Movie fans have long dreamed of a way to recreate cinema-style surround-sound audio in their own home. The arrival of affordable Dolby Digital decoders, DVD players and 5.1 speaker systems has now made this vision a reality for the home entertainment buff.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 system is the standard for high-quality digital audio that is used mainly for DVD movies, soundtracks and a growing number of PC games.

The Cyber Acoustics 5150E is a 5.1 audio system that provides an economical way to add surround-sound to any 5.1-compatible sound card, DVD player or games console.

The first thing we noticed was how big and sturdy the subwoofer is. Acting as the amplifier as well as the hub for the five satellite speakers, the subwoofer is a mains-powered device with its own volume control for bass levels.

At low levels it produces a rich, deep tone. However, crank up the bass level and you may be bombarded with unwanted crackles as it struggles to cope. The five satellite speakers feature a colour-coded connection for simple installation.

The front-right speaker is also built with master volume and fader controls for adjusting the balance between the front and rear channels. However, levels don't need to be increased very much to get volume that is too loud for most ears.

If you haven't got a 5.1 output on your sound card, the 5150E can also be used with 4.1 and regular two-channel sound cards, MP3 or CD players and games consoles, thanks to a handy phono adapter.

Although the front and centre speakers come with generous cabling, the two surround satellites are less than charitable.

Nevertheless, once you have positioned the satellites around the room and got your favourite movie playing away, the sound quality is very good, especially considering the price.

Price: £79 (inc. VAT)

Contact: Cyber Acoustics 01256 378222
www.cyber-acoustics.com

Also consider: Trust Soundwave 2000P 5.1
A fair choice for those on a budget. £60 - OK by us.