Customer Reviews

Panasonic SC-HT650 5-Disc DVD Home Theater In a Box

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The SC-HT650 has one major problem that I have found with the two different models that I have bought and returned, the fan that keeps the dvd player cool does't work and causes the module to overheat and shut down. The Longest that I have had the thing running at one time is two hours before it shuts down.

I purchased this from wal-mart, and at first it was nice. DVD's Play nice and the audio is good. However, when watchin TV, it's almost impossible to get the rear speakers to put out any sound other than hissing. I adjusted the rear speakers and was able to manage just a bit of sound, but still for $300, it was unsatisfactory. I ended up taking this back for a refund, then went to Sam's club and purchased the Kenwood HTB-306 model and WOW!!! What a big difference! The Kenwood sounds so much nicer and the woofer blows away this panasonic woofer. Don't get me wrong, if you are on a budget and just want good sounding dvd system, this isn't bad. However, the Kenwood HTB-306 was $50 cheaper, but don't have a DVD Player, but I'm heading out tomorrow to pick up a DVD Player with Optical out and I'll be good to go. With my kenwood, all my speakers work well in TV mode. In Conclusion, I'd recommend going with the Kenwood system over this one as there is no comparison.

First of all I agree that it does take too long to change discs. The instruction manual shows the front left and right speakers next to the TV instead of in the corners of the room where they should be. The subwoofer has some port whistle to it but it is usually not noticeable unless you are playing a bass test cd. The unit does remember the Dolby Pro Logic setting for each source but does not automatically switch it on when playing a 2 channel DVD or a CD and off again when you play a multichannel disc and the pro logic kills the surround effects if it is left on when playing multichannel movies. I have found that the DTS tracks sound better than the Dolby Digital ones on most DVDs when played on this unit so I would reccomend selecting DTS if the disc has it available. The overheating amplifier module problem is caused by the fact that the fan on the back of the unit only runs when the system is pushing max power to the speakers it is not temperature controlled(I have measured 200° fahrenheit air coming off of the amplifier with a constant bass drone to the sub). I have found the best way to fix the problem is to put an 80 or 92mm thermally controlled computer fan over the rear set of ventilation openings on top of the unit (above the main heatsink) to help pull the excess heat out.
Update1: This unit will play DTS-CDs (CD audio disk with DTS data instead of PCM audio, if the disk is put in a standard CD player you will only hear static)
Update2: The true FTC (1% THD) power output of the unit.
Front: 8 ohms, 22.5 watts RMS
Rear: 8 ohms, 28.5 watts RMS
Center: 12 ohms woofer, 6 ohms tweeter, 40 watts RMS
Sub: 8 ohms, 108 watts RMS
Total: 199 watts RMS
Note that the actual impedance of the speakers is 8 ohms for all but the center which is 12 ohms. This information was obtained by opening the enclosures and noting the impedance number marked on the speaker magnet(s) inside. Also note that the total output power is much closer to the 190 watt rated input power of the unit.

I currently have a 10" MTX RT1044 Dual Voice Coil subwoofer connected to the unit as follows: Receiver>High-low level converter>240 watt car amplifier>subwoofer
The factory sub is still connected and the two working together has really improved the bass performance(my neighbors came over a few times to complain)

I bought this system not expecting too much(didn't have much cash). I was pleasantly suprised. Lot's of power and very well balanced sound. I do admit that if you value feeling the walls shake when there is a big explosion you will have to save some more cash for a higher end system or replace the subwoofer. The sub might be adequate for most people but not me. I replaced the sub with one of my old Bose 601 speakers and now you really feel the room vibrate. The remote was very easy to just start using and is more intuitive than most. Lots of options for adjusting the speaker levels, sound formats, etc. Plays my home made DVD -Rs, MP3s, & Video CDs. Also music sounds great on this system. My brother who has an expensive Home Theater System came over to check it out and he was very impressed. Of coarse I do have it in a smaller room with all the speakers in the right positions so I'm sure this helps. It's amazing how much a good surround sound system will add to most movies; I have been watching all my DVD's again. Anyway, I have no regrets and would recommend this system to anyone who has to watch their cash.

I purchased this Home theater system back in 03/04 can't remember which for sure now. I was working at walmart at the time and used my employee discount. I have to say that I have been very impressed with it's performance Dolby and DTS tracks sound great. I've used this system constantly for a majority of time owned until I upgraded to HD. then I only use it when I want surround as i can't run the blu-ray through the amp.

As I live in an apartment now, I can't run the system at full volume as it would certainly disturb neighbors. As far as bass goes I have no complaints the supplied sub has had plenty of boom for the spaces i've used it in to the point when i was living with my mom at the time the bass blasts did blow paper around on the other end of my room and when I was testing a bass cd did manage to disturbe a neighbor upsatiars at the end of the hall pretty far from my apartment.

the only thing that seems to be wearing out after all this time is the remote, even with good batteries i seem to have to have it right close to the sensor or the unit wo'n respond I may try to order a new remote last time i called panasonic with the remote model number i was able to still buy one. As far as heat goes, yes the unit does get hot on top but never has caused any damage to discs or itself. The key here is correct ventilation and it's been fine.

So all and all the negative reviews here have been proven wrong, heck when i bought this unit i didn't even know online reviews existed.

P.S.

This unit is currently connected to my 42" panasonic plasma hdtv and looks great for 480p over component. also connected is a blu-ray player from panasonic DMP-BD601k which is great so my whole living room setup is panasonic components now.

First purchased this in Nov 2003 and I was somewhat disappointed in the bass and very little sound from rear speakers, but kept it anyway. Probably because I got it at Fry's for $199. I have it connected to the TV so it runs almost every day but it just died tonight with the 'F61' error (power supply). I can't even find the SC-HT650 model on the Panasonic web site, so I assume they are pretty much ashamed of it. Not buying Panasonic again. Sony has a new system that ships with wireless rear speakers and 1000 watts. It's the Wireless DVD Dream® System DAV-FX100W and it's $900 retail. If you call the Sony business number and ask for the 'employee discount' I got a quote of $670. Our company buys product from Sony so I'm not sure if this is for any company or what. ?

I've had this thing for about a year and I couldn't figure out why suddenly all my DVD's were getting hits. It wasn't until recently that I actually went over to the player and burned my hand on the top of it. It was that hot!! This machine obviously has issues with venting the heat. It gets way too hot, and about 2 hours in to playback it starts to destroy the DVD. DO NOT buy this player unless you want to replace all your DVD's. I've lost about a dozen DVD's so far not realizing it was the player. Take your money elsewhere and get a good machine! Customer support with Panasonic sucks too. They don't even recognize this model under their warranty or customer service.

After a year and a half of moderate use, this product just died with an "F6" error (power supply problem). Me being a knucklehead decided to order a $70 part to fix it which would take a pro to install; so I just decided to cut my losses and junk it. A true piece of junk. Meanwhile my first DVD player; a JVC which I sold to my friend for $50, is working great.

i just bought this panasonic "SC-HT650" home theater system and i put the model number in parenthesis because on the dvd player the model number reads SA-HT650. i took back my philips mx 3660d home theater system to buy this pansonic model, the philps model was 300 watts and sounded extremely better than the panasonic "500" watts that i just recently bought. i was wondering how a 300 watt system could be louder than a "500" watt system. and today i was changing the sound to surround sound and came this ear piercing noise coming from the system that was heard from 3 rooms away, still trying to figure out what that was. its a 5 disc changer and it takes forever for a disc to change. i had a VENTURER 130 watt sytem that sounded better than this "500" watt system!

Customer Service - the Panasonic website claims this is very important to them. I had my home theater only 3-4 months when a VCR tape got stuck. I has now been at the service center for almost 4 months! When I am lucky enough to get a response from Panasonic (which is rare), they make promises of completion and/or replacement. But promises won't play the DVD's my family would have liked to watch together over the holidays. When we finally got through to the customer service center on the phone, they had the nerve to hand up on us twice. IF YOU WANT A COMPANY TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS - STAY AWAY FROM PANASONIC!!! I have truly given up hope of even getting my home theater back from the Panasonic service center.