one stop shop...
Written: May 21 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: great all in one system
Cons: lengthy wait when changing discs
The Bottom Line: all in one system at a very reasonable price
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| cowo's Full Review: Panasonic SC-DK1 Theater System |
we got this system last year for $400 on an online auction site and we have been very pleased with it. i saw it currently at costco for $500... we bought this stereo because we wanted a all-in-one stereo system with a dvd player.
we use this system primarily for playing dvds and cds. there are several sound field options to choose from, i enjoy being able to play cds using the simulated stereo and movie sound modes. learning all the options on the remote take a little time, but the nice thing is that you can access all the features from the remote.
the dolby surround sound allows you to independently adjust how loud the center channel and surround channels can be. you can also select where you are seated in the room so the sound will be adjusted and centered appropriately.
i have only used the cassette player a few times, but the music search feature works well and the high-speed dubbing is also fast and accurate.
this stereo also allows you to program a selected number of tracks from up to 5 cds and with the touch of a button you can record those tracks to a tape. the initial setup for this process is lengthy, but the recording is seamless.
the rear panel has two auxiliary audio inputs, one s-video output, subwoofer output, and rca video output. for most people, these connections are more than enough. the subwoofer output is only used if you want to buy an extra subwoofer, but the main speakers have plenty of bass if you adjust the sound field accordingly.
this weekend i tried to connect a set of outdoor speakers and i ran into some problems. i think the owner's manual suggests against installing a second set of speakers (because the amp is rated for 6 ohm speakers). but i just connected the second set of speakers in series (which cuts the impedance in half). i'm not endorsing this, so don't blame me if your stereo burns up 8) anyway, this stereo has an automatic overload circuit which cuts the power to the amp automatically. through trial and error, i was able to come to my final configuration of my second set of speakers.
my only quibble with this system is the disc mechanism. it employs one motorized tray for the five-disc changer. this is a hassle and it takes a minute or two to load all five discs. changing between discs take about 15 seconds (the 12 disc changer in my car takes 8 seconds). because of this, playing your cds using the shuffle-between-discs mode results in a big gap between tracks.
the sound quality is excellent. the main speakers have built-in low-frequency drivers but can't reach the sofa shaking experience of those $5,000 system...who's complaining at a tenth of the price though?
the picture quality is also excellent. on par with all other dvd players i've used/seen.
overall, i found the system quite convenient since everything you need to get a home theater system is right here in one package. i have gone through the drudgery of buying each piece separately and let me tell you it can be quite aggravating!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cowo
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Location: Reno, Nevada, United States
Reviews written: 37
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
web developer and a new dad
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