TVs HDTVs DVD Players Recorders Home Theater Systems From Amazon

Okay system, but get a better one if you can afford it
I bought this system before I upgraded our home theater as a way to get some extra mileage out of our old 27" CRT Sony. Sound output is nice, and the iPod dock is a bonus. It will also play some digital files right off a thumb drive from the USB port on the front of the unit. The video output is nice, and good enough, I think, to postpone the need to upgrade to a Blu-Ray player just yet. Set-up was a breeze, and you can install the speakers to a wall without help pretty easily. Video output options are either composite, component, and/or HDMI.

But unless you have other Phillips components, I would not get this system. The remote has individual buttons for each source input, rather than one source button that cycles through each. This makes is much easier to use than the "Mode" button on the front of the unit (not to mention the obvious advantage of not having to vacate that warm spot on the couch). Besides which, there is also an unacceptable delay between switching sources when using the "Mode" button. Additionally, the remote is difficult to use and most other multi-function remotes (like what you get with your TV, Cable, Satellite, etc.) will not be able to be programmed to control this unit independent of the original remote. We bought a programmable remote (Logitech Harmony 670...sweet little thing, BTW) so it's not much of an issue for us now. But unless you have something like that, be prepared to carry this unit's remote in addition to whatever you use to control the TV and other components.

Cheap system, clumsy interface - bare bones
If all you want to do is use the most basic features of this unit - some sound, and a DVD player, it's alright - a good value at the 9 I paid in Best Buy about 18 months ago. Anthing beyond that and it's a piece of junk.

1. The user interface is so slow as to be not interactive. You have to wait and wait between commands, so it's frustrating, and not intuitive.

2. It seems like an eternity from power up to TV sound.

3. The iPod dock video out feature just plain doesn't work (120GB iPod Classic).

4. It is nearly impossible to use this in a system with a programmable remote. This is because there are some features that are only selected via remote code toggles, such as the crucial Digital In" for sound. Serious, serious design flaw for a supposed "Home Theater" component.

5. Copper digital sound out only. Optical would have been nice, saved me for a converter.

6. Firmware upgrade available online - and the upgrade worked, and fixed the seconds-long audio dropouts. Nice.

Overall, a toy HTS for non-serious, cheap TV and DVD watchers.

Never been happier
I ordered a new TV and this surround sound system. The surround sound part i wasn't so worried about so I put it away. What a mistake! Our dvd player went out so i pulled out the surround system and took a few mins to plug it all in and kazam. it was awesome! Great sound, great bass. And all of the media options are great. I loaded up a flash drive with music and listen to music that way. Why mess with a cd? The ipod dock is great!! The DVD player and sound are great and I would've paid for more if i had to. I am more impressed with this system then the Tv we bought (which we are happy with too). If you don't have 0 or more to spend on surround, this is the system you want.

you either love it or dont, I DONT
Last November I bought this system for my husband for his birthday. After getting it home, and setting it up, it did NOT work. Like others, it did not recognize a disk. I took it back down, returned it, bought another one, it worked. For about 6 months of extremely occasional use. Maybe 6 times. Now it does not work. Now it skips every 10-15 seconds through movies. So.....we called Philips, since it was still under warranty. They sent us a new one. It does NOT work. NOW we have to call them again. Wow, what a vicious circle. This will be the last Philips product that we purchase. I am calling on Monday to request that they reimburse us our 250.00 that I payed for it. I will give the money to Sony instead. I like their products and should have stayed with them to begin with. I am a full time nursing student and money is a little shy around here at the moment, but like the others said: YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

You get what you pay for
On the positive side, this system is pretty good for the price and it comes with a one-year warranty. The DVD unit is slow to respond to selections made with the remote and even pressing the DVD open/close button results in an extended wait. As far as sound, depending on the source, occasionally a ringing resonance is generated which can only be partially eliminated by reducing the volume. My unit quit working after less than 90-days of occasional use. It was replaced under warranty with a well-used, refurbished unit with lower quality speakers. Additionally, I lost the balance of the original one-year warranty as the refurbished unit came with only a 90-day warranty.