Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony HT-DDW660 Home Theater System

I will just say a few words that have not already been said about the system:

- This unit does not come with a digital optical cable so if your player needs one make sure to buy one.

- The provided coax cable is only 3feet long. So if you need a longer one, plan to buy one.

- I bought the Sanus HTB2 floor stands for it and it works very well.

- The remote has buttons for selecting between Video-audio and DVD-audio. This was kind of confusing at first since the audio from my digital optical cable comes through by selecting Video-audio. But at the same time the diagram in the manual suggests that you can plug another source into the analog Video-audio input. Turns out, if you read further into the manual, the system detects for signals on the digital input and analog input and prioritizes digital over analog. So if a digital signal is present, it will select digital. If it is absent it will select analog automatically.

- I like the fact that the satellite speakers all look exactly the same. The unit as a whole is well styled compared to the equivalent Panasonic system (SC-HT05), which looks cheap and gaudy. I originally wanted to buy the Panasonic to match all my other Panasonic components but after reading about the problems other reviewers were having with it, and after seeing how fragile it looked in the store, I decided otherwise. At the local store I noticed one of the legs on the Panasonic's subwoofer had broken off.

- It would have been nice to have a second digital optical input. Unfortunately the only way to get a Sony system with 2 digital optical inputs is to buy the receiver separately and the speakers separately, which would give you a 7.1 sound system but would also require an investment at 3 times the cost of this unit.

I looked at other competing systems (the Panasonic SC-HT05 and the Yamaha YHT-150) that had this capability at a small price increase. But online reviews indicated that some of the Panasonic units had a random squeeking problem with the digital audio input. The Yamaha looked very promising since it also had video inputs which would mean that it would be convenient to switch both the video and audio signals on the same remote. However the Yamaha only supports RCA composite video inputs, NO S-Video and NO Component inputs. Also the reviewers said it was difficult to install.

So weighing all those factors I eventually decided on the Sony. A simple, entry-level, no fuss unit that sounded great! I tested it on the Empire Strikes Back and it was awesome to hear the Star Destroyers rumble and the Snow speeders zip by around me. I had never realized until now just how many tiny little nuances of audio there were in the film....

This is an excellent entry-level system -- and you can't beat the price for the performance. If you want a solid 5.1 surround sound system for less than $200, you won't find a better one than the Sony HT-DDW660. My friend with a Onkyo super-system was amazed at the clarity and depth I got out of this simple Sony -- he said it was every bit as good as his $1,000+ system, albeit with fewer bells and whistles.

I installed this with my Panasonic HD TV and Hughes DirectTV/TiVo HD receiver using an optical cable (which you must buy separately), and the Sony system automatically switches to the optimal sound configuration on the fly. Excellent for the rest of my family who don't want to fiddle with the remotes. The digital coax connection makes hooking up a DVD a breeze, too.

I recommend that you also buy the optional speaker stands (Sony WS-FV11) which will cost you another $200 for two pair -- odd that four speaker stands cost as much as the actual system -- but they are worth it.

My only (all minor) complaints are:
- the power is a bit low -- you really have to crank it up to get some strong volume. If you have a big room for your home theatre, get a bigger sound system than this.
- beware switching to FM radio before turning the sound down; for some reason, the volume level on the radio receiver is MUCH higher than for the TV/surround sound, so you get blasted if you just switch over withour readjusting the volume -- weird.
- wires into the subwoofer are permanent, unlike the connections for the other five speakers. Not a big deal, but you'll have to cut and splice if you want to use your own speaker cables.
- optical cable should have been included. They give you a digital coax, but why not the optical cord?
- pay special attention to the part numbers on the backs of the five speakers -- they determine the proper left/right/front/back placement -- I missed this when I first set up the system
- I'm having some trouble configuring my Hughes TiVo remote to control the HT-DDW660 -- the recommended TiVo codes don't work. Time to get a $200 universal remote, I guess...

As I said, all of these are minor complaints -- in general, I'm extremely pleased with the sound quality. I keep having to remind myself that I spent less than $200 for this great system. Highly recommended.

5-stars for value, 4 for overall performance. I was skeptical of the price and small speakers, but results are better than expected. No other competition in this price range. Great for apartments or smallish rooms, smooth sound without harshness, good surround effects, nice menu options and adjustments. AM/FM tuner surprisingly sensitive, with so-so performance. Best for movie/tv audio, just adequate for music. Not exactly a full-bodied sound from small speakers (weak in the lower midrange), but good bass, excellent clarity, spaciousness, and dynamic punch for this price -- I hear detail in movies I didn't know were there. Cons: skimpy cables (I replaced front speaker wires with Radio Shack 18-gauge solid-core hookup wire, a good cheap wire for speakers, improved the midrange). Subwoofer level should be lowered, bottoms out if driven too hard. Midrange mildly ragged but clear. The manual needs work, but is usable (read before setting up!!). Menu panel disappears a little too quickly. DVD digital requires a coax cable, the one supplied is too short (I used a $12 Acoustic Research coax, works fine). Speakers sound better on stands. Overall, beats many $400 setups, even Sony's own. Great buy!

All the other reviews seem to be written by audiophiles who know what they are talking about. I am a single mom who just loves movies and bought this because of price and other reviews.I had a harder time setting it up (manual is awful) but went into the Sony.com site where they had tutorials and took it from there. Sound seems so rich compared to my regular projection TV and I am a happy camper. I still have a mess of wires to deal with, have to figure out the remote and see if I can consolidate my three remotes down to one (? is that possible?), work on the sound balance and mounting of the speakers but I am just happy I didn't blow up my TV trying to configure everything. THere are cheaper systems out there but I wanted a dependable name brand that looked well built. So I am content - now would one of you other reviewers explain all the rest of the mumbo jumbo audio stuff to me? LOL

I like this system for the money, but the passive woofer is as described "passive". I added a Sony active subwoofer and now this system kicks. The active sub cost me as much as the whole home theater system, but it was worth it. I use the system to watch tv, movies, and listen to music. The receiver and speakers are "good" for the price. I debated on returning the system because the bass I wanted was not consistant. But adding the active sub enabled me to get the sound I wanted and my total cost was less than $400.00.