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Flat Panel Home Theatre gives Sharp Sound (30/9/2004)

Flat panel television is the latest technology to take the home entertainment world by storm - and it's now being joined by flat panel home theatre systems courtesy of Sharp Electronics.

The HT-X1H is one of a new generation of Sharp home cinema systems to feature an innovative, ultra-slim main unit with slot loading DVD player, an ideal partner for the company's Aquos LCD TV range.

The brushed silver main unit can stand vertically - 'flat panel' style - or horizontally, and can even be wall-mounted. Whichever way is chosen, the HT-X1H looks stunning, with a blue circular LED detail, circular LCD and volume control giving it a very distinctive, modern look. The deck connects to five round-profile satellite speakers and an active subwoofer to pump out 50W per channel audio power.

The system provides impressive picture quality via a Scart output to TV, and has on-board DTS, Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic II decoding to make the most of surround sound movie sound effects and enhance CD performance. It also incorporates an FM/AM tuner, all adding up to the complete home entertainment system in a compact package.

The HT-X1H joins the similarly styled, but higher-specified, SD-PX15H 1-bit DVD home cinema system to complete the flat panel home theatre range. The SD-PX15H is a premium system offering almost unparalleled compatibility with all the latest home entertainment disc formats, including DVD, DVD-R/-RW, DVD-A, SACD, CD and MP3 CD.

The 35W per channel amplifier packs on-board Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II decoders, driven by Sharp's unique 1-bit digital amplification system, to give impressive sound quality and atmosphere to both surround sound movie soundtracks on DVD and conventional music CDs.

The SD-PX15H's socketry includes a Scart socket, S-Video and Video out plus an optical/digital input/output for flexible connectivity to other home cinema and audio equipment, and colour-coded speaker terminals for straightforward set-up. It also includes an AM/FM tuner. Cosmetically, it has a smooth, streamlined look, set off by the circular vertical opening DVD drawer and large fluorescent display.

The SD-PX15H 1-bit digital home cinema system is currently available, whilst the HT-X1H DVD home theatre system launches in December.

www.aquos.co.uk