HTiB, an alternative to creating your own home cinema

Doharto J. Simatupang, Contributor, Jakarta

Another audio-video product that has become increasingly popular as an alternative to bringing a mini-scale cinema into your home is called "Home Theater in Box", or HTiB.

It is basically a DVD player with a built-in 5.1 ch (six- channel) amplifier, a receiver and several other features. Meanwhile, the 5 mini-sized satellite speakers and one sub-woofer come as an integrated unit.

An HTiB offers such features as Dolby Digital AC-3, dts, DivX, Dolby Surround Prologic and Dolby Surround Prologic II sound systems, an FM radio tuner, JPEG, Progressive Scan, Full Karaoke and MP3. Certain HTiB brands also come complete with speaker floor stands to mount your surround-sound speakers.

Given its physical dimensions and the many features it has, an HTiB may be said to be a DVD compo set in miniature. The only thing that makes an HTiB different from a DVD compo set is that it is not equipped with a cassette player.

You may still remember that a few years back, during the VCD player boom, active speakers also sold like hot cakes, and by buying both someone with a limited budget could relatively easily bring home the atmosphere of a home theater.

Unlike a combination of a VCD player and active speakers, an HTiB is an integrated set.

When they first appeared on the market, HTiB were quite pricey but now prices have become increasingly more affordable. With just Rp 1,250,000 you can take home a real and branded HTiB. Cheap, isn't it? The presence of Chinese-made HTiBs has lowered prices further. Even with less than Rp 700,000 you can take home a Chinese-made HTiB.

It will thus come as no surprise, if, for instance, prices for Korean LG-made HTiB fall below Rp 1 million later this year. The prices of LG HTiBs are now as follows: LH-T6240 Rp 1,250,000, LH- D6230 Rp 1,455,000, LH-T6340 Rp 1,315,000, NE-8421P Rp 1,350,000 and LM-D2340 Rp 1,475,000.

If the price trend for HTiBs continues, it is clear that branded DVD players that now cost about Rp 1 million will lose out to HTiB. You would certainly think twice before deciding to spend the same amount of money buying an HTiB set rather than a DVD player only.

An HTiB is actually more suitable for smaller rooms, like a study or bedroom. An HTiB, for example, could fit comfortably in a doctor's consulting room, lending greater privacy and a more exclusive air.

Certainly, you could purchase a DVD compo system rather an HTiB to create a cinema environment in your house. Generally, a DVD compo system is pricier than an HTiB. Many people find a DVD compo set more suitable to be placed in larger rooms, such as living room, given its large speakers.