Hi again Charlotte - apologies for the the delay. I've finally had a change have a thorough play with this.
Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase - for a small room that isn't suited to an ideal 5.1 configuration, this has given me pretty much exactly what I wanted with a minimum of fuss.
The setup is very simple - at the most basic level you simply need to plug it in, connect the sub, connect your source and you're away. You can then tinker with the settings such as the room size etc. but there aren't so many options as to be overwhelming and you may even find that you don't need to deviate from the default settings.
Over the weekend I watched Blood Diamond and was impressed. The sound was balanced throughout, handling explosions, music and vocals with dexterity and giving each it's own space.
I was pleased, too, with the surround sound effect. Rain seemed to be pouring either side of the sofa (disconcerting at the time as it was bucketing it down outside). However, the effect will be very dependent on the shape and layout of the room - mine is happy sitting in a corner, but I'd be careful not to squeeze it into a deep alcove.
The systems does have its limits, the sound falls apart a bit at very high volumes, but then I guess this wouldn't really be something you'd normally ask of it. I've played a couple of CDs through it and - although I wasn't expecting much - I was surprised at the clear and composed sound it produced... and added bonus if you don't want a separate music system in the same room.
The bottom line is; if you don't have enough space or are unable to configure your room layout to suit a conventional 5.1 system, then this is as good as a solution as any.
Let me know if you have any, more specific questions.