Panasonic SC-PM39D 5-Disc Progressive-Scan DVD Home Theater System

by Panasonic

Product Details

Product Manual [3.45mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 15.1 x 20.5 x 10.9 inches ; 19.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 23 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0002472FK
• Item model number: SC-PM39D
• Batteries: 2 AA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,896 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Get the best of both worlds: a compact shelf stereo system that also doubles as a 30-watt home theater receiver and progressive-scan DVD player. The Panasonic SC-PM39D features a 5-disc DVD changer, 3-way bass reflex speakers, and built-in DTS, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Pro Logic decoding. It also includes a digital AM/FM tuner and feather-touch cassette deck with 9-track tape program sensor, enabling you to program your tape playback like a CD.

DVD playback features include variable zoom, cinema mode, and dialog enhancer. The SC-PM39D also offers both a preset EQ (Heavy, Clear, Soft, Vocal, Flat) and manual EQ, subwoofer output, component-video out, and S-video out.

In addition to DVD video discs, the SC-PM39D is also compatible with DVD-Audio, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, video and audio CDs, MP3, WMA, JPEG, and CD-R/-RW discs. It also supports HighMAT (High-Performance Media Access Technology), a technology codeveloped by Panasonic and Microsoft that improves the method of storing, arranging, and playing back digital photo, music, and video collections on recordable discs, such as DVD and CD recordable media.

Tech Talk
Dolby Digital: Digital audio compression technology developed by Dolby Laboratories that provides the same 5.1 discrete channels of high-quality digital audio found in Dobly Digital cinema audio systems. Because all of the channel data are recorded discretely, Dolby Digital offers good channel separation and little sound deterioration due to the digital channel data processing. It conforms to 5.1-channel surround sound. The rear channel is stereo, and there is a discrete subwoofer channel.

DTS: Digital audio compression technology developed by Digital Theater Systems that conforms to 5.1-channel surround sound. The rear channel is stereo, and there is a discrete subwoofer channel.

What's in the Box
Panasonic SC-PM39D home theater receiver/shelf system, remote control, batteries, and printed operating instructions.

Product Description

Panasonic SC-PM39D DVD Micro Hi-Fi Stereo System - This isn't a home-theater surround sound system but, rather, a desktop-size Micro stereo system that includes a DVD player. A DVD player also plays all forms of CD media including CDR and CDRW that have been recorded with MP3 and WMA files from the Internet. There's also an AM/FM digitally-tuned radio and an audio cassette recorder/player. Panasonic uses a hybrid stereo bi-amplifier that can send power separately to bass and tweeter speakers. This increases efficiency and produces greater clarity and realism. Preset EQ (Heavy, Clear, Soft, Vocal) and Manual EQ Audio Only Function Subwoofer Level Control and Subwoofer Output for Optional Subwoofer FM/AM Digital Synthesizer Tuner Feather-Touch Cassette Deck with 9-Track TPS (Tape Program Sensor) Remote Control Advanced Progressive-Scan DVD Cinema Mode with Dialogue Enhancer Component Video Out S-Video Terminal High Quality 3-Way Speaker System with 4 PP Mica Woofer, 2-3/8 PP Mica Ring Dome Tweeter and Super Tweeter, in a Down Port Bass-Reflex Speaker System for Rich Bass Reproduction Magnetic Shielding Detachable Speaker Grilles Energy Star Compliant

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Panasonic won me back..., June 14, 2004

By 

Eric Lozauskas "[e-mail]" (Fairfield, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic SC-PM39D 5-Disc Progressive-Scan DVD Home Theater System (Electronics)

For years I've avoided panasonic (bad previous history with the company's products), but this unit won me back. I was in the market for a small stereo system for my home gym room. I didn't want something overly boomy with thumping bass, or the opposite - no bass. I also am very picky with my sound. So there began my search.

I knew I had to get just the right one to have as close to perfect sound reproduction as possible. I looked at Sony's offerings and liked them, except for the lack of ability to customize the sound (to tweak it to perfection). One thing I absolutely hate is preset EQ settings. They are a fine starting point, but I have yet to find any good preset EQ (except none or clear perhaps). This stereo has the option to have manual sound equalizer (bass and treble controls)...nice touch!

When I heard this unit, I thought the sound was full, even and gorgeous! Not overly boomy/bassy, but very accurate sound reproduction. This could possibly be due to the 4 wires connecting each speaker to the stereo system (a separate pair each for the tweaters and the woofer in each speaker).

The true selling point of this unit was the fact it has a 5 CD/DVD changer! Component output, digital out for expansion, an AUX input, MP3/WMA playback, the list goes on and on. After finding the sound quality I wanted, it was time for considering looks and this unit is exquisite! The wood (wood-like) cabinets are a rich warm color and the silver speaker surrounds are gorgeous. I've left the speaker grills off, and the entire set looks wonderful. DVD playback has great quality, nice colors, etc - I have it hooked up to an LCD TV which hangs in that room.

...and sure, the price sounds expensive, but isn't quality worth the price? I have a feeling this will last me a long time (durability wise).

The only negative point I can find about this unit is the CD tray mechanism and the lack of controls from the front. Its nice, and I'm sure very well thought-out and designed (and has been used on all of the lesser panasonic micro stereo systems)....but the trays give a little too easily. I'm gentle with my equipment and am sure I won't have problems, but seriously look at those trays before considering this unit for a household with children who might not be so gentle. The controls are almost all from the remote, which I don't mind - but it makes testing in the store a pain since there was no remote where I bought it...

The brushed metal on the front and blue lighting effects make for a gorgeous unit. Go listen to this at the store - I think you'll really enjoy what you hear. Panasonic made a great one here!

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must buy it for what it's intended, February 10, 2005

By 

Michael A. Smalheer "zombieman" (Lyndhurst, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Panasonic SC-PM39D 5-Disc Progressive-Scan DVD Home Theater System (Electronics)

I love this stereo. I was looking for a small powerful stereo with a CD changer and the ability to connect an auxilliary audio source (XM MyFi). The speakers had to be small enough to fit on my desktop and not look silly.

I went to Best Buy and compared what they had in stock, and settled on this one, simply because it met all of my criteria, plus the speakers have 3 separate drivers - 4" woofer, 2-3/8" mid, 1" ceramic tweeter. Also, it can play virtually every format of music, which is great because I download tons of songs and I hate having to convert them to .wav files from .mp3. Also, it can play DVD-Audio and HDCD discs, both of which I have many of. Plus, it can play DVD-Videos, and it has component video outs, which I find amazing on such a small multi-tasking unit. I will probably never hook it up to a TV, but if I do, it's nice to know that I have that option. I managed to get it for $249.99, which according to some of the reviews I have read, is a steal at Best Buy.

Setup was a breeze - everything was color-coded - and I was up and running in about 5 minutes. The speakers fit perfectly on the desktop, and actually the wood veneer comes pretty close to matching the color of my desk. The main unit managed to fit into one of the cabinets in my desk, so all you see are the speakers.

I was quite surprised at how good it sounded. The highs were exceptionally clear, which the 1" tweeter has alot to do with, and the bass was powerful and rich, which is amazing for 4" drivers. I listen to a wide variety of music, from country to metal to techno to clasical, and everything in between, and I have spent the better part of 2 weeks playing around with different CDs to see if I could find a flaw in the sound. I still haven't. I think the techno/trance music is an especially good test for the speakers, because there is so much going on and all three drivers are being tested. So far, it sounds amazing. The amp has yet to fade out at all with extended bass lines or extremely hard bass hits. I have seen a few negative comments on the bass output. I just don't get where those comments are coming from. They must be people who like bass-heavy music and not true-sounding music. From my perspective, the music sounds just the way it was intended to sound. However, if you are a bass-nut, the unit offers a sub pre-out, which is simply amazing on such a small unit. I don't think an external sub is needed at all, but maybe somebody does.

Now, I said in the title that you must buy it for what it's intended. What I mean is that you should NOT buy this as a main home theater receiver. You will be very disappointed. I have a THX Ultra2 Certified Onkyo and very high-end speakers for that purpose, and I would never recommend anything less. However, if you are like me, and looking for a desktop or shelf system that sounds great and maintains a small size, then this is perfect. Also, I can see how I would have loved to have this when I first went to college. Small size, powerful sound, the ability to be a DVD player, all at a relatively cheap price. Perfect for any dorm room. I remember there were people who had Aiwa shelf systems that were twice as expensive and twice and large that produced half the sound quality, and they still had to have a separate DVD player.

I recommend this to anybody whose needs match the criteria I've laid out. I couldn't be happier. If you want a home theater system, do yourself a favor and buy the best receiver and speaker combo you can afford, not a mini shelf system.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, December 25, 2004

By 

manicm (Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Panasonic SC-PM39D 5-Disc Progressive-Scan DVD Home Theater System (Electronics)

Need a space-saving system with big sound? Buy this now!!

Panasonic have done really well with this baby. The sound is excellent with both music and movies. And the system is packed with features such as HDCD, HighMAT and JPEG decoders. Unusually, MP3 discs sound great here, and my tracks are 160Kbps!! Oh, the tuner sounds REALLY good too. The system sounds excellent even at low volumes. So there's some merit to the not-too-tasteless Bi-Amp logo in the front. It's very nearly perfect but...

I briefly tested DVDs on the system but was using the supplied cable for normal composite video, and the colours were a bit muted. But I suspect the crappy cable is the demon here, and anyway when I get my own TV I'll be using the component video outputs which should be much better. There's S-Video output too.

To nitpick further DVDs are reset when the system goes to standby, but luckily there's a memory function which is dead quick to use. The engineers were obviously on cheap drugs when they made this oversight. But there is a 5 disc memory, yes this system is a 5-disc changer!!

And lastly the remote, good luck if you have chunky fingers heh heh heh!

Tips:

The speaker cable lengths supplied are miserly, consider getting additional lengths, and don't worry the sound will not deteriorate. I've had to extend them by 4 metres with a different type and I bought cheapos, which means an extra 16 metres for myself as the Panny is bi-wired - which probably accounts in part for the great sound. A pain but worth it.

For music listening by all accounts play with the Equalizer but leave the Surround off, it's a bit too artificial. Leave the equalizer on, even if left on the flat Manual mode, the sound opens up a bit. The Audio Only mode makes no audible difference, so leave it off and save your chunky fingers!

The blue backlighting looks nice but there's a Dimmer if it gets distractive. Yes those engineers thought of everything but left a half-assed resume.

For movies, by all accounts play with the Surround!

All in all this is a great system. And in the States it's a no-brain bargain. And did I mention the speakers look great!! Take the grills off!