NYNE SMC-1000 Smart Media Center Preview

If the idea of a soundbar is too much clutter for you or seeing any piece of home theater equipment other than a TV will ruin your décor, then the NYNE SMC-1000 might just be your dream product. The SMC-1000 is a media cabinet that has compartments to hide your equipment out of sight and a built-in 2.1 stereo system to provide "audiophile" sound. Whether your TV sits on stop of the SMC-1000 or mounts on the wall above it, this is about the cleanest solution you can get without putting the equipment in another room.

The SMC-1000 measures 42”W x 19.7”D x  27.2”H, so it would work well with up to a 42-50” TV sitting on top of it or a larger TV mounted on the wall above it.  It features compartments to hide your components out of sight and has an impressive array of connections so you can be confident that nearly anything you own will hook up to the SMC-1000. Apple Airplay and Lightning dock? Has it. Bluetooth and USB? Yep. Digital audio, analog, 3.5mm, and 4 HDMI inputs? You bet. As you can see, the SMC-1000 has some pretty impressive connectivity options. NYNE has dubbed this emphasis on connectivity as “Device Agnostic”, meaning that the cabinet is designed to work with every available device on the market. The only thing it lacks is composite or component video connections, both of which are seldom used anymore and subject to the analogue sunset later this year.

It also seems to pack a decent sound system. Now, don’t expect it to have the soundstage or dynamics of an expensive stand-alone sound system, but it will be far better than any speakers built into a modern TV. A 400-Watt RMS amplifier powers two mid-range drivers, two tweeters and one subwoofer. NYNE says the unit reaches 96dB, thought that rating might be taken using a 1kHz tone or pink noise from 1 meter away (the specifics weren't given). We would expect less output when it comes to real world use. With that said, 96dB in a standard living room should be plenty loud for most people’s needs.

If you like the idea of the SMC-1000 but it isn’t quite the right style or fit, keep on the lookout for additional products from NYNE. The SMC-1000 is the first in an entire line of Smart Media Centers. Products like this are typically niche, and many of them have sub-par connectivity and poor sound quality. However, NYNE looks to have put a lot of thought into this cabinet. If you are looking for an ultra-clean installation and a modern looking piece of furniture, the SMC-1000 seems promising.

For more information visit NYNE.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.