Bose has also realized that there is a high-end market for high-quality systems costing upwards of $3,500 or more. Bose has several Lifestyle systems (18, 28, 35, 38, & 48 with integrated DVD) that use their patented Acoustimas modules and jewel-cube speakers along with Dolby Digital and their proprietary VideoStage 5 processing. In fact, Bose’s VideoStage 5 processing can even turn old mono TV sound (from programs like I Love Lucy) into an aural experience that sounds pleasingly multi-dimensional in scope.

In its quest to provide all types of audio solution, Sony now offers their BRAVIA Theater System Television Stand. This unique base, which is designed for Sony’s BRAVIA TVs, features integrated speakers and amplification. The RHT-G800 is the perfect all-in-one solution for displaying your TV and enjoying dramatic surround sound. Sporting an all-in-one design, the RHT-G800 is a high-end, full-featured surround sound system offering 450W Total (5x50W + 200W Subwoofer). It includes multi-channel built-in surround speakers and twin subwoofers (6 Speaker Drivers (2 5/8-in.) Plus 2 Subwoofer Drivers (6 3/8-in.)), the fully integrated system uses S-Master digital amplification and S-Force Pro front surround technology to create sound effects from behind you with no external speakers required. The RHT-G800 also features HDMI pass-through and decodes linear PCM audio to work perfectly with Blu-ray Disc media and other HD Sources. It is priced at $999.

Conclusion
Originally, HTiB products were considered as the poor foster-child of the audio industry. Today, they are a stable product category fulfilling the needs of folks who don’t want separate audio products. These customers want high-quality audio, ease of installation, few wires, and possibly something to complement their new flat-panel TV. HTiBs can be purchased for as little as $299 for an inexpensive system of fair quality. I may even include an integrated DVD or Blu-ray player. As well, most speaker companies today have now packaged speakers of similar timbre and are balanced together into a 5-, 6-, or 7-speaker configuration (including powered subwoofer). Both TV and audio companies now offer the Home Theater Systems so that both audio and video products complement each other. Depending on your needs and desires, most of the higher-quality systems will cost you between $800 and $1,500 embracing better quality sound in a pleasingly styled package. Some also come wrapped in very attractive futuristic silver packaging and other in striking tubular enclosures to embrace the latest technological advances in audio and video. 

Manufacturers of HTiB systems now include: Bose, Boston Acoustics, Denon, Infinity, JBL, JVC, Onkyo, Marantz, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Polk, Sharp, Sherwood, Sony, Soundmatters, Soundvu Teac, and Yamaha.

Years ago, we always thought that “bigger was better.” Today, however, we are learning that “the best things come in smaller packages.” Many of these integrated Home Theater Systems prove just that. So, we can now fully believe that giant robots are walking the Earth today as in “Transformers,” and they can be heard right in your living room along with whizzing helicopters, twisters, space shuttles, or Cylon space craft crisscrossing back and forth the galaxy as in “Battlestar Galactica.” Now, for better or worse, we do live in an age that many of the best movies and TV shows are “out of this world” so isn’t it wonderful that there are audio systems out there that can accompany those breathtaking visuals.

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