72 of 75 people found the following review helpful:
Good looking home theater system
Best part about this system is the simplicity in term of look and set up. Black finish matches with my black Phillips LCD TV. It comes with a main unit and a loud speaker. So not many things to hook up. It is pretty simple to set up if you plan to just have it sitting on the top of the cabinet. I decided to hang it on the wall, right below my flat LCD TV. It looks just...
105 of 107 people found the following review helpful:
Deep Sound, but where's the surround?
Always a tricky one when reviewing something which sounds great, but doesnt really do what it says on the tin.
I read a few reviews on the Phillips sound bar and decide to go for it rather than the Yahama, due to its inclusion of an upscaling DVD player being built in.
My house just doesnt lend itself well to placing 5 speakers, particularly...
This review is from: Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37 (Electronics)
Always a tricky one when reviewing something which sounds great, but doesnt really do what it says on the tin.
I read a few reviews on the Phillips sound bar and decide to go for it rather than the Yahama, due to its inclusion of an upscaling DVD player being built in.
My house just doesnt lend itself well to placing 5 speakers, particularly rears, so I thought what the heck I'll try this.
The audio quality is excellent, deep bass (not quite sharp enough with movies on normal settings but that can be fixed by tweaking the audion settings and cranking the treble)and a huge array of different pre set movie and audio settings to suit your ear.
But as far as virtual Surround Sound capability goes...there isnt any as far as I can tell. I've tried various DVD's with scenes I know bring in the rear speakers on full systems and there is no distinguishable surround effect.
Disappointing really, although I have to say I still love the overall sound when its cranked up, it really booms out.
So if you want a boost to your TV sound and have a beautiful looking sound bar with built in DVD (and it does look awesome), you cant go far wrong. But if you are thinking you can change the laws of physics and have surround sound without rear speakers, think again, cause this just doesnt work!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37 (Electronics)
Best part about this system is the simplicity in term of look and set up. Black finish matches with my black Phillips LCD TV. It comes with a main unit and a loud speaker. So not many things to hook up. It is pretty simple to set up if you plan to just have it sitting on the top of the cabinet. I decided to hang it on the wall, right below my flat LCD TV. It looks just gorgeous.
You can play CD, DVD, and AM/FM radio. It has MP3 line-in, iPOD connector and a beautiful black docking unit, USB connector to play MP3 and photos. Sound quality is pretty good. I mainly use it when I watch TV/DVD or listen to my iPOD. Nothing serious.
I didn't give the five star because it didn't have the high def or blueray. I wish it comes with the HD radio and multi-disk. iPod dock works well. However, dock is a separate unit so it has to be hooked up to the main unit. As a result, it ruins the clean look. IPod docking unit's plug is located on the side so it is difficult to hide wires and connectors. They should have integrated the iPOD docking unit to the main unit or the loud speaker box to maintain the clean look.
All in all, I think price is good and unit works well. If you want the clean look, this is the system.
Update Aug 5, 07: System works great. I am glad I bought it. By the way, don't buy the wall mount kit because it already comes with it. Don't understand, why Amazon wants you to purchase a separate kit????
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37 (Electronics)
And much of that 30 minutes was spent clearing out the old system.
I purchased this to replace our old home theater system. Our previous model, with its multiple speakers and tangle of wires, was a "true" 5.1 surround sound. I have never been crazy about stringing up speaker wire, and the setup of our living room meant that it was bound to look unsightly. I wanted this sound system to do 2 things: look nice and produce good sound, and it has delivered on both very well.
The look is sleek. The CD tray sits behind the front panel, which slides aside when opening (that got an "oohhh" from the kids). The connecting wires were minimal. The system draws its power from the sub-woofer, requiring a single outlet. The weight of the main bar is probably less than 20 pounds, with the majority of the weight of the whole system in the sub-woofer, which rests of the floor "at least 3 feet" from the bar. The bar rests easily on top of an entertainment center, but should not pose much problem to mount on a wall below a wall-mounted flat panel TV. It accommodates HDTV and non-HDTV, can synch with the TV cable sound, has an MP3 jack, and has AM/FM radio receivers.
As for the sound, I'd rate it quite good for the money. The set-up includes a brief series of questions regarding the room layout relative to the sound bar. I assume this calibrates it for a "sweet spot" where the sound most closely recreates a surround effect. I'm not an audiophile, but I'd call it a "surround lite". It gives the sound an impression of depth that is pleasing, and the bass is deep enough to make the THX test pattern enjoyable (my personal test of "good enough"). If you are an audio purist, this is probably not the system for you, but it was a real crowd-pleaser at our house for family movie night.
So, for an easy, eye pleasing setup and very good sound in an affordable package, I strongly recommend the Phillips AmbiSound system.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37 (Electronics)
Here is my take on the Philips Sound Bar after owning it for a week:
Size and look of the unit is amazing. I did not wall mount to unit, but rather opted for having it sit underneath my TV on the TV stand. The piano black fininsh on the DVD Door and iPod dock complement the piano black finish on my TV. Definately a very stylish and eye catching device.
I have the following hooked up to the Sound Bar:
1. Digital HD Cable Box via digital COAX cable
2. iPod Dock via supplied dock
3. Playstation 3 sound via RCA component cables
Initially i was not that impressed with the bass of the system while playing DVD's, i since found moving the subwoofer further away from the TV, around 2 meters to the side, sorted that issue out.
The upscaling DVD was good. I have a Samsung HD 1080p 52" LCD, and it looked great. The color was sharp, with blacks being black (not gray) and did not notice any blurring on fast action scenes.
The sound from the iPod dock is great, and i really like the fact that you can control the iPod from the unit's remote.
Sound from the PS3 is okay. I wished that there was an optical cable input for the PS3, but this is a minor gripe.
4/5 *'s -> Recommendation is to buy.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37 (Electronics)
I recently purchased this puppy a few weeks ago, and have been waiting to write a review. Normally I wouldn't write this, but seeing as there is only one review available, I felt it necessary for other people seeking a customer POV.
To start off, the box it came in was bigger than me haha. I was really surprised when it arrived and soon was setting it up with my LCD. Setup was fairly simple, and I imagine anyone with a little tech knowledge wont have any problems with this system. There are only a few cords, and the system comes with a wall mount! I decided to go with it because it will be used in a smaller room and I knew a full 5.1 would be a hassle with all the wires running all over the place.
CONS:
1.)I am quite pleased overall with the sound quality of the system but the DVD player it comes with, although it upconverts was not really what I was expecting. I've been using an X-Box 360 for a while and I thought it would be nice to cut out the middle man. This it seems, will not happen, as the 360's picture is noticeably superior. I was told that I just needed to set it up properly.. but days later after fidgeting with the different settings and ONLY using the HDMI cable and HDMI settings, it still was not as good as the 360's, which was a bit sharper and just seemed more High-Def.
2.)The other thing I noticed was a crackle, whenever the system couldn't hit the high notes or there was too much treble for its own good. It is noticeable if you're listening for it but it didn't really bother me all that much and this only happened at a high volumn setting that was probably a bit too loud even for a good action movie.
PROS:
1.)I LOVE the subwoofer that this system comes with. It is just terrific, and really, really compliments the system phenominally. It is quite large and weighs a bit but it has a very deep, thick, solid sound to it.
2.)As I mentioned before, the set up was very simple and the system itself is very easy to use.
3.)The system sounds very good, and looks amazing!
IN CONCLUSION:
If you're looking for a great system that doesn't take up a whole lot of space, looks cool, and will impress the friends, look no further. But if you really want amazing sound quality, definately go with the full 5.1 because although this 'imitates' the 5.1 it is noticeably different. The upconvert is nice but not the best dvd player. For those wondering why there is no HD player or BlueRay player, the reason is because it would probably double its price or at least add a good extra chunk on to it.
Overall, definately a great QUALITY product. Everything is solid, and I am really enjoying it!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37 (Electronics)
I read about this from CES. I'd say most of the comments are pretty accurate. I installed it in my family room, a pretty big open room, which backs up to the open kitchen- not the ideal room for surround sound. The unit sits on the mantel underneath the Sharp 42" Aquos. First impression was watching Gladiator. Bass was fine- not awesome, but not bad. This is the only minor drawback. But clarity from the main unit, and the simulated surround sound, is absolutely fantastic. The claim of 1080P upconverter does work- great picture from DVD. Sound from CD's/Ipod is great too. Hookup is very easy to TV and to Cable Box (I'd rec both via HDMI connection). The look is stunning- definitely for those who want a modern looking, but not over the top system in the family room. Truthfully, my wife actually likes the look too. Probably not optimal Home-Theater in the basement, but a great addition anywhere else.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37 (Electronics)
To start, I have to say that this sound bar deserves a 5 star rating for it's look alone. The fact that Philip's has managed to pack a DVD player into it, is pure genius. So then why am I giving it a 4 star rating? A few small things really (Intruth, I'd give it a 4.5 if Amazon allowed 1/2 stars).
Included in the box is almost everything you'll need for the install. The only thing missing? - an audio cable to run from your TV back to the sound bar so you can listen to your TV through the sound bar (if you're using a digital receiver/satelite receiver, you'll need to supply the audio cable to run back to the subwoofer because all of the 5.1 decoding is done in the sub). Wall braket, HDMI cable, MP3 line-in, Ipod dock with video out cable and AM/FM receivers all included. Set-up shouldn't take you more than a half hour.
Once installed, DVD performance was excellent. The upconverted image (720p for my TV) is great, and the audio is crisp & clear. The simulated surround sound is very good and the sound field created is wide enough that at times things seem to be happening around you. The bass from the sub is present, but there are times when you may wish you could turn it up (which you can't - the sub's output is fixed. All you can do is turn up the volume to the whole system). But let's remember, this isn't meant to be your home theater - this is better suited to dress up & enhance your living room.
Now, music reprodution is the systems flaw in my ears (ha). Admittedly, I'm a bit of an audiophile when it comes to music, so most people probably wouldn't notice this, but music seems to be slightly muddled from the sound bar. I found there were times that I couldn't make out the individual instruments on some songs. Having said that, for my own use I have found that it works great as a music player for dinner parties or when friends stop by for drinks.
There is one slight design flaw as well. The plug in for the Ipod dock is located on the side of the sound bar instead of the back. This placement makes hiding the dock cable virtually impossible. When I'm not using the dock I unplug the cable and tuck it in the mounting braket to maintain the clean look (I buried all the cables in the wall, so this is important to me)
Overall though, this is a great system at a great price.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37 (Electronics)
I purchased this system at BJ's wholesale for $500, which in my personal opinion, I expect pretty good sound for that price considering my last system was half that and sounded great for the time. This thing really never prodiced surround sound, so do not be expecting a surround sound experience too much. It was loud and the subwoofer wasn't bad, but overall I had wished that the clarity of the sound was better. Another big issue for me was that there are no video inputs on it. What this meant for me was that I could not run HDMI from my cable box and get the surround sound through it from HD cable. I was forced to use the standard red and white RCA jacks for my TV sound. The only time you will receive surround sound will be from DVD's.
The upscaling looked decent, but it was the first time I had ever seen upscaling, so I don't know how to compare. Anyway I returned the system and bought a Samsung surround sound system for $200 less and am much happier.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37 (Electronics)
This item was delivered in a very well packed box with a lot of protective foam. Very easy to set up and get going. Very sleek and good looks and all cables were included.
Not too fond on how the cables pug into the back, but with the cover on it does cover up the mess. The Subwoofer is also the units power and AM/FM radio and looks as good as the main speaker unit.
The sound is great, talk about loud. The ambisound is noticeable when pressing the button on the, also good looking, remote. I had aproblem with the video from the DVD player, but found out it was my fault as I had run the HDMI cable around my TV stand, thus pulling on the HDMI cable plug in on the TV and not making a god connection.
The Ipod connector works well, I don't have a video IPod, so I'm not sure if that works. The IPod menu is accessed on the TV and using the system remote is pretty simple to use.
Overall I am extremely pleased with this purchase. I was going to go with Bose system but did not want to put up the $1000 for it. I got everything I needed and more with this system.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Philips AmbiSound Home Theater Sound Bar with Integrated 1080p-Upscaling DVD/MP3 Player, HTS8100/37 (Electronics)
I have a 52 inch LCD 1080p Phillips, and the Soundbar is above it. The DVD is great, much better picture than a standard 720p DVD player. I watched the Star Wars DVD and there was pixelation with a 720p player, none with the Soundbar. The sound has crisp treble, solid bass, and descent midrange. It is a great solution if you have limited space. It comes with a wall mount, which works well. In addition, the iPod dock makes watching video from iTunes easy, with great resolution. No need to buy the Apple TV, which will save you $300. I watched Family Guy and various music videos, and was pleasantly surprised by the video resolution, which was crisp and clean. The first Soundbar I ordered from Amazon, however, shorted out repeatedly, and was returned. The second one, I've had for 3 months now, and it works great. Luckily, the small living room I have has good acoustics, and the system can be played really loud if need be. I considered the Bose 1 2 3, but decided on the Phillips due to the HDMI connection and 1080p player. I'm not disappointed. 4 stars only because of the frustration I had with the first machine.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
(
Saving...
