Product Features:

• Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS-decoding home theater receiver with 5 speakers and a powered subwoofer
• 35 watts per channel x 4 "tallboy" speakers, 140 watts for the center channel, and 150 watts for the subwoofer
• High-resolution DVD-Audio playback; JPEG, MP3, and WMA CD playback
• Magnetic shielding for distortion-free placement near a TV or computer monitor
• Includes digital FM/AM tuner and a universal remote control

Product Description:

Description from Manufacturer: The SC-HT900 handles the audio end of your home theater, providing surround sound decoding, amplification, and playback through a specially matched six-speaker system (left, center, right, left and right surround, and low-frequency subwoofer). Its versatility with media playback--from DVD-Video and DVD-Audio to MP3/WMA CDs and JPEG image CDs--means you're never far from favorite movies, music, or digital photos. The five-disc carousel system's DVD-Audio playback offers super high-fidelity (192 kHz/24-bit) sound. DVD-Audio discs provide multichannel and stereo sound, incredible storage capacity, and unique bonus materials not available on regular audio CDs.

DVD movies look and sound great through the system's 54 MHz/10-bit video decoder, video depth enhancer, progressive-scan video output (for use with high-definition and HD-ready televisions), and Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, and DTS discrete 5.1-channel surround decoding and rendering. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. This feature can only be appreciated on high-definition and HD-ready TVs.

The speaker set includes four specially designed "tallboy" floorstanding speakers (front and rear left and right) powered by 35 watts each, a 140-watt center-channel speaker (critical for handling most of a movie's dialogue), and a powerful, 150-watt subwoofer optimized for unobtrusive placement. The left/right/surround speakers stand 41 inches tall, a height designed to align them with a television screen for seamless sound/image matching. All speakers are magnetically shielded to protect your TV from distortion induced by the speakers' magnetic fields. A digital-synthesized FM/AM tuner lets you listen to favorite radio stations.

What's in the Box
DVD player/receiver, 4 slim "tallboy" speakers with detachable stands, 1 center-channel speaker, 1 powered subwoofer, and all requisite basic cabling.Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: The Dream System At A Fair Price! Rating:
I really searched around and cannot believe this system sells for under $500, much less $400. It took me less than two hours to completely set up the system and it was step-by-step easy! The tower system is attractive and I did not need to buy extra 'stands' or 'wall mounts'. The central speaker is small but delivers s high-powered sound. The subwoofer is powerful as well and has four levels of intensity - I like heavy bass, but set mine at level 3. The actual DVD/CD receiver is very slim and easy to maneuver. I had some trouble setting up my TV with the unit's somewhat complicated remote, but finally figured it out after several runs. You are able to adjust the sound to nine positions, depending on where you re sitting. You don't have to be front and center.

The system looks very sleek in my home and the sound is just incredible. The rear speakers play the 'echo' or 'audience' sound without heavy vocals on the 'live' recordings. It is true 5.1 digital sound. My only regret is that it does not play SACD's. Listening to my old CD's all over again is like the first time I ever listened to them. The 5.1 surround brings out sounds I never heard before and makes clear distinction between acoustic and electric guitars, multiple keyboards and backing vocalists. A great CD to test on this system is Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon", but any classical recording sounds like you are in the theater! This is the real deal and I can't recommend it highly enough.

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Comment: Feature Packed with great sound Rating:
Very attractive system with many features. Progressive scan DVD player looks great on my projector, thanks to the high end video circuitry in the 5 Disc DVD changer. Sound is very clear and accurately reproduced though the six speakers. Movie dialogue comes through very naturally. Does a fine job at decoding Dolby Surround. Movie "bass" effects are clear and pronounced through the active subwoofer. I've tested this system in store next to an expensive Bose and the quality is more or less comparable.

It is a known fact Panasonic DVD players are among the best in the business. Many more expensive DVD players(costing considerably more than this system) made by other brands use Panasonic internals for their players.

All DVD players must contain an MPEG decoder. In addition, progressive scan DVDs must contain a special device called a deinterlacer. Interlaced video frames are sent to a television in two pieces, by first drawing all of the odd lines, then the even ones. The deinterlacer essentially doubles each frame of video(producing a very defined picture) by filling in missing information. That is the true meaning of "progressive scan." This is the basis for HDTV, and be aware that your (Projector,TV,LCD) must be able to display HDTV or progressive to take advantage of this great feature. As with any other product, deinterlacers vary in quality and must be able to handle various film encodings. Panasonic uses top notch internal hardware to perform the deinterlacing(DCDi) and decoding. The results are spectacular!

Don't expect the bass to blow your ears out - no system at or near this pricepoint will. The subwoofer is powered but yet conservative (but more than other systems in its class). Don't buy this unit to play at maximum volume. System can be cranked up to loud but not extreme voulme. Sound will be more than enough for rooms <250 sq ft. I would say the same thing about the expensive Bose. The true measure of a system is not how it plays at maximum voulme, but rather the accuracy and clarity of the sound.

This unit also makes a great system for listening to FM Radio, CD/R etc. Unit supports many types of Discs. Music seems rich and pleasing, in some cases exceeding much more expensive units.

The speaker stands will save you the cost of buying wall mounts. This system has a plethora of features that are stated in the manual. For example, there are multiple surround modes, seating placement adjustments and digital input capability. Unfortunately the owners manual is written like an engineering course lab manual - so it may take the non- technical some time to learn all of the arcane features. Also, you should purchase at least a 16 gauge spool of speaker wire - do not use the doorbell wire that is supplied with the unit.

Overall I will give this unit 5 stars, because it is priced very well with respect to its competition (Sony Dream system 990) and it exceeds that and other products in its class in terms of quality and features. On the other hand, if you desire a very loud, extreme bass systems - don't consider a home theatre in a box. Purchase a component receiver/amp with large poweful speakers. And of course, a Panasonic progressive DVD player for the best video!

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Comment: A Very Fine Value Rating:
Having owned various Home Theatre surround systems, and knowing
the prices paid for them, they invairiably become a mismatched system when speakers go bad, or receivers do.
This system is a matched, complete one, with all the necessary power and fine looks to match any decor; the free standing surround speakers do not require mounting or guesswork.
A very good system, in technical specifications, at a low, remarkable price.

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)