3DsoundSurge Reviews: Videologic DigiTheatre

Important Info:

Speakers By : VideoLogic Systems
Price : £249 ERP incl. VAT/$400 SRP in US
Power Output:
Subwoofer: 25 watts RMS
Satellites: 37.5 watts RMS , 7.5 watts RMS per satellite

Minimum/Recommended System Requirements

Sound card or other audio device

Reviewer PC:

-Mikael
- Win98
- Celeron 300a o/c 450
- 128MB PC100 ram
- Creative TNT
- 6.4 GB Quantum SE
- Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! (EMU 10K1), Outrageous 3D Sound (Vortex 2), Hoontech Sound Track YFM 744 Digital XG (Yamaha 744), Aztech PCI 368 DSP (VLSI Thunderbird 128), Trident 4Dwave NX and Terratec's DMX Sound system (Canyon3D)

Features:

DigiTheatre Decoder

Input
Digital: coaxial or optical S/P-DIF
Analog: stereo left and right phono jacks
Output
G9 DIN connector and four 3.5 mm phono sockets for all channels.
Full Dolby Digital (AC-3) decode
Designed around the high-performance Zoran DSP Connect to any DVD player, either standalone or PC-based, with S/P-DIF output, for Dolby Digital Surround sound
Dolby Pro Logic decode
Connect to Stereo VCR or TV for Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sound
PCM stereo audio decode
Connect to digital output from CD or MiniDisc for spacious surround sound stereo
Coaxial (RCA) or optical (Toslink) S/P-DIF digital input
Remote control unit for ease of operation
Individual volume control to each speaker
Delay control to surround and centre speakers
Mute on/off
Bass management modes
Comprehensive range of speaker modes
Surround mode select (AC-3, Pro Logic and Stereo)
System test function

DigiTheatre Decoder Power adapter

Input
Japan: AC 100V
Taiwan/North America: AC 120V
Europe: AC 230V
Output
DC 12V, 0.5A

DigiTheatre Amplifier (in subwoofer)

Total output power: 62.5 Watts RMS
- front: 7.5W +7.5W
- surround: 7.5W +7.5W
- centre: 7.5W
- subwoofer: 25W
Input sensitivity
- DVD input: 250 mV
- aux input: 500 mV
Max output: 1000W PMPO
Dimensions: 228 mm (W) x 406 mm (H) x 325 mm (D)

Loudspeakers

Front
- Woofer: 4 inch magnetically shielded
- Tweeter: 2 inch Neodynium
- Impedance: 4 Ohm
- Frequency response: 180 Hz to 20 kHz
- Dimensions: 114 mm (W) x 236 mm (H) x 150 mm (D)
Surround
- Speaker: 4 inches
- Impedance: 4 Ohm
- Frequency response: 180 Hz to 20 kHz
- Dimensions: 114 mm (W) x 151 mm (H) x 150 mm (D)
Centre
- Speaker: 3 inches magnetically shielded
- Impedance: 4 Ohm
- Frequency response: 140 Hz to 20 kHz
- Dimensions: 260 mm (W) x 106 mm (H) x 155 mm (D)
Subwoofer
- Speaker: 6.5 inches magnetically shielded
- Impedance: 3.2 Ohm
- Frequency response: 50 Hz to 200 Hz
- Dimensions: 228 mm (W) x 406 mm (H) x 325 mm (D)

Update: VideoLogic now offers the DigiTheatre also without the DigiTheatre decoder under the name DigiTheatre LC. This is interesting if you want to use it with another decoder or connect it to a 5.1 soundcard. We will in the near future (next month) update this review to offer some impressions how this system works with several of the 5.1 soundcards available. For a more detailed look at the DigiTheatre decoder we suggest you read our review of MidiLand's ADS-2000 which is the same exact decoder just sold under a different name (and price)

VideoLogic Systems is one of two divisions of Imagination Technologies (formerly known as VideoLogic) a UK company that's famous mostly for their 3D graphics chips which are sold in the PC market (e.g. Neon250) consoles (Dreamcast) and arcades. The 3D graphics chips are designed by the other division now called PowerVR technology. The System division is the one selling the products to the end users. When it comes to the audio market VideoLogic Systems have sold soundcards for sometime but since they used other companies chips (e.g. ESS and Aureal's) they haven't received a lot of attention, at least not outside UK. When VideoLogic late last year decided that they would enter the multimedia speaker market they knew that they would need something more than just a "me too" product to have any success. If you read Simon's review of the Sirocco, a powerful 2.1 speaker system, you know that the Sirocco was more than enough for VideoLogic to enter the speaker market with a splash.

Ever since then we have received a lot of requests to review VideoLogic's other speaker systems, the 4.1 speaker system by the name of Sirocco Crossfire and the Dolby Digital 5.1 system called the DigiTheatre. The DigiTheatre doesn't use as high quality components as as the Sirocco and Sirocco Crossfire system instead Videologic decided to create the best possible sound experience for each market while still keeping the sound price tag below £250 including VAT in UK and $400 SRP in USA. To achieve that they had to use less powerful subwoofer and satellites than are included in of the Sirocco systems.

DigiTheatre 5.1 is a complete Dolby Digital 5.1 system. The 5 satellite speakers - 2 front, 2 rear and one center are all connected to the amplifier/subwoofer unit. The amplifier unit has separate inputs for each speaker. The part that does the AC-3 decoding (called the DigiTheatre Decoder) is a separate unit which has optical and coax digital in and analog front left and right channel and also comes with a remote control. The DigiTheatre Decoder can also be purchased separately which is worth consideration if, for example, you wish to upgrade your Dolby Surround system to a Dolby Digital.

At the moment the DigiTheatre is available in UK, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Spain Holland and soon France. VideoLogic Systems' current plan is to start shipping in US and Canada in November and a month later in Japan.

In this review we will take a close look what sound experience DigiTheatre will give you when watching DD 5.1 DVD movies, listening to music, playing games as a 2.1 system and as a 4.1 gaming system. We will also briefly mention how it compares with WinDVD 4-speaker down-mixing and the Cambridge Soundworks DTT2500 system. We will also show you how you can use the DigiTheatre Decoder with another speaker system.