0302WHC07 Panny'+Mission s

18/12/02

5:00 PM

Page 74

Separates System: 1,050

Mission Statement

Panasonic DVD-XVDVD Player Panasonic SA-XRReceiver Mission Fs1 5.Speakers If you want to take the separates route to home cinema heaven, read on, as we assemble a super-stylish system from Mission and Panasonic components
ts hard to imagine a more glamorous-looking home cinema separates system. This months blend of Panasonic electronic components and Mission speakers oozes class and has to be the slimmest home cinema separates system out there. Panasonic is known for its stylish home cinema lineup, but the DVD-XV10 player and SA-XR10 receiver exceed even the companys own exacting high standards and they have to be among the most desirable set of components we have seen. Despite their different duties, Panasonic has gone to great lengths to make the two products look identical and, with the exception of the large volume control on the receiver, it is almost impossible to tell the two components apart. Each has a slender front panel, measuring a fraction over 5cm high, and the chrome-effect trim and cool-blue display combine to produce jaw-dropping good looks. We selected the Mission Fs1 speaker package as the ideal partner for the Panasonic components, based on its super-slim NXT sound-panel technology
and stunning performance. The slimline speaker package is all about style and its silver grilles and slightly curved cabinets are the perfect match for the sleek-and-shiny Panasonic components.

Stand and deliver

The package comes with a very comprehensive arrangement of mounting applications and can be stand- or wall-mounted, depending on your preferences. For an extra 50, you can buy a set of custom-made floorstanders that give the Missions an elegant lift when placed either side of the TV. The subwoofer is an angular model and fits neatly into the corner of the room. All speaker wiring is routed through the sub, but despite the odd connectivity problems and various mounting applications, the package lives up to Missions plug-and-play claim, and is very easy to install. Its amazing what you can squeeze into a tiny box, and despite the Panasonics compact dimensions, they are well equipped to deliver
the best in home cinema performance. As well as digital surround sound processing, theres Dolby Pro-Logic II processing for digital-like surround sound from stereo material, and the DVD player sports a handy RGB-enabled Scart socket for easy hookup and the best-quality pictures to a suitably equipped TV. System setup is a breeze and the remote handsets for both the DVD player and receiver are easy to operate. Onscreen menus just keep getting better and Panasonics ones are always easy to navigate around. Theres even a quick setup menu to help you install the system to your particular requirements as speedily as possible.

Gold blend

We select our separates-based systems to achieve the best performance. So it it not be accident that all the components work well together and that the Mission speakers blend easily with the Panasonic DVD player and receiver to form a well-balanced home cinema system. Pictures from the DVD-XV10 DVD player are flawless with rich, vibrant colours that demand your attention. Blacks look solid and seem to dig a little deeper than usual, and the picture balance

Mission Fs1 5.1 speakers

The slimline satellite speakers use NXT sound-panel technology to deliver a knockout performance
What Home Cinema February 2003

5:01 PM

Page 75

Test Scenes

The right balance
Picture balance is excellent and delivers the kind of performance that is usually reserved for more upmarket DVD players

Good Points

Gorgeous looks, great picture quality and immersive surround sound performance

Bad Points

Audio muting when selecting disc menu options gives an annoying audible click. Stereo sound can be a bit harsh

Punching its weight

The Fs1 speaker package is ideally suited to home cinema sound and packs a surprising amount of punch with action effects

Overall

The perfect balance of great looks, plus top-notch pictures, with top surround sound performance to match

Freedom of speech

Dialogue is very clear and distinctive without being too bright, and the system manages to capture every nuance of Haley Joel Osments whispery voice throughout A.I. The subwoofer is not the deepest-sounding model we have come across, but it provides plenty of energy as the bikers terrorise the scrapheap in search of Mecha for the Flesh Fair. Our only grumble concerns the poor audio muting as the system

Ratings

Style Ease of use Features Picture Sound Value Overall

Vocal harmony

Dialogue is clear and detailed and the Fs1s capture every nuance of Haley Joel Osments whispery voice throughout the movie

Further Info

Call or visit www.panasonic.co.uk Call or visit www.mission.co.uk

5555555555

Panasonic DVD-XV10 DVD player
This players pictures are flawless with rich, vibrant colours that will blow you away
Panasonic SA-XR10 receiver
The airiness of this receivers sound will make you feel that you have been placed straight into the film
A.I. Artificial Intelligence
combines to deliver the kind of sharpness and detail that brings movies like A.I. starkly to life. Its the kind of picture presentation that is usually reserved for more upmarket DVD players, and shows that you can have elegant separates components that deliver top-notch performance. The same can be said for the surround sound performance, and the SA-XR10 receiver matches well with the Mission Fs1 speaker package. It delivers a spacious sound and surrounds you with an airiness that makes you feel as though you have been placed straight into the movie itself.

detects the presence of a signal and emits an audible click every time an option is selected from a discs menu screen. This is a minor, but irritating, flaw. The Fs1 is less suited to two-channel stereo playback but makes a decent stab at reproducing music in Dolby Pro-Logic II surround music mode and is one of the most involving surround sounds we have heard from stereo material. This blend of Panasonic and Mission separates easily adds up to the best-looking separates system around, and proves that it is possible to get a stylish home cinema by mixing and matching components. Its performance in surround sound easily makes the grade and the combination of great looks, performance and reasonable price make this a home cinema system to die for.

0306wv37 Panny 37 TV

10/4/2003

4:42 pm

Page 56

PANASONIC TH-37PW5

37in widescreen Nicam plasma screen

SPECIFICATIONS

FEATURES
37in VGA 852 x 80-pixel resolution (up to UXGA compressed); NTSC/PAL/Secam compatible; 525i, 480i, 625i, 575i, 525p, 480p, 625p, 575p, 750p, 720p, 1,125/60i, 50i, 24p compatible formats; 3,000:1 contrast ratio; 500cd/m2 brightness; Real Black Drive System; Adaptive Brightness Intensifier; built-in progressive scan; optional tuner box and terminal board (500), wall bracket, stand & detachable stereo speakers; multiple aspect ratios; 3:2 pulldown detection (NTSC only); contrast, brightness, colour, tint, sharpness adjustment; white balance (adjustment of red and blue levels); black extension; horizontal and vertical position and size adjustment; noise reduction; four picture modes; three colour modes; clock phase; 3D Y/C filter; virtual surround mode; music and speech modes; off timer

PLASMA PEACH

It may prop up Panasonics plasma range, but theres nothing cheap and nasty about the TX-37PW5. Marco Bilello enthuses about this hang-on-the-wall stunner
The 3,000 TX-37PW5 is Panasonics most affordable plasma to date, but thats not its chief claim to fame. Like the TH-42PW4 (May 02 issue) its quoted as having the highest contrast ratio available in a plasma, rated at an amazing 3,000:1. These claims must always be taken with a pinch of salt, but theres only one way to be sure. The TX-37PW5 is somewhat dull aesthetically, with an appearance thats far more commercial than consumer. At least the dashing slim frame injects a touch of glamour. Basic inputs comprise a 15-pin VGA PC input with stereo audio support, a 9-pin RS232C port and two pairs of springclip terminals for attaching optional speakers. However, the optional TU-PT600 tuner box is available for 500, and is connected to a terminal board that slots in the back. This attractive unit resembles Panasonics DVD-XV10 deck. It outshines the screen, especially the glorious semi-mirrored finish. Under a flap on the front panel youll find S-video, AV inputs and a headphone jack. Rearwards lie
Chunky but a breeze to use
three Scarts (two of which take RGB) and component video inputs. Unfortunately, theres no DVI input or digital audio connections. The displays basic remote offers one-touch access to picture, sound and setup menus. The same can be activated by the tuners more extensive zapper, which also controls teletext and Panasonic DVD decks/VCRs. Its a cinch to use with the clearly flagged and well-positioned buttons. Auto tuning does its stuff as soon as the screen is turned on, storing channels in the correct order. The onscreen menus are a paragon of design and identical to those used by Panasonics CRT TVs. Features are excellent. The display boasts a natural VGA resolution of 852 x 480 pixels, but is capable of compressed UXGA with signals from a PC. The display can deliver 720p PAL progressive scan images and features 3:2 pulldown detection, although only with NTSC sources. As mentioned earlier, the claimed contrast ratio is a massive 3,000:1, with brightness rated at 500cd/m2. The Real Black Drive System is key to the high contrast rating. Conventional plasmas tend to illuminate blacks, thus reducing contrast. But the TH-37PW5 decreases the intensity of pre-discharge emissions, which delivers deeper blacks. The displays built-in prog scan is applied to all signals, reducing
flicker and image lag to suit the dot matrix of the screen.

SOCKETS

Panel: RS232 in; VGA input with PC stereo audio in; display in; springclip speaker terminals Tuner box: RF in; three Scarts (two RGB); component video input; stereo audio input; stereo audio output; display out; S-video input; composite video in; stereo audio in; headphone minijack

PERFORMANCE

The contrast ratio may not reach 3,000:1, but its still very impressive. In Moulin Rouge, Ewan McGregors dinner jacket is as black as the day the costume-maker created it. The greyscale is excellent, too, providing good definition to shaded areas of the picture, while the colour range is astounding. The kaleidoscopic swirls of colour on the can-can dancers dresses are fiercely vivid. Pictures are also incredibly stable, with virtually no image lag or smearing trailing moving objects. Weaknesses are negligible, although there is a little grey pixel noise which makes edges look slightly soft and skin tones a little pitted. Its an occasional and minor glitch, though. Even from a sub-standard RF feed images are impeccably vivid, with hardly any grain or noise. Overall, the TH-37PW5 may be Panasonics most affordable plasma, but it punches above its weight. Picture quality is sensational, with the black level in particular meriting high praise. This allows the vibrant colours to appear all the more spectacular. The built-in progressive scan plays an influential role, ensuring that moving images remain smooth and solid at all times. A stunning effort from Panasonic s

DIMENSIONS

930(w) x 89(d) x 550(h)mm

WEIGHT

25kg Panasonic www.panasonic.co.uk

CONTACT

TEST DATA
Colour: excellent. Minimal bleed, no noise and solid edges Geometry: perfect Frequency response: excellent. Clear all the way to 5.8MHz

VERDICT

WHATS GOOD
Colours; contrast; moving images; ease of use

WHATS BAD

Slight noise and soft edges; connectivity without tuner box and terminal board

OVERALL

As close to plasma perfection as youll get for 3,000
PICTURE.77777 FEATURES.7777 EASE OF USE.77777 VALUE.77777 OVERALL.77777
J U N E s W H AT V I D E O W I D E S C R E E N E N T E R TA I N M E N T