people who abuse return polices like this spoil it for the majority.

you make it seem as though amazon doesn't have a ****-ton of employees to pay or bills for their warehouses. i'm sure their people still wear uniforms just like the ppl at best buy. plus, they have a larger consumer base because of all the assortments of things they sell. point is, is that if best buy can afford to sell their product at the correct prices every other week on "sale", they should be able to afford it year round. you know no one here including yourself likes to get jibbed on something. plenty (not just a few) save hundreds buying online.

i don't disagree with you entirely davyo. i respect u cuz you've helped me out a couple of times here on the forums. but it's not like i do this all the time. there are even ****** employees there who've told me to get things to "try them out" or "think it over". and trust me, i've spent lots and lots of cash there too. but as i admit that you have good points, i do too. while it's not a good practice, it's not a habit i have or anything.

so while you say that i don't care, you're shoving implications about me which isn't cool. i'd hate not having the option or convenience. circuit city had a restocking fee on practically everything which is why i never shopped there, and bestbuy is getting there with some of their stuff as well. that's why it's not a habit. so for the record, sry to all those offended.

First off,, let me say sorry if my post seemed a bit harsh towards you, I went back an re-read what I posted and I could have phrased it nicer,, my bad.
And Yes, you do have some valid points.

As far as re-stocking fee's, I to NEVER buy from stores that have them,, I return stuff on a regular basis,, so much so I got banned, 86'ed from Ultimate Electronics by the managment a few years ago.
They even asked me is I was a tester or a reviewer for a electronics magazine when they asked me not to buy from them anymore.
My response, I told them there is no way to know if something is going to be what I want until I take it home and try it out and test it (camera's and audio systems mostly) so belive me, I am the KING of returning stuff.

I just get a bit cranky on the subject of buying something and returning it just for the purpose of using it, sorry for coming off like an ass*&$e.

Cheers
Davyo

The generous return policies are not for people to abuse the way you are. You can try and justify it all you want but in the end ask yourself if that is the way you would want a customer treating you if you owned the business.

wow davyo. that's intense. lol.

@Spellitlikethis: Wow, this has kinda flown off-topic :P! To round it back in, Sony Service reps have told me to be on the lookout of a release date of April. June is still the scheduled date but it's only "Projected", which means if it comes out sooner, April may very well be true !

@Blue comet and fiest1:
And yes you can hear the difference between 5.1/7.1 LPCM Uncompressed sound and Dolby Digital/DTS on a Soundbar. The people who say otherwise
1) Have owned a CT100 but not set up in a room it's meant to be in.
2) Own a Soundbar like the Yamaha YSPs (for example), and defend their purchase because those other soundbars do cost a pretty penny (I don't know about Vizio)
3) Are Non- Soundbar users who have a Full blown system and deny anything to even come close to their units. They MAY purchase a soundbar in the future for a smaller room and like the sound, acknowledging/accepting it does Simulated surround well.
4) Are ANTI-Soundbar users who are almost like Non-Soundbar users but are at a high degree, they will absolutely not buy a soundbar because they believe no matter what that soundbars are "crap". They believe it can't produce good surround no matter what and aren't even close to even cheap sound systems.

Don't believe any of these people and make the judgement for yourself. People can try to convince me all they want that a Full blown system is the way to go, but I choose to not follow the crowd. "Alot of People" have Ipods because Apple has a strangle on the mp3 player market (and trying their hardest to monopolize too) and also because "Everyone" has one, I guess I better too". I grabbed a Cowon S9 and haven't looked back since. So with that example, since everyone buys a full blown system and don't mind the wires (and finding ways to hide them) and speakers needing to be set up properly in the room (with possible holes in the wall), I choose to be different and grab a soundbar to avoid the wires and have a simple sound system. In my book, surround is surround, a soundbar does do good surround (even if simulated) just like a full blown sound system does good surround.

any new scuttlebutt on a release date?

I second that. It is getting close to April . I really hope it comes out soon as I already have someone at work lined up to buy my used CT100.

I have a question. Does anyone know if the remote for this new CT500 will be able to control your cable box and/or DVD player? It just seems that if you are sending all your video sources through the unit that you would want to be yourt main control device. Did the CT100 allow for that by chance?

Thanks,
The Dan

The CT100 remote controls Sony TV's and DVD only.

I have a question for the hardcore CT-100 fans or upcoming CT-500. It seems like you guys have tried several soundbars. I am wondering why these Sonys are better than having a separate receiver that decodes TrueHD paired up with something like a Polk Surroundbar 50 or Mythos SSA-50. Is it price/performance ratio? Are the other soundbars just not that much better sounding to justify the price difference?

I already have a nice Paradigm 10" sub, but I sold all my Paradigm bookshelf speakers and an outdated receiver because I am tired of all the wires, clutter, etc. The Polk would pair up nicely with my existing sub and then I would need a receiver. Or, I could sell the sub also and just get the CT-500.

A passive soundbar with a TrueHD or DTS-MA capable receiver are actually pretty good, if not better than HTIB Sounbars. Passive soundbars however cost abit more than HTIB soundbars and the economy isn't helping anything. Some of us are being money smart now and the CT100 gives you great Bang for your Buck. The CT500 is no different as it's WAAAY more powerful than the CT100 and includes even more features than the CT500's predecessor plus it's still affordable. Yamaha Soundbars are of course still king and produce the most realistic surround especially rear unlike some passive soundbars. The CT100 does a great job as well but only a few are able to hear the surround (due to room size or what is connected to it) and it's affordable.

Thanks for your input. I think I am going to sell my Paradigm sub and get this system to save money rather than spend a grand on other options. I wonder what they are doing with all that extra power? The soundbar itself is minimally larger. I guess it's for volume when not in LPCM, or perhaps for more power to the sub. I also wonder if the sub has a larger cone or will deliver more bass. I didn't want the CT-100 due to no component inputs, but now I can hook up my non-HDMI Xbox 360 as well as my HDMI-capable DVR.

The reason for the soundbar of the CT500 being bigger/longer is because it now has TWO Center speakers this time around. It will in a sense broaden the surround field even further AROUND the room and the extra power the CT500 has (bigger sub) is to push the sound further INTO the room. In other words, the CT500 quite possibly will address all the issues the CT100 had...

The 500 looks great, but I am leaning towards grabbing the 100 because it's available now and a bargain (well, if I can find it cheap somewhere.. I have found it for $250, but can't find any sub $200 deals others are talking about).

I just need to HDMI switch between my Blue Ray player and my Mac Mini HTPC, so the CT-100 would work for me. The CT-500's features make it more future proof, but I can do without most of them.


Anyone know the release date for the 500, or any raging deals on the 100?

I see the CT-100's on eBay for around the $200.00 price every so often,, as a matter of fact, I have mine currently listed on eBay for a "buy it now" of less than $200.00 .

Try Amazon as well.

Cheers
Davyo

Mind posting a link?

I've been in search for a CT-100 in the $200 range.

Just to let you know though, when I say I'm selling my CT100 for under $200.00, the "buy it now" is only $1.00 under that price

The link be below, (I do hope that is Ok to post my eBay link here on AVS and it does not break any forum rules)

Cheers
Davyo

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-CT100-Sound...3A1%7C294%3A50

Sony has the specs for both posted on their Japanese website. When I ran the specs for both through a translation program, I found the following:

HT-CT500:

4 50mm Cone Speakers: Total speaker area = 7,854 square mm
1 130 mm woofer
Weight of subwoofer/amp = 9.1 kg

HT-CT100:

3 40mm x 70mm Oval Speakers: Total speaker area = 8,400 square mm
1 160 mm woofer
Weight of subwoofer/amp = 10 kg

So, the older CT100 has more soundbar speaker driver area, a bigger woofer, and the subwoofer/amp weighs about 2 lbs. more than its replacement.

And the newer CT500 has less soundbar speaker driver area, a smaller woofer, and the subwoofer/amp weighs less than the one it replaces.

As for the increased power of the CT500, both are spec'd at a 10% distortion level so it's unknown what they really put out at a more reasonable distortion level of under 1%.

I've been associated with the audio business for a long time, and it is my observation Sony always puts their best engineering efforts in the first product they make in a new category, then they start finding ways to lower its cost. Is it possible they have begun this process with the CT500?

I guess we won't know until the HT-CT500 actually starts shipping and people can listen to one. The extra hookups and the upconversion are nice additions to the CT500, but for me, the key question is:

Will the HT-CT500 actually sound better than the HT-CT100, or is it a step backwards in sound quality? You cannot change the laws of physics and a speaker with a smaller driver area cannot move as much air as a speaker with a larger driver area.

Title says it all!!!

Anyone hear anything about a release date?

Reps have told me and few others that the projected date is June but MIGHT possibly be coming out THIS MONTH! Highly excited for it, crossing my fingers in hoping my wife lets me grab the upgrade (from the CT100).

Ok, thanks! I am so glad I waited on the CT100.