The Sony DAV-HDX265 home theater system includes a five-disc DVD/CD changer, five small speakers, a small subwoofer, remote control, and basic connection cables. This unit is part of Sony's BRAVIA line of theater products, but it is the lowest cost theater system they offer that still includes a built-in disc player. Even though this is an entry-level theater, it features an auto-calibration mic and easy setup features so the sound can be tailored for your room.

The five main speakers are small and sleek-looking with their two-tone black and silver finish. On the back, mounting holes are included for easy hanging. We did notice that the speakers have non-standard connectors and will not be upgradable in the future. The subwoofer module is also very attractive, but includes a relatively small woofer inside. This will provide some mid-bass sound, but won't give super low bass extension. This can be both good and bad: For movies with lots of explosions and low frequency effects, the sub will seem a little weak, but this can be an advantage for apartment dwellers as the sound won't carry through the walls as much. We would recommend that this subwoofer be placed in the front of the room, and preferably near the center speaker if possible, giving the front a better sound stage.

The DVD/CD changer is built into the amplifier for a compact footprint. Other than DVD and CD playback, Sony did think to include MP3 and JPG support on a variety of burned CDs and DVDs. The included remote control is laid out pretty well, and basic functions are easy to control. The rear of the main unit includes an HDMI port that scales from 480p to 1080i--this is a nice touch, as all new HDTVs have this port and can accept the higher resolution. Also included are analog stereo inputs and a digital media dock port on the back, as well as a mini stereo input on the front. Unfortunately, it doesn't include any digital audio inputs for other surround devices such as game consoles, satellite and cable boxes, or HD-DVD players.

The overall sound quality from this system was adequate. If the volume was turned up too loud, the front speakers seemed a little over-powered and became distorted. At moderate volumes, the Sony system was on par with other similarly priced home theaters. The Sony DAV-HDX265 is a good 5.1 system for those needing an easy setup, moderate volume levels, and small components, all at a budget cost.

Pros: Low cost, auto-calibration, HDMI upscaling
Cons: Proprietary connections, no digital inputs

Warranty
1 year, limited