Sc-ht500 system cable

eBay $56

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PANASONIC-K1HA25HA0001-SYSTEM-CABLE-SAHT15-SAHT17-/190495426430?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c5a69877e

Part number K1HA25HA0001

http://www.retrevo.com/support/Panasonic-SC-HT500-Home-Theater-Systems-manual/id/22986dj593/t/2/

I'd look for another base unit identical to yours (SA-HT500), say, on eBay and buy a BluRay for future compatibility with any components you might decide to upgrade to. Or just skip that part and upgrade now.

On page 6 it specifically says to use only the supplied speakers.

"Use only supplied speakers

Using other speakers can damage the unit and sound quality will be negatively affected."

I'd take that to mean you really don't want to redeploy the speakers to other electronics either. Theater in a Box is designed as a package. That proprietary cable connector is a huge clue and disincentive to attaching it to other electronics.

ANY amp will be ok, as long as the wattage of your new amp does not exceed the wattage of your speakers. Otherwise you could overdrive your speakers and damage them. First clue, if you turn up the volume and the speakers start to shut off and on you are pushing too much power to them.

use your tv as a common connection in your theatre system. Connect your hdmi blue ray player to the tv,connect the audio output of your tv (rca style cables -red&white) or if your tv and audio system has optical you can use that also.

There is a button that says -Mix 2CH - make sure it does not say Mix 2CH ON, or you will only get 2 channels when watching DVDs. This Panasonic, as well as legions of other home theater systems, are more limited than they seem. The SC-HT500 can give you surround when watching DVD's on the unit, but you will not be able to get full surround for your TV, because the Panasonic does not have the right digital inputs.

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

You will not be able to get full surround from your Playstation using this home theater system - if you use a red/white composite AV cable and connect it to the area marked TV AUDIO IN on the back of the Panasonic, you will be able to get stereo sound.

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

The SC-HT500 is only for use in the UK, Ireland, Australia, and a few other places - you will need at least a transformer if you want to try to use it in the US. The manual can be found here:
http://www.panasonic.com.au/support/downloads/more_info.cfm?objectID=842&fileTypeID=2&productCategoryID=47&productID=1526&listQueryString=fileTypeID%3D2%26productCategoryID%3D47%26productID%3D1526

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

Not really an option to modify cable.Connections inside subwoofer and main unit are difficult to work with.Common problems with dvd are laser/traverse deck failure and dvd tray ailgnment.You can run a seperate Dvd player by using the Tv or Tape audio input in the receiver and run the Video cable direct to TV.

throw it in the bin

well u cannot hook almost any devices with the SC-HT500.
I have this homecinema system for 5 years now, and i had to buy another stand alone DivX player to hook it up, but can't get the sound in dolby from the standalone player since the panasonic SC-HT500 has only 2 analog stereo RCA ports (audio in) in the back and a scart (A/V out) and component video (Video out).
At that time it was a very good system, but since i have bought a Full HD LCD tv with 1080p capabilities, I realised that my home cinema system i.e the Panasonic SC-HT500 is kind of useless, in the sense that you cannot even change the player for another one since the whole spaker and power connections are made trhough a special cable from the subwoofer. :(
best solution is that put the system back in a corner and get a new system which is not an all-in-one system. Preferrable get home cinema systems that come with a receiver, separate dvd player and speakers and subwoofer hooked to the receiver.
you asked how to hook these devices to your tv,, well the panasonic dvd recorder is better if you connect it via HDMI cable if you can. In the other case, connecting them with a scart cable would be another solution.