[May 18, 2013] Gadget Inspector: A sound investment Tweet May 18, 2013 (Mint - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Even as TV screens have gotten bigger, they've gotten slimmer -- Samsung's UE55F800 3D Smart TV is just 15mm thick. This certainly helps these devices look amazing, but the trend towards slimmer TVs also has a bearing on the sound quality. When you buy a new TV, you should consider investing a little extra to get good sound with your set. If you're setting up a home theatre, then your budget and your options will be bigger, but if you're looking for a good companion unit for your new television, then Sony's new home theatre system, the BDV-E3100, is a great option. We tried out the BDV-E3100 for two weeks, and while the audio quality is reasonably good, the control unit's features make the package great value for money. The speakers are black, have crystalline shapes, with sharp angles near the top and bottom, and a shiny surface. The set comes with five tweeters and a subwoofer, and you can adjust the audio settings for different speaker configurations. Sony claims a total RMS output of 1,000 watts; that's fairly loud, but if you're looking for deafening levels of sound then this isn't the right set to buy. The speakers are nice, but not groundbreaking. What makes the set appealing is the control centre, which includes a Blu-ray disc player, and a host of extra features. It has Wi-Fi connectivity; you could watch videos on YouTube or visit Sony's Fitness app without having to connect any other device to your television. The interface is reminiscent of the PlayStation 3 XMB layout -- several headers that lead to a dropdown list, letting you set up playlists, load videos off the Internet or switch between different sources. It isn't always the fastest way of getting to your content, but it's easy to understand even for people who aren't tech-savvy. The Blu-ray player can also upscale your regular DVDs to HD quality -- an attractive feature, particularly for an entry- level set. The system also uses a proprietary technique for audio upscaling, i.e., when it is being used to stream music from your mobile device, and the results are pretty good. The unit supports Bluetooth connections with mobile devices -- and given that most of us have our favourite songs on our smartphones these days, it's an easy way to control the music with your phone. More interestingly, the unit also supports NFC -- another wireless communication technology. If your phone also supports NFC, then just tapping the phone on top of the player will pair it and let you start playing music without having to configure any settings on your part. It's one of the easiest ways to start streaming your music. Of course, if you don't have NFC, that's not a problem, and using the remote, you can easily find the settings and get the drive to connect to your phone. It takes a minute to set things up, but you don't have to keep repeating the process with the same phone at least. Another wireless tool is the Sony TV SideView app; this will not work with every device, you should check the app store for compatibility. But with the app, you can "throw" videos, pictures and music to your TV from your Android or iOS tablet, smartphone, or iPod Touch. All these additional features make the Sony BDV-E3100 a compelling buy, particularly considering the price of Rs.24,990. If you're looking for the best audio, then this isn't the solution, but if you want an all-in-one box which solves a number of needs, you should check this out at a Sony showroom. ___ (c)2013 the Mint (New Delhi) Visit the Mint (New Delhi) at www.livemint.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]