Compare Prices : Philips HTS 8100 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: Philips' HTS8100 Ambisound surround sound home cinema fits unobtrusively beneath a 37in or 42in TV screen. The neatly designed 'sound bar' can be wall mounted using the supplied fixing plate

Pros: Easy installation, Feature rich, Image quality

Cons: Treble and bass levels are overly brash, Abrasive sonics

Verdict: The first 'sound bar' with a DVD player delivers effective surround action, but longer listening can be hard going

Review summary: A lot of people love the idea of a home theater system until they realize they need to run wires all over the living room to make it work. Companies have tried to solve this problem with a variety of solutions--wireless rear speakers, virtual surround ...

Pros: Stylish, minimalist design ; built-in DVD player concealed behind motorized door ; very good video quality on DVDs ; four total audio inputs ; iPod dock included

Cons: No video inputs ; sounds better with movies than with music

Verdict: The exceedingly stylish Philips HTS8100 SoundBar packs the home theater experience--including a DVD player--into one slim package plus a sub.

Pros: Stylish, minimalist design ; built-in DVD player concealed behind motorized door ; very good video quality on DVDs ; four total audio inputs ; iPod dock included

Cons: No video inputs ; sounds better with movies than with music

Verdict: The exceedingly stylish Philips HTS8100 SoundBar packs the home theater experience--including a DVD player--into one slim package plus a sub.

Pros: Innovative ambisound technology simulates 5.1 surround sound without the need for rear speakers, DVD upscaling to 1080p, Great design

Cons: Some distortion, Relatively weak bass, DVD playback was marred by image noise, Limited input options

Verdict: The Philips HTS8100 is a great option for those without the space for a full 5.1 surround sound setup, but its relatively average performance in other areas prevents it from being an outstanding product.

Review summary: The Dutch company's latest home-theater-in-a-box is a sleek two-piece kit equipped with its Ambisound virtual surround sound technology.