Panasonic SC-DT300
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CNET Editors' Review
- Reviewed by: Steve Guttenberg
- Reviewed on:
- Updated on:
The good: Beautifully styled, compact components; high-gloss, black sats; tiny sub; progressive-scan DVD player with DVD-Audio capability; DTS, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Pro Logic II surround processing; AM/FM tuner; way-above-average sound quality.
The bad: Display is too small to be informative.
The bottom line: Panasonic's dreamy kit looks and sounds great in small to medium-sized rooms.
Tantalizing technology
The DT300's understated, European look is a refreshing break from the more typical silver-plastic HTIB aesthetic. The two jewel-like, 7.5-inch-wide components are fully chromed--even the tops and sides are mirror-finished. Panasonic squeezed advanced digital-amplifier technology inside the A/V receiver, with the front and rear channels each getting 27 watts while the sub and center enjoy 35 watts apiece. Surround processing is limited to everyday DTS, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Pro Logic II.
Since the DT300 is working with size constraints, connectivity options are limited. Despite that fact, this little kit that could offers component- and progressive- (Y, Pb, Pr) video outputs for use with compatible TVs. Audio connections are sparse, and digital-audio jacks are nonexistent, which means that you won't be able to hook up a MiniDisc recorder via an optical connection. The DVD player is compatible with most DVD-Rs and DVD-A discs, plus DVDs, CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and MP3 CDs.
The left/right sats are rather substantial two-way speakers with 3-inch woofers and 1-inch dome tweeters. Unusually, these speakers use a biwire connection: the tweeter gets one set of connectors, and the woofer receives a different set. Panasonic provides all of the wires, and the owner's manual devotes an entire page to explaining the speaker-hookup procedures. The center and surround speakers each employ a single 2.5-inch driver. As noted, all of the sats are decked out in a classy, gloss-black finish. The pint-sized, 8-by-10-by-11.50-inch sub is sheathed in a black-wood veneer and boasts a 6.75-inch woofer.
Ease-of-use issues cropped up here and there--the receiver's display is just too small to be informative, for example. The remote has itsy-bitsy buttons that were impossible to locate in the dark, but it allows you to adjust the subwoofer level from your easy chair. Hide Review
Ex-movie theater projectionist Steve Guttenberg has also worked as a high-end audio salesman, and as a record producer. Steve currently reviews audio products for CNET and works as a freelance writer for Home Theater, Inner Fidelity, Tone Audio, and Stereophile. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET.
User Reviews
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"Great Sound! No real complaints!" By
Pros: Crystal clear sound for a smaller room, easy to use and setup, great design (I love how the display is stealth below the mirror)
Cons: Minimal connections, but if I'd wanted more I would've bought a full-fledged reciever. Occasionaly has a problem switching tracks on CD's... it doesn't work unless you switch the input and then switch back to DVD/CD
"Very good overall" By
Summary: I bought mine at J & R for $400. I am glad i bought the system. I put it in my room, so the sound is great. The only problem i found is that the dvd player makes alittle noise when it's playing. You might not notice it playing ... Expand full review
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