0804wv13 Panasonic SC-HT520

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12:37 pm

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Panasonic SC-HT520
An all-in-one system with an impressive spec list and DVD-Audio for under 250? David Smith checks to see if theres been an admin error
FEATURES Dolby Digital/DTS/Pro-Logic II decoding; component video output; progressive scan (NTSC); position memory; zoom; slow-motion; quick replay; repeat/random/program play; A-B repeat; picture mode; dialogue enhancer; bitrate display; dynamic range compression; display dimmer; speaker delay adjustment; subwoofer level; soundfield control; super surround; centre focus; AM/FM RDS tuner; dimensions: (main unit) 430(w) x 68(h) x 359(d)mm SOCKETS Front: headphones socket Rear: component video output; Scart (RGB capable); S-video output; composite video output; 3 stereo audio inputs; stereo audio output; Am/FM antennae connections; system cable socket Subwoofer: springclip speaker terminals; system cable socket CONTACT www.panasonic.co.uk
anasonic has been doing well in the all-in-one market recently, with notable systems like the SC-MT1 scoring highly in our tests. The SC-HT520 is a budget model, retailing at around 250, but it crams an awful lot of features into that price and looks like an instant contender for the budget-conscious buyer.

DESCRIPTION

Theres nothing unusual about the appearance of this system. It is a standard sub/sat speaker package, with amplification and speaker connections handled by the subwoofer. The main unit is slim and silver, while the sats arent so small that you worry about their performance. You may feel a twinge of doubt when you look at the spec sheet, however. With 5 x 60W pumped into the sats they are being asked to handle an awful lot of audio power. Likewise, the provision of DVD-Audio playback is welcome, but you have to wonder if the speakers are up to it. Dolby Digital, DTS and Pro-Logic II are the sound formats likely to get most use, and the system has a bundle of playback options for DVD viewing including slow-motion, programmed play and a zoom. The component video sockets at the rear are a real surprise at this price but progressive scan output is only available for NTSC discs. Still, there is RGB and S-video support for those who do not have a component-capable display, and the antennae sockets remind you that there is an AM/FM RDS tuner onboard as well. The satellite speakers carry a 65mm full-range cone with a quoted frequency
response as low as 88Hz. They tip the scales at a mere 0.73kg each. The centre box is horizontally mounted yet packs the same drive unit even though the frequency response is quoted a touch lower, at 84Hz. The active sub, which also carries the amplification for the other speakers, has a 170mm cone and rumbles down to 32Hz not exactly the depths of home cinema audio, but enough to give you a sense of deep bass. The overall aesthetic impression is one of a compact system that certainly looks better than its price might lead you to believe.

OPERATION

The sub works hard, routing power to the main unit as well as feeding the satellite speakers. You connect everything up to this and then attach an umbilical cord to the main unit. This is all straightforward, and the spring-clip terminals on the sub are pleasingly solid. Those on the satellites are less so, barely taking a grip on the supplied speaker cable and likely to baulk at anything more substantial. You can adjust speaker output levels for the centre and rear speakers from -6 to +6dB (the front left and right speakers cannot be tweaked, but as you will balance the other speakers in relation to their output this is not a problem). The subwoofer can be set to one of four levels. As is often the case, it is factory-set to its highest level, which is likely to be a touch more boisterous than most would prefer. Further sound options include a Sound Field Control function, which comes in

Heavy, Clear, Soft, Disco, Live, Hall and Flat modes, a Super Surround feature that adds surround ambience to stereo sources, and Centre Focus, which claims to make the centre channel sound as if it is coming from within the TV. In Picture Mode you can access controls for contrast, brightness, sharpness, colour, gamma and something called depth enhancer, which reduces the rough noise in the background to give a greater feeling of depth. Overall picture attributes can be controlled using preset levels labelled Cinema 1, Cinema 2, Animation and Dynamic, or you can set a user-defined combination.

PERFORMANCE

First impressions of this system are tainted by an over-enthusiastic subwoofer. We suspected this might be the case with the factory setting, and we found that
A typically useable Panasonic remote
The main unit is more stylish than the price suggests
Crank up the volume with this classy silver dial
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DVD home cinema system 250
trimming it down to the lowest level improves things. Level 2 is the best option for movie viewing, providing the necessary bass impact without booming. The overall sound experience is disappointing, however. There is no real sense of the separate speakers coming together to form a coherent whole. The subwoofer rumbles away in the corner while the little sat boxes are largely left to their own devices. These small speakers also tend to deliver a slightly grating sound, especially at high volume. The absence of a convincing midrange is the key problem. Steering of sound effects is good and there is a surprising amount of volume on

FACT FILE

G G G G
DVD-Audio playback 5 x 60W to satellites 200W subwoofer Dolby Digital/DTS/ProLogic II decoding G NTSC Progressive scan G MP3/WMA/JPEG playback
It crams in an awful lot of features for the price
offer, so perhaps those power handling figures werent fanciful after all. On music CDs the subwoofer needs to be knocked back to its lowest setting, but even then the result is far from impressive. Vocals are strained and listening to a whole album is not tempting. DVD-Audio discs reveal more detail in the music, and the surround effects are a welcome enhancement on standard CD sound, but the speakers cannot do the format justice. However, at this price you can hardly claim that youre paying much extra to have DVD-Audio onboard! A particular problem comes with bass heavy tracks, such as Steve Earles Transcendental Blues. Even at its lowest setting the sub booms uncontrollably and washes away a lot of the efforts of the satellites. DVD pictures are good, with strong colours but not the highest levels of detail that weve seen. RGB images from the Scart socket are engrossing, but the crystal clarity of the best decks is absent.

WHATS GOOD

Decent picture; nice design

WHATS BAD

Sound suffers at higher volumes
PICTURE SOUND FEATURES EASE OF USE VALUE ALSO CONSIDER.
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SAMSUNG HT-DS400 Samsungs new system offers better sound and a similar spec sheet, including DVD-Audio Reviewed: Jul 04 PANASONIC SC-HT900 Superior DVD-Audio playback and better pictures but it costs twice as much Reviewed: Nov 03

OVERALL VERDICT

A cost-effective home cinema solution but the audio is not of a very high standard

CONCLUSION

This is a budget system that delivers good pictures and average sound at a very appealing price. It is a system that needs to be kept in check ask it to do too much and the limitations in the audio performance will become apparent. Likewise, dont buy this if you are intending to build up a serious DVD-Audio collection. For home cinema use in a small-to-medium setup, however, this system could come into its own
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Component video outputs are a welcome addition at this price

0409WHC11 SYSTEMS GROUP TEST

7/21/04

10:53 am

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Mega Test Systems

TEST SCENE

OPEN RANGE

T BESY

Panasonic
The Panasonic SC-HT520 is an extremely good-looking one-box system that comes at a very affordable price. Stunningly styled and constructed with its amplification hidden inside the subwoofer, it boasts Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro-Logic II surround sound processing in addition to the ability to play back high-resolution DVD-Audio discs. An array of connections caters for every kind of television, with top-quality component video outputs topping the list. The SC-HT520 also features an RGB-enabled Scart, dedicated S-video and composite ouputs. The system is very easy to use. The glamorous remote control is well laid out, cables are colourcoded for quick identification and the brands usual high standards are incorporated in the clear and concise on-screen menus. Images from the Panasonic are almost flawless, with rich but wellbalanced colours and spot-on brightness and contrast levels. Surround sound is similarly impressive, providing a large, meaty sound thats very involving. And the subwoofer does a sterling job with any movie soundtrack. The clarity of voices and effects from DVD movies is particularly

U B#### #

HIGH NOON The final gunfight at the conclusion of Open Range needs a system that can replicate all the fast-paced action. The Panasonic SC-HT520 will not disappoint

SC-HT520 225

good, and sounds detailed without being forced or overstated. Music-wise the SC-HT520 plays DVD-Audio discs (albeit in their non-high-resolution format only) and is one of the best musical performers in this test. The Panasonic SC-HT520 is an extremely good-looking home cinema system with a performance to match. DVD movies sound tremendous and it would also make an economical replacement for a hi-fi system.With a great range of features, excellent performance and unbelievable price, its no wonder the SC-HT520 receives a WHC Best Buy.

RATINGS

Style Ease of use Features Picture Sound Value Overall ####$ ##### ##### ##### ##### ##### #####

WHC VERDICT

Panasonics most affordable system to date looks stunning and gives a top-notch performance. It represents a new breed of budget home cinema

RS EDITO## #

## ICE CHO

Samsung

HT-DS400 270
If youre looking to getting started in home cinema the Samsung HT-DS400 is one of the best and cheapest systems around. Samsung is knocking out some of the best-value, best-performing one-box systems on the market. The new HT-DS400 is no exception, with bags of style and features at a very affordable price. Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro-Logic II surround sound processing is included and the HT-DS400 is the first Samsung setup that is capable of playing DVD-Audio discs (a real rarity among budget-priced systems). Cables are colour-coded to aid setup and connections include a Scart to handle RGB and composite video signals. And you can hook up to external sources like a Sky+ box via an optical input. Comprehensive menus allow you make sound level and speaker delay adjustments to suit your room and youll be staggered by the audio quality, especially from DVDs. Picture-wise things are just as impressive colours are vibrant and black levels add a cinematic quality. Purchase the Samsung HT-DS400 and we guarantee that youll get an incredible bang for your bucks.

AVJ-X5 300

For the style-conscious home cinema buyer the Aiwa AVJ-X5 fits the bill, with a completely revamped look from the brand. Under the watchful eye of its parent company Sony, the Aiwa is a smart system with a futuristic feel that is clearly designed to appeal to a younger audience. The Aiwas features list and specification live up it its luxurious looks the system is equipped to handle both Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks, and MP3 and JPEG files stored on CD-R and CD-RWs are also catered for. Theres even a Karaoke facility! Setup is straightforward, with colour-coded speaker cables. A Scart socket takes care of RGB and composite video signals, while on-screen menus are easy to use (unsurprising as they are taken from Sonys own acclaimed menus). Picture-wise its clear that the AVJ-X5 comes from good stock, with impressive colours from DVDs via the RGB Scart output. The distinctive-looking speakers will immerse you in sound, while the subwoofer is no slouch when it comes to action effects. All in all, the AVJ-X5 is excellent value at just 300.

The Samsung boasts punchy sound and impactful pictures, and the addition of DVD-Audio is a definite plus. An attractive system at an attractive price
A funky-looking home cinema system that gives a good all-round performance and includes some interesting and unusual features for the price

62 WHC September 2004