Koss KS4102 Progressive-Scan DVD Home Theater System

Koss Audio and Video Electronics started producing and selling its innovative, high quality products more than 10 years ago. Koss' broad product base is continually evolving in support of newer technologies and changing market trends. A particular focus and strength is the development of technology that enhances the consumer's lifestyle. PRODUCT FEATURES: Plays DVD, CD, S/VCD, CD-R/W, DVD+RW, and DVD-R/W for ease of use; Also plays MP3, WMA, and Picture CD for your convenience; 520 W total output from front center, rear and subwoofer, all included as a complete set; Complete with digital tuner and let you enjoy the favorite radio stations; Progressive Scan (480P/576P); Dolby Digital Decoder for quality sound; Multiple audio/video sound formats tailored your language preference; Component and S-video output; Full function remote control allows complete control with one hand; VF display and on-screen menu display and controls; Hi resolution multi-screen format; Multiple language formats; Movie time, track, and title search; DVD and audio CD loop repeat play feature; Multiple audio and MP-3 CD play feature; Angle control (on DVD disc with this feature).

A complete audio and video system at this price must be some kind of trick, right? But the KS4102, despite a few quirks and deficiencies, is the real deal: its five speakers, subwoofer, and 520-watt receiver/amplifier deliver a powerful theater experience for a fraction of the cost of a system from a more well-known brand.

Setup is a fairly painless process, even for technophobes, thanks to the clear graphic instructions and color-coded wires. If you have never had this many speakers at your disposal before, here's how it works: The two front speakers go on either side of your television, the center speaker goes (duh) in the center (on the top of the TV is the ideal spot), while the surround-sound speakers are best placed behind the viewer, so you can get the full aural effect of, say, Predator moving from one side of the room to the other. The formidable subwoofer, like the proverbial 800-pound gorilla, can go anywhere you want, though we got the best results by placing it on the floor near the television. Our only complaint about the setup process is that some of the supplied stereo cords are too short.

The sound can be adjusted by choosing one of various presets--"Jazz," "Rock," etc.--which is obviously not as good as being able to adjust the levels manually, but we found that the presets work surprisingly well. The Jazz setting gave added punch to the horns on a Ray Charles record, and the Rock mode properly brings out the bright thwack of snare drums. The DVD picture quality is also excellent, thanks to the progressive-scan (480p) compatibility.

A flaw in the system is the nonresponsiveness of the receiver. It takes a good five seconds after inserting a disc for anything to happen at all--and if all you want to do is listen to the radio, you have to wait until the system figures out that there was no disc inserted. Also, the sound goes annoyingly silent for a moment whenever you switch between modes. Overall, though, the KS4102 delivers admirable quality at a remarkable price. --David Stoesz

Pros:

Excellent value
Progressive-scan capability
Booming subwoofer

Cons:

No manual adjustment of audio settings
Unresponsive controls
Speaker cords too short

Get everything you need to build your home theater system in one box with the Koss KS4102, featuring a receiver/amplifier with 520 watts of total power, 5.1-channel Dolby digital surround sound, and a multiformat DVD player. It comes with 1 center speaker, 2 front speakers, 2 surround speakers, and 1 subwoofer.

The progressive-scan DVD player is compatible with 480p and 576p formats, and it can play DVD movie, CD audio, VCD, CD-R/RW, and DVD-R/RW discs. It can also handle both MP3 and WMA digital audio files and JPEG image files. Other features include a digital radio tuner, multilanguage capability, multiple angle DVD playback (with compatible DVDs), and a full-function remote control.

The KS4102 has the following connections: composite A/V (2 inputs, 1 output), component video (1 output), S-video (1 output), digital coaxial (1 input, 1 output), digital optical (1 input), and 1 RF.

Tech Talk
Dolby Digital: In this sound format designed for movie theaters, the rear speakers output stereo sound with an expanded frequency range, and a subwoofer channel for deep bass is independently provided. This format is also called "5.1" because the subwoofer channel is counted as 0.1 channel (since it functions only when a deep bass effect is needed). All six channels in this format are recorded individually to realize superior channel separation. Furthermore, since all the signals are processed digitally, less signal degradation occurs.

What's in the Box
The Koss KS4102 home theater system contains the combo receiver/DVD player, 1 center speaker, 1 subwoofer, 2 front speakers, 2 surround speakers, speaker wires, remote control, batteries, A/V cable, AM loop antenna, FM antenna, and printed operating instructions.

1 Mine died just after the 90 day warranty
I read the negative reviews for Koss DVD players online, but I thought I'd give it a shot anyway, as Sears had a good deal over Christmas. Well, the 90 day warranty ran out a few weeks ago, and now the machine is nothing but a big silver paperweight. Won't read ANY disks anymore. Had not had a single problem till this, but on every review site, people describe similar experiences. Ugh. I guess I deserved it.

2 Good system for the money
I bought the model below this one yesterday, the 3102. That model is 500 watts, not 520. But, I do have to say I was surprised at the sound that came out of these speakers. It's true, the controls are a little unresponsive and the speaker cords are too short. But for the money, it is an excellent system. I tested the system out by listening to a few Trance cd's, Ray Charles, and Frank Sinatra. Music quality was excellent. I then watched Band of Brothers. The subwoofer definitely pumps out some great bass. I hadn't really watched the movie until I watched it in surround sound. All in all, I would recommend this system if you're looking to get a good surround sound system for a small price. Just pick up some extra speaker cord.