spectrum analizer looks cool,super sound equalizer really fills the sound, the 3D space equalizer is awesome.super woofer is crisp and powerfull.

cd changer is noisy,no big deal.

Go to the store and try it-you will be impressed! recommended to anyone.

Similar Products Used:

aiwa,sony,philips

well made, decent sized speakers, many settings to play with, 5 CD changer, colorful, can take audio inputs so you can hook a DVD player up to it.

260 watts, 3 way speakers, 6.75" woofer. 12FM/12AM presets. Lengthy cables for stereo effect positioning. 5 cd changer, many music EQ settings, and 6 DSP settings (control resonance, reverb, etc.) and a spectrum analyzer w multiple settings. Remote control, one stereo input port.

Panasonic builds nice solid audio products which age reliably and generally sound good in a midrange sort of way. For less than $200, this unit is a great deal. If you'd like to spend a bit more, JVC makes some great minis in the $300 range, and Denon or Onkyo are good in the $400 range. Just please don't buy a Sony; you'll only encourage them to keep on overcharging for their overrated technology!

As far as music, this system did fine on rock and pop, and the respectable subwoofer does a decent job with bass heavy applications. For classical, the system is a bit flat in the mid and high frequencies, but still worth listening to. The DSPs do create a noticeable difference in sound effects for what it's worth; true audiophiles are not very enamored of the concept, but these at least create a perceived difference.

For positives, the system is well made, has decent sized speakers, many settings to play with, and a 5 CD changer for a very reasonable price. The display is bright and colorful, the remote is a decent size with full features and acceptable ergonomics. The SCAk can take audio inputs so you can hook a DVD player up to it, which I did for a bit, and the arrangement sounded vastly better than with stock TV speakers. The unit has been very reliable with no problems or quirks and everything works as it should after close to a year of ownership. The manual is clear and thorough.

As for negatives, like most minis, the Pana is a bit gaudy with bright colors and flashing lights. The cd changer cannot substitute disks while one is playing which is not a huge problem for a 5 disk player but is still a puzzling oversight for a recent changer. Many of the buttons are sort of silly; i.e. the system sounds good with the button pressed and bad with the button up, so who would not keep the button down? Many minis are like this; the illusion of control! Sound is good as long as you are not a concert musician who needs the utmost fiedlity in reproduction of classical or jazz music. If you like pop music, or are a less fanatical higher range musis fan, this will be fine. 260 watts only goes so far in filling up a room, however. If you have a big living room, this will not exactly create a wall of sound for you, but it is still more powerful than most minis.

I wanted 6 channel sound for DVDs and a bit more bass for my fairly large living room so I put together a home theater system recently for about $600 that blows this unit and probably most if not all minis away, but that is about 3 times the price that I payed for the Panasonic and it took a bit of research and comparison shopping efforts. The Panasonic is a good bargain and a nice all in one for people who don't have the time, space or interest to assemble a component system.

Similar Products Used:

Aiwa, Sanyo, Sony

Great price, integrated subwoofer (ahem... "super woofer"), 5 CDs whereas everybody else seems to have 3, ext RCA inputs so I can play various things through it, and generally good-looking

Lack of sound control options (you cant EQ the sound yourself unless you shell out $50 more and get a SCAK44), subs sound a bit muddy

I just bought this and I'm pretty happy with my purchase. As I said the speakers don't sound the absolute best, mainly there's a bit of muddiness in the low-end and there seems to be a dip somwhere in the mids, but for $200 they sound great. If I really wanted incredible lows, I would have to shell out $500 for a professional subwoofer like everyone else... for the price, this system is great and I totally recommend it.