News

Sony launches 'invisble' home theatre (18/4/2007)

Complete surround system in a TV stand has 5.1 processing, amplification and speakers, HDMI interface and compatibility with high definition video and audio

Sony has announced the second model in its BRAVIA 'home cinema without the boxes' range, the RHT-G800. Smaller and less expensive than the original RHTG1000, it's designed to extend the concept of a complete surround system built into a TV stand to more buyers, and is designed to be used with flatscreen TVs - including the Sony BRAVIA range - up to 46in/117cm screen size.

Sony has announced the second model in its BRAVIA 'home cinema without the boxes' range, the RHT-G800. Smaller and less expensive than the original RHTG1000, it's designed to extend the concept of a complete surround system built into a TV stand to more buyers, and is designed to be used with flatscreen TVs - including the Sony BRAVIA range - up to 46in/117cm screen size.

And with its HDMI interface, along with both analogue and digital audio connections, the RHT-G800 can handle even complex systems of DVD or Blu-ray players, recorders, games consoles and cable/satellite set-top boxes - it's even compatible with the high-resolution Linear PCM audio system used on Blu-ray, as well as the Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks found on DVDs.

Sony has also designed this BRAVIA Theatre system with an eye to even greater integration: when used with suitable Sony products, its BRAVIA Theatre Sync capability will offer not just one-remote operation of complete systems, but also one-button selection to synchronise the operation of an entire set-up. For example, pressing the play button for the DVD player would select the right inputs on the TV and the RHT-G800's amplifier section, while the whole system could also be shut down with just one touch.

Clean, simple and clutter-free

The RHT-G800 has been designed to deliver real home cinema sound without all the clutter usually associated with such systems. The styling is that of a highquality TV stand, taking up no more space than conventional racks, but concealed within it is a complete home cinema system. But it's not a stripped-out configuration making use of simulated surround effects: its solid, sleek lines hide six channels of amplification and no fewer than seven speakers.

There's also 2 in/1 out HDMI connectors, able to pass signals up to 1080i, handle 7.1-channel Linear PCM audio from Blu-ray and even offer advanced control functions with compatible Sony products, using the HDMI Consumer Electronics Control command system. Completing the clean silver and black lines is a cable management system, ensuring the very few wires this system does require when other equipment is connected are kept completely out of sight.

Real 5.1 surround, real speakers and amplifiers

Whereas some systems use two speakers for the front channels, and leave the rest of the surround effect to digital processing, that's not the case with the RHTG800. Each of the 5.1 channels (front left/right/centre, left/right surround and subwoofer) has its own speaker and amplification - in fact, the Sony even has twin subwoofers to give its sound maximum weight and impact.

Each of the five main channels uses a 4cm x 7cm oval drive unit, while the subwoofers use 10cm drivers. Each channel is driven by its own Sony S-Master 32-bit digital amplifier, with 70W for each of the five speakers, and 120W for the subwoofers - for a total peak output of 470W.

S-Force PRO Front Surround: rear effects without the wires

Sony's long-term involvement in surround technology (and the vast amounts of acoustic data accumulated as a result) has led to the development of all-new processing methods and advanced digital signal processing to handle this task effectively. The result is S-Force PRO Front Surround.

Compared with other front surround technologies, S-Force PRO Front Surround reproduces a more convincing sense of distance and space, resulting in a true surround sound experience without the need for rear speakers. Using DSP custom-designed for this product, the RHT-G800 controls the sound from the side-mounted surround speakers, which place sound around the room to give the impression of rear effects channels mounted behind the listener. The unique technology of S-Force PRO Front Surround doesn't rely on wall reflections, so it will always work regardless of the size and shape of the room.

It's a true surround system, with discrete speakers for the surround channels, but Sony's S-Force PRO Front Surround processing gets over one of the main consumer stumbling blocks when it comes to installing surround at home: the need for wires to connect the rear speakers to the amplification. In fact, that's the story throughout the RHT-G800: this is high-quality surround sound without the usual clutter.

Bass for you, not the whole block

Many of us live in close proximity to our neighbours, whether in apartments or terraced homes. And at some time or another most of us have encountered the annoyance of thumping bass coming through our walls or ceiling, or a neighbour banging on the door asking us to turn our music down.

With two subwoofers and 120W of amplifier power available, that could be a problem, but Sony's engineers have designed the RHT-G800 with special vibration-cancelling enclosures, ensuring that while the user hears rich, powerful bass, much less of it escapes through the structure of the unit and into walls and floors. This is a system you can enjoy to the full while staying friends with those who live around you.

Simple control

With a comprehensive remote control handset, the RHT-G800 couldn't be much simpler to set up and use. And when it's used with Sony products compatible with the BRAVIA Theatre Sync system, with commands passed using HDMI's Consumer Electronics Control protocol, one-button operation is possible: for example pressing the DVD 'play' button on the remote will also select the correct inputs on the audio system and TV, while the 'off' button will shut down the whole system if required.

'Invisible' home theatre

Measuring just over 110cm wide, less than 50cm tall and 40cm deep, the RHTG800 looks just like any top-quality stylish TV stand - it's the perfect size for screens up to 46in.

Its looks ensure it will fit in with any décor. The top-plate is elegant glass, into which is built a touch-panel control system. And the shelf is both heightadjustable and removable, enabling the RHT-G800 to accommodate components of a variety of sizes. By hiding the surround electronics and speakers within, Sony's engineers have created the perfect home cinema system for people who don't like the boxes and wires that make up ordinary systems. And that's what makes it extraordinary - this is truly 'invisible' home theatre.

Availability

The Sony RHT-G800 is available from May.

www.sony-europe.com