Samsung Unveils Connected Blu-ray Home Theater

— -- Samsung continues to emphasize design in its home theater systems, showing slim, sleek systems here at the Consumer Electronics Show.

The impressively compact Samsung HT-BD8200 2.1-Channel Blu-ray Home Theater Sound Bar takes the speakers and receiver of a home theater and packs it all into a sound bar-styled unit. This self-contained, all-in one unit will be perfect for tight spaces in need of an entertainment system. The sound bar can be mounted on a wall, and features a BD-Live-capable Blu-ray Disc Player, with wireless subwoofer and Bluetooth connectivity.

Due out in the first half of 2009, this package features virtual 5.1-channel surround sound with 300 Watts of total output power, and Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding built in.

Like Samsung's standalone players, it supports Netflix video and Pandora music streaming (with subscriptions). And the USB 2.0 connection will support an optional 802.11b/g/n dongle; the integrated Bluetooth connectivity lets you communicate between the home theater and devices like portable media players and mobile phones. It even includes an iPod dock.

Also due in the first half of 2009: The HT-BD7200 adds Samsung's Touch of Color red accents, and boosts the speaker output to 400W of total power

Virtual 5.1-channel surround not enough? Go for the real thing with the HT-BD1250. This 5.1-channel speaker home theater system offers 1000 Watts of total output power, with wireless-ready rear speakers, too. You also get HDMI CEC for home theater control. Plus the iPod dock and all of the Blu-ray and connectivity features of the other home theater systems.

For all the latest CES news, check out our complete coverage of CES 2009.