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JVC TH-BA1 photos

JVC's TH-BA1 sound bar home theater system is affordable, easy to use, and sounds better than expected, but it doesn't offer HDMI connectivity.

Matthew Moskovciak
Covering home audio and video, Matthew Moskovciak helps CNET readers find the best sights and sounds for their home theaters. E-mail Matthew or follow him on Twitter @cnetmoskovciak.
Matthew Moskovciak
1 of 9 Sarah Tew/CNET

JVC TH-BA1

For absolute home theater simplicity, it's hard to beat a sound bar home theater in a box (HTIB) system. One long speaker, no AV receiver required, and no long pesky wires running all over your living room. The JVC TH-BA1 does the standard configuration one better by including a wireless subwoofer, so the only cables you'll need are behind your TV cabinet.

Aside from the wireless subwoofer, the TH-BA1 includes a standard assortment of features, but it stands out from the pack with its better-than-expected sound quality and ease of use. The lack of HDMI connectivity is the major knock against the TH-BA1--and you'd be wise to check out the Sony HT-CT100 if you need HDMI ports--but otherwise it's one of the best deals we've seen, especially compared with the more expensive Yamaha YSP-900 and Denon DHT-FS3.
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Design

The TH-BA1's exterior design isn't its main selling point. Its style is bland, and the red indicator lights and basic LCD display make it feel less than cutting-edge. The long polelike shape is designed to fit under your HDTV; it's worth checking the dimensions of your own set to make sure the 4.9-inch high TH-BA1 won't obscure the screen.
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Display and controls

We appreciate that the TH-BA1 at least has a basic LCD screen on the front panel, unlike some of the TV add-on speakers we review. The screen is dark in most scenarios but lights up when you adjust the volume or switch inputs, then goes dark again once you've made your adjustments. We also liked that you could dim or turn off the blue light in the center of the unit; unfortunately, the smaller red lights are unchangeable.
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Remote

The included remote is excellent. It has just enough heft to feel like a step up from those cheap credit-card-style remotes, and the button layout is refreshingly basic. There are separate buttons for each input, a button rocker, a mute button, and individual controls to adjust speaker levels. If ease of use is a big priority, the TH-BA1 fits the bill nicely.
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Side view

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Back panel

Like most products in this category, the TH-BA1's connectivity is limited to audio inputs--there are no video inputs. That means you need to run separate video cables directly to your HDTV and fumble with multiple remotes to make sure the TV and TH-BA are on the right input. (Of course, a quality universal remote can take a lot of the pain out of this.)
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Connectivity

There are two optical digital audio inputs and a single stereo analog audio input. It's worth pointing out that none of those inputs are "shared" inputs; it's possible to connect three separate devices and select them from the remote. This connectivity package is a little less than competitors offer; the Yamaha YSP-900 can handle four devices at once and the Denon DHT-FS3 can handle five. And like we mentioned before, if you need HDMI connectivity, the Sony HT-CT100 is the best option if you're looking to spend less than $500.
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8 of 9 Sarah Tew/CNET

Wireless subwoofer

The sub doesn't have a volume control, but you can adjust its level directly from the remote. It's not a particularly powerful sub, and it sounded too lightweight when we first started listening to it. The sub was around 4 feet from the front and sidewalls; moving it within a few inches of the front wall significantly improved its sound. That means that just because the sub is wireless, it doesn't mean you can put it anywhere; place it too far away from the speaker and you'll start to become aware that all the bass is coming from the sub. Try to keep it within 5 or 6 feet of the speaker.
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AC adapter

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