#1 Do not confuse the HT-XT1 with the HT-XT100 - the XT100 is the much lower power, cheaper model, I would expect only good for very small rooms.
HT-XT1
This is the outgoing generation sound base - it's been (somewhat) replaced by the HT-XT2 (same power output, format but more features). Also a higher end HT-XT3 has been added (much more output - great reviews in the UK, where it's been out for a year, but yet to arrive in the US - which is odd). Both new models IIRC have a better DAC and are GoogleCast enabled - so even more capable (and I believe can be part of a whole house solution via GoogleCast) and I suspect even better sounding. Having said that, this model is still relevant and as a capable sound base, for those that aren't interested in Google Cast (think dorm room), I think it's a great product. I would be surprised if they didn't just drop the XT100 and keep this XT1 as the base model moving forward.
So I picked one of these up off Craigslist for 100 bucks in near new condition - I read the reviews but there's no way I'm paying $170 for a soundbase which isn't expandable - that's just because I know at a pinch I could use some old speakers and a cheap amp that would blow this away (but not look aesthetically so good) . So yes, I'm a cheapskate, but a charming cheapskate as my wife would say.
Overall I think it's a nice sounding, capable sound base -it has the HDMI control function (CEC?), so I can use my TV UP/DOWN volume to control the soundbase volume. I use all three HDMI ins and pretty much everything works fine. Initially the Audio Return Channel (ARC) sound from my Samsung C series TV didn't work and the sound was "thin" - a quick system reset to blow away previous settings and go to defaults fixed both issues.. There are two built in 6" subwoofers and for such a compact size, I definitely do not have it turned all the way up - 5 is more than enough.
1. Room filling? Depends on the room - It only puts out so much sound. I would say that for a dorm room it's perfect and then some - it can go loud, but for the 16' x 18' room I'm temporarily using it for, it's kind of lost. Long term is to use it in a study / games / social room for my young kids, so they can move*.. their*.. damn*.. toys*.. from*.. every*.. other*.. damn*.. room*.. in*.. the*.. house* and keep them all in one penned off area. (my plan is to lock them in there till they reach college age) - for that purpose - all in one, HDMI, good sound... it's perfect and should be useful for years to come.
2. When I switch on the Fire TV, it automatically switches to that HDMI, and when I turn off the kid's PS3, it makes my TV switch to the over the air TV input. Am sure that is configurable somewhere but not a fan of the CEC control function.
3. It's yet*.. another*.. remote*.. The volume you can do on your TV remote, but you need the Sony stick remote for INPUT.
Overall, you won't be disappointed by the quality of the sound or the connectivity, but for large rooms and whole house audio I would look to another solution. This product is capable, useful, smart looking and should give you years of use.
PS: At $170 IMHO, it's a good but not fantastic deal for a very capable soundbase - the $299 list is just not real, and the street price went down after after the HT-XT2 came out. Remember when you see Ben's price history that this is 2+ years old and that is an age in the tech world - new features come out, hence the XT2.
Comments & Reviews (3)
#1 Do not confuse the HT-XT1 with the HT-XT100 - the XT100 is the much lower power, cheaper model, I would expect only good for very small rooms.
HT-XT1
This is the outgoing generation sound base - it's been (somewhat) replaced by the HT-XT2 (same power output, format but more features). Also a higher end HT-XT3 has been added (much more output - great reviews in the UK, where it's been out for a year, but yet to arrive in the US - which is odd). Both new models IIRC have a better DAC and are GoogleCast enabled - so even more capable (and I believe can be part of a whole house solution via GoogleCast) and I suspect even better sounding. Having said that, this model is still relevant and as a capable sound base, for those that aren't interested in Google Cast (think dorm room), I think it's a great product. I would be surprised if they didn't just drop the XT100 and keep this XT1 as the base model moving forward.
So I picked one of these up off Craigslist for 100 bucks in near new condition - I read the reviews but there's no way I'm paying $170 for a soundbase which isn't expandable - that's just because I know at a pinch I could use some old speakers and a cheap amp that would blow this away (but not look aesthetically so good) . So yes, I'm a cheapskate, but a charming cheapskate as my wife would say.
Overall I think it's a nice sounding, capable sound base -it has the HDMI control function (CEC?), so I can use my TV UP/DOWN volume to control the soundbase volume. I use all three HDMI ins and pretty much everything works fine. Initially the Audio Return Channel (ARC) sound from my Samsung C series TV didn't work and the sound was "thin" - a quick system reset to blow away previous settings and go to defaults fixed both issues.. There are two built in 6" subwoofers and for such a compact size, I definitely do not have it turned all the way up - 5 is more than enough.
end of part 1
Downsides are that:
1. Room filling? Depends on the room - It only puts out so much sound. I would say that for a dorm room it's perfect and then some - it can go loud, but for the 16' x 18' room I'm temporarily using it for, it's kind of lost. Long term is to use it in a study / games / social room for my young kids, so they can move*.. their*.. damn*.. toys*.. from*.. every*.. other*.. damn*.. room*.. in*.. the*.. house* and keep them all in one penned off area. (my plan is to lock them in there till they reach college age) - for that purpose - all in one, HDMI, good sound... it's perfect and should be useful for years to come.
2. When I switch on the Fire TV, it automatically switches to that HDMI, and when I turn off the kid's PS3, it makes my TV switch to the over the air TV input. Am sure that is configurable somewhere but not a fan of the CEC control function.
3. It's yet*.. another*.. remote*.. The volume you can do on your TV remote, but you need the Sony stick remote for INPUT.
Overall, you won't be disappointed by the quality of the sound or the connectivity, but for large rooms and whole house audio I would look to another solution. This product is capable, useful, smart looking and should give you years of use.
HTH
Dingo
Thank you!