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Experience surround sound with fewer speakers and wires. Add in the full functionality and connections of an A/V receiver and bring excitement to movies and video games. Featuring five HD inputs, three of those HDMI connections with Active Intelligence, S-AIR multi-room audio capability, on-screen user interface, set-up, control and connectivity of the home theater has never been easier. Its flat TV centric design allows the sound bar to blend in.
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Technical Details
- 5 HD inputs-3 HDMI with Active Intelligence, 2 component- Icon-based GUI with video upscaling to 1080p from analog SD sources
- Design match with BRAVIA TVs
- Upconversion to HDMI
- S-AIR ready, multi-room listening with optional S-AIR accessories
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By Ash (Fort Walton Beach, FL)
I tried to read as much as I could about the CT-500 prior to it being released. Still shocked at the lack of reviews for such a highly awaited piece of equipment. Once it was released to the public I had one in my house within two weeks. Very impressed with the shipping and packaging...arrived undamaged due to the care Sony uses in packing their electronic equipment. I also bought a very expensive Bravia 46in XBR8 to go with my CT-500. I was very disappointed that Sony did not make a bracket to connect the speaker bar to the bottom of my Sony Bravia TV. Beware that the bracket that comes with the CT-500 only fit a few select models of Sony TV's. I had counted on floating my speaker bar under the TV. Maybe Sony will make an accessory one day. I have my TV on a swivel bracket stand and now the speaker sits on the top shelf facing away (straight) when I am turning the TV. A pain to pick it up and face it to me back and forth all the time. The CT-500 is fine if you are mounting it to the wall, but I really wish I had known this. A pseudo-bonus was the AM/FM receiver that came with the CT-500 that I had no idea about. However it is the cheapest quality receiver to date from Sony from my experience. I had to buy a powered external antenna to attempt to pull in the FM channels and it still didn't pick them up, and AM channels are not any better. Disappointed in all the little things...even the on-screen-display...when you flip it on to adjust the sound for the movie you are watching it stops the picture...flashes and finally comes up and the same thing when closing the CT-500 menu...it takes 3 seconds or more to get back to the movie. A pain when you want to make a simple adjustment. I would say I am disappointed in all the above, but the main intent for my CT-500 was for movies and it works very well for that. Connecting all the wires is very simple and easy. I previously had a Bose surround home theater that was 11 years old. It still does not compare to true surround systems like everyone else will tell you but all my friends tell me my CT-500 sounds awesome. I am impressed with the sound during Blu-ray playback and it works well for my little condo. I actually have to turn it down so I don't disturb the neighbors. I love Sony, and I hope I can find a way to make my own bracket for hanging the speaker bar from my XBR8 LED TV; then I will be happy. The Bravia Link works amazingly. I will upgrade to the wireless rear speakers later. I hope this helped anyone sitting on the fence.
Sony HTCT500 3.1 Speaker System with Complete Built-In A/V Receiver (Black)
By Greasy (Houston)
I decided on purchasing a Soundbar for the same reason that many folks do; to eliminate speakers and wires. I was prepared for a reduction in sound quality in my 20x20 two story viewing room after removing my Yamaha surround sound receiver & 5 speaker/sub woofer arrangement and replacing it with the Sony HTCT500. After playing this system every night for a few weeks, I must say that the Sony HTCT500 is performing very well and has exceeded my expectations - to a degree.
Out of the box performance was not impressive, but after adjusting the sub level upward and making a few other tone tweeks from the GUI menu, the Sony finally came to life.
That said, I encountered a significant problem with this unit: I have a very nice Mitsubishi 73" big screen and the single HDMI output from the Sony caused some digital logic issues for the TV. A long story short; I had to settle for using ONLY the optical audio inputs to the Sony because this Sony units HDMI output is not compatible with my Mitsu 734 series HDMI inputs. The Mitsu actually gave me a blue screen warning that read something to the affect of; this A/V device is incompatible and must be disconnected. I couldn't argue with that and as a result almost returned the Sony to Amazon.
I ended up temporarily connecting a 15" Magnavox LCD TV to the Sony to get the GUI menu up to make my audio adjustment selections. It sounds so good I just couldn't return it. Sure I am dissappointed by the fact that I can't enjoy the use of the GUI, but I can't blame the Sony product for it. The incompatibilty issue lies in the Mitsubishi product and not the Sony. After doing some research, come to find out the Mitsu TV's have issues with their DM boards, as discussed on the web (see green flashing light of death).
Bottom line on the Sony soundbar is this; if you have a Mitsubishi TV, you may want to avoid this Sony product and go with a ZVOX, Yamaha or other type soundbar. If you have any other brand LCD or Plasma TV, you should be pleased with the audio performance & the HDMI output GUI from this Sony.
Cheers!
By Gunjan Nimbavikar (SEATLLE, WA USA)
I got my Sony HT-CT500 today! Was really excited about this product after reading all the online reviews.
I have a not so big living room (apt size) with no options to drill holes etc for 5.1 surround surround system wiring, so I was super excited about getting this product.
I knew that this won't give a full surround sound feel anyways with only 1 speaker bar.
Only woofer was able to impress me but I am sure there are better woofers out there for may be even lower price.
To my despair this system sounds nothing better than a sub-woofer addition to my 52" Samsung A750 speakers.
I have given 2 stars just because of the plenty of Inputs accommodating an average Home theater setup.
-3 HDMI IN (1 BD, 2 DVD)
-2 Component (Using 1 for cable box)
-1 Composite (Using for Wii)
Seriously there are better ways to spend $400-500 than buying this system if you are in market for a surround sound system and are ready to do some extra work with wiring around the room.
I looked around forums to see if any sort of tweaking is missing but tried everything to no avail.
I will be returning this product asap.
Hope this helps!
By Stephen Cole (Chicago, IL United States)
This is an impressive upgrade of the audio on my Sony HDTV (I think it's KDL46W4100). We use it in a room that's not well situated for wired, 5-speaker surround sound and this works well, delivering impressive range and power. The surround imaging works well on BlueRay discs and OnDemand HD video from Comcast (yeuch, but my only choice!). I've had some irritation with synching audio and video when watching cable broadcasts and have started mucking around with the audio delay setting to try to fix it. I find this surprising because my set up couldn't be any more vanilla - everything's Sony brand and less than 12 months old except the cable box.
I'd hoped that this system would also serve as our primary audio system in this room but I'm not convinced yet. It doesn't seem to have the range, punch or stereo imaging that I have come to enjoy from my prior system. I may try the Sony Digital Media dock - will this help? - or just invest in a better overall system for music next year.
By M. Wiehl
Good quality system. I have a small place, so I didn't want to mess with a 5.1/7.1 system. The bass sounds amazing and it handles 5.1 input well...dialog in the middle, sound effects off to the sides...everything you would expect for simulated surround. Simple setup. Can't comment on the upconversion...set my Direct TV box to output at native resolution and couldn't tell a difference in the quality (I think the upconversion is for analog sources).
Be warned - while this is "S-Air ready", which I think it is a little misleading. I actually can't blame this one on Amazon (my fault), but looking at the Sony site for the description is a lot more misleading. I spent $130 on the "Sony AIRSA15R S-AIR PLAY Wireless Speaker" to use with this. I found out that not only do you need to buy a separate transmitter for $50 (idk why this isn't built in...they imply it is, but it only has a plug for the transmitter...which, btw, is in high demand and seems to be hard to find), but the new A15Rs aren't even compatible. You can buy the "Sony AIRSA10 S-AIR Speaker System" for 80ish, which will apparently do the trick. I had purchased the 15 over the 10 because you can control audio sources with the 15, but again, that doesn't work with this. Either way you are out $130ish to get wireless, but it is implied that you are getting the wireless transmission, at the least, with the receiver so I thought my incremental cost to get some audio around the apartment was 80 for basic or 130 for "fancy", not 130 for basic.
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Buy Sony HTCT500 3.1 Speaker System with Complete Built-In A/V Receiver (Black) Now
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