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October 19, 2005
Home Theater For Anyone
In my quest to find the perfect 5.1 channel surround sound, I could have settled for some crazy audio system that would have left my bank account or my credit card in detriment - or go for a more integrated solution for a first time home theater buyer. I'm on a budget and I don't have a lot of space to dedicate to a sound system. I have a 27" LCD television and make plenty use of it. I need a sound system that will easily tuck away in the little nooks and crannies I have without sacrificing sound quality. I'm no audiophile so my ears won't be able to tell the difference between a $500 system to a $2000 system.
After much research I decided on the NIRO Home Theater System. What makes NIRO unique is its integrated speaker solution which places the center, front left, front right, surround left and surround right drivers all in one box. The main sound uses the same principals of intensity and time differences as conventional multi-speaker 5.1 channel surround systems. The surround speakers created a virtual field of sound by using specially created software developed by NIRO.
Unlike traditional surround systems, NIRO doesn't now rely on the reflection from walls to create surround sound. Instead, it warps and wraps the sound around the person with it's drivers pointing in all different directions - able to fill a 380 sqft. space with rich sound.
I got a chance to test out a NIRO system and even though I couldn't keep it, I must say the sound was phenomenal. From watching movies to playing video games, I now know what people mean when they say true 5.1 surround sound makes a world of difference. Since it's in an enclosed space, I would even dare to venture and say it sounds better that a movie theater. Watching movies over again, I could hear things I never noticed before - much of it being ambient noise like birds chirping in the morning or the chatter of people as they walk by on the street.
The cost was a little steep, at almost $600 for the basic system, I thought it was beyond my budget. However, compared to other 5.1 surround systems, it was hundreds if not thousands less. Not to mention the entire system is only made up of three units; the driver speaker, subwoofer and the tiny receiver. The NIRO had no problems fitting into my home without taking up massive shelf space.
Much to my surprise NIRO is not some obscure company. The founder of NIRO also created Nakamichi; a brand known for some of the most rich and luxurious sound systems in the world. So now I'm saving my pennies to purchase a NIRO of my own, unless one of you out there wants to help me out. :) Check it out here.
Posted by tranism at 2:41 AM | Permalink
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