DOSSIER: DVD »ALL-IN-ONES»

Compact Hi-Fi’s on show...

Who hasn’t one day dreamt of installing a Home Cinema system without facing financial ruin and denigrating the décor? Recently, we’ve been noting that the offer of compact, or "mini" units has been growing – reaching around a dozen products now, among which one can find "all in one" units with prices beginning at around 610 Euros.

We have had to wait four years before seeing DVD becoming part of everyday life, with a product offer in a number of forms:
Living room versions, portables, recorders and TV/DVD "combo" units . In any case, we have noted that the current trend is towards a flood of mini or compact DVD units that most of the manufacturers are today offering in their catalogues. The buyer can find a plethora of advantages because with one single units hooked-up to your TV, you can watch, just like in the movie theatre, a DVD film, listen to an FM radio station or an audio CD.
In addition, it has to be said that installation, the ergonomics of utilisation and design are also a major plus. Pioneer were the (pardon the pun) pioneers in this field, launching the first all in one DVD mini system in 1999: the Diva. This pack, which is made up of a very elegant casing bringing together DVD, CD and amplifier/tuner. It was accompanied for the occasion by a set of satellites and a subwoofer.

Who are the buyers?

This concept attracts a new clientele who need to be assisted at the time of purchase, especially if they’re buying a home cinema system for the first time. A wide range of products priced between 600 and 1500 Euros fits with most pockets and meets the demands of most buyers, especially when one thinks that most people don’t want to complicate their lives with massive installations and bank loans to boot. These systems are starting to be seen as THE ideal compromise, allowing one to get a taste for the pleasure of multi-channel sound reproduction, without forcing the neighbours to enjoy it as well!

The antithesis

These systems will no doubt suit a large number of people, but this being said, purists will find a number of misgivings: power, quality of reproduction, absence of compatibility with other sound formats… These packages are thus the ideal answer for someone looking for a complete audio system without being sent to the cleaners. They will no doubt be totally acceptable for those launching into the world of Home Cinema.

This is why we will henceforth, each week, be running at least one article on the pros and cons of each type of Home Cinema system. So "stay tuned", because we’ll be taking a close-up look at each of these machines one by one.