Upside: Affordable; compact; comparatively easy to set up. 
Downside: Won't rock the house; spotty build quality.

Samsung HT-X30T

Budget-priced HTIBs almost always feature tiny satellite speakers and subwoofers. Sound quality isn't always stellar, but some low-end HTIBs sound pretty decent. Power ratings fall within the 25 to 60W per channel range. That's enough to fill a small room with sound; just don't expect massive loudness capability from a wee HTIB. Surround formats are limited to basic Dolby Digital/Pro Logic I/II and DTS, while connectivity options are typically restricted to just one analog composite-A/V inputs. If you have an HDTV and are looking for the best possible picture quality, make sure the DVD player has component-video output.

Upside: Elegant appearance; features galore; comparatively easy to set up. 
Downside: Still won't rock the house; limited bass output; sleek-looking electronics usually have limited connectivity options.

A number of manufacturers offer sleek HTIBs with petite satellites (5 inches tall or even smaller). At the other extreme, you can buy HTIBs with tall yet incredibly slender tower a.k.a tallboy speakers. Some HTIBs tuck their amplifiers inside the subwoofer, which allows the manufacturer to trim down the receiver/DVD player component to truly svelte sizes.

While multi-disc players are becoming increasingly rare, the latest models now sport a couple of standard features. These range from 1080p DVD upscaling to USB host for multimedia playback and multiformat DVD compatibility. Another popular addition is automated surround sound setup, though Blu-ray support has yet to catch on prime time.

Upside: Solid build quality; features similar standalone components; generous connectivity. 
Downside: More involved setup; clunky component styling; speaker packages usually far below the quality (and price) of separate speakers.

Rather than combine the receiver and the DVD player in one compact unit, some manufacturers offer HTIBs built around separate components. This approach forfeits most of the space-saving allure of the classic HTIB, but there are performance advantages to the separates route.

Onkyo HTS-3100

With component-based HTIBs, their larger size lets designers fit in more power and significantly greater connectivity options. Component systems provide inputs for a larger number of external sources, such as settop box, DVR, and gaming console, than one-piece HTIBs. A few companies sell receiver/DVD player combos that don't come with speaker packages, which afford you the flexibility of selecting exactly the speakers that work for you.

Upside: Space-saving HTIB design still incorporates cutting-edge technology. 
Downside: Sometimes expensive--you might as well buy first-class separates.

Marantz ES7001

The booming popularity of HTIBs shows no sign of abating, which explains why most cutting-edge trends eventually find their way to upmarket systems. The latest development are virtual surround and Blu-ray. The former dodges the "five speakers plus subwoofer" rule to create enveloping sound using fewer speakers, while the latter supports onboard playback of these HD audio-visual software. There are also some which cover Super-Audio CD and/or DVD-Audio and others that deploy wireless rear speakers. Speaking of speakers, 7.1-channel HTIBs are also available.