Price Paid:  $370.00 from Samsung dealer

Summary:
I believe that this product is quite good for the average enthusiast limited to a strict budget. Although the remote pleases more the eye than the practical hands it is quite acceptable considering that this is an all-in-one system.

Connecting everything up is dead easy. The rear explains it all. Scart connection needs further configuration from the setup menu. It is possible to eliminate centre spk, surround and sub like a normal receiver. There is also a connection is s-video mode (cable supplied to) which can then be connected to a scart which accepts s-video in.

Sound is very good in stereo mode. 100W Rms x 2 is no joke for such a product, and I believe that the result is a neat one without too distortion. Surrounds suffers more as 200W need to be divided in 5 (and it is not possible to gain more power by turning off d centre and surr.) The manual could also be easier for a first time buyer.

The only thing that really hurts is lack of control over equilisation. It is not even possible to increase/decrease treble bass, and the only 3 modes make effect mainly when the system is connected with surround speakers.

Conclusion: a very good deal for the average user, especially those who needs a cinema in a small room (like bedroom etc.) I would recommend it to those who have a tight budget or are not so obsessed with sound.

Strengths:
Clean, strong power in stereo mode. Very acceptable in surround mode

Weaknesses:
Damn heavy, didn't accept my cd-r's (accepted by all other players in d house), no bass and treble controls, lacks user-friendliness, remote's joystick s*cks.

Similar Products Used:
Sony STR-DE545, Sony satellites, experienced boston all-in-one packs..

Price Paid:  $350.00 from Singapore Audio/Video Shop

Summary:
Was well packed and the player arrived at good condition. You never know buying in Asia, the boxes are normaly damaged.
Very easy to attach the rest of the equipment, due to the short but powerfull manual. It plays CD's and DVD's perfectly but the VCD playing quality is very bad. Fr people who have lots of VCD's this might be a dissapointing
feature of the A500. The screen looks awfull when quick and high contrast movies are played. I've seen realy better quality on other VCD or VCD/DVD players. Or Samsung has problems with the drivers or something else is wrong. I've looked at other A500 models in the shop and have the same poor VCD quality. Ok maybe the contrast of quality between DVD and VCD is too big. You get used to the DVD quality very easily.
Overall cobination with the Dolby Digital 200W Amplifier makes it a good player with high value for money index.

Strengths:
Very good DVD quality pictures, perfect sound quality with more than enough ouput power to fit in you home theater system. Good design and perfect remote control.Good value for money and you don't need a separate DTS amplifier

Weaknesses:
Poor VCD playing quality. When pictures moving fast a very blocking picture appeares on te tv-screen. an't handle to many contrasts in quick action scenes. Very bad.