Should I buy Panasonic SC-BTT490 for $300 on Amazon gold box deal (9/22 only)?

I've been tracking this for a while.  Nice price today, although Amazon just started charging sales tax in CA, so not as good as it was last weekend.  HDMI in on this model, good brand, but some reviews complain about some of the apps, like Netflix.  Bummer on proprietary speaker connectors--have to cut and splice for placement.  I don't think it plays MKV files, also a bummer.  But I might pull the trigger anyway at $300.

If you mean customize the apps, no I don't know, but the Panasonic site claims it does play MKV files.
Edited by calstudios - 9/22/12 at 10:48am

What s the deal with the speaker connections? It doesn"t take standard twin lead speaker cables
I ordered one and wanted to buy the wireless kit but I was debating going with Rocketfish instead of the Panny one but maybe I have no choice. What was last weeks deal?

I also think I would prefer the tall speakers in the rear and the small ones in the front by my tv - not sure if they can be interchanged.
Edited by jmsnyc - 9/22/12 at 1:51pm

Ordered one too.  Hope I like it.

300$ is good deal..but is it new ?? or refubished ./.when i check online i see 380$ .

but this htib will give u very less connectivity..and mediocre sound.

according to me..
onkyo tx nr 414 ..just 280$ online..\
and energy take classic 5.1 400$ ,..great speaker sysytm..
or even bettr pioneer SP BS 21 ..speakers and polk psw 10 sub woofer..( avoid pioneer sub...pio can be bought seperately.. 230$ for 5 speakers ..100$ for psw 10 ..so 330$)

total 280+330=610$..excellent sound ..a full fledged avr..3d and a lot more....panny is good..but this is the best u get at this point..

300$ is good deal..but is it new ?? or refubished ./.when i check online i see 380$ .

but this htib will give u very less connectivity..and mediocre sound.

according to me..
onkyo tx nr 414 ..just 280$ online..\
and energy take classic 5.1 400$ ,..great speaker sysytm..
or even bettr pioneer SP BS 21 ..speakers and polk psw 10 sub woofer..( avoid pioneer sub...pio can be bought seperately.. 230$ for 5 speakers ..100$ for psw 10 ..so 330$)

total 280+330=610$..excellent sound ..a full fledged avr..3d and a lot more....panny is good..but this is the best u get at this point..

300$ is good deal..but is it new ?? or refubished ./.when i check online i see 380$ .

but this htib will give u very less connectivity..and mediocre sound.

according to me..
onkyo tx nr 414 ..just 280$ online..\
and energy take classic 5.1 400$ ,..great speaker sysytm..
or even bettr pioneer SP BS 21 ..speakers and polk psw 10 sub woofer..( avoid pioneer sub...pio can be bought seperately.. 230$ for 5 speakers ..100$ for psw 10 ..so 330$)

total 280+330=610$..excellent sound ..a full fledged avr..3d and a lot more....panny is good..but this is the best u get at this point..

Jmsnyc and Calstudios,

Could we get your feedback now that you have purchased the system?

Cheers,
Fitch

This is an old thread, but typically, integrated 5.1 systems (built-in blu-ray player) have passive sub-woofers which just won't give you the power you need for clear, strong bass because the power is derived from the receiver/blu-ray unit. FWIW, I have a Panasonic blu-ray player (BDT-210) and it is an excellent player so that's one thing going for the BTT-490.

Thanks for the information Otto Pylot.

Here is the scenario:

I just bought the panasonic vt50 and am picking it up tomorrow. The place I bought it is selling the sc-btt490 for under 300 cdn, and I was wondering if it would be a good match for the vt50.

I will be moving my panasonic pz800 and onkyo tx-sr606 to the rec room to imporve on the system there. Currently we don't really use the subwoofer all that often, really the AV receiver is just that a receiver/hdmi switch for controlling the input to the tv, and better speakers for sound.

I am unfortunately not much of an audiophile, but I do like picture quality to be great.

I am in the market for a 3d blu ray player (not that I expect we will ever buy or rent a 3d movie) that is fast loading, and that the switch between inputs is relatively smooth. Any and all advice is welcome.

Cheers,
Fitch

I'm happy with the 490 due to the low price, HDMI in, and good audio and video quality.  The bass is good enough for me, not an audiophile.  Switching inputs is simple with a toggle switch on the remote, and it has a dedicated Netflix button.  Otherwise the remote is not very ergonomic.

 

If you're looking for a cheap but good integrated blu ray player, I'd recommend it.  I have mine hooked up to Pioneer speakers, so I can't speak for the stock audio, but I'm sure they're good too.  For not too much more than a simple BR player, you get an amp, wifi, speakers, apps, etc.

The Panasonic BDT-210 is a 3D blu-ray player (2011 model. 2012 is the 220). If you can still find one it should be around $100 or less, the same should be true for the 220. We don't have a 3D set (no desire for one) but the 210 had all of the current a/v formats with built-in WiFi (our tv is "dumb" which is what I also prefer). Load times are decent and it has been a solid performer. Switching inputs (devices) is quick and easy with a Harmony remote.

I bought this home theater package and enjoy the ease of use and quality of sound.

One downfall is I am having a tough time playing MKV files over serviio. I can see all folders and files via serviio, but when I click to play an MKV, the system tells me the file type is unsupported?

Anyone else having this issue?

MKVs play fine for me via USB, but I haven't tried over DLNA.