With a wide range of home theater systems available, which one best balances quality and price? The answer is the Panasonic SC-PT960. At approximately $500, the SC-P960 is not ridiculously expensive, but not too cheap as to make you think it is a piece of junk. The only thing that could be added to make this home theater system the best value available would be the addition of a Blu-Ray player. Despite that, the SC-PT960 offers superb sound and value for those looking to upgrade their entertainment room, but do not want to spend upwards of $1000.

The Panasonic SC-PT960 gives you a lot for your money. It comes with 5.1-channel surround sound speakers, wireless rear speakers, HDMI upscaling to 1080P, iPod dock, five-disc changer, and it’s easy to set up. The most interesting addition is the wireless rear speakers. After spending some time playing with the Panasonic SC-PT960, I found that the wireless speakers work incredibly well. There is no lag, interference, or other problems that plague many wireless speaker systems. In addition, the included 6.5 inch powered subwoofer is extremely powerful for its size. It provides deep, powerful bass to make your movie watching experience that much better.

The SC-PT960 also has many features that are very useful. The unit has a “Whisper Surround Sound” mode that is supposed to deliver the surround sound experience at a lower volume, as to not disturb your neighbors. This is very handy for those who live in a condo or apartment. In addition, the unit comes with an integrated iPod dock which, when connected displays a full iPod menu on your TV screen. As the iPod is the dominant mp3 player, many will find this feature awesome.

Despite its limited connectivity, the Panasonic SC-PT960 delivers powerful, clean sound and many useful features for a fraction of the cost of other systems. If you want to greatly improve your TV and movie viewing experience but are on a budget, then the Panasonic SC-PT960 is your best bet.

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