0310wv17 Panvy SCMT1

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PANASONIC SC-MT1

DVD-Audio home cinema system

All-round entertainer

David Smith tries out Panasonics 300 all-in-one system and cant believe how much the SC-MT1 offers for the money
When it comes to DVD-Audio, you dont know how good it is until you hear it. Panasonics latest home cinema in a box, the 300 SC-MT1, features DVD-Audio capability as well as the usual surround sound and DVD thrills, all wrapped up in a scrumptious package that is good enough to make you wish it was Christmas. The question is, can a sub-sat system do justice to the higher quality of DVD-Audio discs? Lets see. hand, despite having a plasticky feel. They dont look like they could handle much in the way of power, or churn out much bass. The spec sheet claims a bottom end of 110Hz, with the sub getting down to 40Hz. These ratings seem modest but achievable. Power output is rated at 45W per channel for the satellites (60W to the centre) and 170W for the subwoofer. Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro-Logic decoding are available, but Pro-Logic II is absent, which is a shame. Other functions include high-speed picture search, slow-motion and frame advance, repeat play, programmed play and A-B repeat. There is also a rather strange zoom feature, but more on that later.
Tricky to master, with multiple functions

DESCRIPTION

Helping out in the aesthetics department is the decision to put amplification in the subwoofer unit rather than the DVD deck. This allows the main unit to be small and leaves all the hard work to the sub. Connections on the back of the DVD deck include an RGB-capable Scart, S-video and composite video outputs, as well as a pair of stereo analogue audio inputs. The AM/FM antenna connections remind you that there is an RDS tuner onboard. Annoyingly, the manual teases you with the information that other parts of the world get to enjoy this system with component video outputs and progressive scan. Thats just rubbing our noses in it. The speakers are good-looking affairs that sit weightily in the
Classy on the outside, classy on the inside

OPERATION

Satellite speakers are connected directly to the back of the subwoofer. Although these connections are springclip types, they are sturdy. The sub is then connected to the main unit using a system cable, which is lengthy and allows you to place the two units as far apart as you want. System setup is achieved using the remote control, but this is more
No component video so no progressive scan
complicated than it need be due to the remote being multi-function. You have to select what you want to control (TV/VCR/Tuner/DVD) before the keys will work properly. Once youve mastered that little foible, things are straightforward, with the usual options being available. These include screen ratio, type of monitor (standard, CRT projector, LCD or plasma), NTSC output (PAL60 or NTSC) and video output (S-video, RGB or composite). Speaker levels can then be adjusted, with a test tone helping you to get output to your liking. The subwoofer can be set to one of four levels. As usual, it is factory-set to the highest level and needs to be tamed. Super Surround mode is available to get a sense of surround sound from stereo material, while Sound Field Control (SFC) can be set to Heavy, Clear, Soft, Disco, Live, Hall or Flat (equivalent to off). The Centre Focus function makes the centre channel output appear

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Specification

FEATURES Main unit: DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW (Video and VR mode)/DVD+R/DVD+RW/DVD-RAM/DVDAudio/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/MP3/WMA/VCD/SVCD playback; 4 x 45W power output to satellites; 60W to centre; 170W active subwoofer; Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro-Logic, Super Surround modes; RDS tuner; Re-master Satellites: 65mm bass reflex cone Subwoofer: 170mm bass-reflex cone SOCKETS Main unit: one RGB Scart; S-video output; composite video output; two stereo analogue audio inputs; system cable socket; AM/FM antenna sockets; headphone minijack Subwoofer: springclip speaker terminals DIMENSIONS Main unit: 280(w) x 76(h) x 316(d)mm TEST DATA DVD signal-to-noise ratio: -68.2dB (average) Video jitter: 6ns (good) Chroma AM/PM: -69.3dB/-60.4dB (excellent/average) Chroma crosstalk: -47.1dB (below average) Frequency response (composite video) at 5.8MHz: -6.27dB (very good) Frequency response (S-video) at 5.8MHz: -6.74dB (very good) Audio jitter: 1501.1ps (below average) Amp power output: (30W) 2-channel, 8, 1kHz, 1.2%THD; (35W) 2-channel, 4, 1kHz, 1.5%THD Fidelity firewall: 25W, 2-channel, 8, 1kHz, 01%THD Distortion: 0.01% at 10W, 1kHz, 8 Frequency response: 200Hz-20kHz 1dB CONTACT www.panasonic.co.uk
more tightly locked to the screen and comes in two strengths, as well as off. For non-DVD-Audio playback there is a Re-master function, which enhances regular CD recordings. It comes in three flavours and can also be left off. If that seemed like a whirlwind tour, it was; theres just so much to this system that we havent even had time to mention the extensive onscreen information screens, the sleep timer, child lock, MP3 and WMA playback, mute, dimmer
a widescreen TVs screen-filling function. It simply increases the picture to a selection of more extreme ratios (including CinemaScope), unlike the usual zoom functions which blow up

PERFORMANCE

Tested with a range of movie and audio DVDs and CDs, this system turns in a wonderful performance. Picture quality is absolutely first rate. There is lots of fine detail on offer, with rock solid colours and accurate colour rendition. This is perfect for material like Moulin Rouge and Goldmember. Trick-play functions work well, although the zoom is not like any weve seen before, acting more like
This is an excellent home cinema system that is bursting with features
the image 2x, 4x or 10x (or 1,024x in the case of JVC). Audio performance on movies is very good. Kept to sensible volume levels, the soundstage meshes well at least it does after you curb that over-enthusiastic sub setting. At higher volumes the image begins to break up, but theres enough on offer for most. DVD-Audio playback gives a hint of the extra depth and clarity of

this format, but the speakers really arent up to the job. This is hardly surprising they are satellite speakers in a 300 home cinema system. The good news is that at this price you are hardly paying a lot of extra money for the DVD-Audio functionality and it is better than ordinary CD playback. The Re-master function is similar, in that it offers an improvement, but the speakers struggle to convey it.

What we think

WHATS GOOD Picture; sound WHATS BAD Speakers not up to DVD-Audio PICTURE.77777 SOUND.77777 FEATURES.77777 EASE OF USE.77777 VALUE.77777

CONCLUSION

This is an excellent home cinema system that is bursting with features. The DVD-Audio ability is worth having (especially at this price) but dont buy this system primarily for this. Buy it as a movie machine and to enjoy music playback as a bonus and you will be well pleased s

Also consider

LG DV-2000 Offers a built-in VCR for extra flexibility and solid performance Reviewed May 03 JVC TH-A35 A capable budget system with excellent picture quality Reviewed September 03

Verdict 77777

A versatile, classy performer that covers all the bases
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0804wv13 Panasonic SC-HT520

6/15/04

12:37 pm

Page 92

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