Panasonic SC-PM250BEBS Bluetooth Micro Hi-Fi System with Wireless Technology and DAB Tuner - Silver

The exact model reviewed is Panasonic SC-PM250BEBS Bluetooth Micro Hi-Fi System with Wireless Technology and DAB Tuner - Silver, there appears to be other versions with different letters on the end. I think the wireless technology refers to Bluetooth. Now 10 or 20 years and even longer ago little hi-fi units or medium-sized hi-fi units were all the rage complete with CD player FM and digital radio tuner with combined amplifier and a pair of speakers. But these days smart speakers and streaming music is taking over. However we have plenty of CDs to play and the Old micro Hi-Fi unit was on its last legs as the CD player was not working, only one channel working and the radio so it was high time for a new one. We didn't require anything hugely powerful or hugely high quality and it has to sit on top of the fridge, quite a tall fridge about five foot six, but there's not a lot of space so it did have to be a micro unit. It wasn't a lot of money and it works quite well but don't expect it to be audiophile quality it isn't. To explain how I judge the unit my main hi-fi units the speakers weigh nearly 100 pounds the interconnecting wires to the speakers are silver plated all of its quite up market and all of it was bought used so it was much cheaper. Now I say that to show you I am a bit of an audio file, well that's funny isn't it, it's got the wrong words. I'm using Google voice recognition, a bit of audiophile is what I am. Anyway this little unit doesn't do a bad job at all. I set the treble on maximum the bass on maximum it also has a D Bass and a surround sound setting which widens the stereo image and both of these settings were applied and you really can hear the difference it makes. Initially I set it up by common sense and got it working, then I referred to the instructions supplied which are basic instructions, you go online for the full instructions using a QR code in the leaflet. I know there are more features I've not yet mastered like storing radio stations with Presets, setting alarms and I think more ways to alter the sound Balance so I'll go online later on. But all of the basic functions have been tried including Bluetooth so I've played music from my phone on it with no problem whatsoever. I tried connecting my phone directly with a lead to the USB port but it said source not supported. I don't understand that it's beyond my comprehension I'm afraid. I listened to a range of music on it from 1950s rock and roll through 60s 70s 80s right up to modern times and ended with the adagio from Mahler's fifth symphony, so a bit of a jumbled up eclectic mixture but it did quite a decent job and it goes quite loud enough for the kitchen easily with no particularly nasty distortion or unpleasant sounds. I did not get listening fatigue it didn't grate on my ears. So it's really very suitable for my purpose and I can definitely recommend it.

I have been a fan of Panasonic products since my parents bought their first VCR back in the early 1980's and have had several different Panansonic TV's, stereo's DVD players since then. This is the latest addition to a long line. The sound quality is perfectly acceptable for a product in the sub £100 mark. I have this stereo in my conservatory and it is absolutely fine for this environment. I have read comments that the aerial is inadequate, however I have no issues with reception with what was provided. Set up is relatively straight forward, simply a case of unboxing and plugging in. The speaker cable could be a bit longer - I needed to extend one of the cables to be able to reach a shelf around 10 ft away from the main unit. As for the functions the stereo has DAB+, FM, CD and Bluetooth. All work relatively easily and as you would expect although the remote control is small and this make station programming a little tricky. Therefore although you can use memory functions it is easier simply to skip through channels until you find the desired one. Bluetooth is receive only which is great for playing things off an iphone or ipad but a transmission funtion would be a nice addition to enable headphone reception One big drawback is the screen size and quality. The screen has 2 brightness settings but in my bright conservatory it is almost impossible to see what it's displaying. In addition the size is small and the lettering is large whcih means when you are skipping through channels you cannot really see what you're skipping by - especially on BBC Channels when you are presented with BBC Radio ... with the actual channel name being hidden. Overall though this is a good system for the price and its failings do not detract from the functions that the product has, they would simply be better additions.

Excellent hifi system for the money. Good quality sound. Looks nice on the shelf. Easy'ish to set up. Bluetooth works fine from phone and MP3. USB clunky but functional. DAB reception good (despite being tucked away in a corner).

Very pleased with this, easy to set up and very good speaker quality, especially for the price. A bit fiddly positioning the DAB aerial but got a good signal and gets all the available DAB Plus stations for my area. Can't speak for the quality if placed in an enormous room but worth buying. Plenty of feature with bluetooth, Dab and USB, useful if you prefer to be as future proof as possible rather than replacing devices every five minutes. The ability to hear the music with good bass and volume without a huge speaker set up that would annoy the neighbours is a major plus point! Best advice to get the best out of this unit - read the instruction book before setting up, not after.

Easy to set up - just clip the speakers into the back, plug the centre unit in and away you go. Connected our own DAB aerial through F-connector and the system picked up channels straight away. Switched to Bluetooth, paired with my iPhone in seconds, and plays music, no hassle. FM Radio works fine but why use that when you have DAB?! CD tray is a little flimsy but for the main use it's fine. Haven't tried the USB input on the front but I think it plays MP3s directly from that. Sound quality is actually pretty good, at least in the bedroom where we set it up. The wooden speaker boxes give it a quality feel. Remote control is easy to use, and not so small my aging mother can't see the buttons. Front display shows which tracks, stations are playing, although it's a little dim in daylight. All in all, it's a versatile little system, easy to set up and use, and the sound quality is great.

I've given this 5 stars based on its performance/value for the price. It isn't perfect, but its shortcomings can be forgiven in lieu of its features. First the negatives; as per a previous review, the rear cover IS plastic, not metal, and has obtrusive-looking screws on the side panels. It does give it a "cheap" feel, but once its on the shelf/wherever you may be putting it, its not really something you'll notice or dwell on. The CD tray also feels a bit on the flimsy side, certainly not as sturdy as some of its (cheaper) contemporaries, but it functions OK. The remote may be the system's biggest downfall. In an effort to keep it small (cost cutting?) many functions are grouped into one button, which you must then repeatedly press to cycle through to the option you require. Hardly intuitive. Main transport/volume/source controls have their own buttons however. Contrary to the experience of others, I found saving radio presets fairly straight forward, though again hardly intuitive. The speakers are adequate-to-good, but are closed-cabinet/infinite baffle design, and as I prefer a ported cabinet I changed these for Tibo Edge Mini's. Now for the pro's; Not only does this system have DAB+, FM with RDS, CD, and USB (with full folder/track display), it also has Bluetooth connectivity to allow streaming from a mobile device/PC with Bluetooth adapter. Aside from a AUX line in, which it lacks, its hard to imagine what else you need. Unlike at least two of its contemporaries, the Panasonic has an F connector to allow attachment of an external aerial. Sound is clean and clear, and as well as the to-be-expected pre-defined sound equalization's, it also features "proper" bass and treble controls- something often lacking on micro and mini systems. Furthermore, it has a dynamic bass option and a pseudo-surround mode, which definitely adds a sense of space to the sound stage. Bear in mind this isn't HIFI, but with my upgraded speakers the sound is certainly nothing to complain about, and I'm sure a cut-above many similar systems. If anyone feels the bass is lacking, change the speakers for a ported design and (in either case) put them on spikes. The system also offers sleep and wake timers and a display dimmer, perfect for use as a bedroom stereo which in reality is probably its target use. So, in summary; The overall build leans towards the cheap side and the remote is designed with compactness rather than ease-of-use in mind, but the actual functional spec of the system belies its price tag and not only blows away its own competition, it's also a contender for the next price bracket up (circa £150-£180).

Bought this as wanted a stereo with DAB radio. Reception is difficult on DAB. The antenna is just a wire which you are expected to fully extend vertically and tape to the wall. Really? Don't know anyone who'd want such unsightly view. So had to find another place for the machine so I can hide the stupid antenna. The remote control, as others have said, is way too compact and not intuitive, with lots of button pressing for even basic functions. The sound is good and the machine is nice and compact. Good value for money, but could be so much better with very simple changes...Not for the technically challenged.

Ariel not great for the radio reception but easy to set up and get my favourite radio station. CD player fine. Sounds great! This is a slightly updated version to the music centre I already have so expected the quality to good and was not disappointed. It is compact it fits nicely on a shelf in my study. Very happy with this product.

Great choice

I used the CD player often to play songs for my grandson and to listen to the songs from my CD collection. I must say the sound quality is great given the price. Its also easy to operate but would be better if the remote has number buttons for easy navigation of CD tracks.