Distinctive design with some small weaknesses

I have long wondered under what conditions should I the Sony BDV-N9100WW review because for the one who has already built and furnished one or another home theater system, this system is certainly nothing more. That's why I'm assuming just assume that the buyer of this plant just want to enjoy movies and do not want to work through complicated installations.

Last year, Sony had introduced in small music compact systems like the CMTV50 the first ferrofluid boxes worldwide. I was therefore all the more tense, as the new technology arrives in a complete home theater system. Because really convinced that boxing had me at the time. Now Sony leads these technology advances in compact home theater systems such as BDV-N9100WW. Here is a complete system, tuner and 3D BD players are housed in a single component.

The BDV-N9100WW is visually at first glance a real eye-catcher. Everything shines in high-gloss white plastic, trimmed with blue borders. Sony indicates to have have inspired the design of rock crystals. A nice effect and adapted to the design of the LEDs at the bottom of boxes that light up blue during operation. When you insert a DVD or BD disc, the cover moves to the side and gives the drive free.

Sony-typical of compact systems, the entire system is ready for use within 30 minutes. This is due to simple assembly of the boxes and the color mapping of all self-developed plug. Each box has a colored marker and the corresponding colored cable. The other end is plugged into the corresponding, also color-coded slot on the receiver. Furthermore, each box is marked with their respective stowed positions. This avoids that the helicopter is heard, rear left, even though it flies right through the front screen. To establish a clear quick start guide is included, the full manual is only available as a PDF download on the Sony website.

The surround speakers are given as radio boxes so that the extensive laying of cables is not necessary. This statement is so, however, only half. Because included a radio receiver, although it drives the two rear speakers, but they have to be wired to the receiver. You can reach, depending on structural condition but not help to move one or the other cable duct in order to avoid ugly flutter linen behind the sofa. For the unusual case that one actually has no way to place the surround speakers behind the sofa, you can actually set up all four boxes next to the TV. The "All front Setup" mode has then called at least more virtual surround sound.

If you come with the cables still along well, the turns not the standard rack dimensions of 43.5 centimeters corresponding system as a real problem. With 48 centimeters wide, it fits in no classic phono shelf. It must be placed directly in front of the screen so. The same applies for the center speaker. Also this is very broad with 36 centimeters. One must therefore for this system have a large enough Phono shelf because system center box and TV must be placed accordingly. The problem, in this type of installation then on top of that the height of the two Sony components. For each 7.9 centimeters they conceal under certain circumstances the IR receiver of the TV. The system does not have as opposed to various sound bars on the possibility to receive the TV signal and is percolating to the TV.

The establishment of the system is like placing a matter of few minutes. Much like all Yamaha components that Sony has a microphone to calibrate. This list of boxes to the micro is placed at the usual seating position and started the routine. Shortly thereafter, the system has collected all the positions set out boxes and the surround sound is no more obstacles. Owner of a Playstation 3 or PSP will immediately feel at home in the onscreen menu, because Sony has the XrossMediaBar (XMB) also integrated here. This is so clearly structured that further adjustments are very straightforward to do.

The system has, despite a WiFi network connection, an analogue audio input, an optical input and three HDMI places from which the HDMI-Out is capable ARC (Audio Return Channel = Audio Return Channel). This is connected with the TV. So the TV at normal television reception can play its sound via the system. Here it seems but a problem with the CEC technology (Consumer Electronics Control) to give. Actually to the system will automatically turn on when the TV is turned on. But this does not happen and the BDV-N9100WW must also be turned on manually. But this would not solve the problem. Much worse, I find that the system a good 30 seconds for before it detects that the sound to be output not via the TV speakers, but on the boxes of the installation now. Until then, there is absolute silence.

Stereo fans will probably not really happy with the BDV-N9100WW. Because no matter whether music on audio CD, a USB flash drive, is played by NFC over the phone, via DNLA from the home network or streamed via Bluetooth from the iPad, there are always all boxes driven. There is no Direct mode that offers true stereo sound only via the two front speakers. Nevertheless, the speakers already indicate when playing music, what they can. The bass is strong, impress here especially the woofer of the front speaker. The voice reproduction is realistic.

Fully in their element, the BDV-N9100WW is then in Blu-ray movies. In addition to a razor-sharp image the ferrofluid boxes trump here only really on and bring the device to vibrate. Representing many movies that have run to test the system, I mention Star Trek, Prometheus, Jack Reacher, Iron Man and the Men in Black. For dialogs, there is a good play on the center speaker, but occasionally sounds a bit powerless. The surround sound is downright fascinating, especially in action scenes. It is the middle of everything, but without the surround speakers are too dominant. The bass is almost be regarded as excessively and this is the only problem of the system. In the cinema like an explosion or other thunderous effect at full volume to be wanted in your living room that can lead to stress, however, with the neighborhood. However, there is unfortunately no way to regulate the bass volume.

Integrated into the system is a tuner. Unlike the smaller music systems from Sony addition to the obligatory wire antenna and a cable input is on offer. Here the search and storage of favorite stations is easy and done within minutes. In addition, there are some nice gadgets on which one no longer wants to do without the user today. These include an Internet browser and various fee-based video-on-demand services. Of course, Sony here with the in-house Sony Entertainment Network a large part of the available range of apps, videos and music. There is, for better control of the system and the browser also a well-functioning app called TV SideView for Apple and Android devices.

Does the Sony lot of things right due to their simplicity, so be on the other hand, things like the lack of real stereo and Sony's proprietary connector system. Obviously you want to ensure the operation of the pit only to Sony devices. You could still operate the boxes to other receivers, one fails the subwoofer and its cable permanently installed. In addition, the non-standard measure of system that makes the accommodation possible in a Phono table or rack. Continues to suffer from the diagonal, running back shape of the receiver, the readability of the display.

Personally, I find the design nevertheless succeeded in precisely the high-gloss white, in conjunction with the blue borders makes the system an eye-catcher. But this is a matter of taste certainly. What matters is what comes out in the end and here with many technical gadgets such as an Internet browser is sonically and visually offered a lot for the movie buff.