Panasonic Cd Stereo System Sc-akx18 Owners Manual

							Owner’s Manual
CD Stereo System
Model No. SC-AKX18
Thank you for purchasing this product. 
For optimum performance and safety, please read these instructions carefully.
Please keep this manual for future reference.
If you have any questions, visit: www.panasonic.com/support
Register online at www.panasonic.com/register
 (U.S. customers only)
P RQT9899-P
La referencia rápida en español se puede encontrar en la página 17.
SC-AKX18 P RQT9899-P EN.fm  Page 1  Monday, April 14, 2014  10:41 AM  
						

							2
RQT9899
Do the procedures with the remote control. You can 
also use the buttons on the main unit if they are the 
same.
Your system and the illustrations can look differently.
These operating instructions are applicable to the 
following system.
User memo:
Inside of product
– If you see this symbol –
IMPORTANT SAFETY 
INSTRUCTIONS
Read these operating instructions carefully before using 
the unit. Follow the safety instructions on the unit and the 
applicable safety instructions listed below. Keep these 
operating instructions handy for future reference.
1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilati on openings. Install in 
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as  radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus 
(including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or  grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades 
with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug 
has two blades and a third grounding prong. The 
wide blade or the third prong are provided for your 
safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your 
outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the 
obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or  pinched particularly at plugs, convenience 
receptacles, and the point where they exit from the 
apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the  manufacturer.
12. Use only with the cart, stand, tripod,  bracket, or table specified by the 
manufacturer, or sold with the 
apparatus. When a cart is used, use 
caution when moving the 
cart/apparatus combination to avoid 
injury from tip-over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or  when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qu alified service personnel. 
Servicing is required when  the apparatus has been 
damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or 
plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects 
have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has 
been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate 
normally, or has been dropped.
System
SC-AKX18
Main unit SA-AKX18
Speakers SB-AKX18
The model number and serial number of this product 
can be found on either the back or the bottom of the 
unit. Please note them in  the space provided below and 
keep for future reference.
MODEL NUMBER SC-AKX18
SERIAL NUMBER
DATE OF PURCHASE
DEALER NAME
DEALER ADDRESS
TELEPHONE NUMBER
Information on Disposal in other Countries outside
the European Union This symbol is only va lid in the European 
Union.
If you wish to discard this product, please 
contact your local authorities or dealer and 
ask for the correct method of disposal.
This transmitter must not be co-located or operated in 
conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure 
limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment and 
meets the FCC radio frequency (RF) Exposure 
Guidelines in Supplement C to OET65. This equipment 
has very low levels of RF energy that is deemed to 
comply without maximum permissive exposure 
evaluation (MPE). But it is  desirable that it should be 
installed and operated keeping the radiator at least 
20 cm (7  ⅞″) or more away from person’s body 
(excluding extremities: hands, wrists, feet and ankles).
SC-AKX18 P RQT9899-P EN.fm  Page 2  Monday, April 14, 2014  10:41 AM  
						

							3
RQT9899
Safety precautions
WARNING!
Unit
• To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock or product damage,
– Do not expose this unit to rain, moisture, dripping or splashing.
– Do not place objects filled with liquids, such as  vases, on this unit.
– Use only the recommended accessories.
– Do not remove covers.
– Do not repair this unit by  yourself. Refer servicing to 
qualified service personnel.
– Do not let metal objects  fall inside this unit.
AC power supply cord
• The power plug is the discon necting device. Install this 
unit so that the power plug can be unplugged from the 
socket outlet immediately.
CAUTION!
Unit
• To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock or product 
damage,
– Do not install or place this  unit in a bookcase, built-in 
cabinet or in another confined space. Ensure this 
unit is well ventilated.
– Do not obstruct this unit’s ventilation openings with  newspapers, tablecloths, curtains, and similar items.
– Do not place sources of naked flames, such as  lighted candles, on this unit.
• This unit utilizes a laser. Use of controls or adjustments 
or performance of procedures other than those 
specified herein may result  in hazardous radiation 
exposure.
• Set the unit up on an even surface away from direct  sunlight, high temperatures, high humidity, and 
excessive vibration.
Battery
• Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced.  Replace only with the type recommended by the 
manufacturer.
• When disposing of the batteries, please contact your 
local authorities or dealer and ask for the correct 
method of disposal.
• Do not heat or expose to flame.
• Do not leave the battery(ies) in a car exposed to direct  sunlight for a long period of time with doors and 
windows closed.
• Do not break open or short-circuit the battery.
• Do not charge the alkaline or manganese battery.
• Do not use the battery if the cover has peeled off.
• Remove the battery if you do not use the remote  control for a long period of time. Keep in a cool, dark 
area. CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC 
SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE SCREWS.
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS 
INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED 
SERVICE PERSONNEL.
The lightning flash with arrowhead 
symbol, within an equ ilateral triangle, is 
intended to alert the user to the presence 
of uninsulated “dan gerous voltage” 
within the product’s enclosure that may 
be of sufficient magn itude to constitute a 
risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an 
equilateral triangle is intended to alert the 
user to the presence of important 
operating and maintenance (servicing) 
instructions in the literature 
accompanying the appliance.
FCC Note:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply 
with the limits for a Class B  digital device, pursuant to 
Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable 
protection against harmful interference in a residential 
installation. This equipment generates, uses and can 
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and 
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause 
harmful interference to radio communications. 
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not 
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does 
cause harmful interference to radio or television 
reception, which can be de termined by turning the 
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to 
correct the interference by one or more of the following 
measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and  receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit 
different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV  technician for help.
Any unauthorized changes or modifications to this 
equipment would void the user’s authority to operate 
this device.
This device complies with Pa rt 15 of the FCC Rules. 
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and 
(2) this device must accept any interference received, 
including interference that may cause undesired 
operation.
Responsible Party:
Panasonic Corporation of North America
Two Riverfront Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102-5490
Support Contact:
http://www.panasonic.com/contactinfo
ENGLISH
SC-AKX18 P RQT9899-P EN.fm  Page 3  Monday, April 14, 2014  10:41 AM  
						

							4
RQT9899
Table of contents
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . 2
Safety precautions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
About Bluetooth
® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Supplied accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Preparing the remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Placement of speakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Connections  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Overview of controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Preparing media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Media playback. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Sound effects  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Clock and timers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
External equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Others  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Troubleshooting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Spanish quick reference /  Referencia rápida en 
español  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Limited Warranty (ONLY FOR U.S.A.)  . . . . . . . . . . 19
Maintenance
To clean this system, wipe with a soft, dry cloth.
• Never use alcohol, paint thinner or benzine to clean this  system.
• Before using chemically treated cloth, read the  instructions that came with the cloth carefully.
About Bluetooth®
Frequency band
• This system uses the 2.4 GHz frequency band.
Certification
• This system conforms to the frequency restrictions and has received certification based on frequency laws. 
Thus, a wireless permit is not necessary.
• The actions below are punishable by law: – Taking apart or modifying the main unit.
– Removing specification indications.
Restrictions of use
• Wireless transmission and/or  usage with all Bluetooth
® 
equipped devices is not guaranteed.
• All devices must conform to standards set by 
Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
• Depending on the specifications and settings of a  device, it can fail to connect or some operations can be 
different.
• This system supports Bluetooth
® security features. But 
depending on the operating environment and/or 
settings, this security is possibly not sufficient. 
Transmit data wirelessly to  this system with caution.
• This system cannot transmit data to a Bluetooth
® 
device.
Range of use
• Use this device at a maximum range of 10 m (33 ft).
• The range can decrease depending on the  environment, obstacles or interference.
Interference from other devices
• This system may not function properly and troubles  such as noise and sound jumps may arise due to radio 
wave interference if this un it is located too close to 
other Bluetooth
® devices or the devices that use the 
2.4 GHz band.
• This system may not function properly if radio waves  from a nearby broadcasting station, etc. is too strong.
Intended usage
• This system is for normal, general use only.
• Do not use this system near  an equipment or in an 
environment that is sensitive to radio frequency 
interference (example: airports, hospitals, laboratories, 
etc.).
The Bluetooth
® word mark and logos are registered 
trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use 
of such marks by Panasonic Corporation is under 
license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of 
their respective owners.
Google Play and Android are  trademarks of Google Inc.
MPEG Layer-3 audio coding technology licensed from 
Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson.
Panasonic bears no responsibility for data and/or 
information that can possibly be compromised during a 
wireless transmission.
SC-AKX18 P RQT9899-P EN.fm  Page 4  Monday, April 14, 2014  10:41 AM  
						

							5
RQT9899
Supplied accessories
Check and identify the supplied accessories.
Use numbers indicated in parentheses when asking for 
replacement parts. (Product numbers correct as of 
April 2014. This may be subject to change.)
To order accessories, refer to “Accessory Purchases
(United States)” on page 19.
1 AC power supply cord
(K2CB2CB00022)
1 FM indoor antenna
(RSAX0002)
1 Remote control battery
1 Remote control
(N2QAYB000944)
Preparing the remote control
Use alkaline or manganese battery.
Install the battery so that the poles (+ and –) align with 
those in the remote control.
Placement of speakers
The left and right speakers are the same.
You cannot remove the net of the speakers.
Use only the supplied speakers.
You can cause damage to the system and decrease the 
sound quality if you use other speakers.
Note:
• Keep your speakers at least 10 mm (″) away from the 
system for proper ventilation.
• Put the speakers on a flat surface.
• These speakers do not have magnetic shielding. Do not put  them near TVs, PCs or other equipment that can be 
magnetized.
• When you play at a high volume for long time, it can cause  damage to the speakers.
• Decrease the volume in these conditions to prevent  damage:
– When the sound is distorted.
– When you adjust the sound quality.
CAUTION!
•Use the speakers only with the recommended 
system. If not, you can cause damage to the 
amplifier and speakers and can cause a fire. 
Consult an approved service personnel if damage 
occurs or if there is a sudden apparent change in 
performance.
• Do the procedures included in these instructions 
when you attach the speakers.
32
13
ENGLISH
SC-AKX18 P RQT9899-P EN.fm  Page 5  Monday, April 14, 2014  10:41 AM  
						

							6
RQT9899
Connections
Connect the AC power supply cord only after all the other connections have been made.
1Connect the FM indoor antenna.
Put the antenna where there is the best reception.
2Connect the speakers.
3Connect the AC power supply cord.
Do not use an AC power supply cord from other 
equipment.
Conserving power
The system consumes a small amount of power even 
when it is in standby mode. Disconnect the power 
cord if you do not use the system.
Some settings will be lost  after you disconnect the 
system. You have to reset them.
A
3 2
1
B
To household AC outlet
SC-AKX18 P RQT9899-P EN.fm  Page 6  Monday, April 14, 2014  10:41 AM  
						

							7
RQT9899
Overview of controls
AStandby/on switch [` ], [ 1 ]
Press to turn the unit from on  to standby mode or vice 
versa. In standby mode, the unit is still consuming a 
small amount of power.
BSelect the audio source
On the main unit:
To start Bluetooth
® pairing, press and hold 
[ –PAIRING] when you are in Bluetooth® source.
CBasic playback control
DView the setup menu
EView the content information
FSelect or confirm the option
GOpen or close the disc tray
HDecrease the brightness of the display panel
To cancel, press the button again.
IAdjust the volume level
JMute the sound
To cancel, press the button again.
“MUTE” is also canceled when you adjust the volume 
or when you turn  off the system.
KView the play menu
LSelect the sound effects
MRemote control sensor
Distance: Within approximately 7 m
Angle: Approximately 20° up and down, 30° left and 
right
NSelect the DJ jukebox
O USB A   USB B USB port ( )
USB status indicator
PDisplay panel
QSelect MP3 album or track
Press [ALBUM/TRACK] to select album or track.
Browse tracks or albums
Turn [CONTROL] to browse.
To start playback from the selection, press [ 4/9 ].
RDisc tray
USB/ CD
RADIO/ TUNE MODE
OPEN
ALBUM/TRACK
DJ JUKEBOX
MANUAL EQ 
D.BASS
VOLUME
A
B
DISPLAY
CONTROL
PAIRINGPRESET EQ
A
C M
E
L
N
C
O
P
Q
R
B
I G
ENGLISH
SC-AKX18 P RQT9899-P EN.fm  Page 7  Monday, April 14, 2014  10:41 AM  
						

							8
RQT9899
Preparing media
Disc
1Press [USB/CD] to select “CD”.
2Press [CD x] (main unit: [ x OPEN/CLOSE]) to open 
the disc tray.
Put in a disc with the label facing up.
3Press [CD  x] (main unit: [x  OPEN/CLOSE]) again to 
close the disc tray.
USB
Preparation
Before you connect a USB device to the system, make 
sure you do a backup of the data.
1Lower the volume and connect the USB device to 
the USB port.
Hold the main unit when connecting or disconnecting 
the USB device.
2Press [USB/CD] to select “USB A” or “USB B”.
Note:
Do not use a USB extension cable. The system cannot 
recognize the USB device connected through a cable.
Bluetooth®
You can connect and play an audio device wirelessly 
through Bluetooth®.
Preparation
• Turn on the Bluetooth
® feature of the device and put 
the device near the system.
• Read the operating instructions of the device for  details.
█Pairing a device
Preparation
If this system is connected to a Bluetooth® device, 
disconnect it ( Z“Disconnecting a device”).
1Press [ ].
If “PAIRING” is shown, continue with step 4.
2Press [PLAY MENU] to select “PAIRING”.
Or press and hold [ –PAIRIN G] on the main unit until 
“PAIRING” is shown. Continue with step 4.
3Press [ R, T ] to select “OK? YES” and then press 
[OK].
“PAIRING” is shown.
To cancel, select “OK? NO”.
4Select “SC-AKX18” from the Bluetooth® menu of the 
device.
If prompted for a passkey, input “0000”.
The device connects with this system automatically 
after pairing is complete.
The name of the connected device is shown for a 
few seconds.
Note:
You can pair up to 8 devices with this system. If a 9th device 
is paired, the device that has not been used for the longest 
time will be replaced.
█Connecting a device
Preparation
If this system is connected to a Bluetooth® device, 
disconnect it ( Z“Disconnecting a device”).
1Press [ ].
“BLUETOOTH READY” is shown.
2Select “SC-AKX18” from the Bluetooth® menu of the 
device.
The name of the connected device is shown for a 
few seconds.
3Start playback on the device.
Note:
• A device must be paired to connect.
• The system can only connect to one device at a time.
• When “BLUETOOTH” is selected as the source, this  system will automatically try to connect to the last 
connected device.
█Disconnecting a device
1Press [ ].
2Press [PLAY MENU] to select “DISCONNECT?”.
3Press [ R, T ] to select “OK? YES” and then press 
[OK].
“BLUETOOTH READY” is shown.
To cancel, select “OK? NO”.
Using the main unit
Press and hold [ –PAIRING]  until “PAIRING” is shown.
Note:
A device is disconnected when you:
• Select a different source.
• Move the device out of the maximum range.
• Disable the Bluetooth
® transmission of the device.
• Turn off the system or the device.
DJ JUKEBOX
D.BASS
A
B
USB device 
(not supplied)
SC-AKX18 P RQT9899-P EN.fm  Page 8  Monday, April 14, 2014  10:41 AM  
						

							9
RQT9899
Media playback
The following marks indicate the availability of the 
feature.
Basic playback
 CD   USB   BLUETOOTH 
Note:
Depending on the Bluetooth® device, some operations may 
not work.
Viewing available information
 CD   USB   BLUETOOTH 
You can view the available information on the display 
panel.
Press [DISPLAY].
Note:
• Maximum characters that can be shown:
 CD   USB : approximately 32 BLUETOOTH : approximately 16
• This system supports ver. 1.0 and 1.1 ID3 tags.
• Text data that the system does not support can show  differently.
• Example: MP3 album and track number display.
Play menu
 CD   USB 
1Press [PLAY MENU] to select “PLAYMODE” or 
“REPEAT”.
2Press [ R, T ] to select the setting and then press 
[OK].
Note:
• During random playback, you cannot skip to tracks which  have been played.
• The setting is canceled when you open the disc tray.
Link mode
 BLUETOOTH 
You can change the link mode to the desired connection 
type.
Preparation
If this system is connected to a Bluetooth
® device, 
disconnect it ( Z“Disconnecting a device”).
1Press [PLAY MENU] to select “LINK MODE”.
2Press [ R, T ] to select the setting and then press 
[OK].
Note:
The default setting is “MODE 2”.
 CD : CD-R/RW in CD-DA form at or with MP3 files. USB : USB device with MP3 files. BLUETOOTH :Bluetooth® device.
Play Press [4/9 ].
Stop Press [ 8]. USB The position is memorized.
“RESUME” is shown.
Press again to stop fully.
Pause Press [ 4/9 ].
Press again to continue playback.
Skip Press [2 /3 ] or [5/6 ] to skip track. CD   USB Press [ R, T ] to skip MP3 album.
SearchPress and hold [2 /3 ] or [5 /6 ].
Album 
number Track 
number
PLAYMODE
OFF
PLAYMODE
Cancel the setting.
1-TRACK1TRPlay one selected track.
Press [
2/3 ] or [5 /6 ] to select 
the track.
1-ALBUM1ALBUMPlay one selected MP3 album.
Press [ R, T ] to select the MP3 album.
RANDOMRNDPlay all tracks randomly.
1-ALBUM 
RANDOM
1ALBUM RND
Play all tracks in one selected MP3 
album randomly.
Press [ R, T ] to select the MP3 album.
REPEAT
OFF REPEAT Cancel the setting.
ON REPEAT Repeat playback.
MODE 1 Emphasis on connectivity.
MODE 2  Emphasis on sound quality.
ENGLISH
SC-AKX18 P RQT9899-P EN.fm  Page 9  Monday, April 14, 2014  10:41 AM  
						

							10
RQT9899
█Note on disc• This system can play CD-R/RW with CD-DA or MP3 format content.
• Before playback, finalize the disc on the device it was  recorded on.
• Some CD-R/RW cannot be played because of the 
condition of the recording.
Note about using a DualDisc
• The digital audio content side of a DualDisc does not  meet the technical specifications of the Compact Disc 
Digital Audio (CD-DA) format so playback may not be
possible.
█Note on USB device• This system supports USB 2.0 full speed.
• This system can support USB devices of up to 32 GB.
• Only FAT 12/16/32 file system is supported.
█Note on MP3 file• Files are defined as tracks and folders are defined as albums.
• Tracks must have the extension “.mp3” or “.MP3”.
• Tracks will not necessarily be  played in the order you 
recorded them.
• Some files can fail to work because of the sector size.
MP3 file on disc
• This system can access up to:
– 255 albums (including root folder)
– 999 tracks
– 20 sessions
• Disc must conform to ISO9660 level 1 or 2 (except for  extended formats).
MP3 file on USB device
• This system can access up to: – 800 albums (including root folder)
– 8000 tracks
– 999 tracks in one album
Sound effects
1Press [SOUND] to select the sound effect.
2Press [ R, T ] to select the setting and then press 
[OK].
Note:
The default setting is underlined. Changed settings will be 
kept until it is changed again, unless otherwise indicated.
DJ jukebox
 USB 
You can use DJ jukebox to add cross-fading effect 
between songs. You can also use additional features with 
the “Panasonic MAX Juke” app ( Z see below).
1Press [PLAY MENU] to select “JUKEBOX” and then 
press [ R, T ] to select the setting.
Or press [DJ JUKEBOX] on the main unit to select the 
setting. Continue with step 3.
2Press [OK].
3Press [PLAY MENU] to select “PLAYMODE”.
4Press [ R, T ] to select the setting and then press 
[OK].
Note:
DJ jukebox effect is canceled when you turn off the system or 
change to another source.
PRESET EQ Select the desired preset EQ setting.
Using the main unit
Press [PRESET EQ].
BASS –4 to +4Using the main unit
1. Press [MANUAL EQ] to select “BASS”, “MID” or “TREBLE”.
2. Press [ 2/3 ] or [5/6 ] to 
adjust the level.
MID
TREBLE
D.BASS “ON D.BASS” or “OFF D.BASS”
Using the main unit
Press [D.BASS].
SURROUND “ON SURROUND” or “OFF SURROUND”
OFF CROSS FADE Cancel cross-fading.
ON CROSS FADE Add cross-fading. 
OFF Turn off DJ jukebox.
RANDOM REPEAT
RND
Play all tracks randomly and 
repeat all tracks.
ALL TITLE REPEAT Repeat all tracks.
Using the “Panasonic MAX Juke” app
You can download and install the free Android™ app 
“Panasonic MAX Juke” on Google Play™ for additional 
features, such as to request song playback from 
multiple devices simultaneously.
SC-AKX18 P RQT9899-P EN.fm  Page 10  Monday, April 14, 2014  10:41 AM