The Samsung HT-X50 home theater system sports five small speakers and a subwoofer to give you the full surround experience along with its internal five-disc DVD changer. The system includes the slim line DVD/Receiver unit, six speakers, the remote control, and various cables for hook up. The included manual is very detailed, and will help first-time users through the setup.

First, the main speakers produce very good sound for the size. We were impressed that even with the volume a little higher, the sound was still reasonably clear. However, the subwoofer was a little too loud in the upper bass region. We recommend setting the subwoofer on the floor or perhaps behind the main display to equalize the sound and produce a more stable soundstage. The main speakers feature notches for hanging around a TV or on a wall. The main receiver unit uses standard speaker wire clips, so higher gauge wire or longer wire can be used as needed. Please note that the speakers included in this setup run at a non-standard 3 Ohm load, so they cannot be upgraded to larger standard 8 or 6 Ohm speakers in the future. We noticed that there is an optional slot on the back of the X50 that can be used for a wireless rear speaker module, which is a handy option for future upgrades.

The built-in DVD changer boasts an HDMI output, meaning the unit will connect to newer HDTVs, with images of up to 720p or 1080i resolution. This upscaling feature will enhance the look of the picture on HDTVs, though it won't look quite like a true HD disc when compared to a format like Blu-ray. We were pleased that the X50 also includes and optical input for such an HD player, or the optical output of a flat panel TV. This means the unit can then decode the sound using Dolby Digital or DTS to produce high quality discrete sound output for a full surround experience.
Finally, the HT-X50 features ports on the front for headphones, a portable music player, and a USB thumb drive, hidden behind a flip-down door that felt a bit flimsy. As with most systems that have USB, this player can read MP3, WMA, JPG and DivX files from a thumb drive or from a burned CD. DivX files can also be read from a burned DVD. The manual does warn that not all disc types may be compatible, so you may need to try a few kinds of burnable media before you find one that works properly. Of course, this system can play AM and FM radio as well. Overall, the Samsung HT-X50 is a great little 5.1 system for the beginning home theater enthusiast that includes some handy features without breaking the bank.

Pros: Low cost, gimple setup, good sound quality
Cons: USB port hidden, non-standard speakers which can't be upgraded

Warranty
1 year, limited