Panasonic SA-BX500 review

Beyond video, it's fairly average as well. There are four digital audio inputs (three optical, one coaxial), but no digital output. A single pair of analog stereo inputs is on board as well. There's also a connection for a dedicated iPod dock (the optional Panasonic SH-PD10). There's 7.1-channel analog inputs for Blu-ray/SACD/DVD-Audio players, but no "pre-out" jacks, nor is there any built-in support for Sirius/XM satellite radio.

The SA-BX500 includes built-in support for wireless rear speakers. Purchase Panasonic's optional SH-FX67 wireless receiver, connect the rear speakers, and you should be good for "wireless" action (as usual, the SH-FX67 still uses wires to send signals to the speakers and must be plugged into an AC power outlet). That said, the wireless system does eliminate the need to run wires from the front of the room (where, presumably, you've placed the SA-BX500) to the surround speakers in the rear.

The receiver can be configured to run separate amps for high- and low-frequency signals for bi-wire-ready front speakers. We've seen this feature before for stereo listening, but the SA-BX500 is the first we've seen to allow bi-amp operation within the context of a 7.1-channel system: it automatically switches its internal circuits to bi-amp when it receives a two-channel signal. If you're running a 5.1 system, the bi-amp feature works all the time. The receiver also has A/B speaker switching, so you can have a second pair of stereo speakers hooked up if you'd like.

The SA-BX500 also offers an intriguing feature referred to as "7.1 channel virtual surround." The idea is great: 7.1-channel surround from a 5.1-channel speaker/subwoofer system. We used Dolby's The Sound of High-Definition Blu-ray to confirm that claim, but could not hear the "phantom" surround channels. The side and rear channels seemed to come from the surround channel speakers that were placed at the four and eight o'clock positions. Also, the system only works with Blu-ray Discs encoded with 7.1-channel soundtracks, which are fairly rare.

Performance
We started our auditions with the War Blu-ray, which does have a 7.1-channel LPCM soundtrack. The film pits Jet Li against tough guy Jason Statham and together they dutifully provide lots of action with big guns and all sorts of carnage, including the automotive kind. When the crashes' and gun fights' dynamic impact came hot and heavy, the SA-BX500 never sounded as if it was working hard. Our reference Aperion Intimus 4T Hybrid SD's five speakers created a seamless, soundfield throughout the CNET listening room. The SA-BX500 sounded fine, but lacked the warmth and ease we heard from the Denon AVR-1909 ($649) receiver.

Next, we popped on Korn's Live at Montreux 2004 Blu-ray. The concert starts with an intense drum solo, and the tom-toms' heavy beats felt nice and solid, and when the rest of the band kicked in, we exercised the SA-BX500's amplifiers to the max. Just as impressive was the way the receiver handled the quieter interludes; the drums' cymbals came across with terrific clarity and detail.

Finishing up with the CD soundtrack to the film Birth, the SA-BX500's stereo imaging was good enough that we didn't miss surround sound. The orchestral score sounded rich, without a hint of dryness we sometimes hear from digital amplifiers.

In other words, there was little to complain about--and a lot to like--about the sound quality from the Panasonic SA-BX500. But its lackluster connectivity and features--and the fact that the auto-speaker calibration and virtual-surround functions don't work as advertised--make this one a pass.