This behemoth is billed as the "Home Theater In A Box." See how this all-in-one wowed us without even really being used.
We took an early look at the SE2 Labs ITC One, an all-in-one home theater system crammed full of ultra-high end components. Designed for users with a large budget but not necessarily the time nor desire to have a complicated custom home theater installed in their houses, the ITC One aims to simplify the home theater, neatly packing an amplifier, signal processor, satellite receiver, DVD player, ipod and video game into one box.
A massive machine, the ITC One is controlled by one very large RF remote and a 4.3-inch LCD screen. Buttons along the side of the LCD (as well as on the remote), change color from red to yellow to green as the volume is increased or decreased. While certainly a very cool feature, it seems hardly necessary, or even that useful.
What we did find useful was the colored lights on the unit's air vents, which changed color depending on how hot the unit was. Granted, we suspect it only matters when the unit is too hot that it could get damaged, but we would hope that doesn't happen often enough to even be an issue. We suspect it won't be, because the cooling system is designed to be both quiet and effective. Airflow baffles on the bottom of the device allow air to flow from bottom to top; the baffles serve the dual purpose of facilitating airflow as well as quieting the sounds made by the cooling mechanism.
We liked how the system managed the cables in the back of the unit, putting all inputs on one side and all outputs on the other, with built-in holes for attachable Velcro cable organizers to keep everything neat. The back and top panels are also removable, but go around the cable connection area, so you can access the guts of the system without unplugging all of the cables. For those worried about getting shocked, the master circuit/power switch is easily located in the front of the unit.
We also loved the remote, which had a battery life indicator on the back and used RF to connect with the unit so it did not require a line of sight. It also had a locater on it, so if it was lost, you could push a button on the box and the remote would beep until you found it.
Other than its size, the most garish thing about the ITC One is undoubtedly its price. The base model starts at $19,900, and includes the following: Microsoft X-Box 360, DirecTV HD DVR, AMX Netlinx Control system, Bryston Digital Surround Processor, ICEpower D-Class Amplifier, Apple iPod video dock and the SE2 RF System Remote Control.
You can add a Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360 HD-DVD player, or any number of media sources to your custom device. But when SE2 Labs' rep said that his system was actually a deal, and that all of the components (were they assembled separately) would cost around $50,000, we moved past dubious and landed straight on skeptical. The ITC One has no release date, will be available only in the U.S., and only through selected dealers.
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