Panasonic SC-HT95 Home Theater System - Easy To Use, But Connectivity Limited
Written: Jan 31 '03 (Updated Mar 12 '03)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Features, price, looks, ease of use, basic performance
Cons: No video switching, no digital connections
The Bottom Line: If you need excellent picture quality, ease of setup and use, nice looks and low price, HT95 is a good choice. If you need video ...
|
|
|
| dkozin's Full Review: Panasonic SC-HT95 Theater System |
I was looking into several options when shopping for a home theatre system. Panasonic SC-HT95 was one of them but was quickly eliminated.
Although it has high feature content and impressive technologies, the HT95 just wouldn’t do for my requirements. But let’s start with the good stuff.
Good Stuff
The HT95 has a 5-disc progressive scan DVD changer, which provides outstanding DVD playback on a progressive scan compatible (480p) TV. It will produce excellent picture quality even on a “normal” TV, especially if connected using component video out or an S-Video out.
The changer plays MP3 and WMA files and does it well (the MP3/WMA playback interface is very easy to use). It also plays VCD and even DVD-Audio.
There is an AM/FM radio, timer, and a remote that can control TVs and VCRs of some brands.
The speakers are included, so you don’t have to think where to get all the speakers required for a home theatre setup (5 speakers and a subwoofer). The system looks nice and color-coordinated.
You can connect audio from your VCR, TV and satellite receivers, albeit in analog way and play it through the system’s speakers.
Not-So-Good Stuff
Now the uncool part. The disc change is slow. There are no video inputs whatsoever, not even composite type. This means you will have to somehow switch video signal using either your TV or a switch (passive or active) separately every time you switch audio source. There are no digital inputs of any kind.
The power ratings (incorrectly stated in another review as being 50 W per channel) are just 30 W for front speakers, 80 W for front center, 38 W per surround channel and 144 W for subwoofer (at 1.0% THD). At 10 % THD at 1kHz numbers change to 46 W, 106 W, 56 W and 190 W.
Subwoofer is passive and is powered by the amplifier in the main unit, because of which it has a cooling fan that (depending on the ambient temperature) creates some quiet noise.
For me, the unit’s inability to switch video signal was already enough to not consider it anymore.
Conclusion
If you need excellent picture quality, ease of setup and use, nice looks and low price, HT95 is a good choice. If you need video switching, digital inputs or outs, look elsewhere.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
dkozin
|
 in Electronics |
 - Top 10 |
|
Location: California
Reviews written: 817
Trusted by: 514 members
About Me:
I love to push buttons on electronic (audio and video) equipment. It makes me happy.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.