Surround sound, from one device, without the hassle of setting up multiple speakers and stringing wire around the house... is it possible? Certainly. For people who love music and multimedia audio but lack the time and patience required to set up a sophisticated surround-sound home theater system, the following four products provide an intriguing, and simple, alternative. Each works differently: One enhances the audio your connected devices generate to simulate surround sound on your devices' existing speakers, while the others contain multiple speakers (in a single box) that boom out the sound. Despite the different methods they use, each lets you achieve louder, better audio, whether you're watching the news, enjoying an action movie, or listening to a classical CD.
Incorporating principles of psychoacoustics, the Soundaround is supposed to trick your brain into hearing surround sound by delaying and varying the intensity of the audio that your TV's or stereo's main speakers emit. This petite device, 5.8 inches wide by 1 inch high by 4.7 inches deep, has one set of coaxial analog audio inputs and outputs for connecting it to a television, DVD player, PlayStation 2, Xbox, satellite or cable set-top box, or digital video recorder. You simply plug the supplied standard audio cables from the component you're using into the Soundaround box and then connect the box to your television or stereo.
The unit definitely works: Audio from a TV or from stereo speakers was enhanced, with greater detail and nuance. But the sensation of hearing actual surround sound was absent, and the audio was certainly less powerful than you'd expect from a true multichannel speaker arrangement. Still, the Soundaround's easy setup, included remote control, simple operation, and moderate effectiveness make this product worth the money for undemanding audio types who want to invest a little in their home stereo system.
Zvox 315 Sound Console
The Zvox enhances the audio from your television, DVD player, or PC by incorporating three speakers plus a subwoofer in its 17-by-4.5-by-14-inch box. The Zvox's proprietary PhaseCue circuitry lets you control out-of-phase information via a knob on the rear: Turn it lower for normal sound or higher to create the illusion of surround sound. Ideally you would position the Zvox on top of or underneath your TV, like a center-channel speaker; hooking it to a television with variable audio outputs is best, so you can use your TV remote to control the volume. If you hook the Zvox to a DVD player, you'll need to adjust the volume using the controls on the back. Their rear placement can hinder adjustment; but once you've set the volume at the right level, you should not have to touch the knobs again. Basic TV shows and DVD movies sounded great, with loud tones, easier-to-hear dialogue, and booming bass. The Zvox certainly pales in comparison with a standard multipiece surround-sound setup. But if you want to add oomph to your audio, the Zvox is a great, affordable option.
Unlike the other one-box units here, the MP-4512 has to be hooked up to a surround-sound A/V receiver. The MP-4512 houses five speakers inside its 17-by-5-by-5.5-inch box. These include individual speakers for the left, center, and right channels, along with two side-mounted speakers intended to project surround effects left and right. You'll need to provide the cables to hook the MP-4512 to your receiver. Audio delivered by the MP-4512 sounded superb. Dialogue was crisp, and we had no trouble discerning high and low tones. In fact, the audio sounded as if it were being generated by more than one five-speaker unit--you could easily blast the volume and enjoy the results. The downside: The MP-4512 lacks a subwoofer, though M&K sells various separate subwoofers that work with it. If you are willing to spend a little extra for great audio, and you don't want lots of wires crisscrossing your living room, the MP-4512 will deliver in spades.
Sure it's expensive, and yes, you could spend the same amount on separate speakers, but why do that when you can get everything you need in a single unit? The sleek and stylish YSP-1, which measures 40.5 by 7.6 by 4.6 inches, incorporates Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, as well as Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Neo:6 surround-sound processing; it also supplies its own moderately powerful internal amplification, so you don't need to connect it to a receiver. You simply hook it up to a TV (analog or digital), a DVD player, a cable or satellite receiver box, or a VCR to get stellar sound. Yamaha provides all the cables you need, as well as a remote control. The YSP-1's 40 little speakers and 2 midrange speakers project the sound such that it bounces off nearby surfaces. As a result, when the device is situated properly (underneath your TV, ideally, though you can mount it on a wall), it delivers high-grade surround sound. The YSP-1, unlike the other devices we discuss here, presents you with a setup that's far from simple--but in this case that's a good thing. It requires you to select your room size, and then it calibrates the sound accordingly. You can also program it according to your room's exact specifications. The final result: amazingly strong, vibrantly clear sound that conveys the distinct impression of coming from several speakers. The YSP-1 does not include a subwoofer, so bass tones were not strong. Nevertheless, this is a great unit for the style-conscious, and audiophiles will likely be mighty impressed, too.
Kalpana Ettenson
