Looks, DTS

I would have preferred to buy it new separately, but couldn't find it anywhere

I can't believe the sound difference when utilizing the 5:1 connections on this baby to my Harmon Kardon AVR80!!
I totally upgraded my component connections to Monster Cables. Optical from my Pioneer DVD to the SH-AC500D.
I have JBL speakers all around. MRV310's in the front, J820M's in the rear, SC305 in the Center, and a 50-watt sub.
My wife and I were watching the new Exorcist (her new favorite movie) and at one point in the movie, the phone rang pretty loud in the rear speaker on her side and she got air from a sitting position on the couch.
GREAT SOUND!!!!
And now I have an extra receiver in case I need it!

Similar Products Used:

None

None, this thing is the stupidest product on the market for 50 years.

DOES NOT DECODE CABLE/SATELLITE OR ANY TWO CHANNEL SOURCE.

Just got ripped off by Mike McMackin of Hutch's Bicycles in Oregon who said that you could just hook up you preamp to it. Sure, but I can hook up my preamp to a piece of cheap wire and get the same effects -- NOTHING. It just passes any line inputs through. How stupid that is, haven't the japs heard of DPL from cable TV? I've always heard that they were fanatics about TV technology, but I guess they are even bigger fanatics about ripping off the same round eyed barbarians they slowly tortured to death in POW camps. This thing has a value of zero, because every AV receiver on the market will decode everything you want, not just DVDs. Mike McMackin of Hutch's bicycles is a scumbag thief for scamming me and the japs at Technics are total idiots for designing such a stupid product. Another HUGE deficiency is that it has only ONE (1) line level input and it is supposed to your preamp. What were these fools thinking? This has to be widely recognized as getting the award for the most inane piece of junk ever dumped on an unsuspecting trusting american public. One star is too many for this trash.

Similar Products Used:

NONE AND I NEVER WILL

I bought this on eBay, for a good deal. But it sat around for awhile until I just recently got a DVD player. I'm not terribly pleased with it, as far as its sound quality goes. It does the job... However, I have a Fosgate Model 4 Surround Sound Processor (which is awesome), and when I switch between the 2, the Fosgate sounds much warmer, fuller and "fatter", with more bottom end. (This wasn't a problem with having different levels - I have my system levels set perfectly for all components.) But, in defense of the Technics unit, I just viewed Starship Troopers with it, and the low end really kicked butt, but I attribute this to the actual soundtrack, not the unit. When I used the Technics as a simple stereo DAC with music, the high-end was a bit more present, but more towards the harsh side, and again, the bass fell by the wayside.For affordable DD/DTS, yea, this does the job OK. But if you can afford a Yamaha or newer HK receiver with DD/DTS, you may do better there sound quality-wise. If you've got more to spend, then by all means, buy better than the Technics.

The price just came down to $199 at BB. Simply the easiest way to get into Dolby Digital and DTS with your DD ready receiver. The sound is EXCELLENT and it's easy to use. I LOVE IT!

The SH-AC500D sounds very good. I have a yahmaha cd changer and I use the Technics as the digital processor. It sounds very warm and the bass is more defind than the yamaha's cd players processor. For Dolby Digital and Prologic, it sounds great. For DTS I am not sure because up in Canada we don't have any DTS DVD's or CD's.

I have this mated to my Pioneer D457 AVR, Optimus Pro-x77 for LCR, Optimus Pro-LX5 rears, 2 Optimus SW-14P passive subs, and an AudioSource 60W powered sub in a bedroom setting. The source is my computer bt the Creative Labs PC-DVD gen 3 with the Dxr2 decoder card using the coaxial PCM single path to the SH-AC500D Technics processor. Though my DVD doesn't pass a DTS signal, the DD it does bass is awesome. In DESPERADOES the shotgun blasts at the beginning just shook the room with authority even flipping the powered sub on/off to see how well the processor worked. On BLADE all the sounds of a club with people talking from all different directions while the music played was distinct and clean. CONTACT the opening scene as you move away from earth and different radio signals that were broadcast into space were being played and panned from the back down the sides of the room, to the front (very impressive). The Postman the ambiant sounds from the backgrounds maintained direction and tonal clearity. On the Highlander Director's cut DVD, voices of Sean Connery, Christopher Lambert, and Clancy Brown as well as the sound track from Queen made this a very impressive Decoder and I have no problems with the way it decodes and pass information to the 5.1 inputs of my AVR. The only things I don't like about this decoder is that it doesn't provide video switching, you have to manually tell the decoder what the source material is, you have to set the Large/Small/none of each speaker on the processors face plate, and having to have another remote (funny that these 5.1 AVRs don't come with a remote that controls DD/DTS processors). The things that I really like about this processor is that it works very well, you don't lose the 5.1 inputs of your AVR because the processor has an additional one with a bypass switch for upgradibility, 3 optical/PCM inputs, memory storage of set functions (had several power outs and maintained all functions), test tone/delay/DR comp/mute/dimmer controls on remote, additional non-switched outlet on the back, and the price I paid $99 at BEST BUY because it was a customer return (THANK YOU whoever you are and great luck with your next gear). The other great thing this unit does not buzz, hum, or even get warm and has a big face plate to boot. This is really a great budget processor and if you can get it cheap buy it and you won't regret it.

I have enjoyed the Technics/Panasonic EX600 as the central part of my home theater for about 2 years. While dubbing audio tapes, it just quit on me. After a trip to Panasonic authorized service, I found out that the IC was burned up requiring a $190 repair. I contacted Panasonic for help and they just didn't have a helpful consumer attitude. This should serve as an important lesson on Panasonic product reliability . Panasonic has lost my consumer confidence in their products. I have audio equipment with lots of use that has performed well for over 20 years. With reliability like this I would have been money ahead to rent a home theater system.

If anyone know about this decoder or any DTS for that matter could you please tell me or post a review. I'm curious about
-quality
-price
-and compatiblity w/other components

Thank you

I bought this product about a month ago, and I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed. Definately the best decoder for the money (paid about 150 shipped for mine). This processor decodes DD & DTS equally well, and is also an attractive unit. I can't find any weaknesses except perhaps the remote control.......it is definately weak. All things considered, this is definately a quality product.

price
DTS & DD
Passthrough

Have to leave it switched on when using non-digital sources.

I have been waiting for some time for the Technics to be available in the U.K. I believe the AC-300 stock levels had something to do with the delay. Now I have the beast, it fits well with my Kenwood THX system. At £189, what can Sony do to persuade me to part with thrice that sum for their product - very little.

Similar Products Used:

None