Pioneer HTP-305 Dolby Digital Home Theater System

Pioneer HTP-305 Dolby Digital Home Theater System
Manufacturer: Pioneer
Product Type: CE

Editorial Review:
Product Description
Pioneer is company that has been producing well-made audio equipment for a long time. Moving up from the HTP-55 is the HTP-305. This unit features a powerful amplifier, 100-watt subwoofer, and 5 satellite speakers. To each of the front speakers, 100 watts is driven. The rears receive an additional 100 watts for each speaker, and 100 watts drive the 8" subwoofer driver. For decoding, a Dolby Digital decoder is included. This makes the unit fully compatible with DVD. For speakers, the pioneer includes a standard set of speakers. They most likely produce quality sound and work well in most conditions. To ease installation, Pioneer has included color-coded connections. This way it is almost hard to not install the unit correctly. Overall, it is a nice set for Pioneer. Dolby Digital decoding, and a powerful amp produce surround sound that should work well in just about any room. Dolby Digital surround sound makes watching videos or DVDs more enjoyable by once again putting you in the center of the action. If you want a traditional approach to home theater - receiver, rear speakers, and all - but you haven't the time, money, or expertise to shop for separate components and speakers, then the Pioneer HTP-305 may be the system for you.
Amazon.com Review
Pioneer's HTP-305 is a fully integrated home theater system. It comes equipped with a 100-watt 5.1-channel Dolby Digital surround receiver, five identically sized satellite speakers for the front left, right, center, and surround channels, plus an 8-inch subwoofer powered by a built-in 100-watt amplifier. The HTP-305 is easy to set up and a snap to operate. That's all great, but what's most important is the simple fact the HTP-305 provides exceptionally good performance for its price.

Although the HTP-305's speakers are all the same size, they contain different driver components. The three front speakers are two-way (woofer-and-tweeter combos), but the surrounds contain just a single full-range driver. (Pioneer identifies the duty for each on the rear of the cabinets.) Even though the surrounds lack a tweeter, Pioneer has done a fine job of "voicing" the speakers to create a seamless surround experience.

Just as critical is the subwoofer's role. The 8-inch driver is quick (that is, it offers fast transient response), so it blends nicely with the satellites. It also delivers plenty of weight and rumble when you're in the mood for a blockbuster movie, and its built-in 100-watt amp never seems to run out of juice.

The VSX-D508 receiver is a cinch to set up and operate, and we found operation of both the front panel and the remote control intuitive and straightforward. We're pleased to see a superior-sounding coaxial digital input in addition to an optical digital input on the receiver, though we do miss S-video switching, which is visibly superior to composite. The 5.1-channel inputs are a welcome addition in case you want to hook up a DTS- (Digital Theater Systems) decoding DVD player or a decoder for any other future six-channel surround format.

Lots of home-theater-in-a-box systems sound puny, but not this one. With both regular stereo sources (such as CD and FM broadcast) and the latest 5.1-channel DVDs, the sound is clean, clear, and open, with surprisingly good low-end weight and balance. The highs are not be quite as extended or airy as with the very best systems, and the subwoofer doesn't reach far below 40 Hz, but the ultimate in frequency extremes generally comes at a very high price.

In all, Pioneer's HTP-305 is a fine product and good value. You'll have to spend quite a bit more to get a better-integrated system than this one. --Wayne Garcia

Pros:

Big, open sound
Coaxial and optical digital inputs
5.1-channel analog inputs
Good value

Cons:

No S-video switching
Limited high-frequency response
Headphone jack has no separate volume control

Amazon.com Product Description
The Pioneer HTP-305 Dolby Digital Home Theater System comes with everything you need to transform the act of sitting on your sofa into a film-going experience. The package consists of a Pioneer Dolby Digital Receiver (VSX-D508), five speakers (four satellites and one center-channel speaker), a subwoofer, a preprogrammed remote control, color-coded cables, and an installation guide.

Dolby Digital surround sound makes watching videos or DVDs more enjoyable by once again putting you in the center of the action. If you want a traditional approach to home theater--receiver, rear speakers, and all--but you haven't the time, money, or expertise to shop for separate components and speakers, then the Pioneer HTP-305 may be the system for you.