We had the DV7000 system connected and ready for our home theater enjoyment in 45 minutes. The system comes packed in one large box that includes the model DV3000 DVD-video player and remote control, a subwoofer, four satellite speakers, and matching center speaker, along with five pairs of speaker cables of various lengths (up to 32 feet).

Also included is an integrated audio cable that routes the DVD player's decoded 5.1-channel Dolby Digital outputs to the subwoofer, which houses the system's amplifier, powering both itself and the other speakers.

The cable's multicolored connectors make it easy to match the DVD player's left, right, center, surround, and subwoofer outputs with the subwoofer's color-matched inputs, but be aware that the same handy color coding does not exist between the DVD player and the cable.

GPX offers RCA-style connectors on the rear of the center and satellite speakers, unusual for speaker connections but actually very convenient. We were impressed by the inclusion of extra-long wires for the rear satellite speakers, which let us place them 18 feet from the subwoofer and six feet above the floor--with plenty of room to spare.

The DV7000 system includes the model DV3000 DVD player, a fairly basic unit by today's standards. It does, however, offer the added benefit of karaoke compatibility, a rare but potentially scene-stealing feature.

A pair of front-panel microphone inputs are great for families with Sonny & Cher imitators and aspiring "wedding singers." However, the system does not come with microphones, so if you're into karaoke, be sure to pick up a pair of mics, along with a pair of AA batteries to operate the remote.

The DV7000 also offers a built-in Dolby Digital decoder, an increasingly rare feature among today's fifth-generation DVD players. The built-in decoder and supplied connection cables let you plug in and play the system without the need for a space-gobbling surround receiver or any additional components--except a TV. (If you already have a surround receiver, the DVD player also sports a coaxial digital-audio output to bypass its internal decoding.)

Ergonomically, the DVD player and remote control are fairly easy to navigate, though we'd prefer to have the menu's "enter" button in the center of the up/down, left/right arrows, where it would be more intuitive. We'd also prefer one-touch subtitle on/off buttons that don't require the additional step of selecting on or off from the onscreen menu.

In terms of the player's performance, we were a little alarmed by the DV7000 model we tested. It demonstrated errors on several DVDs that have never given us problems in the past. Normally, when a DVD decoder stumbles, it skips entire segments or freezes up completely. And it's usually the result of an especially challenging disc--such as The Matrix--combined with a low-quality digital-to-analog video converter.

The errors we encountered with the DV7000, however, included brief freezes of maybe one second that occurred consistently, about halfway through all discs, leading us to suspect this is an isolated problem with the unit we tested, which may (or may not) be related to dust inside the laser mechanism.

The floorstanding subwoofer has a built-in amplifier and 5.1-channel inputs that enable it to power the speakers with semirespectable sound in a small listening space. The sub delivers 10 watts to each of the four satellite speakers and the center-channel speaker, along with 35 watts for its own low-frequency duties, offering a total of 85 watts.

Measuring 20 inches long by 8 inches wide and 15 inches high, the subwoofer is more attractive than most, with a dark faux-wood vinyl coating on the sides and a curved, black face. The sub relies on two front woofers--one firing at a downward angle, the other slanting upward.

Compared to more expensive subs, the DV7000's sub was disappointing during action flicks. Thunder and other low-frequency sound effects kicked in with no subtlety at all. Fortunately--or unfortunately, depending upon one's point of view--the subwoofer kicked in rather infrequently, as we set both the volume and the bass levels at medium. One minor disappointment was the inability to control the sub's volume from the remote, forcing us out of our comfortable chairs from time to time.

What the GPX subwoofer lacks in subtlety and bass extension, however, the system makes up for with style and grace. In that regard, GPX merits bonus points. The satellite speakers--four matching egg-shaped wonders--measure only 4 inches tall. The center speaker is slightly shorter, but wider, with a larger driver that offers good horizontal dispersion and better midrange performance than its cousins. The satellites and center speaker are surprisingly heavy due to their metal enclosures and metal grilles.

Each black Faberge-like satellite has a flat base that props it firmly on a shelf and keeps it from tipping over. Each satellite also has a rear thread for a wall mount. Unfortunately, the mounts are not included. We found the supplied cables sufficient for a small living room, with the longest cable measuring more than 30 feet.

Audio performance from the speakers is largely dependent on one's taste in movies. Bear in mind, this speaker system is not designed to play music with the kind of dexterity one expects from full-range or even box-shaped bookshelf speakers. So if you like to play concert DVDs, we recommend replacing or supplementing the diminutive left and right speakers with a pair of larger bookshelf or floorstanding models. Ditto for listening to music CDs.

Bear in mind, this system was designed for decor-conscious folks with space limitations. The GPX DV7000 Dolby Digital home theater system is not intended to be put through the same rigorous audio tests as full-range systems that cost three to five times as much.

The speakers are very small and, dare we say, really cute. The entire system is extremely simple to set up and operate. Whatever it lacks in audio performance, it makes up for through the sheer pleasure of being able to set up a six-channel home theater system in under an hour without so much as a wire crimp and without having to rearrange the living room furniture. That, in and of itself, is refreshing. --Eric Gill

Pros:

• All-in-one system, extremely easy to hook up
• Satellite speakers can be almost completely hidden from sight
• Impressive build quality relative to price

Cons:

• Subwoofer-satellite speaker balance can't be controlled from the remote
• DVD player prone to occasional, brief freezes
• Satellite speakers offer no midrange presence