Manual: http://service.us.panasonic.com/OPERMANPDF/SHAC300.PDF

Anybody have any experience with this little guy? It handles AC-3 RF according to the manual.

I'm thinking about picking one up for my first experience with surround sound.

I had one of these similar to this one. The one I had also decoded DTS.

No, it does not have an RF Demodulator built in. You'll notice on the back that none of the connections say "AC-3 RF." They are merely digital inputs. The instructions also do not show how to connect an LD player, just a DVD player.

You have to remember, that initially, Dolby Digital Surround was called "AC-3 Dolby Surround" so just because it says "AC-3" doesn't mean it will demodulate a Dolby Digital signal from LD.

So really, it isn't really recommended if you're hoping to get digital surround sound from an LD player. Maybe if it decoded DTS as well, so you could get that and matrix Dolby Surround from LD, but as it stands, I'd pass.

I think it won't accept the rf input coming from a ld player
It has an ac-3 input but not a dedicated ac-3rf input.
I never owned that specific technics but in my experience stand alone decoders always have a seperate ac-3rf coaxial input for ld players only!
sony ep90es ep9es denon avd-2000 etc all feature a dedicated input for rf signals.
My guess is this works with pcm DD coming from a dvd player etc...


Always happy to hear if I'm wrong

seperate decoders like sony ep90es & denon avd-2000 all have ac-3rf input for laserdisc. The good thing about these models is they all have a digital out making it a nice looking rf demodulator. you can get the demodulated signal from the optical output with both models mentioned above.
If a decoder has analog outs only it's a real challenge setting the levels, crossovers etc...

And just to be certain (taken from the manual you linked):



So no, it will not demodulate Dolby Digital from LD.

Damn! Thanks for the information. I should have read the manual more closely.

Ead theatermaster is a cool decoder too but I dont think it has rf input. Technics machines of this era are solid.