JVC Surround System Targets Games, iPods

JVC's new TH-L1 surround system aims to bring surround sound to the masses, targeting not just home theater buffs but gamers and iPod owners.

Electronics maker JVC wants to bring surround sound out of the realm of super-pricey home theater setups and down to the level where gamers and mere iPod owners can improve their audio experience. The new inexpensive TH-L1 surround system is designed to appeal to gamers and iPod owners, as well as home theater buffs, who will appreciate the HDMI input and 1080p pass-through.

The TH-L1 consists of a main unit, a subwoofer, and five small cubic satellite speakers. The main unit sports two HDMI inputs (for hooking up, say, a game console and high-def video source) and an HDMI passthrough output, along with Dolby Digital, DTS, and Dolby Pro Logic II decoding. The system pushes 40 watts to the four side channels and 100 watts to the center channel and subwoofer, and offers gamers a realistic sound field which—in surround-enabled games, anyway—may allow them to hear enemies approaching before they can be seen.

The system also aims to appeal to digital media enthusiasts, offering front-panel USB connectivity so the system can support digital audio players and USB media (MP3, WMA, MPEG4, and JPEG are all supported). Addition front-panel connections include S-Video input and output, composite video output, and digital (optical) inputs. The TH-L1’s rear-panel connections include two S-Video inputs, two digital audio inputs, and a component video out.

The TH-L1 is available now at a suggested price of $299.95.