Philips HTS 8100 Expert Reviews

The HTS8100 is a solid performer and the surround technology does its job in a straightforward fashion....

All-in-one unit featuring speaker and DVD player; supports various audio/video formats

Lacks direct bass control; DVD insertion is delicate

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 fro...

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

No video inputs; sounds better with movies than with music.

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

The Philips SoundBar HTS8100 is a stylish, clean-looking virtual surround sound system with integrated DVD player. It's inconspicuous and versatile, and its image quality is impressive. The set has an expansive sound stage and does a good job with periphe...

Stylish, space-saving design; fuss-free set up; 1080p video upscaling; versatile connectivity; impressive image quality

Expensively priced; subwoofer means it isn't totally discreet; compromised sound quality

The Philips SoundBar HTS8100 is an excellent solution for style-conscious buyers with limited time and space to set up a true surround system, but you'll have to accept a few sonic compromises

Is this the answer for your speakers

Upscaling 1080p DVD player, stylish and wellbuilt, impressive front room performance

Very expensive, limited rear speaker impact, only really suitable for mid-sized screens

The HTS8100 is an appealing enough solution but you'll struggle to justify the expense against more dedicated setups that offer similar features

If you want more panache than the virtual surround modes found in your TV or 2.1-channel system, this could be the answer.

As soundbar cinema systems go, the HTS8100 is a fine example. The sound quality on offer is surprisingly sophisticated, and those angled speaker drivers do generate a genuine sense of width that sets this system apart from the virtual surround modes found...

You have to take your hat off to Philips for coming up with the most innovative and literal interpretation of the one-box home cinema solution. Its SoundBar is easily the most practical TV-friendly form-factor in its class

Hgihly practical form factor, Genuine surround sound effect

Poor stereo imaging, No HDMI input

Delivers pseudo surround-sound in one of the most innovative and convenient packages available

The SoundBar itself is the width of an average 50in plasma TV and not much deeper, so it looks great mounted on the wall under your TV

Hgihly practical form factor, Genuine surround sound effect

Poor stereo imaging, No HDMI input

Philips SoundBar is ideal for a smaller room where you want to be immersed in surround-sound style audio; and it puts its 2.1 'virtual surround' rivals to shame

philips soundbar hts8100 review: The Philips SoundBar HTS8100 is good value for money, and able to deliver powerful movie soundtracks and excellent video quality via the HDMI output.

Excellent HDMI video, Upscaling DVD playback, Good looks, Intelligible dialogue reproduction

Audio inputs inconveniently located, Ambisound mode makes soundtracks and music thin, Cables akimbo

The Philips SoundBar HTS8100 is good value for money, and able to deliver powerful movie soundtracks and excellent video quality via the HDMI output.