Philips HTS8100 review

Although the picture is good, is the Philips' sound too weak to mount a decent challenge to its rivals? Tested at £700.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

The Philips certainly looks the part, but class rivals sound better

Pros

  • +

    Smart looks

  • +

    convenience

  • +

    easy to use

Cons

  • -

    Poor bass integration

  • -

    weak soundstage

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This Philips design is a complete home cinema solution in which a single speaker unit with a built-in DVD player sits beneath your TV on ‘surround' duties, while a subwoofer augments the bass.

The DVD player – which has a smart sliding door in keeping with the ‘style system' ethos – offers 1080p upscaling, has a USB input and comes with simple and easy-to-use menus.

It works, but only to a degree.
The system's great picture – rich images that are tightly gripped and detailed – is let down by it's sonic weakness.

There's no genuine ‘surround' – an impressively wide soundstage, yes, but surround? No.

The centre of the soundstage is weak, too, meaning voices are thin, and bass integration very poor, making the whole soundfield confused.

A decent stab from Philips at a convenient solution, but it needs better sound before it challenges similar designs from the likes of Yamaha.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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