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Panasonic SC-HT95 5-Disc DVD Home Theater System

Panasonic SC-HT95 5-Disc DVD Home Theater System

List Price: $549.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good quality, some misses on usability
Review: Overall, the home theater system provides very good sound and DVD quality. I have no complaints here. My complaints are mostly on usability items. Here goes:
- The 5-disc changer is nice, but it does not use the 5-disc tray. The unit only loads one CD/DVD at a time and shuffles them. This makes changing disc, looking for an empty slot, or just looking to see what is in the system somewhat painful. The 5 disc tray makes the unit bigger, but I think they are more useful than how this system works.
- For some unknown reason, it does not support a random play on an MP3 disc. It is great to fit 150 or more songs on a disc, only to have it play in the same exact order every time.
- The remote is a little cheap and a few of the features do not work as you would expect.
- Progressive scan DVDs are supposed to be nice, but I see almost no difference between progressive output and regular output through a s-video cable.
- There are much better looking units out there. Not a big deal, but I wanted to mention it.

With all of that said, I don't think there is another system FOR THE PRICE with the same features or capabilities, which is why I gave this 4 stars. If this was more expensive, I would not recommend it. There are not many 5 disc, progressive scan systems that play MP3s and CD-Rs/CD-RWs.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good quality, some misses on usability
Review: Overall, the home theater system provides very good sound and DVD quality. I have no complaints here. My complaints are mostly on usability items. Here goes:
- The 5-disc changer is nice, but it does not use the 5-disc tray. The unit only loads one CD/DVD at a time and shuffles them. This makes changing disc, looking for an empty slot, or just looking to see what is in the system somewhat painful. The 5 disc tray makes the unit bigger, but I think they are more useful than how this system works.
- For some unknown reason, it does not support a random play on an MP3 disc. It is great to fit 150 or more songs on a disc, only to have it play in the same exact order every time.
- The remote is a little cheap and a few of the features do not work as you would expect.
- Progressive scan DVDs are supposed to be nice, but I see almost no difference between progressive output and regular output through a s-video cable.
- There are much better looking units out there. Not a big deal, but I wanted to mention it.

With all of that said, I don't think there is another system FOR THE PRICE with the same features or capabilities, which is why I gave this 4 stars. If this was more expensive, I would not recommend it. There are not many 5 disc, progressive scan systems that play MP3s and CD-Rs/CD-RWs.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Mp3 skips
Review: Overall, this seems like a nice unit, but I have the same trouble as Gustavo... weird "jumps" in MP3's, which would be a show-stopper if it didn't have a 5-disc changer.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Nothing better at this price
Review: Sure there are better systems out there, but not at this price. Considering all the great features you get, it's an incredible bargain. The sound is very rich and full, and undistorted all the way up to full volume. There are a few DVDs that the sound is sort of low, and on these rare titles even full volume is too low for me in my family room, but that is the exception rather than the rule. Plenty of floor-shaking base, and the subwoofer level control is nice.

A few squacks that I have heard that I have to take exception with:

- Speaker wires too short? They were plenty long for my 25' deep room. Remember that the surround speakers don't go on the back wall, they go towards the back of the side walls, facing each other. If the wires are still too short, your room is probably too big for this system.

- Hum at low sound levels? Never heard any, and I was listening for it. Get a good home theater surge protector / line filter...P>- Progressive scan doesn't make a difference using S-Video? This is by design. You have to use component video connections to reap the benefits of progressive scan.

- Surround volume too low? Try watching Ice Age, and see if you still think so. Most movies don't use the surrounds that much. It's not a problem with the unit as far as I can see. You can increase the rear volume a little, if you want, by using the Seating Position control.

Some squacks I agree with:

- Problems playing MP3's. If I put in an MP3 CD with 150 tracks, the player shows about 220 tracks. Also, you have no option but to play the tracks sequentially, or recall them by number.

- Display is a bit hard to read from a distance.

- The speakers sound good, but look cheap/plastic-y. This system was not designed by an interior decorator.

In summary, if this is your price range, you won't do any better than this system. I'm very satisfied with mine. The quibbles are all minor.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Not perfect but close
Review: There are lots of features I like about this product and some I don't or are just missing.
Starting with the pros, I like how Panasonic makes this product "professional" looking meaning they don't insult the customers intelligence with useless lights and bells. Actually I think it took me about 2 months to figure out all the features available (I hate reading instructions).
On the cons, I have had 2 Panasonic products with pre-programmed equalizers. I do not understand why they don't put a full-featured one on their products. It is convenient but I didn't buy this product for ease of use but rather broadness of options. For some reason they insist on simplicity here.
Overall it wasn't something that swayed me to another brand. The quality of sound and video outweigh the cost and any lack features

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Do not buy this system!
Review: This model has a major flaw. Whenever a CD or DVD is playing, a fairly loud high-pitched hum can be heard from the front 2 speakers. At first I though I just had a bad unit. I returned it and got another - same problem. I replaced that one - same problem. Finally I checked out the floor model in a retail store - same problem! The SCHT95 is unusable - the sound is so loud that it makes it impossible to enjoy listening to your CDs or DVDs. Two other problems: the unit gets extremely hot and it takes a very long time to switch between discs. Panasonic should discontinue this model.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Incredible system at this price range
Review: When I went to buy a new Amplifier/Dvd/Speaker setup for my room, I figured on having to buy serperate units to get the specs I wanted, ie. progressive scan, 400 watts or so total power, DTS, etc. I saw this unit on display and was impressed, I was previously unaware that these features could all be had in one package, let alone for the [money] that I spent on it.

The initial setup went over fairly smoothly, with a very handy user's manual. I had the main unit and all of the speakers set up with my satellite tv and ps2 in a little over an hour. The quality of the parts was impressive at the low price range, the parts were solid and attractive, and the speakers were clear and distortion free, even at maximum power.

Although my analog tv is not compatible with the progressive scan capabilities of the player, the picture is clear as can be and I look forward to enjoying progressive scan with the purchase of an HDTV.

The included speakers play very well, thay have quite a lot of depth, and reproduce very true sounds. They play well at all sound levels, although it would be nice if the amp drove them a little harder. It plays plenty loud for most people in a small to midsized room, but I go by the adage "more is always better!"

The subwoofer to plays very well, it rumbles well and sounds remarkably tight for a ported woofer. 180 watts makes alot of sound here.

All in all, I would not hesitate to recommend this setup to anyone seeking to add a home theatre system to there house with relative ease, although for the true audiophile, a component setup is a better choice.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent!!!
Review: Wonderful crystal clear sound, got all the features I want: VCD, CD, MP3, Progressive scan, DTS, Pro Logic, 5-cd changer ... Only complain was the disk changer is sort of slow, but hey, as long as I dont have to get off the couch. :)
My 1st buy was a Panasonic SC-HT75 from circuitcity. It was nice, but the quiet rear speakers are really disappointing. Now that Amazon is selling SC-HT95 at amost the same price I paid for the SC-HT75(after the rebate for 95 and tax for the 75), I made the switch immediately. With 75, I had to turn up the rear speakers to max and turn down the front speakers to feel a hint of 'surround' sound. For 95, even at a low volumn I can vividly hear bullets flying pass by my ear! Havn't got a chance to test the progressive scan yet, which is a major feature the sc-th75 lacks.
All in all, excellent machine and powerful speakers at a great price, highly recommand it.


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