Technics SH-AC500D

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Technics SH-AC500D
For the price, you can't beat it!!
You can find it in the web for $200 to $300.
Remember, you get AC-3 and DTS!!

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Technics SH-AC500D
The audio quality seems to be quite good. At least I can't hear any hiss or noise when plugged into my NAD T-750 amp. I haven't compared this decoder to any others, nor have I put it through its paces with ultra-high-end equipment, but it sounds great to me.

There are some really nice features on this thing, but also a few rough edges.

On the plus side, there's a dynamic range compression switch, which lets you compress the audio dynamic range (go figure) so you can listen to movies at low volume without losing the dialog and other quiet sounds. On the minus side, the button for turning compression on and off is only on the remote control. (That's what I mean by rough edges.)

The decoder also gives you wonderful control over mix-down. You tell it what speakers you actually have and it will appropriately mix the 5.1 signal down to whatever is available. This was great for me, as I don't have a subwoofer. It mixes the LFE channel into the speakers I selected. On the minus side, this feature doesn't work on DTS signals -- only on Dolby (all varieties).

It also has a test noise generator and the ability to configure the relative volumes and delays of your speakers. This also comes in very handy when all your speakers are not identical (or are at varying distances). Once again, this control is only on the remote, but that's not so surprising since you need to calibrate this sort of thing based on your listening position.

The only other annoying rough edge on this thing is that it doesn't auto-switch between Dolby and DTS decoding. It auto-detects what kind of digital signal it's getting, but it won't switch to the proper decoder. You have to press the Surround or DTS button respectively. On the plus side, before you do that, it's silent -- it doesn't blast you with noise or anything really awful.

And it has a 6-channel pass-through so you can daisy chain future decoders as necessary without having to do the cable-shuffle on your amplifier.

All in all, this is a great little decoder which really can't be beat for the price. Every other DTS decoder either came as part of an amplifier (I wanted to keep my NAD amp) or cost a small fortune. I managed to pick this up for $300 retail. $350 is the MSRP.

Oh, and it comes with all the cables you'll need: 6 channels of 3' RCA cables and a 3' optical cable. That was a nice touch.

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Technics SH-AC500D
I give it a 9 for audio quality, since it sounds great to me, but I have to believe that a studio-grade decoder (many thousand $) will sound better.

I give it a 9 for features, since it does everything you could want, but for the rough edges mentioned above.

Overall Rating: 9
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Technics SH-AC500D
your price sucks

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Technics SH-AC500D
the system seems to have two flaws.
one it does not auto switch between DD and DTS
two it has no built in video switch.

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Technics SH-AC500D
What more could you ask for the price. DTS, AC3, Midnight Theater, Bass Management, etc, etc.

Overall Rating: 9
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Technics SH-AC500D
very, very good unit for the price.
i previously had a yamaha ddp-1 but upgraded because of the dts and volume control. no hiss,
i have my hollywood plus' sp/dif output and sb live! value's digital out connected to it and use it as a preamp to my klipsch promedias.
sound kicks but.
btw, the newer units DO down mix dts.
i got mine for $169 + tax at the wiz (open box)
i've seen it on ebay for 200-250

john kahng

jkahng at hotmail dot com

Overall Rating: 9
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Technics SH-AC500D
Excellent price, worth every penny. This product allows the user to upgrade 2.0 surround to 5.1 without any additional equipment or cost. In addition you can listen to DTX cds. No other product on the market like it.

Overall Rating: 10
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Technics SH-AC500D
I Give this DD/DTS Decoder a 5 star rating because it offers good sound plus I
paid $50 for it brand new out of the box at sears at a closeout price. Paul...

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Technics SH-AC500D
the best AC-3 Decoder all over the world!!!!!!!!

Overall Rating: 10
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Technics SH-AC500D
Does this support 4 channel or 6 channel audio. i want to use it for my computer, but it needs to support 4 channel 3d audio.

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Technics SH-AC500D
Just what I needed for surround sound with separate amplifiers. Works great.

Overall Rating: 10
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Technics SH-AC500D
OTTIMO!!!!

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Technics SH-AC500D
Works well with Technics SA-AX7 amplifier.

Overall Rating: 10
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Technics SH-AC500D
Anyone know where I can still get one?

Thanks!

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Technics SH-AC500D
Simple Dolby Digital/DTS decoder. No fancy features, but low priced. Sound quality is good. I use it with my computer and Xbox for surround sound gaming.

Overall Rating: 7
Sound Quality:7 Features:4 Ease of Use:9 Value:8
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