Customer Reviews
Sony theatre-in-a-box 
2008-10-03
Sony HT7100DH Component Home Theater System with HDMI
Item was selected based on Consumer Reports reviews. Amazon offered it through a third party, the price was right and it was purchased. Delivery was timely and, although more work than anticipated, installation to the point of testing components shows great performance. Nice, compact package for our 1950-something sized living room.
Very Pleased 2008-05-27
Wasn't sure I was going to be pleased with this system or not, after a few weeks just love it. Great system- just the right amount of inputs, nice easy setup, nice sound, and huge bang for the buck (payed $320), only complant I have is that the included DVD player when using a HDMI cable, needs a digital audio cable (either coax or optical) - seems stupid since HDMI carries digital audio. but not a huge deal
Very good for the money but short comings 
2008-05-25
Bang for the buck is great got my for under $300. Lots of features, easy setup with mic and sound is good but not great. The hook up of the speakers wires to the receiver is unbelievable diffcult and them keep coming loose. (2) remotes why? Seems like a pieced together home theater package.Last but not least the DVD/CD player plays great but only shuffles one disc at a time! If I would have know that I wouldn't have bought this unit, who wants to shuffle one CD! I would have payed $50 more to have that feature. I hooked up my old player thru the optical input works great.
You get what you pay for.
Overall, pretty comprehensive system 
2008-04-24
For the most part, this system does what it says it will do for a reasonable price. Set up is a little complicated, but just thumb through the manual(s).
Only complaint is that in order to utilize the DMP(Digital Media Port) you have to buy a $100 docking station from Sony that is ONLY compatible with (taken from an email from Sony Support):
We are glad to assist you with your query regarding the compatibility of the iPods with your Sony Cradle for iPod. The iPods that are compatible with the Sony TDMIP1 are as follows:
1. iPod nano 2nd generation
2. iPod 5th generation
3. iPod nano 1st generation
4. iPod 4th generation (Color Display)
5. iPod 4th generation
6. iPod Mini
Of course, I only own an iPod Touch, so I am SOL (Soooooo out of luck)and apparently is anyone who has purchased an iPod in the last year or so.
Great basic system 2008-03-19
Bought the system for the many inputs and outputs to accompany the new DLP television. Hooking the HDMI cables to the unit seemed to be over kill once it was realized the TV had more than enough of these connections for the blue-ray, HD DVD and the Dish player. I have three other A\V units bought over the years and Sony sure puts out great units. Wish this unit put out more volume and had wireless speakers for the rear channels. But, the family thinks I turn the volume to the stops because I,m going deaf. I just like the music and movie viewing at a level consistent with an eighties rock concert. My only real complaint is the delivery service. I was called that the package was to arrive and needed to be home to take delivery. I was home but no knock on the door; to boot it was left in the carport with the neighbor signing for it. Good thing I live in a small town. Otherwise, for a great sounding modestly priced system you can not go wrong.
Moab Kelleys
Great system - plenty of inputs for extras 2008-02-29
People say that component sound systems are complicated. But Sony's HT7100DH Home-Theater Surround Sound Component System is designed to deliver 5.1 channels of immersive audio, with an AM/FM radio and 5-Disc DVD (and CD) player, for quick, easy installation. Grab your popcorn and revel in the intense movie-watching experience that is the HT-7100DH home theater system. Take your entertainment to new heights as 900 watts of surround sound fill your room while you watch high definition DVD media or listen to XM satellite radio (XM reception requires optional subscription and antenna). For fast and easy setup, the HT-7100DH automatically calibrates the included speakers for an optimal sound field and the most dramatic effects. The Digital Media Port (DMP) is also great for when you want to listen to external sources like Bluetooth devices or Walkman(R) music players in powerful (up to) 5.1 channel digital surround sound. It comes with 5 surround speakers and one subwoofer for full-range sound. Add your widescreen HDTV set and you've got home-theater in an instant. It isn't complicated when the system comes from Sony. HDMI Pass-Through (2 In, 1 Out) (AV Receiver), HDMI Output (DVD Changer) with upconversion capability when played through a 1080p HD display XM Satellite Radio Connect and Play Ready (Requires Optional XM Antenna and Service Subscription) Digital Cinema Auto Calibration (Auto Speaker Setup), Microphone Included 6 Analog Audio Inputs/2 Outputs, 3 Component Video Inputs/2 Outputs; 4 Composite Video Inputs/3 Outputs, Headphone Input Component Video Out, Composite and S-Video Out, Analog Audio Out Plays DVD-RW, DVD (VR Mode), DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, VCD, JPEG Disc; Plays CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 CD , Multi Disc Resume Woodgrain Speaker Cabinets, Black Sony USA 1-Year Parts/Labor Warranty
Plenty good 2008-02-28
For 90-95% of consumers, this system is all the stereo you need. I think it's silly to have a system that is so powerful, you never turn the volume up past 30%. Why even have that much power if you will never use it? If the room you're gonna use is smaller than a theater, then this system should suffice. I enjoy mine. Sound is good, plenty of options. I especially like HDMI input/output and the up-converting DVD player. Here's a link to some pictures showing how my system is set up: [...]
Totally met my expectations 2008-01-12
My main goal in a home theater system was having wireless back speakers. I tried the Panasonic system which worked very well, but it just did not have enough input options and I found that I quickly ran out. So I returned it and purchased this unit along with a Rocketfish wireless spreaker adapter. Everything is working great. I'm not an audio expert, so I don't know how it compares to other units, but it meets my needs. Also, I like the fact that the DVD player is a seperate unit. This gives me the option of upgrading it in the future to either HD DVD or BlueRay (once the dust settles).
Good Sound, Limited Connectivity 2008-01-02
Pros: Upconversion 5 Disc DVD Player, Sounds Good, Speak AUTO Calibration, Value
Cons: HDMI Passthrough only, Limited to 3 HD components, Fine Tuning Tedious, Too Many Cables Needed
Overall this is a good sytem for the price. If you have more than 3 HD components then this is not the system for you since there is only 3 digital audio in connections and the HDMI connections are for video only. The DVD player is excellent.
I've had this system fully connected for close to a week and I'm still fine tuning it. The subwoofer is pretty good but I can see why some reviewers say it lacks punch. I like it but the wife has me tune it down when she's around. Be sure to read the reviews out there as I did to ensure an easier time setting the system up.
Expected A Better System From Sony.... Set Up Is A Huge Headache!! 
2007-12-30
The title of this review says it all. I bought this system from Best Buy. From the looks of it, it looks like a great system, with enough inputs to keep me satified with the equipment that I have to give me great surround sound. Those equipment are:
- 42" 1080p HDTV
- XBOX 360
- Playstation 3
- Nintendo Wii
And now, thanks to this system, I got a 5-DVD changer Player. Ok, here it goes downhill.
The speaker wires are CRAP. It's not plug and play. Connecting the wires on the back of the receiver is crazy and so difficult. It's like a screw and you stick the wire in, and then you screw it in again, but the wire is so flimsy that I have to do it again over and over again, very frustrating. And, oh my god, trying to hook all those equipment that I mentioned before into this reciever is such a headache.
I followed the manual and hooked up the DVD player via HDMI cable, but since this receiver doesn't give me sound when I use HDMI, I have to use a Optical cable, which I did. Not luck, no VIDEO, WHAT THE HELL!!!!!!!!. I do not want to use the Composite cable, which is crap. The composite cables work, NO VIDEO, it gives me the surround sound, but obviously it only gives me 2 channels and not 5.1. I didn't buy a HDMI cable for nothing. Believe me, the set up is all correct. The only one that worked with this receiver is the PS3, which is my BluRay player. That worked fine. I haven't tried the Wii yet, if you were in my position, you will be tired to get into that.
My next grip is my HDTV. I have a Built in Tuner, so I watch HD channels. It's a cable wire straight to the wall to the TV, but now how do I get surround sound with my HDTV is a puzzle that I have yet to figure out.
After two days, I'm so frustrated with this system that it's not even funny. And packing this system is going to take me a day because the package is crazy and the box is HUUUUUUUGGGGEEEEEEEE. I'm still why this system came with a DVD player when HD is the future, it's nice, but ..........why??
Anywayz, not happy, I may after I get everything hooked up, but from the looks of things, it will take me awhile, plus the customer support hasn't been helpful, bunch of people who don't have technical reads back what I read in the manual, and I'm standing there with the phone of my arse listening to these people who can't figure out why I can't even hook the DVD player that came with the system via HDMI. It could be because my TV is 1080p and the DVD only gives out 1080i, but if that is the case, than why is the PS3 working in full 1080p.
Not to mention the DVD menu is like somebody drew it with crayons.
If anybody can help me in the problems that I'm having on how to hook up the equipment that I mentioned in my earlier review and maybe make me appreciate this $500 system, than please do.
