Panasonic SC-BT200

The Panasonic SC-BT200 is a 7.1-channel, all-in-one home theater system that includes an integrated Blu-ray Disc player. Critics love its value. The Blu-ray player is very capable and performs on a par with Panasonic's well-regarded DMP-BD60K (*Est. $200) stand-alone player. Internet streaming is available and includes video from Amazon Video on Demand but not Netflix. The player is BD-Live (Profile 2.0) compliant, but you'll need to add your own 1 GB (or bigger) SD memory card to use those features. The slide-out iPod dock is a major plus; reports say that it is elegant and works well.

In terms of sound quality, there is a split in opinions among reviewers. Most rave about the sound from the Panasonic SC-BT200, saying it is capable of both subtlety and "paint-peeling" power. However, at least one review says that sound is no better than OK. The other major negative -- lack of video inputs -- is common to all home theater systems with built-in Blu-ray players in this price range. The automatic speaker setup program isn't as automatic as it could be, and it forces users to figure out some settings on their own. The step-up Panasonic SC-BT300 (*Est. $485) is largely identical save for a more powerful amplifier and slightly better sounding but more physically imposing "tall boy" speakers in the front. If you don't need or want an integrated disc player, the Sony HT-SS360 is relatively inexpensive and a good performer with movies. It is one of the least expensive home theater systems with HDMI inputs that can play well with the high-definition sound formats available on Blu-ray Discs.

The Panasonic SC-BT200 has been widely reviewed. The longest and most in-depth evaluations can be found at CNET and BigPictureBigSound.com. ConsumerReports.org and Britain's What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision magazine weigh in with shorter reports. User reviews are hard to come by, but a small handful can be read at Amazon.com.