Panasonic SC-HTB258EBK Bluetooth Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer - Black

Likes:- small compact unit sits perfectly beneath my Panasonic tv type 40DX600 smart tv, I did not want a powerful 300watt amplifier, I recommend to get the subwoofer which comes with this unit. Set up was easy and I did not have to play around with the tv sound menu to select pcm etc. The sound bar installation does it all for you. It supports Dolby and DTS automatically, but this may be the fact that Panasonic have got the software and installation setup just right, perhaps if you had an other tv type you may have to play around with setting the sound menu to cope with the right audio format. Dislikes:- The sound quality is not great when watching normal programs like the bbc news etc. The sound bar remote control just gives you 3 modes, standard,music, and cinema. All the normal sound options on the tv menu become grayed out when the sound bar switches on. The subwoofer does not come with an on-off switch which was shown on the original design, this would be handy if you just wanted the sound bar on its on. However the system is great on films from like Netflix etc. The rich deep sound is very good for a 120 watt system. The indicating lights on top of the sound bar are not easy to see unless you stand up from your chair in the lounge and the increase/decrease buttons for the subwoofer do not give you a display on the tv, so you do not know what the subwoofer setting is. The sound seems a bit muffled or perhaps on the soft side compared to the original tv speakers, perhaps I just need to get used to it, I have only had the system for 2 days, so my ears have not adjusted to the change in sound mode. I must just update my review after 3 days trying out my new sound system. When I tried to use my FreeViewPlay catchup system on BBC iPlayer or Netflix using the inbuilt apps on my Panasonic 40DX600 tv the playback kept buffering and the sound distorted. When I switched off the sound bar the problem disappeared. I could cast BBC iPlayer using my Chromecast link so the problem was with the sound bar system. By experimenting with the subwoofer position and moving it to the other side of the lounge the problem was resolved. The subwoofer was obviously interfering with the WFI receiver inside my tv when it was too close to the left hand side of the tv. So take note you may have to play around with the subwoofer position to get it just right, and by the way the overall sound improved considerably.

I'd been considering getting a soundbar for some time, and did some nosing around and research on Prime Day to figure out what sort of set-up I needed. There were some cheaper models, but they either had subwoofers which didn't quite deliver the kick needed, or didn't have HDMI-ARC ports and relied on optical cables instead (which, according what little research I did, doesn't offer the same clarity + quality of sound as HDMI-ARC). Although slightly more expensive than the models I'd first spotted (though a steal at £104 thanks to Prime Day deals), this Panasonic soundbar was pretty much exactly what I'd been after. Any issues with the set-up were more down to incompetence on my part than anything inherently fiddly with the soundbar itself. Both the soundbar and the subwoofer are surprisingly lighter than might be expected, so manoeuvring them is easy. While the soundbar offers a standard mode - which sounded like a clearer, better version of my TV's native speakers - the real attraction is setting it to cinematic mode, and pairing it up with the subwoofer. Using it for the first time was a dream - I like to think it's as close as I'll get to cinema-quality sound in my little terraced home ^_^ There are a few niggly issues, which can be overlooked but worth the potential buyer knowing - there isn't a numerical digital readout giving the volume on the soundbar, so while it'll display when the volume is going up or down, it won't tell you what the volume *is*, which can be annoying if you're looking to fine tune it, or want to remember a particular volume which works for you. The remote control works absolutely fine, but isn't the most intuitive thing (one button, to change between modes, reads "Sound" - I think "Mode" would be better). That said, they're niggly things and won't put off my enjoyment of what the soundbar can do. More experienced afficionados who are religious about their audio set-ups might not get what they want from it, and look to shell out big bucks on higher-end products - but that's a matter for them. For someone - like me - who was a first time soundbar user, this was great, and anyone in the same position should definitely consider spending a bit more, going for a trusted name and getting this product.

Got this for my 55” Hisense tv. Really easy to set up and works fine for what we want. Yes it’s not as high end as the dearer ones but it does the job and can’t believe we put up with just the tv speakers before this. There is a slight delay in lip sync, but this is easily adjusted on Sky Q box in the settings.

I bought this after reading all the positive reviews and needed something a lot smaller after moving into a one bed house. My previous set up was 5.1 with wires everywhere. This being only 2.1 is more than adequate for my needs offering a much better sound that my 50" Panasonic TV. It was simplicity itself. Plug both units in connect up the ARC HDMI and turn it on. It immediately turns off the TV sound and start playing away (With my TV the remote controls the Soundbar too). The Bluetooth is great too just press the bluetooth button and such for it on your chosen device. It will only pair one device so those with you many devices may choose to look elsewhere. There is no issues with sync like others have said and the sound is impressive.

Just purchased a Panasonic 40" tv and space unfortunately was a premium. Nice looking unit. Must be connected to a hdmi arc only cable connection as Panasonic says definitely won't work. Subwoofer and speaker seem nice quality. Not had a chance to listen to music 🎶 as yet. If you are thinking of buying unit to replace a soundbar. It's definitely compact. Only Dolby digital and not Atmos which I knew. Cost wise reasonable.Had no space for a soundbar. Just listen to a decent film set up on cinema settings. Absolutely amazing 👌 Would recommend.