STEREO GUIDE verdict
Although the Panasonic SC-BMAX5 had some minor weaknesses in terms of features and practicality in the review, its sound quality is absolutely top for its price class.
Advantages
- Balanced sound tuning
- Rich, differentiated bass - especially at the socket
- Microphone and instrument inputs
- Rechargeable battery and integrated power supply unit
Disadvantages
- Non-removable battery, manageable runtime
- Performance drops significantly in battery mode, especially in bass
- No app, no tripod mount
- Volume control not synchronized with cell phone via Bluetooth
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Tonal balance / transparency8.4
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Bass / Dynamics8.3
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Usability / Connectivity8.9
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Price/Performance9.4
The last generation of Panasonic’s small party speaker apparently didn’t have a rechargeable battery. This is of course an absolute obstacle in this class if you have a very mobile Bluetooth speaker in terms of size for lively parties and, as with the SC-TMAX5, can only operate it from a power socket or a sufficiently large power bank. The 7.2-volt battery of the Panasonic SC-BMAX5 has a capacity of 2,475 mAh and lasts for up to 9 hours at a moderate volume without lighting effects. Although this is not a record, it allows the party speaker to be used on the move.
A lot is offered for a modest budget
Its 2-channel digital power amplifier delivers a total of 75 watts. Of this, twice 15 watts RMS are available to each of the two 5.7 cm tweeters driven in stereo. Panasonic even provides 45 watts for the 14 cm woofer. However, this relatively high output for a Bluetooth speaker in this price range can only be accessed when using the built-in mains adapter. In battery mode, the maximum output power drops to a total of 25 watts. Of this, 2.5 watts are available to each of the two tweeters and 20 watts are reserved for the woofer. In principle, other manufacturers such as JBL also use this tactic, but the difference between mains and battery operation is particularly large with the Panasonic.
Versatile connectivity
The USB-A input on the back of the bass reflex speaker, where the port also leads to the outside, is suitable for playing MP3 audio files from a memory stick. But only in FAT16, FAT32 or exFAT format with 16 bit and 32 kHz, 44.1 or 48 kHz. Very practical: you can also use it to charge your smart device with 1 volt like a power bank. There are also two 3.5 mm jack sockets on the connection panel. One of them is an input, the other is designed as an output. This allows several speakers to be connected to each other via a cable connection in order to play music at a higher level. The “Speaker Mode” button can then be used to switch between stereo mode (only useful with two identical speakers) or a wired party mode in which each speaker reproduces the same signal.
Sometimes you need a level-resistant speaker to watch a soccer match with friends outdoors, for example. In this case, the sound can be fed in via an optical S/PDIF input via a Toslink connection. The speaker supports linear PCM audio with the following sampling frequencies: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz. 48 kHz, 88 kHz and 96 kHz.
Bluetooth in the old fashioned way
However, the most frequent use was via Bluetooth, and here the Panasonic is a little stingy: it only supports the Bluetooth 5.0 standard and only the basic SBC codec. This means that there is neither a sound-enhancing AAC transmission for iOS users nor aptX, which is popular with Android users. However, the influence of the codec on a party speaker for less than 300 euros should not be overestimated. There are certainly greater obstacles in the mechanical area.
Tidy control panel on the top
In terms of features, Panasonic is quite generous with the SC-BMAX5. All controls are located on the top and are clearly labeled with high-contrast printing. A rotary knob is available for volume control and there is another to influence the lighting effects (seven-colored LED ring around the woofer plus two strobes) behind the metal front grille of the Bluetooth speaker. Three smaller rotary potentiometers separately control the level of the microphone connection, which is also located on the top, and the input for electronic musical instruments with their 6.35 mm jack sockets. A third rotary knob can also be used to add echo to the guitar input. A monochrome display with charge level indicator makes operation easier.
Buttons can be used to control the playback of the source device connected via Bluetooth and to switch the mode of the SC-BMAX5 speaker. Another row of buttons allows you to switch between the inputs, activate the bass boost and switch on sound effects (ROCK, JAZZ, SAMBA, POP, FLAT). A fourth button is used to quickly establish a Bluetooth connection. The Panasonic also supports multi-point connections with up to two devices at the same time. This allows you to alternate between two different devices at a party. In this price range, this is a very decent set of features and should make up for the fact that Panasonic does not offer an app for the SC-BMAX5.
Stable lateral position is also possible
At least Panasonic has remembered that there are situations in which a speaker of this type is best used lying down. To this end, the Japanese have not only provided the party speaker with rubber feet on the underside, but also on the right-hand side panel. This is practical if the speaker is used on the floor. Then you can direct the sound of the tweeters slightly upwards by angling the cabinet towards the rear. All in all, the 6.7 kilogram party speaker is easy to transport thanks to its recessed handle and has a practical design. The only thing you might miss is protection against water and dust if you’re having a beach party or a surprise downpour at a garden party – at least that’s what I thought until the sound test.
Sound test holds surprises
Then there were further points of criticism right at the beginning. Why does the Panasonic SC-BMAX5 only sound so quiet when you turn up the volume on the iPhone? It won’t… Yes, the Panasonic doesn’t synchronize the volume between the smartphone and speaker.
That should be a matter of course these days. Depending on the use, you can deal with this shortcoming as follows: At parties, when the DJ is standing next to the speaker, turn the volume up all the way on the Bluetooth device playing the music. This promises the best sound quality and you can then simply adjust the volume using the rotary knob on the party speaker. At home, on the other hand, it is more practical to make small compromises in the sound and adjust the volume on the cell phone after you have turned the Panasonic SC-BMAX5 up to the maximum or at least a lot.
And there is another weak point that stands out at the same time. After a short period of battery operation, I had to put the SC-BMAX5 on a leash. Apparently there is a problem with the self-discharge of the battery – which, contrary to the trend, cannot simply be exchanged for a fresh replacement battery. I had fully charged the Bluetooth speaker on arrival, as it didn’t make a sound out of the box. There were a few weeks between charging, the subsequent photo shoot and my sound test, but that wasn’t supposed to happen.
The Panasonic SC-BMAX5 leaves nothing to be desired in terms of sound quality
It’s a shame, because there’s nothing to complain about the sound of the SC-BMAX5. What a broadband, full sound! Even without the bass boost, the SC-BMAX5 delivers an exceptionally rich punch and a solid foundation that goes a long way given its compact dimensions. In the live version of “Urgent” by Foreigner, the acoustic drums are very powerful and precise. No one else in this class can achieve this so quickly, really great.
The bass boost function is also a positive feature that doesn’t overdo it like some competitors in the lower price range. Even if you press the bass button and use the equalizer preset for pop and turn up the volume very high with bass-heavy tracks such as “Budapest By Blimp” by Thomas Dolby or “Ratchets” by Hedegaard, nothing rattles or distorts. There is not even any loss of precision. The bass still kicks with a clean punch without becoming soft or even booming – a powerful performance.
Even when placed close to a wall, there were no droning problems. Another positive aspect is that you can really drive very high levels in mains operation without the DSP reducing the bass too much and the speaker starting to scream, causing the sound to become aggressive.
Stay at home for best performance
Unfortunately, there is another small catch if you want to use the SC-BMAX5 for an open-air party or a barbecue in the garden. As a rule, it should be powered by a rechargeable battery. And this not only costs performance on paper, it also costs bass and punch, exactly where you need it most due to the lack of wall reflections. However, in view of the exceptionally balanced, rich and level-firm sound, these are certainly luxury concerns for the moderate price. But you should bear this in mind if you are looking for a speaker primarily for open-air sound reinforcement.
Voices benefit from wide dynamic range
Although the Panasonic party speaker does not reproduce voices with hi-fi like naturalness, it is balanced enough to reproduce male and female voices with a certain charm, especially in relation to the price range and the segment bred for level. The impulsiveness and wide dynamic range in particular contribute to the positive impression. Acoustic guitars, such as on “Keith Don’t Go” by Nils Lofgren, also benefit from the lively, differentiated and powerful playing style. The attack and decay of the strings is very nuanced and the fine dynamics allow the music to breathe. This is particularly evident in the applause after this live performance.
The treble sounds fresh and clear. The SC-BMAX5 avoids any harshness despite all the brilliance – excellent. The music is really fun. Bluetooth speakers in this class are not usually able to offer this level of playfulness and dynamic range. And not with this frequency range either. I therefore like this party speaker so much that I would currently prefer it to any competitor in this class for use in the living room, despite the limitations described at the beginning of the practical test.
At home, it would be operated via the mains anyway, so the problem with the battery would not be relevant. It could even be a replacement for the stereo system for many people, but it cannot be paired to a stereo pair via Bluetooth. You would have to use a cumbersome solution via cable, either via the 3.5 mm or the 6.35 mm jack inputs with a mixer.
Panasonic SC-BMAX5: Conclusion and alternatives
The Panasonic SC-BMAX5 was a big surprise for me. In terms of touch quality, it reminded me more of the Sharp XParty Street Beat (PS-949), which was not entirely convincing in terms of sound. But in terms of sound balance, it can even outperform the more expensive JBL Club 120 party speaker. However, the JBL Partybox is simply more sophisticated in detail – from the app to the more powerful battery, which can be replaced in no time at all, to the volume control synchronized with the cell phone. It also doesn’t lose as much dynamic range when running on battery power. Ultimately, it depends to some extent on the intended use as to which speaker is the better choice for you personally.
In any case, I was so amazed by the performance of the lightweight that I spontaneously listened to it again with my friend Falk Visarius from the HIFI IFAS blog in his large, reverberant living room and in the garden. (Unfortunately, my own colleagues from STEREO GUIDE don’t live in Stuttgart like me). With all my decades of listening experience, I simply couldn’t believe that this hadn’t made the rounds before. After all, the previous generation had been treated as a “distant memory” in most reviews.
Focus on sound quality
After obtaining a second, identical opinion, I’m going to go out on a limb here and could almost be tempted to praise the SC-BMAX5 as a “price banger” or something similar, especially as the street price is sometimes less than 200 euros. In terms of sound, there is hardly a better Bluetooth speaker at the moment. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of features and practicality – from the lack of volume synchronization to the non-existent tripod mount and the mediocre performance with the battery, which cannot be replaced as is common today. In addition, a stereo pair of two SC-BMAX5s as well as a party chain can only be set up using a cable, which is cumbersome. JBL is way ahead of the game here with wireless stereo pairing and Auracast for creating wireless party chains with multiple speakers.
Technical specifications Panasonic SC-BMAX5
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 280 Euro
- Dimensions: 28 x 39.7 x 29.3 cm
- Weight: 6.7 kg
- Playback time with battery: up to 9 hours, charging time 3 hours
- Special features: Light organ, stroboscope, integrated power supply unit, power bank function, one microphone and one guitar input each
- More at: www.panasonic.com
