Part I: The bad kind of 3D
As you know, any complete home theater experience is equal parts video and audio. And this holds true even for the newly released Full HD 3D home theater. But, while you want your 3D home theater to bring you an immersive and lifelike three-dimensional viewing experience complemented by enveloping surround sound, you don't want the latter to come at the expense of cluttering your living room with a half-dozen obtrusive speakers. In other words, big, boxy surround sound speakers end up contributing a bad "3D" experience in your living room. Accordingly, the folks at Sony have engineered the HT-CT150 soundbar home theater system. While the single, three-driver soundbar and advanced audio-processing technologies team up to create a virtual 5-channel surround sound effect, the included subwoofer adds those deep, resounding bass frequencies that bring any soundtrack to life. And the whole listening experience is fueled by a 24-bit digital S-Master amplifier pumping a total of 340W out of the subwoofer unit. For superb virtual surround sound listening without crowding your living room with cumbersome speakers, turn to the HT-CT150 from Sony.
Part II: The good kind of 3D
Not since the emergence of Full HD 1080p video has the world of home theater seen a revolution of this magnitude. But it is here — 3D home viewing. As of 2010's latest product line ups, you can now build a complete 3D home theater . . . 3D HDTV, 3D Blu-ray player, 3D receiver, etc. And just as it was integral in making Full HD home theater possible, HDMI is here with expanded performance to meet the rigorous demands of 3D viewing. So move over HDMI v1.3 . . . Version 1.4 is in town. With increased bandwidth capabilities, HDMI v1.4 is able to transmit both Full HD 3D video and 7.1-channels of studio-quality surround sound audio, allowing for advanced, single-cable A/V connectivity for your home theater. And with three HDMI v1.4 inputs and one output, the HT-CT150 is fully equipped to act as a high-performance A/V hub for your 3D home theater system. It even offers standby audio and video 3D pass-through, so you can still use any HDMI connected device without needing to turn on the HT-CT150. The good kind of 3D — the HT-CT150 with HDMI v1.4.
The A-R-C
When we said that HDMI v1.4 offered expanded bandwidth capacities, we weren't kidding. Sure, it transmits Full HD 3D video and studio-quality surround sound . . . but that's just the beginning. Present the Audio Return Channel (ARC). Imagine that you friend brings their Sony Playstation3 over to your house for a little gaming action. Now you could connect the PS3 to one of the HT-CT150's three HDMI inputs, but that would require digging around behind the entertainment center. So, you simply opt for connecting directly to one of the HDTV's free HDMI inputs. This works fine, but you still wish you could hear the PS3's audio on the HT-CT150's virtual surround sound system. Well, thanks to HDMI v1.4 and the ARC, you can. You see, the Audio Return Channel allows an audio signal to be sent back "upstream" from the HDTV to the HT-CT150 using the same HDMI v1.4 cable that routes video from the HTIB to the HDTV. Accordingly, you're free to enjoy the PS3's audio on your HT-CT150 system without adding any audio cables. The ARC also functions for sending audio received by the HDTV's built-in TV tuner back upstream to the HT-CT150. Just make sure you're connecting HDMI v1.4-capable components using HDMI v1.4 cables.
Ahh, BRAVIA
As a leader in products with HDMI connectivity, Sony has created BRAVIA Sync technology to go beyond simple audio and video transmission. When you combine your new HT-CT150 with a select number of BRAVIA LCD televisions and other Sony audio and video products, control functions will also be transmitted via the HDMI cable. With "One Touch Play", operations that took several steps are reduced to one. Press the PLAY button on the remote, watch the audio and/or the video component(s) turn on then the BRAVIA television will turn on and switch to the correct video input...Simple...Easy...BRAVIA Theatre Sync.
Dock up to the Digital Media Port
As the demand for digital content continues to be strong, here's the challenge: how to integrate music in various forms into a home theater system? The answer: Sony's DIGITAL MEDIA PORT (DMP). Together with one of the DMP accessories (sold separately), this proprietary interface adds networking and connectivity to the options of home theater systems and components, and connects, controls, and powers various devices, making set up easy and operation simple. The optional DMP accessories compatible with your HT-CT150 include a PC Client device, Bluetooth receiver and Audio Docking Stations compatible with Network Walkman and iPod products. So regardless of how you store your music, Sony's DIGITAL MEDIA PORT offers an access point to integrate your portable music into a traditional home theater system.
Your HD lifeline
High Definition Multimedia Interface, or HDMI, is the only home A/V connection that allows for both Full HD 1080p video and 7.1-channel studio-quality audio to be passes along a single cable. In other words, in order to take full advantage of your home theater's high definition potential, you need to HDMI cabling to link HD-capable components. It's only natural that you might have questions regarding how best to outfit your personal HD system. Vann's sales representatives are here to explain all of your options. Call the 800 number at the top of this page for expert advice.
Included with purchase
The following items are included with the purchase of the HT-CT150 system: SS-CT150 soundbar, SA-WCT150 subwoofer, Unified remote control (RM-AAU072), One 9.8' seaker cable, Warranty card, and Owner's Manual.
