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.

0308WHC08 panny/mission system

6/19/03

2:42 PM

Page 27

Panasonic/ Mission system
his is the slimmest home cinema separates system around, with each of its wafer-thin components making a stunning space-saving statement. Comprising the Mission Fs1 speaker system, Panasonic XV10 DVD player and Panasonic SA-XR10 amplifier, its gorgeous. The speakers are available for around 450, while the amp/DVD package is approximately 600. It's almost impossible to tell the two Panasonic components apart, despite their different duties. Each has a slender front panel measuring just a fraction over 5cm high, and the cool blue display and chrome-effect trim looks stunning. The Mission Fs1 speaker package is based on NXT sound-panel technology, giving it a super-thin design with excellent sound performance. The versatile package can be stand or wall-mounted as supplied, or for an extra 50 you can add a set of custom-made floor stands that enable the speakers to be completely free standing, and make a big impression in any living room. The subwoofer is an unusual angular shape and is designed to sit in a corner of the room, out of sight. All the speaker connections are routed through the sub using the supplied custom cabling, but despite this oddity the Fs1 lives up to its plug-and-play claim and is easy both to install and integrate. The components in this system are certainly not thin on features. Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 soundtracks are handled as well as Dolby Pro-Logic II processing for digital-like surround from stereo sources. Panasonic has managed to find room on the DVD player for a Scart socket for top-notch RGB pictures when connected to a

Test Scenes

Spellbinding
Images from the XV10 DVD player have a great immediacy, energising the screen with rich and vibrant colours that demand your attention. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets has never looked better. Black levels are solid, details are high and even in the blackest parts of the Dark Forest you can make out more details in the shadows, adding an extra level of depth to the picture. For such a compact amplifier, the Panny delivers plenty of punch when attached to the Mission speaker package. It produces an airy sound that will stretch beyond your living room and transport you to the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Dialogue is very clear through the slim centre speaker and the system manages to capture every nuance of the actor's voices, sounding natural and full-bodied with the help of the sub. The subwoofer isn't the most powerful model around but its presence is felt to excellent effect as Harry chases the snitch around the Quidditch pitch. On the downside, the system doesn't perform nearly as well with stereo music, creating a diffused sound that makes it difficult to pinpoint instruments or vocals, resulting in a bit of a mush. However, switching to Pro-Logic II's music mode gives much more impressive results and the Mission speakers seem better equipped in surround sound than stereo. This Panasonic and Mission combination is one of the best-looking separate systems around, and its picture and surround sound movie performance are top notch. However, it isnt an all-round star performer; it is flawed with music and the sub isn't quite powerful enough for Harry and his friends. Further Info

Illuminated gloom

Subtle details are pulled from the darkest recesses of the image in the gloom of Hagrid's home

Giant-sized sound

Sound is spacious and fills the room while dialogue is clear and every nuance of Hagrid's powerful voice is perfectly captured

Good Points

Gorgeous looks, great picture and immersive surround sound performance

Bad Points

Audio muting when selecting disc menu options gives an annoying click; stereo sound can be bettered and the sub isn't that powerful

Overall

One of the best-looking systems around with great picture quality and surround sound, but lack of musicality means it's not an all-rounder

Ratings

Style Ease of use Features Picture Sound Value Overall
Call Panasonic or visit www.panasonic.co.uk Call Symphonix Limited or visit www.mission.co.uk

5555555566

What Home Cinema August 2003

Combination Systems

suitably-equipped TV set, and the amplifier provides sockets for you to connect external sources like a VCR or set-top box. Onscreen menus are up to the brand's usual high standards and there's even a quick setup menu to help you install the system to your particular requirements as speedily as possible.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets