Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony HT-DDW740 Dolby Digital/DTS Home Theater System

I'll admit I was doubtful at first about getting a system for such a reasonably low price, but I'd have to say it was worth saving up to purchase this great system. Setting up wasn't too much of a hassle but unless you want to put the surround speakers on your window sill, don't forget to buy some stands or wall mounts. The subwoofer produces very deep, enriching bass and the surround speakers literally put you in the middle of the action. The center speaker really does make a difference as it provides for crisper, clearer dialogue. Although this system is only 450 watts of total power, it's great for small to mid-sized rooms and apartments. You really can't ask for a better system for under $[money]. There are some drawbacks though, including no component or S-video inputs. Nevertheless, it still produces infinitely richer audio than what your TV speakers attempt to do with that silly excuse for "virtual" surround sound.

Operation wise, it's rather quite easy switching from DVD player, to TV, to video game system, as it's all at the touch of a button. The remote control is small and efficient, with the functions you'll use the most conveniently located and glow in the dark. If you're not in the mood to mix and match speakers and receivers and worrying about compatibility, then this is perfect as it has everything you need, minus the DVD player. For its price, you really can't find a much better deal from a manufacturer as highly regarded as Sony and like many people, if you don't know the difference between receivers, amplifiers, Dolby Digital, or DTS and could care less about watts, then save yourself some time and money and pick up this great system. Even if you do, I'm sure you'll find this a great deal. If you have your DVD player connected to your TV speakers or even your stereo shelf speakers, you are truly missing out. This is the perfect starter system for any home and once you pop in that first DVD, you'll realize how just as important audio is to a great movie experience.

Pros:
-affordable price, excellent quality
-compact and efficient remote
-automatically detects the sound mode your DVD player/video game system/tv show outputs
-everything in one package (except DVD player and TV of course)
-Dolby Digital (AC3) & DTS support
-simple setup (may take a while to run wires through your house, but you'll easily figure out where everything goes)
-In addition to TV A/V inputs, there are 3 additional inputs for vcr, dvd, video game consoles, etc.
-both coaxial and optical digital audio inputs
-SONY!

Cons:
-450 watts might not be powerful enough for some people
-surround speakers' cords provided may not be long enough (30' each)
-no wall mounts or stands for speakers
-no s-video or component video support (easily remedied by just plugging the s-video or component outputs directly to your TV if your television supports it, but the point of the receiver is to eliminate constant swapping so it may still be a problem if you have multiple devices that use component or s-video but only one input in the back of your TV)
-no Dolby Pro Logic II support (used in video game systems such as Nintendo Gamecube, but fairly new so it's perfectly understandable...
-features options such as "Concert", "Game", "Hall" for added customization

If you already have a DVD player, or you don't want to get locked in to a DVD player that doesn't have all the features you want, this is the home theater system for you.

Since it doesn't include a DVD player, it's a lot less expensive than one that does have one, and you can get a player with features like Progressive Scan to add to this great system to really make your home theater watching experience shine.

Overall, quality from Sony has always been high, and this unit is no exception. Recently listed in Reader's Digest magazine, its overall rating there was "very good", with sound quality, ease of use, and features, all listed at "very good".

The true 5.1 surround sound can only be appreciated live, in a room set up correctly. One of the things you will really enjoy is how the sounds seem to come from in back of you and then zoom around to the front. But its fairly small size makes it easy to set up, even in an apartment. You won't believe your ears when you hear it, and you won't believe the price when you see it. It's the only complete system in a box for [the price]....

I don't think I could recommend this system any higher for those who already have a DVD player and want to add the home theater experience, or for those who want to get a DVD player with different features than a whole package deal.

I purchased this system with the intention to add a DVD player at a later time, I do have a HIFI VCR so I could get pro logic sound. This system sounds great in my 2 bedroom townhouse with quite a full bass sound. I am thinking about adding another sub to get a little more bass out of it though. All the speakers included in this package are very clear and have more than enough wattage for home theater. As I was on a budget when purchasing this product, I didn't want to buy the additional rear speaker mounts ... , so all I did was I went to a hardware store and bought 2x2inch right angle brackets and 2x1inch right angle brackets ... . I then mounted the 2 inch bracket to the wall in the rear with the one inch bracket bolted to the 2 inch bracket to form a s shape. I then was able to screw the rear speaker to the mount making a awesome wall mount ... . This is a much cheaper way to mount the rear speakers.

Sorry, but I have to beg to differ with the reviewer ...that was not impressed with this system. I purchased this system ...and within a couple of hours (mostly taking down my old system and restripping the speaker cables) I was listening to full dolby digital. Be sure to use either the coaxial hookup or the optical for full digital, which is fully explained in the manual. I recommend watching the Mini Cooper chase scene from Bourne Identity to get the full effect of the system, or the THX intro on Monsters Inc. You'll be blown away by this system that performs as well as much more expensive options.

Not only are there a number of sound configurations including hall, concert, and jazz for music (without surround/center as it should be) there is also a special "game" setting for video games. As for the inability to set the level of the various speakers, this is simply not true. The manual explains how to do this by using the "Level" button just to the right of the center jog wheel. Not only can you adjust balance, you can also set each of the 6 separate speakers (including the subwoofer)from a minimum of -10 db to a maximum of +10 db. If that's not enough bass for you, you can also adjust the bass (treble also) to a maximum level of 6. You can tell the receiver whether the surround speakers are to your sides or located behind you. You can set the distances of the speakers as the previous reviewer mentioned, but this honestly don't have a lot to do with the volume and quality of the sound. All of this is covered in the manual, which makes set-up and tweaking a breeze.

One note for buyers - this system does not come with a DVD player as many in this price range do. Sony made up for this with the receiver, which supplies ample connections for all your audio equipment, and 450 watts of power. The satellite speakers are small and unobtrusive and the subwoofer is solid enough to sit on.

All in all, I have no complaints with this system, and it is a perfect compliment to any home theater system. By the way, my rec room is approximately 24 x 28 feet and I have no trouble filling this fairly large room with awesome sound. When the cows moo and stampede on the THX demo on Monsters, Inc your windows will rattle and you will need to check your teeth for loose fillings. Buy this system. You won't be disappointed.

I have been to alot of Football and Basketball Party's and having surround sound is a ver big requirment to add on to the fun. i'am a minor(17), but i enjoy going to my friends house to see what Home Theater system(H.T.S.) they or their parents have and most of them are Sony or Panasonic. Interested in purchasing a H.T.S. for my room, i chose this item for video game,DVD movie and Music purposes. Being that i was on a short budget... i wanted something not cheap but in my range, so i can still have enough money to get the New Jordans, i believe this item has a good range of features as the Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro Logic surround decoding, a 5-piece speaker system, and a subwoofer for deep bass. All these features blew my mind as a first time buyer, so if any of you first time buyers who are low on budget and want or need a home theater for any purposes, i would recommend this to any and everyone(then later on when you think you've grown out of this item i would recommend Sony's "Dream Machine").