Best Home Theatres

The Sonos Playbar is cleverly designed and does great fake surround, but it's better suited to current Sonos customers than newcomers.

The Sonos Playbar is a lounge-unifying device that will let you dump your remote controls and your old hi-fi in the bin. Once you've set it up, itâ� � ll also let you control both your TV and your audio system with your phone. For everything but the most crashing of movie soundtracks the Sonos Playbar sounds great too, with excellent clarity and an expansive soundstage.

It's not cheap, and there's a part of us that just wanted it to have three or more HDMI inputs and a remote control in the box, but while we're contractually obliged to return our review sample back to Sonos, there's nothing that says we have to do it with good grace. Want.

Vizio's S4251w-B4 sports rear speakers for unparalleled home theater sonics from a sound bar, although it has some quirks.

Vizio's S4251w-B4 is one heck of a deal for someone on a budget who wants the best surround experience for the buck in a convenient package and doesn't mind the minor hassle of running wires from the subwoofer to the surround speakers. Since the S4251w-B4 soundbar can learn the volume up/down and mute commands from your TV's remote control, the system can be configured in a way that anyone can use it without giving it much thought. So, in addition to being a sweet-sounding, very affordable system, it's a great system for grandparents and kids, too.

Vizio's S4251W is one of the best values in audio we've seen in some time. It delivers the sort of features and control that users have been longed after for years now, and does it with style, finesse and surprisingly good audio quality. Sure, we could have done with some longer surround speaker wire lengths, and the sub can't reach low enough that it will tickle your undercarriage, but that doesn't change how much the system brings to the table.

A fantastic all-in-one system that delivers excellent picture, sound and a variety of streaming features.

Sony has pulled off a minor miracle with the N7100W, combining a peerless feature count with unprecedented performance for a system of its size at a price that seems very reasonable indeed for what's on offer.

Philips' ingenious soundbar is the ideal solution for those who want true surround sound without the clutter. Its wireless speakers, chic design, polished sound and impressive spec justify the price tag.

Home cinema quality too often comes with cables galore, so Philips' stab at an all-in-one wireless wonder is a well-timed, even long overdue, innovation. It's so easy to set up it's unreal, while HDMI switching and Bluetooth streaming stretch its appeal.

Good-looking and easy to live with, the detachable Surround On Demand mode works enough wonders to make this soundbar worth shelling out for, though even in an all-in-one soundbar mode the Philips HTL9100 will add some serious welly to your TV.

The Philips HTL5120 is up against some stiff competition in the soundbar sector but stands head and shoulders above similarly-priced rivals thanks largely to its superb sound quality. It demonstrates scale, refinement and low-frequency composure beyond its price tag, making for a hugely satisfying listen. Throw in superb build quality, gorgeous looks, built-in Bluetooth and plentiful connections, and the HTL5120 cements its place as one of the best soundbars in its class.

Spend some time in the HTL5120's company and you'll soon realise that it's one of the best soundbars in its class. It reaches levels of refinement and smoothness beyond what you'd expect from a £250 soundbar, but backs it up with power and punch when needed - all of which makes for a thrilling listen, even within the limitations of a stereo soundbar. Couple that with superb build quality, a clever-yet-classy design, plentiful connections and built-in Bluetooth and you have yourself a real bargain.