Price Paid:  $320.00

Summary:
Its a great over all "Mini" system. Powerful Sound, the ability to store 51 CDs is a MEGA plus. I paid 320 for it and its defintately worth more than that.

Weaknesses:
None that I can think of and Ive had it since late 99.

Price Paid:  $400.00

Summary:
Great product! I love it! Great surround sound, excellent CD cataloging, an overall hit!

Summary:
Aside from buying a home stereo, it's the best and largest "mini" system you can buy.

Great sound at all volume levels, easy to use 51 cd changer.
CD-Text feature that reads the encoding off of the cd, or if the cd does not support it, allows you to enter your own information, so the jog button displays what cd's are in the "jukebox".

Surround sound feature is pretty poor. Center channel is ok, but rear channels are way too weak and produce virtually no sound unless 1" from your ears.

Never used the karaoke feature yet, but it's always good to have i guess, 2 microphone inputs.

1 auxiliary input so you can pipe your tv/vcr through it.

Sounds great, well worth the money.

WAY better sound than the SC-AK25 model, the extra power makes a HUGE difference, go BIG!

( cd's will fall inside if you tip it with cd's in the jukebox. Grab a screwdriver and get them out yourself, just pop the case off, just don't touch the capacitors! )

Strengths:
Really great bass from the 2 8" Subs.
CD-Text feature is great.

Weaknesses:
Surround sound is quiet, center and rear channels are weak.

Similar Products Used:
Sony, Pioneer
Panasonic SC-AK25

Summary:
This is definitely the best MiniSystem you can buy for this price, and I don't think you should buy a MiniSystem if you are willing to pay more. I would pay $500 for this, which is full price for this model in most stores, but I got it on sale because it was going on clearance to make way for the new Panasonic 330 watt system, which would probabaly be better, unfortunately it only has a 5 CD changer. I only payed $380 for this system, and I think it is well worth it. Though the Dolby Pro-Logic mode is not the greatest, and the center channel is not the greatest like the last reviewer said, it is still well worth the money. The only thing the center channel has problems with is volumes up past the half-way level, but it is only 35 watts anyway, which is still pretty good considering that is what some MiniSystem's front speakers are. The best thing about this system are the front speakers. They are incredibly powerful for their size! This is due to the fact that they have a built in subwoofer. This alsol allows the system to reach lower than other MiniSytems. Another great feature is the 50+1 CD changer, which is suprisingly compact. It incorporates a different design than other CD changers, all the CD's are lined up next to eacher with less than a 1/8" gap between them. So instead of the all the CD's moving on turntable to be changed, a device moves back and forth to grab them. This is a much more practical design than traditional changers, and it is also very quick. If you did not see the system but only heard it at high volumes, even from accross the street from your home, you would undoubtedly think it was much larger. There is little distortion, even at high levels, on the two front speakers. This is a great system for music, and a doubles as a great home theater system for small rooms. It also has a 1 year warranty, which I did end up using when all of my CD's fell out of the changer into the back of the system. I took it to an Panasonic authorized repairer, and they charged me $75 to get all the CD's out. They said they needed a reciept for proof it was under warranty, but I couldn't find it. So I called Panasonic and told them the story, and they authorized the repair under warranty, so the repair shop reimbersed me $75. Panasonic did not question me at all. This is a great system, for a great price, with a great warranty. I would reccomend it to anyone who wants a MiniSystem that can shake the walls. I am giving it a rating of 5, even though the Dolby Pro-Logic is not the best, but it is well worth it for the money.

Summary:
Wow! This thing is kick-ass for the price. It has a high, mid and low speaker, then it has a separate enclosure in the same speaker bin for the "Super Woofer" which is air ported in the back. It is a clever design, and it does sound full. The Pro-Logic mode is ok, but the center channel doesn't produce excellent sound, and the rears are also for simple rear cues, and don't produce a large range. I have it coupled with the Cerwin Vega HT-12 powered 12" sub, and it is very well ballanced with that (I'm still young, so I like my bass!) Alone it sounds great, but no floor shaking. Not much expansion on the unit, the only plugs on the back are the RCA jacks for your VCR. No other audio in/outs, nor a sub out. Panasonic makes Great Quality Products and I think this'll be around for years in my house.