Digital Trends

Philips HTS8100 December 17th, 2007 | by Marshal Rosenthal

Evaluation - Video 

We expected the Faroudja-based DCDI processing to improve DVD playback. Running through a battery of tests found on the benchmark HQV DVD, the player handles “jaggies” as well as it does fine detail. Noise reduction is also quite good as is the player’s ability to display motion without image blur. So playing the live-action movie Transformers lets us review all of these factors - we can see a well balanced, nicely detailed image as Optimus Prime beats the bejeebers out of those bad old Decepti-cons. Analysis complete: the DVD player needn’t make any apologies for being part of an all-in-one unit. But it’s fair to note that having a motorized door can increase the chance of mechanical failure and you definitely shouldn’t grab at it while it’s moving. Also it takes a bit of getting used to since you’ll be pushing the disc on sideways as opposed to the conventional way of dropping it onto a tray – it might be necessary to hold onto the unit so it doesn’t move when inserting/removing a disc (this assumes you don’t have it wall-mounted).

The player also handles a wide assortment of video formats, including home-brewed DVDs, Video CDs and DivX files, along with JPEG photos. There is also USB input for attaching a flash drive or memory card - USB hard drives don’t work - and once the USB device is recognized, playback is indistinguishable from it being on a disc. But it’s not surprising that copy-protected video or music files will not play.

Evaluation - Audio 

The Philips can play CDs as well as discs with MP3 and Windows Media Audio files. CDs have the best audio compared to digital audio formats recorded at low bit rates of course, but nothing we played sounded bad, which is a credit to the quality of the speakers. 

An iPod docking station is also included, with adaptors for dockable models such as the iPod with color displays, the Nano and Mini (we didn’t have one of the new Nanos or iPod Classic to try). A connector attaches the dock to the Main Unit and once the iPod is placed in the dock the Philips remote can be used as a controller - however it is only with music-only playback that you can control all of the iPods functions, view playlists, etc. We had no problems using our iPod in this way and the music certainly sounds more impressive coming through the speakers than it does our earbuds.

Evaluation - Surround Sound 

Returning to the Transformers DVD, we played the scene where the robots are fighting it out on a high-way. Seated directly in front of the main unit, we can hear sounds of the battle coming from in front of us but also there’s the sensation of sounds coming from our left and right. And the effect increases when we turn up the level of the audio - there’s plenty of power. There’s also 8 presets (Philips calls them “digital effect”) which alter the “color” of the audio - some will favor dialogue while others go for big ex-plosions, but trial and error will decide which preset you prefer when listening to an action movie or one that is heavier on dialogue (for example, A Mighty Heart which carries well through the speakers). And since the surround also works with Dolby ProLogic II, we go to the TV and cycle through a few movie channels. While the surround effect is not quite as impressive as it was off of a DVD, the overall wider sound field continues to be there and enhances the viewing. Bass, by the way, gives out an impressive kick that adds to the overall experience nicely, but we’d rather have an independent knob on it for controlling the volume directly than toggling between treble/bass and then raising or lowering the volume according to taste.

Conclusions 

The HTS8100 is a solid performer and the surround technology does its job in a straightforward fashion that doesn’t require any learning curve in order to get it to work. This unit makes for a welcome addition where all the accouterments of a home theater are desired, but the room for including all the conventional components is not. 


Pros 

• DVD player provides a quality image
• Very short learning curve
• Low power standby mode

Cons

• No direct control bass
• DVD insertion/removal requires some care to do correctly
• Isn’t suitable for placing inside a shelf or rack