Pioneer HTS-570 5.1 Channel Home Theater System

The Pioneer HTS-570 surround sound system takes advantage of multiple digital sound processing technologies to ensure optimum audio playback. The glossy black, compact speakers are engineered to provide big sound in a small package. It features a stackable configuration that can deliver full 5.1 surround sound with all front, rear and center speaker as well as an integrated subwoofer/receiver placed at the front of a room.
Customer Review: Space efficient, but some limitations
Clever design is space efficient. the "control unit" is only 6x2x2" with all the amps actually located in the Subwoofer. So you do not need an extra shelf for the receiver. I used it in "front" surround mode with the 2 center speakers moved to the center and the main and surround speakers stacked on each other on each side of the TV Soundstage has good width. Sound is decent but size of speakers limits the "richness". The biggest problem was that the decoder did not handle the different TV sound broadcast modes well. I hooked my DVR to the unit via optical cable and the unit handled sound from the HD 5.1 channels well. But it could not handle the stereo from either digital or analog channels via this hookup. I could switch to 2 cable RCS hookup from the DVR--but then you lose the digital 5.1 encoding from the HD channels. And while the unit is compact there still are quite a few wires to deal since all 6 speakers have to be connected to the subwoofer/amplifier.
Customer Review: Nice compact, simple system
If you want a compact and simple sound system, this it the one. I like the fact that it doesn't have those huge receivers and subwoofer. Receiver is integrated into the subwoofer in this system, saving you a lot of space, and gives you the neat look. And it doesn't require you to route the rear speakers to the back to give you surround sound. It of course can't compare to having real speakers in the back, but for ordinary (non audio enthusiast) people, this it good enough, especially you don't like wires running all around your house. The inconvenience is that you've to scroll through the menu every time you want to change some setting, which could be a bit troublesome. And the display is only single line, so the info displayed is quite limited. But then you give up some convenience for it's neat look.