Panasonic SC-HT900 Home Theater in a Box

Panasonic SC-HT900 Home Theater in a Box 

DESCRIPTION

  • 5-disc changer with disc exchange
  • plays DVD-Video and DVD-Audio discs, CDs, audio CD-Rs & CD-RWs, and MP3 and WMA CDs
  • built-in Dolby Digital/DTS/Pro Logic II decoding
  • Multichannel Sound Field
  • selectable progressive-scan video output
  • tuner with 15 FM/15 AM presets
  • optical digital audio input
  • 3 audio inputs
  • video output for TV (composite, S-video, component)
  • multibrand-for-video remote
  • 16-7/8"W x 2-11/16"H x 18-1/2"D

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 10  
[Feb 23, 2016]
Ethan
Casual Listener

This sound system IS THE BEST SOUND SYSTEM EVER!!!! OUTSTANDING sound! AMAZING reliability it is still working perfectly even though we have had it for over 10 YEARS! I love the range of compatibility with DTS and DOLBY DIGITAL! Incredible value for money! I highly recommend this system to ANYONE! Great job Panasonic, you do the best sound systems ever!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Apr 06, 2009]
jgray
Audio Enthusiast

I got this system from my brother for no cost, the first thing that bothered me was that the DVD player is powered by the Sub woofer. I liked the sound of the unit, but not, that there are no treble or bass controls, the worst thing about the unit is the loud popping sound, that happens when using it for several hours. This happens off and on, I read that it is due to a heat problem from the circuit board. I am considering taking the Sub woofer/Power unit apart and installing a cooling fan. When I buy a new system, I will stay away from Panasonic as they should recall this product. I have always been a fan of Yamaha, as there products are better made.

OVERALL
RATING
3
VALUE
RATING
1
[Sep 07, 2007]
mmarkey
Casual Listener

Strength:

Cool looking slim design with lots of bells and whistles but they don't all work properly.
When it was not popping and screeching or there was no sound at all it worked pretty well. Now it is polluting the planet in some land fill.

Weakness:

Cheaply made with poor quality control. System has a KNOWN design flaw that causes it to completely fail with extended use. Panasonic deliberately designed this as a proprietary unit so that the components cannot be interchanged when it eventually stops working. They also discontinued the parts so you can't even replace the faulty circuit board with another faulty circuit board to at least get a few more months use out of it. The only thing you can do with the components is maybe use it for some kind of weird art project. I tried to give it away on Craigslist but nobody wanted it.

Shame on Panasonic for being so ecologically and ethically irresponsible!

Although I assume that the majority of the components of this model are all sitting in landfills polluting mother earth by now, I thought I would write a review anyway. There just might be a few smart consumers out there clever enough to realize that reviews of older models can give very good insight as to the quality and reliability of the newer models. Since even the cheapest systems will generally last for at least a few months before developing problems most reviews on new models are VERY incomplete and focus entirely on features only as the user has not owned the product long enough to realize that it's just a pretty piece of junk.

This product is just a pretty piece of junk that doesn't look so pretty in a garbage can. Although it has a nice slim design and lots of impressive features, It also has a KNOWN design flaw that causes the main circuit board to overheat. This will begin to damage the board more and more until it eventually fails completely and permanently. In the mean time you get to endure random heart attack inducing pops and screeches followed by complete loss of sound.

Customer Service

Panasonic customer service is a JOKE! No matter who you speak with they all sound like broken records repeating the same lines over and over ( obviously from a script they've been given ). If you try to engage them in a REAL conversation to discuss the problem and resolve the issue they will just keep putting you on hold or hang up on you.

Although Panasonic is well aware of the design flaw in this unit they refused to do anything to resolve the problem. If they were a responsible and ethical company that truly stood behind their products they would have issued a recall on this unit. But they are not so they didn't. Instead they continue to put out newer versions that are just as cheaply made with the same lack of quality control.

All that Panasonic offers consumers is their "customer loyalty program" which is just another scam to rip you off AGAIN as if once wasn't enough! This is a lousy 20% discount off of their MSRP which calculates out to be HIGHER than you would probably pay on sale at a typical electronics store. Gee thanks Panasonic.

Similar Products Used:

After my bad experience with this model and Panasonic customer service I will NEVER purchase another Panasonic product again.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Sep 06, 2007]
m. markey
Casual Listener

Strength:

Easy to set up and sounds okay for a small room. Has a decent selection of features. Slim cool-looking design.

Weakness:

Very cheaply made with NO quality control. Will probably fail to operate within a few months due to a KNOWN design flaw in the system. Panasonic customer service is a bad joke. They are rude and they DO NOT stand behind their products.

If you're tempted to buy this (or any other Panasonic Home Theater System) because you are lured by the nice looks and array of features DON'T!!!! This system is pure JUNK! Although it was easy to set up and sounded pretty decent in my small bedroom it only worked for a few months and then the trouble started. LOUD popping noises or heart-stopping screeches followed by no sound which gradually got worse and worse until the system eventually completely failed. I took it in to the local Panasonic repair facility and was told that the main circuit board was overheating do to a design flaw. They said it was unfixable because Panasonic discountinued the needed part and it wouldn't make any difference anyway because it was a design flaw in the board so the problem would not be resolved by replacing it.

Although I have personally found about 50 negative reviews on this system all reporting the same problem Panasonic refuses to acknowledge this and issue a recall. Their customer service department is a bad JOKE! No matter who you speak with they all sound like a broken recording repeating the same mantra from their script sheet over and over. They will tell you there is nothing they can do except offer a "customer loyalty" discount on a replacement system. However the "discount" is based on their overinflated MSRP which would end up costing more than you would pay on sale at a typical electronics store. If you don't accept this offer ( and only a fool would let Panasonic rip them off TWICE by accepting this ridiculous offer) they will provide no other solutions and will instead get very rude and will eventually just hang up on you.

It is an absolute INSULT to comsumers when a company knowingly rips consumers off by selling cheap defective products and refuses to aknowledge this. What's worse is that they deliberately design these systems to be proprietory so that you can't replace individual components so when one part fails the entire system is useless. The result is thousands and thousands of toxic electronic components polluting our world in overflowing land fills!

This kind of dishonest and irresponsible corporate business practices is the reason I will never buy another Panasonic procuct again!

Customer Service

Dismal and rude.

Similar Products Used:

I will never buy another Panasonic product again.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Nov 28, 2004]
streamer1
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Look's like a million bucks.

Weakness:

Poor design. The subwoofer-amp unit supplies power for the DVD player. When the sub-amp unit dies, your left with a great looking progressive scan DVD player that can't be used.

Panasonic has dropped the ball on their quality control. This system's subwoofer-amplifier- unit overheated and quit working after less than a year. After being sent to a Panasonic service center, the unit was returned supposedly repaired. What a joke. It worked approximately 5 minutes, made a loud popping noise and died again. I spent hours on the phone trying to get some resolution, but to no avail. Apparently, customer satisfaction is not at the top of Panasonic's priority list. My advice to anyone is to steer clear of Panasonic branded products.

Similar Products Used:

JVC 7030VBK 6 channel tuner and Cerwin Vega surround speakers. This replaced the non-working Panasonic system.

OVERALL
RATING
1
VALUE
RATING
1
[Dec 11, 2003]
Reaper
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

The component that realy shines in this package is the DVD player. Outstanding visual quality, beats a very expensive Toshiba that it replaced, and it is also progressive scan for those who own an HDTV. The amplifier splits most of the wattage to the center channel and sub, very little actually goes to the 4 surrounds. Having said that, the package has an excellent center channel. Biggest strength: bang for the buck. Best sound in price range, and a very nice DVD player to boot.

Weakness:

The biggest weakness of this system: No bass or treble controls. Just preprogrammed listening curves, such as flat and disco etc. Also, the DVD player runs off of the subs power source. Meaning that you can't replace the DVD with any old off the shelf brand.

Very nice, complete home theatre package. This setup has very nice sound, considering the price. Don't expect audiophile quality, remember, you paid around $500 for everything,including a DVD player, amplifier, powered sub and 5 speakers. This system is great for a small or medium size room, but the drivers are just too small for a large room. The sound is MUCH better than anything similar in price. It even sounded better than a Klipsch setup of similar price. The only think close was a $800 yamaha system.

Similar Products Used:

Klipsch, Cambridge, have a friend with a Bose system. That's it as far as home theatre... have fun.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Dec 11, 2003]
Reaper
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

The component that realy shines in this package is the DVD player. Outstanding visual quality, beats a very expensive Toshiba that it replaced, and it is also progressive scan for those who own an HDTV. The amplifier splits most of the wattage to the center channel and sub, very little actually goes to the 4 surrounds. Having said that, the package has an excellent center channel. Biggest strength: bang for the buck. Best sound in price range, and a very nice DVD player to boot.

Weakness:

The biggest weakness of this system: No bass or treble controls. Just preprogrammed listening curves, such as flat and disco etc. Also, the DVD player runs off of the subs power source. Meaning that you can't replace the DVD with any old off the shelf brand.

Very nice, complete home theatre package. This setup has very nice sound, considering the price. Don't expect audiophile quality, remember, you paid around $500 for everything,including a DVD player, amplifier, powered sub and 5 speakers. This system is great for a small or medium size room, but the drivers are just too small for a large room. The sound is MUCH better than anything similar in price. It even sounded better than a Klipsch setup of similar price. The only think close was a $800 yamaha system.

Similar Products Used:

Klipsch, Cambridge, have a friend with a Bose system. That's it as far as home theatre... have fun.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
5
[Nov 11, 2003]
Big E
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Sleak Design, No need to buy stands, Powerful all around (700 Watts!), all speakers can be adjusted to individual preferances, Sub rocks hard, Excellent 5 disc DVD/CD/SVCD/VCD/DVD-A/DVD-R player, and it plays HighMAT discs. The player is very slim so it will fit anywhere. The "tallboy" speakers stand 42 inches and are strong, made of metal so they won't fall over. The system has so many features so be sure to read the instruction booklet carefully!

Weakness:

None so far. Just be sure place the speakers in the right places or you will not get the correct sound field set up.

I was extremely suprised to get such a high quality product at the price that I did. This system is awesome! It's extremely powerful and very clear. It plays just about every disc you can think of and loads quickly for a 5 disc player. Don't be afraid to crank it either, playing LOTR first is the the best test disc to get a feel for what this system will do. Setup is a snap, about 45 minutes. Thankfully this has an optic IN so I was able to get Surround Sound from my cable provider. The system looks great, very modern, which will go well with any TV. The system decodes DTS, and Dolby Digital, as well as Pro Logic 1 and 2. Sounds great with anything, whether it be a movie or a music cd. Great job Panasonic!

Similar Products Used:

None

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jul 28, 2003]
Luis
Audio Enthusiast

Strength:

Power, features, sub kicks, design, easy-to-set-up, convenient, what else can I say? overall a great system for the price.

Weakness:

The only problem I found was that my TV doesn't appear on the TV-code list for the universal remote that comes with the home theater.

It's a great system, slim, elegant, it's an art-deco accesory for your house.

Similar Products Used:

NONE. My first home theater system. But my frien has a BOSE system and believe me the sound quiality of the Panasonic is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
Showing 1-10 of 10  

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