Product Review: Philips HTS3565 Home Theater System

Anyone familiar with my many movie reviews has a good idea of how much I enjoy watching a good film from time to time. I believe that anyone who takes as much pleasure in movie-watching as I do should be able to engage their passion for movies in the comfort of their own homes, on some kind of good, reliable home entertainment system that includes a high definition TV, and either a Blu-ray disc or upconverting DVD player.

When we moved into our new house in 2008 (at a time before nascent Blu-ray technology became affordable), I decided to upgrade my home office/den to a DVD-based home theater system. I wanted a system that was reasonably priced, would upconvert standard definition DVDs to at least 720p video resolution; and would fill my room with true Dolby 5.1 surround sound, whether playing DVDs or live High Definition TV.

It didn't take me long to find a home theater system that combined all these features in one attractive package that didn't bust my budget: the Philips HTS3565D Home Theater System.

The Philips HTS3565 is truly outstanding DVD-based home theater system that delivers solid performance on all fronts. DVD playback is crisp, clear, and sharp at video resolutions all the way up to 1080p (upconverted); Dolby Digital 5.1 audio is simply superb; and a host of other features - including an iPod docking station and support for MP3 players - abound. All for less than $200.00.

THE GOOD STUFF ABOUT THE PHILIPS HTS3565:

Excellent DVD upconversion: The Philips HTS3565 not only met, but far exceeded my expectations for its ability to upcovert DVD video from the standard 480i resolution to higher resolutions required by my High Definition TV (HDTV).

For those not familiar with how video upconversion works, the simplest non-technical explanation is this: DVDs are manufactured with vertical video resolution set at 480 interlaced lines of video (480i). This looked great on older, standard definition TVs, but looks significantly more grainy, fuzzy, or pixilated on newer HDTVs that work at vertical resolutions of 720 or 1080 progressive lines of video. Upconverting DVD players use built-in electronic circuits to de-interlace the 480i video signal and scale it up to higher resolutions that more closely match HDTVs. The result: vastly improved video quality, sometimes approaching that of Blu-ray players.

Upconversion is a complex process that is handled smoothly and transparently by my Philips HTS3565D home theater system. I have set the system to 1080i, the highest resolution supported by my HDTV. Video quality is always superbly bright, sharp, and clear, with rich, vibrant colors. Not quite Blu-ray quality, mind you… but excellent nevertheless.

Superb Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio: The audio output of the Philips HTS3565 may be its strongest feature. I was expecting to be "blown away" by digital surround sound audio, and my expectations were fully met. With its 1000-watt audio output, the Philips HTS3565 really "delivers the goods!" With very little effort, I was able to set the location of the HTS five speakers in my home office/den and make the necessary adjustments to achieve true surround sound. Even in the rather odd-shaped room that serves as my office, I get the full array of surround sound effects and ample volume - both when I'm playing DVDs and watching TV programming with Dolby 5.1 audio.

The Philips HTS3565 provides audio that's very well balanced in the high, midrange, and low frequencies. There are several audio equalization presets I can choose to match the kind of program or movie I'm watching. One of the presets even lowers the volume for night viewing, so as not to disturb other family members who may be sleeping.

Extensive array of features: These include the basics - DVD Play, Pause, Cue, Review, Skip Forward, Skip back, and on-screen programming. Also included are other, more advanced features like: A-B Repeat, Video Zoom up to 8X; Fast Forward/Reverse at speeds from 2X all the way up to 32X; Fast Frame Advance; Repeat; Shuffle; and separate digital audio output jack. Also included are an AM/FM radio, an iPod docking station, a USB 2.0 port, and an input for standard MP3 players.

Attractive, simple design: The Philips HTS3565 comes in a most attractive package. The DVD player and supporting electronics are enclosed in a sleek, stylish black unit measuring approximately 18" wide, 3" high, and 10" deep. It will fit very nicely into most stereo cabinets. Because it has all the appropriate audio and video jacks on the back, it will integrate quickly and easily into any stereo system.

The Philips HTS3565 unit's front panel is the epitome of simple elegance. The disc tray's front door sits to the left of center. The display panel, which shows data in large, easy-to-read, cool blue letters and numbers, is in the center. Simple, unobtrusive controls, all clearly labeled and easy to operate, are on the right.

The Philips HTS3565's speakers are small but powerful. The front and rear speakers are bookshelf-sized, measuring approximately 8" high, 4" wide, and 3" deep. The center speaker measures approximately 18" wide, 4" high, and 4" deep. All deliver crisp, sharp, nicely balanced audio to every corner of my room.

Easy to set up: Setting up my Philips HTS3565 was pretty easy, involving only five basic steps:

* Connect the HTS unit to an HDTV, using an HDTV cable. (you must use an HDTV cable for DVD upconversion to work.)

* Connect center, front, and rear surround speakers to applicable jacks and place speakers in desired spots in the room

* Make any necessary adjustments in speaker balance using remote and on-screen programming

* Set desired DVD video resolution (ranges from 480i to 1080p, depending on your HDTV's capability.)

* Sit back and enjoy!

Very Good Remote Control Unit: The Philips HTS3565 remote control unit is long and thin, fits comfortably in my hand, and is very easy to operate one-handed. The buttons are logically laid out with Power On at the very top; DVD controls at top center; audio controls at bottom center, and other features, including a numeric keypad for direct radio station at the bottom. The chiclet-style buttons are clearly labeled and provide a nice, tactile feel to them.

Very reliable: Three years have now elapsed since I bought my Philips HTS3565, and during that entire period, it has performed flawlessly, without even a hint of trouble.

MY VERDICT: Although it no longer contains the latest and most advanced video and audio playback technology, my Philips HTS3565 home entertainment center is still a perfect addition to my home office/den, even after three years of continuous use. With its superior DVD upconversion capabilities, and dynamic Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, it is the perfect way for me to sit back, relax, and enjoy my passion for movies. Highly recommended!