I was specifically looking for a DVD player with the built in Dolby Digital decoder. I am very impressed with the player's ability to decode AC-3 as well as any receiver I have heard. The quality of the picture was impressive too. All DVD players should come with the AC-3 decoder. If you have a receiver that is AC-3 ready and you don't want to buy a separate decoder, this is the unit for you!

I was specifically looking for a DVD player with the built in Dolby Digital decoder. I am very impressed with the player's ability to decode AC-3 as well as any receiver I have heard. The quality of the picture was impressive too. All DVD players should come with the AC-3 decoder. If you have a receiver that is AC-3 ready and you don't want to buy a separate decoder, this is the unit for you!

I have had this DVD player since November 1997 and it has been ok. I have had problems with the player not recognizing the RSDL switch and locked up twice. (LA Confidential and Devil's Adovcate). Also on the SuperBowl 32 DVD it was jittery and did not synchronize the different audio tracks, (it had a lot of them). My main reason for buying this one was the decoder but will make a smarter purchase next time. I have never used the Karaoke features. The remote is functional and easy to use. I paid 589.00 for this unit. Other than that I have been satisfied with it's performance but look forward to a future purchase, I am not sure if I will buy another Panasonic, just the best DVD player for my money.

Built in AC-3 decoder. Recording Capability. Decent Picture & Sound.

Average on Audio Tracks. Can't play CDRWs. Pathetic maneuvering on VCDs.

I'm not a Panasonic fan. But what i am is an Archive junkie. & this was the only player in the market that would let me record movies from a DVD over to my Hi-Fi Tapes. & THAT was the main reason why i got this player.
Few DVDs did give me problems, but that was because the guys who rented before me were probably using them as coffee coasters. Player isn't too great for playing music though, so i prefer using my old LD player for that (it's no good for anything else anyway since everything now adays is on DVD!). Plays CDRs & VCDs without a glitch. Although not too intelligent .. for instance open the tray, power off the unit & the tray just hangs out whereas my old Pioneer LD player was smart enough to close all doors before going to bed.
If you're going to play a lot of VCDs, get something else. Even though it would play VCDs just fine, doesn't even have a time search so you have to hold the jog until you get to 50:25. Even though time search works fine on DVDS. i wonder what Panasonic people were thinkng of when they excluded the time feature from VCDs .. Vinyls?!
But Overall, Ok .. although if built in AC-3 decoder & recording isn't your priority, i'm sure you can find something better elsewhere!

Similar Products Used:

None

Consistent, Longevity, Easy to use

Won't Play CD-R or CD-RW recordings

I got this DVD player 4 days after they hit the shelves at Best Buy. I had read everything under the Sun about the release of DVD, and this one just fell in my lap. On openning day I had heart failure at the $750 price tag and opted not to buy it. With some soul searching, I went back three days later ready to plop down the $750 and spotted this one as an open box item. Some other guy bought it, took it home, and apparently his wife kicked his ass, because he returned it! I like this guys wife, she saved me $350!

As for the player, the primary reason I picked it was the built in decoder, which worked well with my 'AC-3 Ready' Kenwood receiver. The performance was excellent and it has continued to perform well since. I have had to clean it a couple of times to keep it playing well on the Matrix and some other DVDs. Picture quality is good and sound is good. Considering this is a first generation player, its reliable serivce to date are a good indication of its quality.

I have upgraded to a Marantz 880 MkII receiver with its own AC-3 decoder and sound has improved significantly. Although the on-board decoder is solid, the Marantz greatly enhanced the overall sound quality. I will be buying another DVD soon for my new home theater room that is nearly finished. I will look carefully at newer Panasonics, yet will likely move to Marantz or Onkyo as an upgrade. Panasonic has served me well as a first player. The choices have greatly improved since I purchased this unit.

Similar Products Used:

First DVD

AC-3 Decoder and Incredible Karaoke functions

Can't read CD-R, problems reading several VCDs and certain region-1 DVDs

The player is great, however the remote sucks.
It's too small! my fingers can't "reach" certain places.
It doesn't read my THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH(region-1) DVD which is a very let-down, Matrix and Sixth Sense are watchable though in A-300.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer DV-525