Thanks guys!

I appreciate the comments. I am also considering cutting out enough of the unit's backing (thick cardboard/thin particle board - not actually sure) but wanted to solicit comments first. My wife shuddered at the thought of me pulling tools out to cut away at a brand new entertainment unit I shuddered a little too!

The one issue I face is that the entertainment unit consists of two piers (left/right) and connected by a bridge spanning the top of a rear-projection TV. Getting everything positioned just right took some time and now I'll need to disconnect so that I can get behind the unit to cut away!

On another note - with little space to the rear/left/right of the receiver/amps do you find they tend to heat up?