Skip to main content

Panasonic SC-NT10 review

panasonic sc nt10 review
Panasonic SC-NT10
MSRP $100.00
“Though its battery life is fleeting, the SC-NE10's ironclad armor, warm sound and low price earn it a spot on our shortlist.”
Pros
  • Shaped like a spaceship
  • Impressive bass
  • Clean midrange
Cons
  • Boost button halves battery life
  • Low max volume

Before we begin, can we all agree that Panasonic needs to work on coming up with better names for its gear? I mean, let’s be honest, SC-NT10 isn’t exactly sexy. That said, we loved this little speaker. Shaped like a miniature spaceship (and remarkably reminiscent of the old Simon Says game from back in the day) the speaker’s hardened shell promises water, shock, and dust resistance, as well as the ability to withstand extreme temperatures, from -10 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

The protective cover around the copper disc is fashionable in its way, and even includes a cool Q-bert pattern on the bottom platform. But the real marvel, as far as we’re concerned, is the SC-NT10’s ability to squeeze quality audio from a single 1 ⅜-inch driver. The little speaker provided a clean and warm midrange, excellent presence and detail, and a pleasant, balanced sound signature across all genres. The speaker also put out an impressive level of bass for a small portable, thanks to its 2-inch passive radiator, which handled hip-hop with some muscle, and even created the Jurassic Park effect on a glass of water resting next to it on our coffee table.

Features include an Aux input, onboard speakerphone, a battery monitor icon for your smartphone, and even NFC pairing. The only real drawbacks are the speaker’s low max volume, and battery run-time. The battery is listed at a respectable 8 hours, but we had to engage the Boost button to get decent levels, which cut that figure almost in half, limiting the SC-NT10’s applications. But with great sound and ironclad armor, this $100 disc still offers some of the best value you can currently get in a portable speaker.

For comparisons check out our Bluetooth Speaker Roundup

Highs

  • Shaped like a spaceship
  • Impressive bass
  • Clean midrange

Lows

  • Boost button halves battery life
  • Low max volume

Editors' Recommendations

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
Divoom Timebox Mini review
Create your own retro pixel art with the Divoom Timebox Mini Bluetooth speaker
Divoom Timebox Mini cat

Roaming the halls of the IFA tech conference in September, we were immediately charmed by this eye-catching pixel art display. On closer inspection, it turned out to be the front of a Bluetooth speaker which hooks up to your iPhone or Android smartphone via an incredibly feature-packed app. It can play music, display the time, alert you to incoming notifications on your phone, and a whole lot more.

Best of all it can be customized to show any retro pixel artwork of your choice – including your own creations. Dig into our Divoom Timebox Mini review to learn about the full potential of this delightful Franken-gadget.
Portable and lightweight
Best of all it can be customized to show any retro pixel artwork of your choice

Read more
Vava Voom 22 review
Vava Voom 22 wireless speakers are better in pairs
Vava Voom 22 review

We at Digital Trends are more fortunate than most in that we get to sample hundreds of wireless speakers each year, separating the wheat from the chaff and drilling down to those products worth owning. And yet, even we grow weary of the dizzying amount of options out there. Who can keep up with all these brands? Which ones have just the right blend of features and sound quality? Which company is doing something special to break through all this noise? The fact that we’re writing a Vava Voom 22 review should tell you something: These speakers are worth a serious look.
Out of the box
As soon as you pull a Vava Voom 22 speaker from its box, you understand why it won a Red Dot Design Award.  These speakers are easy on the eyes and constructed in simple, yet effective ways.

First looks tend to zoom in on the Voom 22’s modest statuesque presence, smooth grey grill material, and minimalist control button layout. A closer inspection reveals a 5V/1A USB charging port to power devices and a 3.5 mm jack for wired connection to nearly any source – and that might just include a TV, or a turntable with built-in pre-amp, for starters.

Read more
Philips EverPlay BT6900 review
Philips EverPlay BT6900 review

The Philips EverPlay series seeks a balance between design and durability, straddling the line between rugged outdoorsiness and classy coffee-table fare. The electronics giant's newest line of Bluetooth speakers lacks a friendly voice-activated assistant and memorable model names -- the various products are called BT3900, BT6900, and BT7900. But it does offer listeners an assortment of affordable options from a reputable brand, each of which boasts excellent wireless range and useful features. We took the mid-level model for a spin, and our Philips EverPlay BT6900 review revealed a nicely balanced speaker.
Unboxed
We're used to pomp and circumstance when it comes to audio equipment. Many manufacturers splash their packaging with artful renderings of their wireless speaker submerged in water or with vibrant, abstract imaging meant to represent... something. Philips took a different approach, bathing their box in baby blue and making absolutely sure that every feature is prominently listed -- over and over again.

The speaker is turquoise, so at least it kinda matches. Frankly, the packaging looks more fit for a baby monitor than a speaker, but we digress.
Features and design
The oval speaker is covered in a mesh-like fabric buffered on either end by rubber caps. One is a sealed hatch concealing the auxiliary and charge ports, while the other is home to the buttons: Power play/pause, volume, and Bluetooth pairing.

Read more