TopTenREVIEWS

By Andrea Edmunds

You may not notice it on your electricity bill, but most of your electronics continue gobbling up electricity even when you aren’t using them. In fact, some studies have found that just by unplugging all your devices when they aren’t in use can cut your electricity usage by as much as 30%. That’s pretty big savings at the end of the month. But the Philips HTS-3151D makes that unnecessary. By cutting back on the amount of energy the speakers consume when they’re off, Philips not only helps you save money but it cuts down on your electricity use.

Standout Features

5.1 surround sound
Built-in DVD player
Uses 60% less energy when it’s off

Philips Home Theater in a Box Screenshots

See All (1) images in image gallery

or click the thumbnail to view at 100%

Environmentally Friendly:

Aside from saving a lot of energy when it’s off, there aren’t a whole lot of green features that make the Philips HTS-3151D stand out in a crowd. But it does have some regular features that will catch an audio enthusiasts’ eye. Five speakers plus 1 subwoofer give you true surround sound experience. Plus, it comes with a built-in DVD player and an iPod dock. That makes it simpler to use other features with the surround sound system.

Energy Consumption:

Philips is no stranger to saving energy. The Philips 42PFL5603D TV is one of the best energy saving TVs on the market. So it’s no surprise that the Philips home theater in a box is also a lot better at conserving energy than its competitors. The whole system of speakers reduces the amount of energy it consumes by 60% when it is idle or off. That’s where the electronics can often get you without realizing it, when you think they’re off and not using energy. But, as Philips knows, most electronics are still using some energy, so Philips tried to cut the problem where it’s the worst.

So this means all the avid environmentalists have more time to watch old Batman reruns with Poison Ivy, one of the world’s most prominent eco-terrorists, in full surround sound and don’t have to worry about what their home theater speakers are doing when they’re off.

Product Features:

The Philips HTS-3151D comes in at around $160. While it doesn’t have some of the features and sound quality that make home theater in a box systems stand out in this category, it does use far less energy than these other systems. That makes this home theater in a box a real competitor.

Summary:

The Philips HTS-3151D is a small step in helping your home go green. You don’t have to sacrifice sound quality or style, using this home theater in a box system will cut down your energy consumption and bill while still giving you the sound quality you can enjoy. It makes all those scenes with Poison Ivy and her greenhouse/evil lab seem larger than life.