Considering the continually falling prices of receivers and discrete speakers, Yamaha's new neoHD components that emphasize integration and ease of use rather than just the "boxes per dollar" HTIB metric sounds like a good move. On power-up, the YMC-500 ($600) and YMC-700 ($800) also turn on the TV, guide the user through a tree of activities (starting with "Watch/Listen/Play" options) and power up the correct devices. Both models pack 3 HDMI inputs, a pair of component ins, and one composite (yuck) set. On the audio side, there's decoding all the way up to Dolby TrueHD (no mention of DTS-HD MA in the PR -- perhaps a Zoran chipset lurks within?) and a nice dollop of Yamaha technologies, including Cinema DSP, AIR SURROUND XTREME, YPAO room correction and Adaptive DRC dynamic volume control. If you spring for the YMC-700 model, you also get wireless connectivity to the media lurking around your house on PCs, a license for TwonkyMedia software for streaming to the YMC-700, and Rhapsody access. Still not convenient enough for you? Then grab for the $800 YMC-S21 HTIB system (pictured) that combines the YMC-500 with a 2.1-channel speaker setup -- interestingly, the PR doesn't spell out a YMC-700 + 2.1-channel speaker bundle. Full details after the break.

As a brand that pairs high fashion with prices to match, the addition of Blu-ray to Bang & Olufsen's lineup seems like it should have happened a long time ago, but only now is B&O making play dates between its BeoVision 7 LCD and the format. Getting the B&O marketing fluff and buff on the latest iteration of the BeoVision 7-40 are the built-in Profile 2.0 Blu-ray deck, DVB-HD tuner, 40-inch LCD with 120Hz refresh rate, and your choice either the BeoLab 7-2 stereo soundbar (for those who haven't heard good surround sound) or the minimalistic BeoLab 7-4 soundbar with the Acoustic Lens (for those who don't care). If you're flat broke after laying out the $13,500 for this HTIB, no problem -- with its motorized stand, the BeoVision 7-40 is all set for placement right on your floor, so be sure to factor that savings in.

Onkyo just loves to make new product announcements in batches, and the latest press volley is no exception. Planned for release next month in Japan are the 2.1-channel HTX-11X system, CR-D2LTD CD mini-system with matched D-112EXLTD bookshelf speakers, A-5VL Class D integrated amplifier, and C-S5VL thin SACD deck. Even if the model names don't exactly roll off the tongue, the machine translations tell you most of what you need to know. Here's a quick rundown: the HTX-11X matches up the stereo pair of bookshelf speakers with the amplifier buried in the subwoofer cabinet to the tune of 35-Watts to the sub itself and 17-Watts across each of the 5 remaining taps; if you're putting together something for your executive office, the CR-D2LTD mini-system paired up with the D-112EXLTD speakers will handle your CDs and FM radio; and audiophiles looking to roll their own might find something to like in the 80-mm thin C-S5VL SACD deck and 40-Watt A-5VL Class D integrated amplifier. If you're planning on doing some shopping in Akihabara soon, go past the break for pretty pics and hit the links for the full details.

Read - HTX-11X HTIB system
Read - CR-D2LTD mini-system, D-112EXLTD speakers
Read - A-5VL integrated amplifier, C-S5VL SACD player

Only last month we saw a positive review of LG's HB354BS HTIB, and the company obviously feels it's on to something good with these HTIB systems, because it has now introduced the similar HB954TBW to its homeland Korean market. This system notches up the channel count to 5.1 (as opposed to the 2.1-channel HB354BS), but still hangs on to the Mark Levinson name-drop, Blu-ray heart and retractable iPod dock that to our eyes looks like a sleek accident waiting to happen. Gather up your won, this one lists out at ₩1,299,000 ($1,030).

Philips may be dodging the North American sector with its flashiest of products, but it's still showing the Yanks in attendance a little love on the home entertainment front. Today in a meeting in NYC, the outfit revealed US pricing and availability for its entire 2009 family, most of which was quietly introduced in January. Starting things off are the 6000 and 7000 Series of HDTVs, which just so happen to pick right up where the previous models left off in 2008. The 6000 Series will arrive in 32-, 42- and 47-inch flavors for $799, $1,399 and $1,699, respectively, while the 7000 Series goes 42-, 47- and 52-inch for $1,499, $1,799 and $2,299, also respectively.

While checking these very sets out, we noticed that the factory settings left the colors a bit blown out and overly sharp -- though, this practice is far too common in HDTV companies anyway. Nothing like wowing those Best Buy shoppers at first, only to sear their retinas at home, right? All kidding aside, the panels looked superb, and the A-B comparison mode made tweaking the settings a breeze. Hop on past the break for the rest of the details, and give our gallery a glance for a closer look at the whole lot.

Considering that Epson's highest-end HTIB is nearly two years old now, we'd say an update was definitely in order. Today, the outfit has just taken the wraps off of its next-generation Ensemble HD Home Cinema, which gets updated by way of including the PowerLite Home Cinema 6100 or Home Cinema 6500 UB. As with the prior kit, these two also include a motorized 100-inch screen, integrated surround sound, AV controller with built-in DVD player, universal remote and all virtually components needed for installation. The only thing that's glaringly absent is a Blu-ray player, which -- at this point -- is completely and utterly inexcusable. At any rate, those content with treating themselves to upscaled DVD can fork out $4,999 for the Ensemble HD Home Cinema 720p, $6,499 for the Ensemble HD Home Cinema 6100 and $7,999 for the Ensemble HD Home Cinema 6500 UB.

In a time when most people feel that the sound spilling out of the white earbuds that came bundled with their PMP is "really good," getting people to pry open their pocketbooks for sound quality is a tough battle. That doesn't mean it's not worthwhile -- ask anyone who has experienced a good HT demo and they'll tell you that audio is a significant part of the grin-inducing experience. Where price sensitivity intersects with a desire to experience surround sound, HTIB (home theater in a box) systems have found a nice market opportunity. For its part, Samsung's $500 AS730 HTIB promises a lot -- a compliment of five speakers plus a powered sub combined with a receiver that can accommodate your existing system and leave you with some room to grow with both inputs (three HDMI, two component video and an iPod dock) and outputs (an extra pair of speaker outputs for 7.1-channel rear-surrounds). Read on to find out how the Samsung AS730 managed the features/price balancing act.

Although pricing info for LG's HB354BS Blu-ray HTIB wasn't available by the time it hit the internet, TrustedReview's impressions of the all-in-one sound pretty favorable. Whether it's because LG chose to focus on quality over quantity by delivering "only" a 2.1-channel system or Mark Levinson sprinkled some audiophile-approved fairy dust over the pieces, it all came together pretty nicely. Once things were set up, the slick UI and retractable iPod dock went a long way towards minimizing the light and hollow feel of the individual parts, and sound quality that didn't immediately fall apart with increasing volume didn't hurt either. As expected, the Blu-ray visuals -- rivaling LG's standalone BD370 -- didn't disappoint, which sealed the deal for this system. Even for surround sound, we'd take a solid 2.1-channel system over a lackluster 7.1-channel one, and TrustedReviews did too, giving it the HB354BS a recommendation -- assuming it hits the streets at a reasonable price.

When it rains, it pours, and no sooner did we unpack the Paradigm SUB 25 than the new Samsung AS730 HTIB showed up at our doorstep. The AS730 came in its own fairly big box chock full of good stuff -- for 500 clams, you get a 5.1-channel speaker set (four identical front and surround channels, a center and a powered subwoofer), a receiver, remote, iPod dock, calibration mic and even cables to hook everything up. As you'd expect from a HTIB system, all the cables are color-coded to help users get things set up quickly -- unfortunately that color coding couldn't help us navigate the tightly-spaced speaker connections. Sure enough, it's pretty crowded around the back of the receiver, with enough connections to wire up prospective buyers' systems via HDMI, component and composite. Best of all, there's some room for expansion as well, with 7.1-channel analog inputs and 7.1-channel speaker taps. We'll put this package in the review queue and report back when we've got a story to tell; until then, feel free to check the pics of the not-so photo-friendly glossy black kit after the break.

For most people making their first foray into HT gear, springing for a full-blown audio rig to go along with a new TV is just too expensive, and while starting out with just a pair of speakers up front might fit the budget, it doesn't deliver the surround sound thrills that make on satisfied with the new purchase. That's exactly why HTIB systems like Samsung's new AS730 that get you going quickly but don't immediately "dead-end" your system make sense. For $500, you get a 7.1-channel receiver and a 5.1-channel speaker system with a powered subwoofer. With three HDMI inputs, three Toslink inputs, the requisite iPod dock (with analog video support), auto calibration and even 7.1 channel analog audio inputs, you can unbox this package and be set up before the popcorn is ready; better still, there's room to grow with this system. At this price point, some tradeoffs have to be made -- your Blu-ray deck will have to decode any Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA to LPCM, but that's just picking nits, isn't it? Full press release and a few photos after the break.

Klipsch stunned the boxed surround sound world back in late January with the announcement of three relatively affordable 5.1 sound systems. The middle guy (yeah, the HD Theater 500) just started shipping out to the earliest of adopters, and we just so happened to get our set in today. For $599.99 (MSRP), you get four surrounds, a center channel and a powered (100 watt) 8-inch subwoofer. Each satellite is a sealed enclosure finished in a high-gloss piano black, with a 2.5-inch IMG woofer (center channel has two) and a MicroTractrix horn-loaded aluminum dome tweeter (0.75-inches) packed within. We can say with certainty that these drivers are delightfully small, but if you're looking specifics, here goes: the satellites are 6- x 3.6- x 3.85-inches, while the center channel measures in at 3.6- x 9- x 3.85-inches. As for the subbie? 13.9- x 12.5- x 12.5-inches. We're setting this rig up as we speak to give it a listen and report back, but till then, feel free to peruse the unboxing gallery below.

Hope you won't be confused by two more HTIB systems from Onkyo, 'cause they're coming at you fast and furious. Starting things off is the 7.1-channel HT-S5200, which packs 1,200 total watts of power and includes a 10-inch, 290 watt subwoofer. Said setup is Sirius-ready and features an HDMI-equipped audio-video receiver, four DSP gaming modes, Audyssey 2EQ room correction technology and Audyssey Dynamic Volume to keep levels, um level. The lower-end HT-S3200 consists of a 5.1-channel, 660 watt system that bundles in the HT-R370 receiver and includes a trio of HDMI pass-through inputs, DTS and Dolby Digital surround processing and an 8-inch subwoofer. Both rigs are available now in black or silver for $599 and $379 in order of mention.

Also checking in at Sony's Las Vegas showcase are these DVD upscaling-based HTIB systems. If those Blu-ray packing all-in-ones are a bit too much for you, the top of the line DAV-HDX589W and DAV-HDX589WC systems, featuring either S-AIR wireless speakers or S-AIR multiroom listening station, respectively, with 1000 watts maximum power to their 5.1 speakers for $430 later this month. The next models down drop features like auto calibration and audio enhancement on their way to a $300 price tag leaving a few lonely new portable DVD players, but really, like the rest of this line, it may be time to look upmarket.

As much as we itch to go fully custom in assembling speaker/receiver combos from disparate brands, there are reasons that HTIB systems are so popular, with value and ease of use coming in high on the list. The four updated HTIB systems from Yamaha certainly stack up pretty well: a couple of systems (YHT-791 and 591) with HD audio codec support are balanced out by a pair of 5.1 systems (YHT-491 and 391) that trim the price without leaving you totally out of the game. Holding pole position is the $850 YHT-791, packing 90-Watts to the seven discrete channels and 100-Watts in the 10-inch sub. Four HDMI inputs, HD audio codecs and even a iPod dock round things out and pretty much ensure you'll have the audio thing covered. If you need that DTS HD-MA and Dolby TrueHD support but not 7-channels' worth, save yourself $200 with the YHT-591 and up to 5-channels at 105-Watts each -- it'd be the direction we'd lean in. But don't take our word for it -- hit the link, check out all four systems yourself and let your own ears decide.

[Thanks, Brian!]

Hope you didn't just pull the trigger on a BDP-S350, 'cause we get the feeling Sony's two newest standalone BD decks are going to make you yearn for the next best thing. Here in Las Vegas, the company has just come clean with the Profile 2.0 BDP-S360 and BDP-S560, the latter of which includes integrated WiFi for tapping into BD-Live content and downloading future firmware updates sans an Ethernet cable. Also, the unit is fully DLNA-ready, handles DVD upscaling, bit-streams audio via HDMI, decodes Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD Master Audio and plays nice with external media loaded up on a USB drive. As predicted, the lower-end BDP-S360 is essentially the same player sans WiFi.

Moving on, we've got a new pair of 5.1-channel Blu-ray HTIB systems: the BDV-E300 and BDV-E500W. Both bundles include a BD-Live-capable (Profile 2.0) Blu-ray player, while the BDV-E500W sports integrated S-AIR wireless audio capabilities. In other words, your rear speakers will get their signal sans cabling, and those who opt for the BDV-E300 are getting a kit that's S-AIR-ready, meaning that you can add modules in the future to get the same wireless support. Both sets also include Sony's Digital Media Port for controlling peripherals like Apple's iPod and Sony's own Walkman line, and the BRAVIA Sync technology ensures that HDMI-CEC lovers are taken care of. The models also bring along the firm's Xross Media Bar (XMB) interface, a USB port for loading up media and an easy-to-follow setup DVD. As for pricing and availability, we've broken all that down below.

• BDP-S360 Blu-ray player: shipping this summer for around $300
• BDP-S560 Blu-ray player: shipping this summer for around $350
• HT-SS360 component home theater system : shipping in May for around $350
• BDV-E300 Blu-ray HTIB: shipping in June for around $600
• BDV-E500W Blu-ray HTIB: shipping in June for around $800
  

Catch the release in full just after the break.