Your memory is slightly off. They were not claiming that the PS3 itself would be doing those things. They were talking about potential uses for the cell processor. They were touting it as a be all end all solution for home electronics, appliances, etc.. So far the only other thing besides the PS3 to use one are the televisions that Toshiba is producing.

The speakers that he already purchased are far better than what is in that package deal. He should really just look into spending a bit more money on a different sub.

Most wireless speaker systems have a sort of base station that has to be plugged into a wall outlet. The speakers then connect to the base station using good old fashioned speaker wire.. I really don't understand the obsession with wireless speaker systems. A wired system is always going to outperform a wireless setup. You can always route the speaker cable through the walls if it bothers you that much.

Yeah, a 6.5" driver is very small for a sub. I would guess that sub is not going to perform so well for home theater use. Given the choice in speakers, I'm not sure why he didn't just stay within the Energy line and pick up the 8" ESW-C8 sub. That's still a small sub, but I'm sure that it would perform better. An even better choice would be one of the ESW V series subs, but the price goes up a little bit. Still in the neighborhood of $325 isn't bad for home theater worthy subwoofer.

Over a decade of dvd and this question is still asked. Just because it is in HD does not mean the black bars go away.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/764

[QUOTE="KHAndAnime"][QUOTE="Heirren"]

That's bs. It is somewhere around half the sets life that that begins to happen, and even then it doesn't go to crap. I've had a Viera model for around a year and a half--and it is still like new.

Heirren

It is not 100-250 hours. Like I said before, it is half through the sets life.

You are talking about the half life of the set, KHA is not. He is referring to the well documented problem with Panasonics 2009 plasmas. It has been discussed extensively on Cnet and avsforum. Panasonic feels that there is no problem with them, and that they are working within their designed parameters. As a consession to all the owners who have complained, the 2010 models have had the voltage increase applied more gradually so that the rising black level does not occur in such a short amount of time.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20001640-1.html?tag=mncol;txt

I would agree that the disc is the likely culprit. I have the BDP S550 witht the latest firmware and Avatar from netflix plays fine.

[QUOTE="KHAndAnime"]

For your money, Home Theater in the Boxes aren't that great once you start spending more. Hell - the only HTIB systems I know of costing around $1,500 are Bose - and are terrible for the price. I'd look at an Onkyo TX-SR608, Two Pairs of Energy CB10 Speakers, an Energy CC5 Center, and a PA-120

Receiver = $500
Two Pairs of Energy CB10's = $500
Energy CC5 Center = $200
PA-120 Subwoofer = $230

Total = $1,430. This setup would absolutely kill any home theater in a box within the price range - and any Bose system.

topgunmv

500$ seems a bit high priced for a receiver to me.

High priced? Given the stated budget that is a very good suggestion. That receiver could be considered a step or so above entry level...very respectable. I whole heartedly second the suggestion of the Energy speakers. I love my RC LCRs and RC10s.