Cheap Koss KS4192 Progressive-Scan DVD Home Theater System (Electronics) Price

Sure, bigger and pricier systems offer greater sonic fidelity and low-frequency slam. But this system nevertheless manages to effectively disappear during a movie--no small feat--rendering spacious and reasonably full-bodied sound that's free from distracting colorations such as "peaky" treble or nasally voices. It would be great for gaming, as well as movies, especially when matched with a flat-panel LCD television.

And while it's definitely equipped to handle music, including recordable CDs filled with MP3 and WMA compressed music files, this is not its strength; music reveals the limitations of the speakers more readily than other sources. Still, this is the first system we've encountered that lets us listen to MP3 files as the soundtrack to a digital (JPEG) photo slideshow from the very same disc, a feature that opens a world of creative possibilities.

The system is a cinch to set up and configure, thanks to its color-coded speaker cables and the receiver's matching speaker terminals. The receiver pumps 600 watts total system power across 7 channels: left/right front and surround, 1 each front/rear center speakers (the rear being used for Dolby Digital EX 6.1 programs), with a seventh speaker output to feed the passive subwoofer, which, in this system, is essentially just a speaker with limited high-frequency output and deeper bass response than the satellites. Still, when you crank it up, the system plays loud and clean.

The satellites are all ported, 2-way units (a 3-inch midrange woofer and a tweeter). The relatively broad center speaker is the key to the system's success, with 2 midrange drivers and a tweeter that together produce natural-sounding voices and esses that won't bite your nose off--a telltale sign of something being very right. All satellites are video shielded to prevent image distortion when they're placed on or near a TV or computer monitor.

Antennas for FM and AM radio are included, and the drift-free PLL (phase-locked loop) digital tuner automatically seeks and locks in the strongest stations. You can store up to 20 stations in memory for 1-touch access.

The disc player handles a range of media, jumping effortlessly from DVD-Video movies to homemade DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW discs. JPEG CDs pop immediately into slideshow mode, filling most of the screen with landscape images and nearly top-to-bottom portrait shots. With non-DVD discs, you can program tracks or images to play in a desired sequence. Multi-disc resume is handy for picking up where you left off the last time you had a DVD loaded. And, if you're using a high-definition or HD-ready screen, you'll appreciate the progressive-scan video output.

The system doesn't decode DTS surround sound, though you won't find many DTS discs that don't also have a Dolby 5.1 soundtrack. And, as well matched to the satellite speakers as the subwoofer is, the sub is only engaged when a disc's ".1" LFE (low-frequency effects) signal is present--you won't reap the benefits of having the sub when listening to music or to movies lacking a ".1" soundtrack signal.

With a host of Dolby Pro Logic II simulated surround modes and several equalizer presets, the KS4192 still offers many ways to tailor the sound. Dolby Pro Logic II is one of the better DSP (digital signal processing) methods for generating surround information from 2-channel sources like music or TV shows, though be aware that DPL II effects will not work on MP3/WMA music files. --Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Easy setup
• Broad format compatibility
• Progressive-scan video capability
• Plays JPEG images with MP3 soundtrack from the same disc
• Convenient front-panel SD/MMC card slot
• Multidisc resume
• Alarm clock (wake to disc or radio)
• High power, low distortion
• Natural-sounding center speaker
• Deep bass when subwoofer is active

Cons:

• Always-on fan in DVD/receiver is potentially distracting
• No DTS decoding
• Subwoofer active only for ".1" LFE sounds
• No MP3 ID3-tag recognition
• Front-speaker wires may be too short (6.5 feet x 3)

What's in the Box
DVD player/receiver/amplifier, 1 subwoofer, 5 satellite speakers, 1 center-channel speaker, a remote control, 2 AAA remote batteries, FM/AM antennas, color-coded speaker wires, a stereo analog audio/composite-video interconnect, a user's manual, a quick-installation guide, and warranty information.