The Panasonic SC-BT200 is the latest Blu-ray based home cinema system that amongst its many other attributes, boasts a greener power consumption. Providing better performance, but consuming less power is one of the latest trends in home electronics, and certainly one of the more worthwhile.
The Panasonic SC-BT200 Blu-ray Home Cinema System replaces the outgoing model, the popular SC-BT100, and adds in a few new extra features as well. Firstly, Panasonic are keen to point out that despite adding more features, this model actually consumes less power than before – not by much, but any reduction is better, and Panasonic must be applauded for taking these steps.
Like the previous model, the SC-BT200 also has a integrated iPod dock, which is now an essential item, allowing you to play music through the unit and control it on screen using the units remote control. If you connect the unit to your television with a Scart cable, you can watch your iPod videos too.
Like the new standalone Panasonic Blu-ray players the DMP-BD60 and DMP-BD80, this system also boasts the new Viera Cast system allowing you to access YouTube, Picasa and other websites.
The looks of the system, like much of the new range of Panasonic equipment, has gone a bit understated in design which was always a feature we liked about Panasonics kit – and it manages to look a bit more classy as a result. The speakers and player are neat in design, and should complement any television, no matter what the brand.
There is a newer model of this system available: Panasonic SC-BT230.
What to consider before you buy the Panasonic SC-BT200
This systems only real downside is the lack of an HDMI input, but the optical inputs should suffice for most.
Why you should buy the Panasonic SC-BT200 Blu-ray Home Cinema System
The performance of the system has been very highly rated by testers, and this great performance combined with an up to the minute high definition specification mean that the SC-BT200 is one of the best Blu-ray based home cinema systems you can buy. Rating: /5
Panasonic SC-BT200 Blu-ray Home Cinema System Best Prices
You can also buy the optional Panasonic SH-FX70 wireless speaker kit for this system. If you want a similar Blu-ray home cinema system but would like taller speakers you might also like to consider the Panasonic SC-BT205, which is around £130 more. Visit our Panasonic Home Cinema System page to see other products in the range or read more about the SC-BT200 on the Panasonic website.
I understand that the speaker cables are too short, especikally for the rear surround speakers. How can you extend the speaker cable without affecting sound quality?
The cables do have a specific Panasonic fitting but should be long enough for most situations. You can also buy the optional Panasonic SH-FX70 Wireless Speaker Kit for this model – at around £99 it takes all the problems of trailing cables away.
Rear speaker cables are 8 metres long. I have managed to connect and extend the cables with the use of a terminal block (aka ‘Choc Block’) with no problems.
I tested the speakers by connecting one directly with the Panasonic wires and one with the panasonic wires/extended speaker cables via a Choc Block and could find no difference in sound quality between the two.
Hope this helps.
Sorry to be a bit thick but how do I extend the cable with a ‘choc block’? And where do I get a ‘choc block’ – is that what I saw on Dragon’s Den a few months back?
The wireless option doesn’t work for me as you still need to attach the speakers to the ‘remote’ box, by using a wire!!
Choc Blocks are also known as Terminal Blocks and are a very cheap way of connecting cables.
The wireless box does allow a little more flexibility on positioning, but if it won’t suit your circumstances, then a Terminal, or Chocolate Block is an alternative worth investigating.
Just bought this unit, i am using a HDMI lead and can not get a picture or sound through it from our telly, tv is a logic L26DIGB10.
Any suggestions, all cables connected correctly, dvd plays back to tv ok.
what is the size of the optical cable,3.5, 4.0 or 5.0 mm