Surround sound speaker systems have taken a bit of criticism in the press recently, mainly because of the irritation of trailing cables.

Many users are reverting back to the good old 2.1 option (two speakers and a subwoofer). However, 5.1 systems still have their place for games fans and those who use their PC for multiple forms of media, such as students.

The Philips MMS460 speakers are identical in design to the MMS430 (released last year) but have three extra satellite speakers, making them a 5.1 setup.

All the speakers have an interesting design, which Philips claims improves the overall sound. The subwoofer is encased in wood, which makes the bass sound better. Cables are colour-coded and the speakers are magnetically shielded, so they won't interfere with your monitor.

For £60, the MMS460 is a well-priced surround sound speaker system that looks good and performs well.

Contact: Philips 0870 900 9070
www.philips.co.uk