Got the Panasonic A120 about a month ago, and have been very happy with it. I compared it with the Toshiba (cheaper) and JVC (more expensive), and I still like the Pan better. Some excellent features I didn't find with other systems:- smooth scan, with sound too
- resume after power off
- Component output (in addition to S-Video)

Of course, it has the usual DVD refinements such as optical digital output, coaxial digital output, plays Video CD (MPEG-1) and audio CD. Most importantly, it handles scratched surfaces pretty well, too. The remote, however, could use some redesign. Otherwise, you can't go wrong with this system, especially at this price.

I've had the Panasonic DVD-A120 for about two weeks now. It was my second choice, I actually wanted the Toshiba SD-3109 but got tired of waiting for it to deliver. I can't compare the two, but I have previously used the Toshiba 2107. I think the Panasonic compares well, it has nice features, and does what it says it will do. I use the Component Video Output, and find the picture satisfying, but not the leap I had hoped for from S-Video. I can't shake this feeling that I would have preferred the Toshiba 3109. It's just an opinion, but I think the Toshiba 2107 had better color reproduction. Overall though I'm satisfied with the Panasonic DVD-A120, just not impressed. BTW - I paid $315.00 for the Panasonic at Sears.

I love this unit! I purchased an open-box Pioneer 414 from Divx City (the onlyOpen DVD player they had!) and found out it was woefully defective. It would work for 20 minutes and then fall apart -- distorted picture, sound. It couldn't get through an entire movie. It must have been returned, "fixed", and then barely checked before being put back on the shelf. The one thing that stopped me from replacing it with an identical model is the audio lag. It's not a myth -- my mom even noticed it. And if it bothered her you know it annoyed the hell out of me. The two movies it did it on were Austin Powers and Dark City. They looked like badly dubbed Kung-Fu movies! Picture and sound was top notch, except they didn't go together! Pioneer says that you can send it in and have a chip installed that will make it "tolerable". No thanks, considering there's at least ten other titles out there that it has this problem with.

So I returned the thing and headed to another store, planning on picking up a
Toshiba 2109. The Toshiba was out, but the salesman matched the price with the 120 -- so I took it home for $299. It has everything the Pioneer had (component
video, optical/coax digital outs) plus the quick turn -- which is really cool. The Toshiba didn't have a optical out so it had one up on that as well. The only thing I'm not sure about yet is if it will pass the black of a PLUGE signal. Not all that important but handy.

Performance wise, this thing is a workhorse. I've been using it nonstop for a
few weeks now and I love it. It plays all my discs with no questions asked, unlike the Pioneer which refused to play three of them at all. The 414 may have had a better picture (maybe), but I don't miss it at all. Sounds great. Looks great. Excellent product!

Component video; coax and optical audio; great picture; no lip synch errors; great price

remote sucks but it should be expected at this price point

This is my second review of this unit and, seeing as how some morons have decided to review their defective units and give them 1 star, I don't think that my second review will skew the results all that much. I've just finished playing my 100th DVD on this unit and have yet to see a glitch! I've seen about every DVD that people have said that they've had problems with and the Panasonic has played them without a glitch! This unit continues to exceed my expectations and has done more than I would have thought that a lower priced unit could do.

picture/audio/whatnot..and certainly the fast response

remote, of course

I must admit I'm no expert on DVD Players. I've done research, I read a lot of reviews, but I'm certainly no expert. However, every high-end player I've seen, even on big and beautiful TVs in the big and beautiful world of home theater stores, seems to look just slightly better. I've had NO compatability problems through the 47 DVDs I own and 100+ I've rented. I don't see any of the moire and rainbows that other people seem to see (viewing on both a Sony 32" wega XBR and an uncalibrated 36" Proscan). All I can say is that at this price, with the component outs and fast response...don't pass it over because some moron gives a defective unit one star :)

audioreview.com really does need to patrol their reviews and moderate :) I know it's too easy for them to favour companies, but maybe they can just discount the one/two star ratings on defective units from the average. I don't have time to read 95 reviews to see why something got a 4 instead of a 4.35 or a 4.35 instead of a 5.

I give the unit a 4 in both areas. Impossible to give a unit with any weaknesses 5 stars.

Similar Products Used:

1st DVD Player

Silence, fast loading, multiple seach modes, good picture

remote's stinks, rca output audio sucks (optical is ok)

The remote is really something from another world. I'd like to know who the hell coulda make this crap. the worst is the select botton, which you have to press with your index finger, 'cos if you press with your thumb, you end up pressing up an down together.
No other problem tough, no noise, very few jaggies (using wega TV), no pixels, plays all the rental dirt scratched dvd I puted on.

Good pictures, good sounds, and cheap.

Crappy remote control. Does not recognize recorded CDs.

I bought this 18 months ago. So far I have no problem with the picture or the sound. The picture was bright and clear using just the composite input into a 27-inch Sony Triniton . I was some what surprised. The sound was a giant leap over the Teac CD changer. I heard smoother highs and mids and wider soundstage. I got it for $230, and that was a bargain 18 months ago. My rating is 4 stars for the price vs. performance.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer DVD player (I can't remember the model) and Teac CD changer.

Good value...

but won't play American Beauty!

I recently bought "American Beauty" on DVD (the DTS version) and it won't play on my machine. I get a "no media" error message. I tried the disc on a Sony and a Toshiba machine (model numbers unknown) and the disc worked fine. I called Panasonic, and after giving them this info, they told me that the disc must be bad. I have been reading in online forums that other A120 users have had the same problem with this particular DVD. And Panasonic has the gall to tell me that their player works fine!? I have lost a lot of respect for the company and its products.