Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Other reviews tell you what you're getting, let me tell you what you're NOT:
1) The rear wireless speaker transmitter/receiver. That piece is model # SH-FX71, about $130 bucks as of 3/27/2011, and NOT in the box. The unit is COMPATIBLE with wireless rear speakers, but the only wireless transmitter that comes with the unit is the USB Wireless LAN. (Other home theatre models have this piece included at similar price points.)
2) Speaker wire that is long enough. Worse, the speaker wire even has a proprietary connector on it you have to use when connecting at the main unit (I guess you could splice in additional length). The rear speaker wires aren't long enough for even the smallest of living room runs assuming you'd like to run both cables cleanly along the same wall/baseboard. In my 10x12 room I would need at least an additional 8 foot in length.
3) High-quality earth-moving sound. Seeing this system listed as a 1000-watt system you might think it will be a super-awesome system like some of the other 1000-watt systems you've heard (e.g. Bose). You can run 1000 watts through a potato but it won't make the potato sound good. You're getting a $500 sound system, nothing more / nothing less. It sounds really good for that price point, but it will not touch even the worst of the higher end $1,000 and up 1000-watt systems so please don't think "more watts = more better".
4) Tons of inputs and outputs. You get 1 HDMI out, 1 LAN in, 1 red/white audio in (AUX), 1 yellow video out, 1 digital audio in, an FM antenna connection, a USB connection for the Wireless LAN adapter (that is included), and a custom port for the wireless speaker transceiver (that isn't included). Notice there is NO COMPONENT OUT. If you have a TV from the early HD days you'll probably not have an HDMI port, only a DVI in and some Component inputs. The solution here is to get an HDMI->DVI cable for about 10 bucks (you're losing nothing, DVI is just a subset of the HDMI standard with a different plug type). You CAN NOT use this unit to consolidate a lot of inputs, you'll have to rely on your TV. If your TV doesn't have room for all of your inputs, this unit isn't going to solve your problem. If you have 3 or 4 sources of sound going into your current receiver, that will have to change under this model's limited input availability.
Other random food for thought:
1) If you don't need the 3D aspect, consider a very similar but slightly earlier Panasonic model SC-BTT730. Seems to be otherwise identical to this model, but quite a bit cheaper AND it comes with the rear wireless speaker transmitter.
2) Also, at time of writing Amazon as well as others were selling this same model on Amazon. I always prefer to buy directly from Amazon stocked items when I have a choice because you're going to get the fast shipping, great support, and no tax. The "other guys" at time of writing are charging at least $70 more and who knows how slow they ship.
3) Remember you are buying a sound system and blu ray system glued together. One breaks = you replace both. You're obviously getting the whole package cheaper, but don't whine 5 years down the road if the Blu-ray player breaks and you have to throw out all the speakers because you must buy a totally new home-theatre-in-a-box (HTIB).
Final overview:
-At the current price of $530 I would not buy this model again (I have to turn around and spend another $130 for the wireless because my cables are too short)
-If this model ever starts coming with the wireless unit for speakers (or you think you don't need it) I would say it would be a good buy then
-If I was doing it all again, I would buy either the SC-BTT730, a sony model, or an LG model. They offer the full package for $550 or less. (What I got in my box was a $500 dollar sound system that I have to pay $660 total for.)
-Not a bad unit, just there is equivalent on the market for significantly less total cost
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Update: Originally I gave this 2 stars, Let me take one away upon update for the following reasons:
First the remote. The play/pause/forward/nav buttons you use the most are almost at the bottom of the remote and you can't tell by shape/feel in the dark which way is "up". Why would you put the buttons you use the most somewhere on the remote that is awkward to reach? I know this seems like a little thing, but it really starts to annoy over time. (Try holding your dish or directTV remote upside-down and you'll get the idea of what this is like.)
Second is the sound quality. It seems to vary a lot, "creep down", has poor low end, and poor voice range. First out of the box when I did this review Blu-ray is all groovy. After over a month of watching normal TV, satellite and DVR programs I miss my cheap-o system that broke. I've fiddled with the settings for a while, but it gets quieter and I keep inching up the volume then I flip a channel or source and BAAAAMMMMMMMOOOOOOO it's stupid loud. Clear Voices and Crisp Bass on anything but Blu-Ray? Forget it (even with digital audio in on a high quality source.) I guess the reason they built in a "whisper" mode was in attempt to compensate for the poor voice range. When you turn on whisper it goes from awful to just slightly less awful.
Third is rear speakers. My original review noted the ripoff that this system did NOT come with the wireless speaker transmitter. I coughed up and bought it for $130 anyway. The connection drops about once a day now and the little connection LED goes red, so I have to climb behind my couch and reboot it. Joy.
This thing is now such a piece of junk I'm moving it out my living room as soon as I can afford another brand. After this, I will think long and hard before ever buying a Panasonic anything again. I've owned a lot of their gear before, even another HTIB, but this is a complete disaster.
If I was reading this review I would interpret it as some guy really angry at the product looking to run it down. I typically dismiss such reviews. In this case though, please be aware that I'm not mad, it is genuinely a piece of junk because it fails on so many points. One thing or two and it might just be me or a bad set of equipment. There isn't anything "good" about this, and a long list of "bad". I'm just really disappointed. I read the reviews on this before I bought it and they were very favorable. At the very least listen to it in a store beside something comparable, that alone should convince you to buy another product. I wish I had.
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Panasonic SC-BTT750 5.1 Channel 3D Blu-Ray Cinema Surround Home Entertainment System (Black)Get your home theater going right out of the box with the Panasonic SC-BT750 full HD 3D Blu-ray disc home entertainment system, which includes a Blu-ray Disc player plus a complete 5.1-channel surround sound speaker system. A wireless LAN adaptor is included to enjoy great web entertainment on your HDTV with VIERA CAST without the wires. It also features 1000 watts of total power, True to Cinema Sound Quality with the Pure Direct Sound speaker, 7.1-channel virtual surround sound (from the 5.1-channel speaker set) and an SD memory card slot of medial playback. And you'll be able to play music and video stored on your iPhone or iPod thanks to the included iPod dock.
Click here for more information about Panasonic SC-BTT750 5.1 Channel 3D Blu-Ray Cinema Surround Home Entertainment System (Black)
