Samsung HT-DM550

Full-bodied sound; 60-watt-per-channel receiver/DVD player; two-way satellites; hefty subwoofer; progressive-scan video output.

Balky forward CD scans; awkward remote; some receiver-fan noise.

Despite a few ergonomic false starts, we were seduced by the HT-DM550's sound and space-conscious styling.

Very cheap for the functons.

Poor design for internal heat/cooling, the read/decode capabilities just aren't up to scratch.