Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic SC-PM18 Executive Microsystem

I am listening to classical music on this awesome little stereo as I write this. This system plays as fantastic as it looks. I live in a studio and wanted a compact system that had great sound but that would not blast me out of my apartment or disturb my neighbors. I am truly amazed at how far the technology has come in such a short time. I can play this quite loud and not be bothersome to others. The bass is very rich and the highs are not distorted. The music comes across very dimensional.

I had a wall full of stereo before (my dad's older 80s/early
90s unit) and my new micro sounds almost as good as my dad's!
The only difference would be the size of the speakers and
resulting output which was really too big for my space.

This is a feature rich player that looks as good as it sounds. I
have played classical, frank sinatra, rock, classical guitar --
all sound great on this system. The platinum casing is very
attractive as are the walnut speakers. Easy to put together. Well
written instructions. And of course, compact!

I originally listened to this at walmart where the reception
was not so good and then again at Costco where the reception
was great and I was amazed at the range of sound. Comments
about cheesy speakers apply to the black casing not the walnut.
I saw both. I got it for $128 plus tax at costco and look
forward to enjoying a full range of sounds again.

A great brand -- I still have my Panasonic boombox from 1986
and kept it because the radio sound is so great -- even though
the revolving cassette broke long ago. The only micro
at this price offering 5 CDs and a cassette for playing or recording music plus great looks & sound. what more could you want?

Using this as my office stereo. Good fidelity at low/mid/high listening levels using speakers or earphones. I bought two of these systems and neither would completely turn off!! After turning off with remote or main unit switch, the units would power-on by themselves in about 30 seconds.....and continually run thru the display features. On page 21 of the manual, the "DEMO" function is described. This demo mode is set to ON at the time of purchase. It is turned off by any setting of the clock. You can also turn it off using the stop button. This could be very frustrating for a customer who didn't delve into page 21 of the manual. Once the clock is set , the DEMO won't come on again. Panasonic, what were you thinking? Although it is great to wake up to, customers not using the clock feature should not have to be expected to learn how to default this DEMO mode.
Both sysem are running great now.I recommend this unit with 4 stars, (that DEMO issue cost them the last star).

I did much shopping around for a microsystem to replace the Kenwood home unit. Just too big, but we didn't want to miss the sound. We decided on this 120 Watt system. It sounds great, costs about 150 bucks (spring the extra 30 for a 3 year replacement) The JVC's, BOSE and other "higher end" systems we listened to and compared didn't have the same quality sound and cost 4 times as much! The more pricey ones also had lower CD capacity 1-3 usually, where this one has 5. It even has a handy AUX input which was a nice surprise. Unless you want something to playback MP3's (Panasonic has a cousin to this one that'll do that, a few dollars more) or burn CD's this won't set your wallet back and will give you a great sound.

The Panasonic SC-PM18 is a marvel ... for its price. If you're looking for something more showy or with enough power to fill a ballroom, look elsewhere. This is a well-designed, well-priced mini system with a big sound. I already like the little fella. The buttons are all in the right place, the looks are sleek and attractive; the remote is simple and straightforward. Set up will take you -- tops -- 15 minutes. If you are looking to fill an average room with rich, clear sound ... look no further. For a more sophisticated version (one which includes MP3 and a slightly more responsive wattage) then go with the PM28. I challenge anyone to find a better value than this one.

I read the reviews on amazon before deciding to buy this stereo and I'm happy with my purchase.

I moved into a tiny apt and tossed my old Philips component system. I wanted a hassle-free, handsome, good-sounding stereo that would fit on a shelf. That's what I got. I bought mine at a retail store for $150.

Consider what you really want to do before you buy this unit. By it's nature as a "mini-system" it has limitations. For example, I bought high bias audiotape before reading the manual. It only works with normal bias tapes. Making a mix tape from CDs is not as simple as I wish it were b/c you have to program a song or songs before you can record.

I don't think you can hook up a DVD player to this unit. Under "External unit connections" the manual reads: "Only an analog player with a built-in phono equalizer can be connected."

Comparatively, it seems the best blend of sound quality, style and features for the money. It has a cool remote that works quite well. The screen reads, "HELLO" when you turn the unit on and, "GOODBYE" when you turn it off. I listen to rock CDs mostly and they sound good to me in my little apartment.