Home Theater Systems That Make Sense : Hallowed Ivy-Covered Halls

September 1, 2009 By Maureen Jenson

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For a space saving 26-inch LCD with a built-in DVD player with great features and performance the Toshiba 26V610U is a keeper. $479.99 www.toshiba.com

The Receiver: Marantz  

To get your best sound option, a great receiver to partner with the Toshiba display is the brand new Marantz  NR1501.  Most full-featured home theater receivers are huge, but thanks to its “Slim-line” design (just over 4” high, 13” deep), the NR1501 is also a 7-channel amplifier, that can fit just about anywhere. It also sports four HDMI Version 1.3 inputs, built-in upscaler with all built-in audio codecs, including decoding for Dolby TruHD and DTS Master Audio and more.

The NR1501 makes it easy to get the best high definition sound to your ears with an automatic calibration process that:  Identifies your system’s speaker complement, measures the distances between your speakers and your favorite viewing/listening position for the most accurate delay settings, adjusts relative speaker levels for the most natural surround effects and determines the proper speaker crossover settings for the smoothest transition from your wide range speakers to your subwoofer. It also analyzes your room’s acoustic properties and corrects for their often-negative impact on the sound you hear, all of this for only $599.99. www.marantz.com

The Speakers: Anthony Gallo Acoustics

A few months ago, Anthony Gallo Acoustics (AGA) unveiled its latest loudspeaker, the Strada. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Anthony Gallo line of loudspeakers, you are in for a treat when you venture to your local hi-fi dealers and audition these new spherically shaped speakers.

Physically, the diminutive Strada measures 6.5”depth  x 12.5” height x 5.5” width. The Stradas have been tested in a multitude of environments with a variety of different mounting options and they sound as good on the wall as they do set on a table. And, as with all AGA speakers, the Strada features the company’s patented S2 Technology, which improves low-frequency extension and eliminates the standing wave that is inherent in any spherical enclosure.  In addition, the loudspeaker’s new CDT™ 3 tweeter boasts a new grill topology, which improves vertical dispersion. Because of the wide and accurate vertical dispersion of the new tweeter, the speakers can be used as dedicated surround channels as well. 

At $1,000 a speaker, the Stradas are not exactly cheap, but convince your parents (who are footing the bill for college anyway) that these speakers, unlike your designer jeans, really are investment pieces that will give you multiple years of happiness, long after college is just a distant memory. www.roundsound.com

The Upshot

Toshiba 26V610U LCD TV 
w/Built-in DVD Player:  $479.99

Marantz NR1501 Receiver: $599.99

Anthony Gallo Acoustics 
Strada speakers (5 speakers): $5,000
Total: $6,079.98