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Panasonic SC-BTT775 review

Our Rating :
Price when reviewed : £540
inc VAT

Slightly below average speaker build quality, but impressive audio and an excellent Blu-ray player make this a superb all-in-one setup.

Watching films in 3D might be the next big thing for home cinema, but without a decent surround sound setup the effect won’t be nearly as immersive. Panasonic’s SC-BTT775 solves both of these problems by combining a svelte 3D-compatible Blu-ray player and a 1,000W 5.1 speaker system into one package.

Panasonic SC-BTT775

Given the system’s price we were expecting a decent specification, but were still incredibly impressed with its versatility. Beyond 1080p upscaling, BD-Live and support for Dolby DTS-HD audio, it also has a wealth of connectivity options. Multimedia files can be played directly from a USB hard disk or memory stick using the SDXC card reader at the front of the unit, or streamed from any compatible DLNA device on your home network. Both Ethernet and WiFi are included as standard, so getting connected is very simple. File format support was wide-ranging; we had no trouble playing DivX or XviD movies over a wireless network, although high-definition MKV files showed a noticeable amount of stutter. Thankfully, these issues didn’t return when we played the same files through the unit directly using its front-mounted USB port.

Panasonic SC-BTT775 rear

An iPod dock extends outwards from behind the front fascia panel. With an iPod connected, you can browse your music collection or video files using the remote control and play them through the speaker system. There weren’t nearly as many connectivity options on the back of the unit as we’re used to seeing on high-end all-in-one systems, but two HDMI, optical S/PDIF and stereo RCA inputs should be enough for most basic setups. A second USB port is reserved for Panasonic’s HD Communication Camera, essentially an external webcam that can be used for Skype conversations without a PC. The two HDMI inputs let you play a games console or media streamer through the speaker system, even if the receiver is in standby mode. Audio Return Channel (ARC) also lets you use the speakers when watching TV – the TV’s audio is fed back over the bidirectional HDMI connection.

Although it doesn’t look particularly complicated, the onscreen interface hides plenty of features within its nested menus. As well as detailed picture and audio settings, 3D effects such as depth and border can be changed to make watching films in 3D more immersive. There are also an incredible number of customisable options for the 5.1 speakers, including defining the spacing of each satellite and individual volume levels. Panasonic’s VIERA CAST internet TV functions are also included, letting you watch online videos and catch up with news reports. The whole system was surprisingly responsive, streaming content from YouTube over Wi-Fi without having to buffer video repeatedly. There’s no web browser so you’re limited to the pre-installed channels, but as the TV is internet connected Panasonic may add more in the future.

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Details

Price £540
Rating ****

Connections

HDMI inputs 2
HDMI outputs 1
Component inputs 0
Component outputs 0
Output resolutions 480i, 480p, PAL (576i), 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p
Total SCART sockets 0
SCART socket type N/A
S-Video input 0
S-video output 0
Composite inputs 0
Composite outputs 0
Stereo phono inputs 1
Stereo phono outputs 0
Coaxial S/PDIF inputs 0
Coaxial S/PDIF outputs 0
Optical S/PDIF inputs 1
Optical S/PDIF outputs 0
Multi-channel input yes
Speaker configuration 5.1
Main unit end speaker connection type proprietary
Speaker end speaker connection type spring terminals
Other connections 10/100 Ethernet, WiFi, 2xUSB, SDHC memory card reader,
Wired network ports 1x 10/100
Wireless networking support 802.11b/g/n

Playback

Surround sound formats Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic ll, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD HRA, DTS-HD MA Essential
Optical drive yes
Supported playback disc formats BD-ROM, BD-RE, BD-RE DL, BD-R, BD-R DL, DVD, DVD-R, DVD-R DL, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+R DL, DVD+RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW
Audio format support MP3, WAV
Video playback formats DivX, XviD, WMV, MP4, MKV
Image viewing formats JPEG
Radio FM

Speakers

Speaker configuration 5.1
RMS power output 1000W
RMS power centre 180W
RMS power front 370W
RMS power surround 250W
RMS power subwoofer 200W
Wall mountable yes
Centre speaker cable length 2.0m
Front speaker cable length 3.5m
Surround speaker cable length 8.0m

General

Extras remote control, stand
Size 430x279x40mmmm
Subwoofer dimensions 180x300x408mmmm
Centre speaker dimensions 424x76x59mmmm
Front speaker dimensions 255x255x1024mmmm
Surround speaker dimensions 255x255x1024mmmm
Power consumption standby 1W
Power consumption on 28W

Buying Information

Price £540
Warranty one-year RTB
Supplier http://www.play.com
Details www.panasonic.co.uk