LCD Appears, Disappears in Sony TAV-L1 Home Theater System

I've always been a sucker for "hidden" home theater. There's just something about touching a button and watching a TV screen or components suddenly appear and disappear.

Sony, it would seem, enjoys the same thing. The company's TAV-L1 all-in-one home theater system includes a motorized audio unit that slides up and down -- and when it slides down it reveals a 32-inch LCD TV. Glance at the pictures above and you can see how the unit looks when the audio unit is up (left: hiding the TV) and when it is down (right: showing the TV).

In addition to the slick motorized door, the TAV-L1 includes a slot-loading DVD/CD/SACD player, two subwoofers, a digital amplifier, and Sony's S-Force Pro virtual surround sound processing, which creates surround sound without using rear speakers.

The TAV-L1 will be available in August for around $4,000. -- Mac Slocum

• TAV-L1 has a motorized door that hides and reveals a 32-inch LCD TV.

• Has a DVD/CD/SACD player.

• Includes subwoofers, digital amplifier and surround sound processing.

• Available in August.

• MSRP around $4,000.