The Sony HT-SS2000 is a slim-line home theater system that caters to owners of other Sony electronic products. The remote control can be programmed to work with several other Sony devices, but not devices from other manufacturers. In addition, the HDMI connections provide extra features, such as BRAVIA Theater Sync, when used with Sony TVs and Blu-ray players. Of course, the manual mentions that only Sony HDMI cables are recommended, but in reality this unit can be used with any home theater display and any HDMI cable.

The included speakers are small and have mounting notches on the back so they can be hung on a wall or near a flat panel TV. The subwoofer is fairly small, and we recommend that it be placed near the middle at the front, if possible. This will provide a better sound field for the front speakers and dialog during movies. Unfortunately, we weren't very impressed by the sound quality of this unit for the price. Other Sony home theater products at half the price have a very similar sound and the SS2000 didn't improve upon them.

Even though the sound wasn't better than other units, we would like to note how many inputs were available. This receiver has nine audio inputs, ranging from HDMI to optical, coaxial, and Stereo jacks. There is a special port for media docks, as well. The docks for iPods and Sony media players must be purchased separately.

The configuration for this system is easy and an auto-calibration function is included along with a special microphone that is placed in the main seating location during setup. The speaker wires are clearly color coded and the manual is very descriptive. The connectors on the speaker wires are proprietary so no speaker upgrades are possible. The remote control is pretty standard and provides extra functions for other Sony products only--it would have been nice if the remote was universal and worked with other TVs and players. An AM/FM tuner is built into the unit as well, and utilizes the Radio Data System (RDS) which will show extra information about the songs being played if your local station provides it.

The system is compatible with DVD, HD-DVD, or Blu-ray players, along with a host of other devices. None of these devices are included in this package, however. Sony is targeting this unit directly to those who have already purchased Blu-ray players (a Sony technology) and/or Sony TVs. Many of Sony's products provide incredible images, and Blu-ray is capable of fantastic sound, but that can't be found by integrating other Sony equipment with this product. While the Sony HT-SS2000 includes only a basic 5.1 speaker system, it still has some great connectivity features and a stylish, refined look.

Pros: HDMI connectivity, matches other Sony products, auto-calibration
Cons: Low sound quality, speakers cannot be upgraded

Warranty
1 year