Panasonic SC-HT80 Theater System

Pros: Includes five-disc changer, compact, excellent sound for this size of speakers.
Cons: You can get better value with bundled separates. Not the best remote layout.

If you're interested in setting up a home-theater and your budget is tight, you should take a look at the Panasonic SC-HT80, with a street price of approximately $600. Just add a TV, and this unit makes its own saucy-sounding home theater, with pretty...

Pros: 5-disc changer, multi-region capable (or easily modified), excellent DD and DPL decoders
Cons: No DTS decoder built-in, lack of audio outputs, remote commander does not work with some TVs

This is an excellent, value-for-money entry-level home theatre system. I was considering between this model as well as the Sony DAV S-300, and landed on this. (I live in Wellington, New Zealand, where shops here currently carry only this 2 models or...

Pros: Easy to setup, DVD,CD Player, Changer, Stereo, Speakers all in one.
Cons: None found yet.

The Bottom Line
I recently setup this particular home audio system in a friends bedroom. With its many features it can take some learning before it becomes easy to use. But if you've had experience with home audio systems before this should...

Pros: Compact, easy to setup, excellent quality for the bucks!
Cons: no composite video output, no DTS decoder, but DTS isn't that important.

I was moving to my first apartment after getting out of college, I was starting from scratch and I needed a quick and inexpensive HT solution, a all-in-one system is perfect because my living room isn't too big, and I won't have to buy extra systems or...

Pros: Good Value
Cons: Does not play CD-R

I had several reasons to purchase this product. My main goal was to be able to have a compact unit that allowed for DVD/CD playback with the ability to handle multiple discs.

Setting up the system was a painless process. I was enjoying Dolby...

Pros: good sound, compact design for all the components included
Cons: no cd-w

i bought this system in the summer of 2000. since then ive used it mainly in a bedroom (medium sized) and the sound fits the area well. the sound quality is great. the subwoofer has a selector 1-4 and off, its always on 4 for me. i love the features. i...

Pros: Cheap
Cons: Won't play CD-R, CD-RW, and MANY DVD

This unit is nicely packaged, and easy to set up. The sounds is decent, given the low price. The picture is ok.

It won't play CD-R and CD-RW, and says so in the manual. It doesn't say that it doesn't play DVDs!

It's too bad that...

Pros: Compact, easy to hook up, relatively easy to use
Cons: Not enough power, WILL NOT PLAY CDR's!!!

OK, if I had known it wouldn't play CDR's I would NOT have bought it.
This is a SYSTEM, including the receiver/player, 4 surround speakers, 1 center speaker, 1 powered sub.
It plays DVDs and CDs wonderfully (keep the head clean)
The 'virtual surround' for front speaker placement is really nice.
It is built for Large Bedrooms or small family rooms.
Not enough power for a big room.
It does not start to get loud until you hit -16 and then it goes from 'very soft' to 'very loud' quite fast.
Overall it is a good system for apartments, bedrooms, dorm rooms, etc..
But for the Big Family room, you need more wattage.

Pros: An all in one system which saves space and wiring hassles.
Cons: All in one system which overheats and dies leaving you with nothing.

Against my better judgment, I went for a combo unit. Although it seemed to give me everything that I wanted, all these things fell short. The five disk ability is dismally slow to change disks. It didn't display mp3 info. You can't random play mp3s.

The sound quality was reasonable but adjustment was limited.

I took it back after a month complaining that the unit would get very hot (with lots of ventilation available). The cooling fan is actuated by turning the volume up and not by temperature.

After a couple more months, it burned out and I was quoted $360 to fix it.