|   Panasonic SA-HE100 and SA-HE200 A-V Receivers? | music_fan
Oct 24, 2002 2:01 PM | | Consumer Reports recently rated various home theatre compnents, and gave a #1 and Best Buy rating to the Panasonic SA-HE100. The specs aren't so impressive, but I'm wondering how important (for actual listening) getting the top numbers is. The SA-HE200 (about $100more) has more impressive specs, but is it worth it?
Here a few of the relevant specs. Both are Pro-Logic machines, MOS-FET outputs, enhanced Class H+ amplifiers. They both have tape monitros, and S-video and digital inputs and outputs, and tape monitors. They both have phono inputs.
They differ in power and THD. The HE100 runs @ 100 W, 40-20kHz@ 0.9%thd. The HE200 runs @ 100W, 20-20kHz @ .05%, and 130W @.9% thd. Both these ratings are into 6 ohms. BTW, the Panasonic website doesn't list an accuracy figure for the speakers.
The 40-20kHZ figure for the HE100 seems unimpressive, but when would you really hear the difference? Is this adequate, or would the sound really annoy after a while? Any comments on Panasonic generally?
I had a Panasonic VSX-401 for about 10 years which I gratly enjoyed, but the specs were better (.05% thd 20-20k at 100W). |
| SH-200 seem to have more "Dynamic Headroom" power.. | KiD SmokE
Oct 24, 2002 3:39 PM | | ....as it is evident from lower THD% for its rated output power (100w). Whether this will equal better sound depend on your type of speaker. If you have higher sensitivity speaker such as Klipsch then the answer is probably no, but if you have lower sensitive speaker, then added headroom power will probably yield a better sound (lower THD%=higher quality sound).
Whether added power/lower distortion worth $100 in itself is really another matter :)
Also note that SH-200 have 196kh/24 DAC capability (SH-100 96khz/24), and added A/V inputs (Analog and Digital). |
| re: Panasonic SA-HE100 and SA-HE200 A-V Receivers? | caldera
Oct 24, 2002 8:55 PM | | I wouldn't worry about that 40Hz figure. By not rating it down to 20hz (where most music has no content anyway) the power figure can be higher, technically & legally speaking. Since a 20Hz signal requires a lot of power to reproduce-and I am just making a REAL rough estimate here-if the Panasonic was tested for power output down to 20Hz the power output would be around 60 watts @6ohms. Trust me 60 watts played through average sensitivity speakers, in a normal-sized living room (i.e., a 3000sq.ft. house) is friggin' LOUD. And with Klipsches? Yikes, get out the earplugs. I just think marketing departments really love writing that nice round "100 watts" figure on the shelf tags, shipping cartons, websites, etc.
But that distortion figure worries me some-suppposedly the average human can't hear any distortion below 3%. But that .9% figure sure is pushing it.........
But as many say, its how it actually sounds with real speakers and a real room that is most important. And Sound and Vision magazine sure liked it a few months ago. If I remeber their review correctly, this little receiver drove six FULL range speakers at 70 watts simultaneously, but after a few minutes it shut itself off (temperature overload?). Pretty good for a $250 component.
So the SA-HE200 should have a heck of an amplfier section! and it comes with a free back-surround speaker (a Chevy-quality two way design).
Panasonic/Technics stuff is underated in my opinion. If they didn't make vacuum cleaners and nose hair clippers :^), admittedly they would have a better image. Well the Backstreet Boys have a great image, but talent-wise....know what I mean?
And if I didn't get a Panasonic I would get a Yamaha. Very nice, well put-together stuff but not inexpensive.
__/C\__ |
| re: Panasonic SA-HE100 and SA-HE200 A-V Receivers? | music_fan
Oct 25, 2002 4:37 AM | | Thanks for your encouraging comments on the Pansonic receivers. I have fairly ienefficient speakers, but--to maintain peace with wife and neighbors--I don't shake the walls with my music.
Glad you mentioned Yamaha. I auditioned a Yamaha RX-496. Although it had the clean Yamaha sound, it didn't seem to cover the bass with any authority, and was a bit "tinny" to my ears. The tuner section was, however, great. I'll give the Panasonic a run. |
| I don't think the SA-HE100 has a headphone jack. | markw
Oct 29, 2002 4:39 AM | | Something to consider with the wife and neighbors. Otherwise, I'd say it looks like a total winner in it's price range. S & V practically got down on their knees and bowed to it.
I think the 200 does, though. |
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