The new JVC TH-L1 is a compact entertainment surround system designed to bring surround sound to virtually any device and digital format, from video gaming systems to iPods.

The TH-L1 is comprised of five small, cubic speakers, a subwoofer and a main unit that features 360 watts, 5.1-channel surround decoding and a full complement of inputs and outputs, including USB Host and an iPod audio and video connection for iPod control and charging. In addition, it has three AV inputs, including two HDMI inputs.

The main unit, which is not much larger than a Manhattan telephone book, provides Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic II decoding. In addition to the front-panel-mounted iPod and USB inputs, the back panel includes two HDMI inputs and an HDMI output with 1080p pass through for high definition sources, two component inputs, two composite inputs, two S-Video inputs and two digital (one optical, one coaxial) audio inputs. A third set of composite, S-Video and digital (optical) audio inputs are on the front panel. Outputs include, in addition to one HDMI, one component output, one composite video output and one S-video output.

Power ratings are 40 watts per channel for the two front channels, 100 watts for the center channel, 40 watts per channel for the two rear channels and 100 watts for the subwoofer.