Home > Consumer Reviews > Panasonic SC-PT450 - 5.1 Home Cinema System - With HDMI & 1080P Up-Conversion

As a home cinema virgin, I wanted something good for my teenage children's room to go with their newish 32" LCD TV and Sky+ box (spoilt kids I know, but they deserve it!).

I went for Panasonic as a result of recommendations of both friends and Which!, as well as previous good experiences with thir products. I chose the SC-PT450 as it seemed to include up-to-date technology such as HDMI output etc.

Having unpacked and installed it, have to say I was very impressed with the sound on a couple of new films on DVD - home cinema is highly recommended!

A couple of days later the Sky engineer came to install a Sky+ box. As Sky+ transmits 5.1 surround sound on some films we naturally wanted to connect the two together... the Sky+ box has an optical audio out socket but the SC-PT450 does not have a optical audio input, so we cannot get the SC-PT450 to play Sky+'s 5.1 surround sound! Frustratingly all the other models in the Panasonic range do but this is unfortunately not made clear in the product listings on either Panasonic or Amazon websites!

So, if you're after something that is compatible with a Sky+ box, you need the next model up (SC-PT550?) for the correct connections, but if you don't want to connect to a Sky+ box then this system is highly recommended!

For this price you cant go wrong !.....
This is a CHEAP surround sound setup that does EVERYTHING.
D.Lim...must have a faulty unit...because it is LOUD real loud !!
ok...there is no optical in(did not expect it for the price)....but aux works good.
DVD sounds really good
HDMI upscale works well
RADIO is fine !!
The surround effects could be a bit better...
i prefer to use the EQ on heavy (turn bass up to max) the woofer has independant volume(i have on full)...nice touch !if you use the EQ u cant use the enhancer !!! but pro logic works good ! i have HDMI connected with the phono outs on my viera plasma connected to the aux in on the AMP...i cant fault it for the money !! the viera link works a treat.
You will struggle to attach anything more to the unit though(consoles)...it does lack inputs.If you need to attach consoles DO NOT BUY !Sky sounds ok thru the TV (phono out) into aux...but you will not get the 5.1 surround sound...you WILL get very good stereo sound converted into decent surround effects created by the amp !
You get what you pay for....and i am very happy with this product considering the price !! Yes there is a lot better out there..but a lot more expensive too !! If you are on a tight budget and want a decent sound for your tv... sky..freeview..then buy it !!

I WAS AFTER A HOME CINEMA SYSTEM BUT ON A BUDGET. I READ REVIEWS ON DIFFERENT SYSTEMS AND NARROWED IT DOWN TO TWO (PANASONIC SC-PT450 & SONY DAVS230), BUT COULD NOT MAKE MY MIND UP SO I HIT THE SHOPS FOR CLOSER LOOK AND TO HEAR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. THE PANASONIC HAD MORE CONECTIONS ON THE REAR ( 1x HDMI, 1x SCART, 1x PHONO, AND 1x COMPONENT VIDEO OUT) WHICH WAS ENOUGH FOR WHAT I NEEDED.THE SOUND IS AWSOME AND YOU DO NOT NEED TO TURN IT UP TO THE MAX AS IT IS LOUD VERY LOUD AND THE VIDEO UPSCALLING IS VERY GOOD.I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS SYSTEM TO ANYONE ON A BUDGET LIKE MYSELF.I DID NOT MENTION THE SONY BUT READ THE REVIEWS ON THE SONY PAGE AND AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU DECIDE I DID AND BOUGHT THE BETTER !!

Am an electronics freek and i know how a good system sounds like. I change my sound system at lest twice a year. Having used systems like B&O, Denon, Bose, Matsui (japan), Aiwa, Jvc (sw9), I can say the era of spending fortune in other to get a good sound system is over. For Under 140 pounds, this is definitely the best buy have ever done.
I was at currys with my friends wanting to get a bigger TV set when i heard this system been tested for a customer. It sounds like B&O and i decided to buy it online same day on getting home.


I was so disapointed when this unit was dilivered to my house, it was the first time I will be having a sound system dilivered to my home without the use of an extra hands. its as light as a bottle of vodka, lol,

When i opend it, i was more disapointed when I lifted out the subwoofer and i said to myself, I have made a stupid mistake, there is no way on earth that this subwoofer can produce a decent sound and be 250 watts. Its just 3.5kg. I tought to myself for a minute that could it be that currys atteached an external hidden subwoofer to the system in other to make the system sounds better?

It took me few minutes to put every thing together.

And

I was wrong. The sound was so clear and filtered and the bass, was just perfet. I can not believe that a 3.5kg sub can produce such a deep bass.

Before you buy this system if ever you are thinking of buying one, book a test with B&O and go and listen to pure clear filtered sound them maybe u will appreciate this system the more. You do not need to spend £4000 on sound systen anymore, for less than 150 you could get yourself almost as good sound as a £4000 system

This system would have been most perfect if the front left and right speakers volume could be adjusted seperately, at times they are too loud and kills the bass effects.

I thought i should just stop any confusion regarding this product, this is NOT a HD-DVD player but an upscaling DVD player. This means that it will take you old dvds and digitally improve them to make them look sharper.