We audition a low-rise soundbar system with a rich output that makes any flat TV sound better

Panasonic's slimline 3D Blu-ray system majors on picture and sound quality

Does the lack of a dedicated subwoofer hinder the performance of this soundbar?

There's alot to like about Panasonic's flagship soundbar

This inexpensive, 3D-capable Blu-ray home theatre system is lacking a little lustre

This 5.1 BD system is good-looking, but lacks grunt

Although the features and functionality are virtually the same as the other receivers in this test, this Panasonic is a radically different design.

Blu-ray and HD DVD are certainly shaking up the way we watch movies, but not everyone has the cash (or the energy) to buy all their favourite films again on one of these new HD formats

Panasonic has nailed its colours to the mast on high-definition disc formats and those colours are blue - well, Blu to be precise. Its first Blu-ray disc player, the DMP-BD10, is in the shops and a partnering AV amplifier

While movie viewing is the main use for home cinema systems, most people use them just as often to play CDs. Panasonic has taken this idea to the next logical step by building a system that rips CDs onto an 80GB hard disk, enabling you to create your own music library.

This mirror-finished miniature looks like a similar proposition to LG's Chocolate box at first sight, but the price has doubled. So what has Panasonic sneaked in here? Quite a lot, actually.

With its muscular black finish and 'tall boy' speakers, the Panasonic SC-PT850 makes an imposing statement in the living room. The four floorstanding surround speakers are easy to assemble, and can be wall-mounted or perched on a table-top

Unsightly speaker cables are a real pain, but wireless 5.1 systems like this are making them a thing of the past. The SC-HT545W uses radio waves to beam surround audio signals to a receiver box connected to the rear speakers

When it comes to installing a home cinema system, nothing causes more grief than the rear speakers. Cables trailing across a room is an ugly sight, but hiding them in the walls or under the carpet can be troublesome

Despite the appearance of DVD-Audio, DiVX and DVD-RAM playback on the spec sheet, there's something about the SC-HT990 that feels a bit old-fashioned. HDMI output has gone AWOL (taking with it any chances of video upscaling)

The ultra-affordable Panasonic SC-HT540 home cinema system is feature-packed. It's neatly put together with two floorstanding speakers to the front and smaller satellite models for the centre and rear surrounds.

At only £60, Panasonic's new DAB radio is among the cheapest around - and it shows in the rather flimsy casing. On board is a DAB tuner with FM mode for back-up, with just a headphone jack and an analogue line-out for company.

For a few pounds more, Panasonic's RP-WF930s are a wireless pair of cans. At £63, they're a straightforward affair, but the leatherette ear-pads add a sense of luxury and they're solidly constructed.