Panasonic SC PT960 Deluxe 5 DVD Home Theater System

Got the new HDTV? Get the sound that goes with hi-def. Panasonic’s SC-PT960 Home-Theater System is a complete system with 6 speakers, a 5 disc DVD - CD changer, a radio, and 1200 watts pure power! 1080p up-conversion via HDMI from standard definition (720 x 480 pixels) images from DVDs to display on HDTV (1920 x 1080 pixels). Get the most out of your HDMI-compatible HDTV, with sharp and exceptionally detailed high-resolution images. And unlike ordinary video up-converters that produce images with thicker edges and decreased sharpness, the HD Enhancer keeps edges crisp and clear, for outstanding detail. Super Surround puts you in the action with lifelike sound from every angle, and a Four-Step Subwoofer Level Control puts you in command, with rich sound effects you can hear and feel. They also come equipped to deliver exceptional sound quality from portable audio players and other new music sources. Go ahead and listen to music on your iPod by adding the included Universal Dock for iPod, or tune into your favorite XM stations. Output Power - Home Theater Mode (RMS) Total Power - 1200W - Front - 250W x 2 (1kHz, 6 ohms, 10% THD); Center - 250W (1kHz, 6 ohms, 10% THD);Surround - 100W x 2 (100Hz, 4 ohms, 10% THD); Subwoofer - 250W XM Satellite radio ready Stereo analog audio input Front panel minijack audio input for MP3 players Video output for TV, composite, component video, and HDMI (version 1.3a) Panasonic iPod dock included Remote control DVD Changer/Receiver(WxHxD) - 16-15/16 x 2-15/16 x 16-11/16 Two Front Speakers -

* Dual 2-1/2 drivers

* Dimensions(WxHxD) - 9-15/16 x 44-1/8 x 9-1/4

Center Speaker -

* Dual 2-1/2 drivers

* Dimensions(WxHxD) - 10-5/8 x 3-11/16 x 3-3/4

Two Wireless Rear Speakers -

* 2-1/2 driver

* Dimensions(WxHxD) - 3-5/8 x 5-5/8 x 3-3/4

Subwoofer -

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Great system for the price.
This is a good system for the price compare to some systems. I would recommend this system to someone who does not want to spent alot of money on a home theater, but get a decent one at the same time. Set up is pretty self explanatory, but what’s confusing is the remote setup. I’am still trying to set it up the way I like it. I see a improve everytime I change something, so read the manual throughly. Also get a HDMI cable. ( A MUST, WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT!!!) Ipod feature is cool. Makes the floor shake and the sound is very good. Rear speakers a little weak, but by making the appropriate adjustments, they sound good. Above all else, READ the manual so you get the most benefit from it.

4 Stars Decent for minimal use, or if you only watch DVDs
For the price, this is a decent system. The speakers have a decent range, and the AM/FM functionality is very basic, but works. I do not have an iPod compatible with this system, but if the menu system is anything based upon it’s ’setup’, it’d be much more pleasurable to buy a headphone adaptor and connect it to the rear of the unit, instead.

The DVD player is functional, if not cumbersome. The menu system is incredibly obnoxiously early-90s technology; Changing settings can cause it to stop playback - so you get to restart your DVD from the beginning.

It has no ability to play non-region DVDs, so memories made on your computer will likely not play, nor will many independent releases.

With only the single stereo input, you’re unlikely to ever use your rear speakers with an external input device. The Dolby Pro Logic available (attempt to fake 5.1 from 2.1 audio, basically) has 4 entirely pointless settings, none of which work very well - The Music setting will cause the subwoofer to boom, but you can’t hear the voices; and other settings are virtually indistinguishable from standard stereo.

If you don’t mind the extreme limitations of this unit, it does it’s job of playing region 1 DVDs, and it does it fairly well.

If you want anything more than a sub-$50 DVD player with a 5 disc changer connected to it, and built-in speakers, keep looking.

4 Stars Good System for the Price
The Good:

The quality for the price. For around $400 it is a good system: 5.1 surround audio, good bass, wireless rear speakers, iPod docking station, FM/AM, Aux, digital optical audio input (Toslink), 5-disk CD/DVD changer, multi-format CD/DVD player, good highs/mid/lows in music, lots of options on configuring the system, good directions.

The Bad:

Only 1 HDMI output (no HDMI input!), non-universal remote (I hate using multiple remotes too, GRRR!), WEAK rear speakers, DVD upconverter sucks, waste of space with front speakers (only 50% of the tower is actual speaker).

I was so happy to get this unit knowing all the options it had, especially wireless rear speakers. Not having the hassle of running wires was great, but those rear speakers are weak. I have the decible output to the rear speakers max’d out and it’s still not where I’d like it. I WISH I could use the remote to operate the TV, or have another remote to operate this home theater system but no luck

My only other gripe is the upconverter. I played around with it on a few movies and I noticed they looked better in 480p. In 1080p the movies have too much visual distortion/noise. I’ve been playing most of movies in 720p.

I am very pleased with the amount of bass the unit puts out. The overall quality of music very good actually. The iPod docking station is a very nice feature.

If this were a high end system I would be disappointed, but this was only $400, which is considered entry-level, and because of it I am very pleased.

1 Star Not what I was led to believe
Was led to believe this unit had wireless rear speakers

Not true

This unit has a wireless rear receiver with 2 speakers that are to be placed on opposite sides of the room that must be wired to it. Hard to do without tripping over wires on your wireless rear speakers.

Also Rear speakers are not very loud. You rarely hear anything from them and what you do hear is not very loud.

3 Stars A good entry level system
i own a 67inch samsung tv. my family refers to it as our imax. so i decided it was time for us to get our first home theater system. i did a little reserch and landed on this one. it was a definite upgrade from the tv speakers. it made watching movies way more fun… BUT i’m pretty into sound, and i was a little dissapointed with the limited tweeking the system gives you esp with eq. i was also suprised that the systems volume limit isnt higher. they told me at the store it would get louder with better speaker wire. there is also limited inputs… so for these reasons i took it back. for me its worth spending potentiall another 500 to 1000 to get a more… but for the money if your on a budget, i think its a good system. especially if this is your first, or you havent had one. the bass is good and you get good sound. the rear wireless speakers is a plus to me. when you upgrade to better systems you lose that feature.

so i liked it, but didn’t love it.

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