Tall Order

This home cinema system has style and substance, writes Peter Familari

Wintal can now add another winner to its extensive list of value-for-money audio-video gear.
This time around it's the refreshingly styled DS-225M home cinema system, comprising five tall-boy speakers, a powered sub-woofer and built-in AM/FM stereo receiver for $799.

Our review unit arrived superbly packed in two cartons - one a flat-pack housing four slender speakers, stands and complete wiring looms and the other containing the slim line sub-woofer.

The ensemble came in a silver finish with an unusual but eye-catching feature: matching sea-blue transparent end caps for the speakers.

In another stylistic flourish, Wintal has given each of the tall-boy speakers circular, blue-green glass stands fitted with chrome spiked feet.
The same design theme extends to the sub-woofer.

Unlike the run-of-the mill models which are squat as a coal barge, the Wintal's is upright and rather slim.

Which all adds up to a concept system which is obviously styled to flank wide screen tubed or plasma TV and blend in discreetly.

The new Wintal is also as much about substance as it is about style.

It is designed to work with any DVD player that has six separate output connections to send Dolby Digital's and DTS's six channels of sound into the DS-225M.

Please note, however, the DVD player has to also have a Dolby Digital and DTS computer chip built in.
Many do, including Wintal's $189 2015PS model.

With the player connected to the DS-225M and playing Predator DVD, it was time to turn up the wick and rattle the windows.
Head bangers can rest assured. The DS-225M plays brutally loud. It can also finesse with quiet passages of music and soft dialogue emerging with detail and clarity.

Clearly a bargain.

Wintal International: 1800 337 366