JVC today introduced the company’s first Blu-ray home-theater-in-a-box system, a three-piece package that includes a sound bar speaker system, wireless subwoofer and Blu-ray player, providing a complete high definition home entertainment package designed to complement virtually any HDTV.
The new JVC TH-SB100 is a 3.1-channel system designed to make it easy to upgrade to a full HD home theater, and offers such advanced features as BD Live compatibility. The system’s powered soundbar is designed to nestle unobtrusively below a television, while the subwoofer, thanks to its wireless technology, offers the kind of placement flexibility that design-conscious consumers appreciate. The included Blu-ray player, in addition to its BD Live (Profile ver. 2.0) compatibility when used with USB memory, also offers AVCHD playback, the popular high definition camcorder format.
The simple and cleanly-styled sound bar has an internal amplifier that provides 30 watts each to the left, right and center channels. Left and right channels are each handled by a pair of three-inch woofers and half-inch tweeter, while a single three-inch woofer handles the center channel. The eight-inch wireless subwoofer is driven by 100 watts. In addition, the system offers Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, plus six-mode digital signal processing. But no mention of support for DTS-HD or Dolby TrueHD.
The TH-SB100’s Blu-ray player offers compatibility with the full array of formats, including AVCHD. Connections include HDMI ver.1.3 with Deep Color and x.v.Color, USB Host, LAN for BD Live, component and composite video outputs, and analog, optical and coaxial audio outputs.
With BD Live compatibility the player can be connected to the Internet to access BD Live 2.0 features, including easy firmware updates, new movie trailers, updated subtitles, online shopping, chat and gaming.
The TH-SB100 is designed to complement the latest generation of sleekly styled flat panel TVs. The glossy black low-profile Blu-ray player has illuminated function keys, while the black soundbar likewise features a slim design.
The TH-SB100 will ship in April 2009 for a list price of $699.95.
