Philips HTS6500
Manufacturer: Philips Consumer Electronics Part number: HTS6500
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The unremarkable sound quality of the Philips HTS6500 is outweighed by its winning combination of slick aesthetics, impressive features, and affordable pricing.
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 11/07/2009 |
| PaylessMerchandise.com | Not yet rated | In stock | as of 11/07/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Philips HTS6500 price range: $125.99 - $427.49
- Reviewed by: Nathaniel Wilkins
- Edited by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 07/20/2006
- Released on: 04/17/2006
The good: The Philips HTS6500 is a high-style virtual-surround home-theater system that offers upscaling DVD playback via its HDMI output. In addition to DVDs and CDs, it plays a wide variety of file formats including DivX; MPEG-1, -2, and -4; MP3; WMA; and JPEG files. Front-panel USB and mini-jack inputs offer easy hook-ups for portable music players.
The bad: The HTS6500's passive subwoofer lacks precision and punch, and you can't independently control the subwoofer's volume. Sound customization options are very limited. The virtual-surround effect doesn't match the surround-sound capabilities of a true 5.1-channel setup. The remote control can't be programmed to control other devices such as your TV.
The bottom line: The unremarkable sound quality of the Philips HTS6500 is outweighed by its winning combination of slick aesthetics, impressive features, and affordable pricing.
The Philips HTS6500's compact design makes it a decent choice for small apartments and bedrooms, or any environment where you don't want to mount rear speakers and run the associated wires. The relatively small (4.8 by 12 by 3.8 inches each), magnetically shielded front speakers have integrated tabletop stands and are also supplied with wall-mounting brackets. Each satellite speaker incorporates three 3-inch drivers angled to help create the virtual surround-sound effect. The curvy, silver-and-black gloss passive subwoofer (14.6 by 8.6 by 18.5 inches) incorporates an 8-inch direct-firing driver and has a modern appearance that matches the other components. The speakers' and subwoofer's 16-foot, hard-wired proprietary cables are long enough to provide adequate installation flexibility.
Measuring in at 2.8 by 13.4 by 13 inches, the main head unit has a wedge-shaped, silver-and-black gloss front panel with a slick, slot-loading disc player. The integrated amplifier is said to deliver roughly 200 watts to each of the satellite speakers and 100 watts to the sub, enabling the system to play pretty loud. In addition to a basic backlit text display, the front panel hosts a large volume wheel and a full selection of playback controls. The HTS6500's onscreen menu system is well designed and makes it easy to navigate digital content. We like the remote control for its iPod-like white-and-gray styling and uncluttered button layout, but we wish it were backlit and could be programmed to operate other devices.
The Philips HTS6500 supports a decent assortment of digital file formats including MP3 and WMA audio files; MPEG-1, -2, and -4 and DivX video files; and JPEG image files. The disc player is compatible with DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW and CD-R/RW media, so it should play back just about any home-burned movies, music, and photos. Of course, the system offers the requisite Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS surround decoding capabilities.
If you own a fairly new HDTV set, you'll appreciate the HTS6500's inclusion of an HDMI digital output. The device also has component, S-Video, and composite video outputs, so it will connect to any older TV as well. Unfortunately, it's completely devoid of video inputs. As a result, you'll have to separately connect any of your other A/V devices--VCR, cable/satellite box, video game console--directly to the TV, then switch the TV's input to change sources. That said, all-in-one home-theater systems that offer video inputs tend to be either larger, bulkier component-based systems, such as the Onkyo's HT-S580, or much more expensive than the Philips, such as the Bose Lifestyle 3-2-1 Series II, the Sony DAV-X1, or the Denon S-301. The HTS6500 does have a passable selection of audio-only inputs, including two stereo analog RCA ins and a coaxial digital audio jack. So if you can't use the Philips as a video switcher, you can at least use it to amplify the audio from any of the aforementioned devices.
The HTS6500 offers a couple of nice front-panel extras, including a USB port for connecting a flash drive or a memory card reader, and also a minijack audio input. We were easily able to view JPEGs and play video and audio files stored on a connected USB flash drive. The only snag we ran into was with large MPEG-2 files, which didn't play smoothly from the device. The minijack audio input worked as advertised--it'll stream audio from any iPod, MP3 player, or anything else with a standard headphone jack. Rounding out the HTS6500's feature list is an AM/FM tuner with 40 programmable presets.
After the straightforward setup, we auditioned the HTS6500 with both DVDs and CDs. The system sounds OK but doesn't offer much flexibility in terms of sound customization. Your options for tweaking the tone are pretty much limited to selecting a handful of preset DSP modes. There's no user-programmable EQ, for instance. Annoyingly, you can't independently adjust the subwoofer volume either.
With music and movies, the satellite speakers delivered middle-of-the-road performance without noticeably skewing any one part of the frequency spectrum. Dialog was clear despite the absence of a center-channel speaker. The system's SonoWave effect fell short of delivering a convincing surround-sound experience--these so-called virtual-surround setups always do--but the soundstage did sound wide and fairly enveloping. It occasionally seemed as if portions of the sound were coming from the sides of our listening position, although the effect was subtle, sporadic, and less localized than it would've been with dedicated surround speakers. The boomy and uncontrolled sounding sub is the weakest link. Explosions in action movies and the bass lines of songs lacked the definition and punch we appreciate.
On the video side, upconverted DVDs and high-resolution still images looked nice and sharp displayed on our HDTV. Firing up a photo slide show, then selecting its musical accompaniment was straightforward, and the resulting presentation played smoothly.
While the Philips HTS6500 won't win any awards for its sound quality, it's more than adequate for basic home-theater duties. No, it's not on the level of the aforementioned Sony DAV-X1 or the Denon S-301, but--significantly--the Philips costs much less. With a list price of just $400, the HTS6500 packs enough high-end features--HDMI output, DivX playback, USB connectivity--to outweigh its sonic limitations. If you're looking for a slick-looking 2-channel home-theater system for the den or the bedroom, this Philips model may just fit the bill.
User reviews
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Great Product.
by kegguzzler on June 13, 2006
Pros: CHEAP!! Easy to Set up. Sound
Cons: Remote labels are to small.
Summary: Here is the deal. I had been shopping all of the 2.1 Surround Sound Systems on the market. I call them Virtual Surround Sound Systems. I researched the Bose ...
Summary: Here is the deal. I had been shopping all of the 2.1 Surround Sound Systems on the market. I call them Virtual Surround Sound Systems. I researched the Bose 3 2 1, Denon S301 , and Sony. However I could only listen to the Bose, and sony products. My Best Buy did not have the Denon in stock. I'll break down each item.
Bose 321 GSX. Cost $1299-$1599 Demo sounds great, picture looks good but does not have HDMI output. The reviews I read from other customers said the DVD player was terrible. I could not find one Demo that would let me play my own DVD. This made me think Bose was hiding something.
Denon S301. I was pumped about this product. Cost 1300-1600 Does have HDMI Output. I could not find one negative user review on this product. I didn't want to purchase one until I could hear the sound.
Sony, This is the worst 2.1 on the market. The sound is terrible and does not have HDMI output.
Philips, DIVX ULTRA I stumbled onto this product by accident while surfing the web. It was just released on June 06. I could not find any user reviews at the time of purchase. However CNET had written a description of the unit while they were at CES 2005. (CES is a huge home entertainment technology show in Vegas every year) This product does have HDMI output and cost far less than any other 2.1 on the market. $399.00. Amazon has it for $308.00. I figured for that price I have to try it. I hooked it up last night. Easy to install. I reccomend reading the operators manual. In the manual it talks about how to set up the system in the Menu options to your needs. You can choose options such as Video and Audio Output type, How far your speakers are spaced apart, the room type (cement walls or wood) How far you sit from the speakers. This helps. I tested the system the same way I test all systems. I popped in Saving Private Ryan, the part when they are storming the beach. The picture was awesome and the sound was great.
Obviously a 7.1 or 5.1 is the only way to achieve actual surround sound. If space or laziness prohibits you from ordering a 5.1 product I'd say the Philips DIVX Ultra is for you.19 out of 19 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great show for the money
by opus57 on June 11, 2006
Pros: Great price and sound; marvelous footprint; quality DVD video, CD sound
Cons: No bass/treble controls. Nit picky... no rear audio in for iPod; limited options for Tivo or additional boxes; remote small
Summary: OK... so I waited 4 months for this to get out, drove 70 mi to Palo Alto to hear it at BB- they didn't have it on the shelf ...
Summary: OK... so I waited 4 months for this to get out, drove 70 mi to Palo Alto to hear it at BB- they didn't have it on the shelf yet- so I took the chance and bought. You can get it cheaper on Amazon BTW.
Quick to set up, and the "tweaters" (old school me) are rock solid and well built. The Av unit itself is exactly the form factor I was looking for- small and non-blingy; it fits perfectly on top of the Tivo. The sub seems oversized and cheap in comparison to the tweeters (-). Nice touch including wall brackets for the tweeters too.
I also went with the HDMI hookup to my Sony 32 LCD. I tested my iPod first, using the front input (be nice to have a rear as well- nitpicky, but -). Depending on your MP3 settings, you'll need to fiddle with the presets to find the sound you are looking for.
Next came Metallica Black.... most excellent and rich sound. Not a Bose or Denon 5.1, but for hundreds less, amazing- I don't have the space or patience for speakers and wires all over the place- I just got rid of all that. After that, I threw in a West Wing DVD to test the video quality. The 1080i was incredibly clear and brilliant.
I did not have the TV audio set through the HDMI, so that remains to be seen. But seeing as I am more concerned with music quality and picture quality from the unit, I am very pleased.
Certainly the pros outweigh the cons, and as mentioned above, the biggest disappointments are the lack of the bass/treble control (presets only) and the poor remote- you need to be a fighter pilot to read the text. For the amount of "thump" coming from the sub, it should be smaller. All in all, an 8+ (just can't quite rate a 9) with a marvelously rich sound coming from a unit which is next to invisible.14 out of 14 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good alternative to 5.1 surround
by mikepier on January 20, 2007
Pros: Size, style, price, HDMI
Cons: Limited preset sound options, weak sub
Summary: Putting rear speakers on my wall was out of the question for me. It would be an eyesore considering that my wall was a main focal point in my living ...
Summary: Putting rear speakers on my wall was out of the question for me. It would be an eyesore considering that my wall was a main focal point in my living room. After reading the reviews on the Philips, I decided to give it a try.
I picked it up at Best Buy for $279.
What I love about it is the sleek compact design, which was perfect for my needs. It fits and blends with my entertainment unit.
I put on Disney's "Cars" DVD to see how it would sound. It sounded pretty good. The preset sound options are pretty much limited (action, concert, sci-fi, drama) and there are only 2 surround modes ( stereo and multichannel Dolby Surround). The subwoofer was ok, but I thought it could be more powerful.
As far as the picture quality, it looked great even when hooked up with component cables, so I can't wait to see what it looks like with the HDMI connection ( I just ordered the cable today).
Bottom line is this is a good alternative to a 5.1 system.Updated
After hooking it up with the HDMI cable, the picture is great. Although the component cables were good also, the HDMI has a slight edge in picture quality.Updated
Just hooked it up with the HDMI cable and the picture is great.7 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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great system for the price
by julian jackson on November 26, 2006
Pros: loud and hdmi out
Cons: virtual surround is lacking
Summary: got this system from bestbuy for 269 so the price was something that drew me in first. I also looked at the bose 321 system and the denon 301 system. ...
Summary: got this system from bestbuy for 269 so the price was something that drew me in first. I also looked at the bose 321 system and the denon 301 system. Both were good but the bose didn't have a HDMI out and the denon cost just too much money for a 2.1 system. The only con I have with this system is the virtual surround isn't all its cracked up to be but hey, If you want true surround, buy a 5.1 system with rear speakers. Great system for the money especially with the HDMI output and dvd upconvert.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best Price/Value in it's Category
by plgibbs on September 13, 2006
Pros: sleek/compact design at an excellent price
Cons: sound is just ok
Summary: I previously owned a Denon S-301 that gave out on me after 2 moths of play (lemon). Although I must admit that the Denon sounded better, this unit is a ...
Summary: I previously owned a Denon S-301 that gave out on me after 2 moths of play (lemon). Although I must admit that the Denon sounded better, this unit is a much better value at 1/5 the price....$300 at Best Buy.
Best Buy finally coughed up a store credit for me after 3 months of negotiating with them (minus sales tax & service plan). I used the store credit and purchased this unit, plus a deluxe X-Box 360 system w/an extra controller & 3 games, plus a video I-Pod for my daughter.
I am much happier overall with this Philips system over the Denon. It looks good, sounds good, and fits into my 2br apartment perfectly. It has HDMI connection that I am using with my new Sony 50" LCD and connects to an I-Pod through the headphone jack. The Denon was a little more rich sound and flashy features but this system is a MUCH better price value overall.
I'm happy with my purchase.....finally!4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Don't expect miracles...
by dgmotorhead on January 1, 2007
Pros: Very affordable, simple set-up, compact, nice DVD picture
Cons: Poor FM reception, weak bass and treble, disappointing performance
Summary: I purchased this system because I wanted easy to set up Home Theater sound for my living room. This system was not the answer.
(Mind you, I am probably a ...Summary: I purchased this system because I wanted easy to set up Home Theater sound for my living room. This system was not the answer.
(Mind you, I am probably a bit impartial because I have a 1250 watt Technics component system that is Dolby 5.1 Surround equipped that I was just too lazy to hook up to my Home Theater equipment. It has now been fully integrated into the rest of my system.)
The sound from the HTS6500 at easy listening levels was tinny and with no fullness or depth. FM reception was poor as was the sound for FM listening. However, when listening to CDs or DVD sound, if you raise the volume to louder levels the sound improves greatly. Probably just giving the sub-woofer enough power to start helping. Otherwise the bass is just not there.
This system might be a good choice for a smaller bedroom or for someone who just wants to improve the sound of their poor sounding television.4 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Cheap P-O-C
by someguy_id on July 31, 2007
Pros: Looks good, cheap
Cons: Breaks and Philips customer service stinks
Summary: No power - none - after two weeks. Called Philips and the only warranty is an exchange where I have to send EVERYTHING back THEN they will send me another ...
Summary: No power - none - after two weeks. Called Philips and the only warranty is an exchange where I have to send EVERYTHING back THEN they will send me another unit, possibly refurbished. I have to send the DVD player, the two main speakers AND the SUBWOOFER back - that's almost $75 in packing and shipping. If you get one keep the box for a while. Also it has a DVD stuck in the unit so I have to wait 2 days to get a call back from Philips to take the unit in somewhere to get the DVD removed before I can return the cheap POC that broke after two weeks.
I had to return something to Nintendo and they shipped the new unit (taking my credit card number in case I failed to return the defective unit) and then I had a box to return the old unit AND they paid for shipping both ways.
So my review - the unit is cheap and breaks quickly (did I mention it broke after two weeks), and Philips is horrible to work with.3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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i read the ok review after i already paid for it ......
by michaelhodges2 on November 29, 2006
Pros: great sound good price and sleak look
Cons: if you dont read your manual and set it up like it is recomended it will sound poor
Summary: you must read and follow the recomended set up and set the settings to match your speaker configuration to get the best sound.......read the manual for setting up the ...
Summary: you must read and follow the recomended set up and set the settings to match your speaker configuration to get the best sound.......read the manual for setting up the speakers to the position.........or it will sound bad...........
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Value & Performance
by paulisa on September 4, 2006
Pros: Nice Styling, Excellent Price & Features. Great Sound & Picture.
Cons: No manual bass & treble controls, the speakers are big compared to the Sony & Bose 2.1 systems.
Summary: I think this is a great value for the money compared to similar products by Sony & Bose. Its perfect for smaller rooms when you don't want all the ...
Summary: I think this is a great value for the money compared to similar products by Sony & Bose. Its perfect for smaller rooms when you don't want all the messy wires that a 5.1 system requires. Its perfect for my application and fills my room with great sound.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent Product for a great price
by heegs24 on January 6, 2007
Pros: Small, easy set up, loud, great for small to medium size rooms
Cons: None right now
Summary: Purchased the sonowave yesterday at Sam's club in Seabrook NH for the unbelievable price of $209.00..........I had the bose 3-2-1 first series and let me tell you ...
Summary: Purchased the sonowave yesterday at Sam's club in Seabrook NH for the unbelievable price of $209.00..........I had the bose 3-2-1 first series and let me tell you that the sound and the price of this system blows away the bose.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Philips Consumer Electronics
- Part number: HTS6500
- Description: Combining style and performance, this elegant and hassle-free system indulges you with endless hours of viewing and listening pleasure. So sit back and immerse yourself in movies and music in the comfort of your home.
General
- Product Type Home theater system
- Dimensions (WxDxH) / Weight Main unit : 13.4 in x 13 in x 2.8 in / 7.7 lbs, Speaker system : Right/left channel speaker : 12 in x 3.8 in x 4.8 in / 4.4 lbs, Speaker system : Subwoofer : 8.7 in x 14.6 in x 18.5 in / 15.4 lbs
Audio System
- Components DVD player, Speaker system
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Built-in Decoders DTS decoder, Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II
- Audio D/A Converter 24bit / 192kHz
- Sound Effects Dynamic Bass Enhancement (DBE)
- Digital Sound Processor (DSP) Yes
- DSP Presets Jazz, Rock, Drama, Action, Sci-Fi, Classic, Concert
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio 65 dB
- Output Power / Total 500 Watt
- Bass Control Yes
- Treble Control Yes
- Tone Control Yes
- Additional Features DivX playback, On-screen display
- Digital Storage Media None
Connectors
- Coaxial Digital Input Yes
Speaker System
- Speaker(s) 2 x Right/left channel speaker - External - 120 - 20000 Hz - 8 Ohm - Wired, 1 x Subwoofer - External - 30 - 120 Hz - 4 Ohm - Wired
- Driver Details Right/left channel speaker : 3 x Full-range driver - 3 in, Subwoofer : 1 x Woofer driver - 8 in
Radio
- Type Radio tuner - AM/FM - Digital
- Tuner Frequency Range AM: 530 - 1700 kHz, FM: 87.5 - 108 MHz
- Preset Station Qty 40
Turntable
- Type None
CD System
- CD system type None
DVD
- Type DVD player
- Media Format CD ( PAL ), DVD ( NTSC ), CD-R, SVCD, CD-RW, DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, Video CD, Kodak Picture CD
- Video D/A Converter 12bit / 108MHz
- Audio D/A Converter 24bit / 192kHz
- DVD Repeat Modes Title, Random, Chapter
- CD Playback Modes Program play, Repeat folder, One track repeat, Random play / shuffle
- Supported Digital Audio Standards MP3, WMA
- Supported Digital Video Standards MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX VOD, DivX (ver.4), DivX (ver.5), DivX (ver.6), DivX (ver.3.11)
- Additional Features DivX capable, Screen saver, On-screen display, JPEG photo playback, Progressive scanning
Cassette System
- Cassette system type None
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
MD System
- MD system type None
Headphones
- Headphones Type None
Microphone
- Type None
Remote Control
- Remote Control Remote control - Infrared
Remote Control (2nd)
- Type None
Connections
- Connector Type DVD player : 1 x HDMI ( 19 pin HDMI Type A ) - Rear, DVD player : 1 x Speakers output - Rear, DVD player : 1 x S-Video output ( 4 pin mini-DIN ) - Rear, DVD player : 1 x Composite video output ( RCA phono ) - Rear, DVD player : 2 x Audio line-in ( RCA phono x 2 ) - Rear, DVD player : 1 x HD component video / RGB input ( RCA phono x 3 ) - Rear, DVD player : 1 x Digital audio input (coaxial) ( RCA phono ) - Rear, DVD player : 1 x USB ( 4 pin USB Type A ) - Front, DVD player : 1 x Audio line-in - Front
Power
- Power Device Power supply - Internal
- Power AC 120 V ( 60 Hz )
- Power Consumption Operational 100 Watt
- Power Consumption Stand by / Sleep 1 Watt
Miscellaneous
- AV Furniture None
- Included Accessories AM antenna, FM antenna
- Cables Included 1 x Video cable, 1 x Audio cable
Dimensions & Weight (Shipping)
- Width (Shipping) 22 in
- Depth (Shipping) 20.6 in
- Height (Shipping) 16.5 in
- Weight (Shipping) 38.1 lbs
Manufacturer info
- Philips Consumer Electronics
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Philips Consumer Electronics products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.philipsusa.com/
- Address:
100 E. 42nd St., New York, NY - Phone: 800/223-1828
- Email: us.ce.webmaster@philips.com
- Fax: 423/475-0411
