The Philips HTS8100 is a good player providing surround technology in such a simple way to make it userfriendly. This unit makes a perfect a home theater with the desired accessories. It is slim enough to be placed in front of theTV without obscuring the screen. The soundbar design hides speakers behind the grill, with an LCD display. A set of basic controls are placed along the system’s top, out of sight, all can be activated by the remote. The remote buttons are well spaced out for controlling DVD playback and shifting between sources, surround modes and audio adjustments. A back panel conceals the A/V connections, and there are also inputs on the left side for a USB flash drive/memory card, an MP3 Line-in and a socket for the included iPod dock. An HDMI cable can be connected from the main unit to the TV. The two wires that come from the included subwoofer, provide both amplification and power to the Main Unit need to be plugged-in. The Philips HTS8100 is quite attractive with its black and glass-reflecting build, and the subwoofer has a similar styling with a glassed top as well. But the subwoofer must be in a corner, out of the way as it is large and heavy. The Philips HTS8100 is able to play CDs as well as discs with MP3 and Windows Media Audio files. An iPod docking station is also included, with adaptors for dockable models such as the iPod with color displays, the Nano and Mini. A connector links the dock to the Main Unit and once the iPod is placed in the dock the Philips remote can be used. The Philips HTS8100 is a remarkable DVD player, amplifier with radio and a set of speakers into a single unit but it lacks direct bass control.