Panasonic SC-PT865 home theater system

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By Philip Wong, CNET Asia
Apr 23, 2008

The flagship SC-PT865 is one of the rare remaining home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) systems available to feature wireless surround. A relatively niche segment, many vendors are now offering optional wireless upgrade kits as alternatives. And it's not difficult to understand why from a cost standpoint. If we were to pit the Panasonic against the equally competent albeit wired JVC TH-D7, it might be tough to convince an average Joe to part with another S$200 (US$147.06) just to cut out the selected cords. Whether it's worth it or not, here's our quick take on this new 2008 Japanese kit.

Upside: For those who prefer a clutter-free surround sound setup, having wireless rear speakers does away with unsightly cables between the DVD receiver and these boomboxes. Aesthetics aside, it also helps to simplify installation, and is particularly handy for bridging open aisles and rooms without false ceilings. In this case, surround effects are transmitted over-the-air via Wi-Fi-like radio frequency. This has a favorable line-of-sight-independent advantage for uninterrupted playback even with occasional obstructions, though interference is still possible due to its highly congested 2.4GHz bandwidth.

A significant upgrade over its predecessor is its souped-up Apple iPod playback and connectivity. Unlike most of its competitors, the multimedia player dock is integrated right into the main deck, concealed under a flap when not in use. So you'll have one less piece of component to fiddle with and set up, while enjoying the luxury of streaming videos from your iPod onto the big screen. Users with huge song compilations should also appreciate the SC-PT865's seamless navigation, carried out easily through playlists reproduced on TV and selectable using its bundled remote controller.

Non-Mac supporters may be more interested in its new Kelton subwoofer and bamboo diaphragm center speaker. According to its documentations, the sleek tower woofer is loaded with an internal 160mm driver and a side-firing 250mm equivalent, designed to deliver robust and responsive bass. The exotic bamboo material, on the other hand, is supposed to dish out cleaner and crisped dialog. If you're still not convinced, perhaps its generous 1,250W audio output and an auto surround sound calibration system are reassuring enough for credible large room performance.

Downside: At S$999 (US$734.56), we would have expected Panasonic to throw in some extras to further sweeten the deal. DVD-Audio-compatibility and an HDMI input offered by the TH-D7 are fine examples. That said, the SC-PT865 isn't way overpriced, taking into consideration Pioneer's HTZ767DVD value proposition. The latter manages only a respectable 600W and lacks wireless capability for a mere S$150 (US$110.29) savings. Strictly speaking, a better match for the Pioneer would have been the midrange SC-PT565 shipped with an optional wireless upgrade at S$300 (US$220.59) less.

Outlook: The Panasonic SC-PT865 is a 5.1-channel wireless HTIB that will appeal mainly to those with surround speaker installation difficulties. Its value-added iPod support is an enticing carrot for Mac fanatics, though this alone may not be strong enough to justify the higher-than-average S$999 (US$734.56) pricing. Those without the above-mentioned constraints should seriously consider the much more affordable yet near-identical SC-PT565.