OTHER TECH

Panasonic Ready to cut the cord?

The Short Form

$650 (WITH WIRELESS SURROUND KIT) / PANASONIC.COM / 800-211-7262

Plus

•Rapid, smooth disc handling. •Many customizable audio and video options. •Wireless surround option.

Minus

•Some amplifier strain at high volume. •Shallow soundstage on two-channel music.

Key Features

•Rated power satellites, 740 W total at 10% THD; subwoofer, 260 W at 10% THD •5-disc changer plays standard DVD and CD plus DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, JPEG, DVD-Audio, CD-R/RW, WMA, and MP3 •Progressive-scan video output •4 surround and 6 sound-field modes •Optional SH-FX50 wireless surround kit (includes wireless transmiiter and receiver for surrounds), $200 •Control center 17 x 2.75 x 16.625 in; 9 lbs •Front L/R satellite two 3.125-in woofers, 2.625-in dome tweeter; 48.625 in high including supplied stands; 9.625 lbs •Center two 2.5-in woofers, 2.375-in dome tweeter; 12.625 in wide; 3 lbs •Surround 3.125-in woofer, 2.375-in dome tweeter; 12.75 in high; 2.375 lbs •Bass module two 5.875-in drivers; ported; 11.25 x 15.875 x 20.5 in; 33.125 lbs

In Japan, professional pushers shove people into subway trains during rush hours. Panasonic must have used these same people to cram features into the SC-HT930 ($450) HTiB system. It plays nearly all discs except SACDs. Audio frills include multiple presets for EQ, along with music ambience modes and dialogue- and depth-enhancing modes for movies. Multiple picture presets optimize the image for film or video programs or your personal preferences. You could spend a week playing with all the possibilities. What really sets the SC-HT930 system apart, though, is the optional SH-FX50 wireless kit ($200), which eliminates the need to run wire to the rear speakers.

SETUP Installing the wireless kit (above right) involves plugging the card-like transmitter into a slot in the back of the SC-HT930's main console, plugging the kit's receiver/amplifier module into a convenient wall outlet at the back of your room, and then running short cables from the module to the surrounds. The system worked fine and didn't degrade the sound in my setup. There's also some assembly of the front speaker stands, but it's rare when a system in this price range includes speaker stands at all, and even rarer when the stands are as nice as these.

MUSIC PERFORMANCE I spun the new Dar Williams CD My Better Self to soak in some two-channel music. This disc layers plenty of players around Williams, and it's a challenge for any system to articulate them all cleanly. The Panasonic intimately reproduced her expressive voice with fairly good left to right imaging on a shallow soundstage. Overall, I'd rate the sound as good, lacking only a bit of depth and articulation.

I returned to Bonnie Raitt for music in surround. She sang "I Will Not Be Denied," and the DVD-Audio recording filled in the depth missing from the two-channel mix with a well-balanced image. The system clearly revealed the body in her voice - that special little edge that makes her vocals stand out.

MOVIE PERFORMANCE I turned once again to the near-comic shoot-'em-up Sahara to stress the Panasonic's movie capabilities. I found no bullet holes in my home theater, but the sound did raise my heart rate a few notches. Though the system blasted explosions into the room at significant volume, the bass module couldn't go low enough for truly convincing bass. And the more the soundtrack poured on battle effects, the less distinct each became, indicating some amplifier strain. On the other hand, voices sounded natural and dialogue remained clear even during the frenzy of battle. If you're willing to forgo playing the system really loud, it can deliver a thrilling sonic experience.

OPERATION Panasonic grasped that people using this system want instant gratification. Load a disc, and it spins up quickly, revealing its contents in a matter of seconds. The system even sets the appropriate playback mode for the source material automatically. Panasonic also provides a convenient key on the remote to adjust the bass level, which allowed me to easily optimize the sound in my room for movies or music.

BOTTOM LINE The SC-HT930 brings home theater to nearly any room without maxing out your credit card. Impressive styling accompanied by reasonably good audio performance and a bevy of features makes it an attractive package. And the option of going wireless on the surrounds, with no sacrifice in sound quality, recommends it for many installations.