I just discovered this website and decided to check what people had to say about the DVD player I bought a year-and-a-half ago (June 1998). I was surprised at all of the bad reviews because I have never had a single problem. Maybe I am lucky. It has always played movies without problems. I hope I continue to be as lucky in the future! On my advice last year some friends bought the same model. They have never had a problem either.

The batteries that came with the remote and the packing material it shipped in (save it, you'll definitely need it).

Optical pick-up unit. Reliability.

I purchased my DVD-A310 in January of 1999, based upon reviews of picture quality and features, the Panasonic looked to be a fairly good buy.

Around March of the same year, the first episode of pixelation started occuring. Thinking the DVD was the culprit, I simply returned it to the video store. Much to my chagrin, the next DVD I tried yielded the 'No Disk' message. I tried a disk that I knew was valid (I had watched it about a month before), it played, but 5 minutes in, it started pixelating. I called Panasonic service, sent it off (at my expense), and they repaired it (at my expense for labor).

When I got it back, I put the same disk in it, guess what? Same problem. I sent it back to Panasonic and had them fix it again.

When I got it back, I put the same disk in it (see a pattern here), same problem. This time I called Panasonic absolutely furious. They overnighted the UPS labels and it was back on their repair bench within a week (or so). I got it back two week later.

By the time all of this had transpired, it had been right about a year, so I no longer had the Parts warranty. Panasonic guaranteed the last service for 30 days from day of receipt, so, I put in 'The Matrix' as soon as I got the player, and set it to auto-repeat the entire movie. I figured if it failed I would just go get a different brand of player.

31 days later, I took 'The Matrix' out (it was still playing fine, kinda cool having 'The Matrix' channel on the TV), and the player has performed near-flawlessly ever since. Nothing save the occasional long (1-2 second) pause between layer changes, and one incident of freezing up about 6 months ago.

Am I happy with it? For now, yes.
Would I buy another Panasonic DVD player? Yeah, right. With the $800 or so I've spent on UPS, Labor, and the DVD player, I could've picked up a decent player and a couple cheap players for spares.

My advice: Civil lawsuit against panasonic for selling a player with known yield issues, oh, and don't buy one.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Toshiba, Dennon, Rotel, Pioneer and numerous others.

AFTER MUCH HASSLE AND ALOT OF PHONE CALLS I WAS ABLE TO GET PANASONIC TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF MY PLAYER (-$45.00) FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE, THE TOTAL WOULD HAVE BEEN $200.97 FOR PARTS &LABOR. YOU WILL NEED YOUR RECEIPT TO PROVE WHEN YOU BOUGHT IT & SERIAL# ON BACK OF THE UNIT. WHEN YOU CALL PANASONIC(800-211-7262)YOU WILL GET THERE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE,WITH NO HELP AND ALL DENIAL ABOUT THE PROBLEM.INSIST ON TALKING TO A FLOOR MANAGER, I TALKED TO ROBERT EARLS (EXT2101) AFTER ALOT OF PERSISTANCE THEY AGREED TO FIX IT.
IT NEEDED AN OPTICAL PICK UP & A CAPACITOR. BY THE WAY MY UNIT WAS OVER A YEAR OLD & OUT OF WARRANTY, SO THEY KNOW
THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THEM. JUST DON'T TAKE NO FOR AN
ANWSER,PLUS BE REALLY NICE BUT FIRM WHEN YOU TALK TO
PANASONIC REPS. GOOD LUCK GETTING YOURS FIXED ON THEM

As a follow-up to my previous post in which I explained that I could not watch more than 35 min of a dvd without experiencing problems, I wish to convey my recent experience with Panasonic's customer service department.

By the way, my unit is getting worse. I do not use it anymore because when it freezes, it tranmits very loud popping sounds capable of causing damage to the speakers. As Panasonic will not stand behind its own products, it will certainly not assume responsibility for consequential damages to other equipment.

Anyway, I recently spoke with the floor manager at a service station in Maryland who, from the start of the conversation, was nasty and extremely defensive. He said that Panasonic neither recognizes a problem with the unit nor the posts on Audio Review as they constitute "hearsay" and "slander." He mentioned litigation, but would not divulge details. (If its a class action--I want in!!!) He then attempted to provide me with a legal lesson regarding warranties. As an attorney, I mentioned to him that the lesson was not necessary, and that this is a matter of customer service--these units were $700 when I purchased it just over a year ago--I didn't pay that, but that's not the point.

In response, he offered to waive the evaluation fee (a $45 value) and that was the most he said he could do. He also told me that his offer was generous relative to other floor managers. He approximated the repair costs at $115 including the discount. (Obviously, he has seen a few of these before!!) Repair time = 2-3 weeks and warranty = 30 days. After reading that the problems have resurfaced in other units several months afer the repair--NO THANKS.

I will put that $$ towards a new player--I have narrowed my choice to the Pioneer Elite DV-05 and the new Rotel unit. (Any suggestions are welcome.) But this experience has left such a bad taste that I will never purchase anything from Panasonic again.

If Panasonic's VP of Customer Service (or similar position) is reading these posts, know that you are and will continue to lose customer loyalty until the company truly stands behind its (defective) products.

None

Function

Had unit for about 4 months and ran into all the problems listed by other users. Out of the blue it would simply not read any of my DVD's and then eventually none of my CD's. Unfortunately I had not discovered this sight till after starting to have problems. Living in Japan, I figured I could write Panasonic and they would give me a local address to take the unit to for repair. (Really I am glad to have unloaded the player as opposed to having it repaired and fail in the future) Panasonic was gracious enough to write back and say, you are out of luck unless you want to box up the unit, send it to the US pay for shipping both ways and we'll get it back to you in 8-12 weeks. No thanks. This was my first and last purchase of anything from Panasonic! Bad equipment, bad service, bad customer support.

Similar Products Used:

Denon 2500

Good picture. Lots of features

Pixalation (nothing new here)!

Today by wrote off my Panasonic. It has been wonderful 27 months with not so heavy usage until recently. Good picture and sound. No DTS problems. But today "Romeo Must Die" disk did my Panasonic in. The pixalation started when after the movie I was checking out Aliah's video. So I put in Matrix, same stuff after 10 minutes. Desparado also couldn't keep it together either.
From the prior reviews, it seems it is not worth even trying to fix this unit. $450 for 2 years is lots of cash to me (no stock options here). Now I am looking for new DVD player (needless to say Panasonic is not on the short list). I am thinking of Denon DVM-3700. Suggestions welcome. I do not see this model reviewed on this site. I may even go w/ Pioneer as my experience with their service has been good in the past.

Please do not buy this unit or any other product made by Panasonic.

Similar Products Used:

none

Outstanding picture clarity (sharpness) and color rendition. Multi-featured. I thought it was robust...

"NO DISC" error. Skips chapter at dual-layer transition. Cannot read some discs. Digital mosaic.

I had been a fan of Panasonic products up until now. Now I am considering switching brands. The Panasonic A310 has been very reliable and impressive for two years. Now it's showing all the symptoms identified about in nearly all the other reviews here for this product, namely the "NO DISC" error, pixelization, and dual-layer problems.

I tried watching "City Hunter," a Jackie Chan movie on the A310 and the image broke up. Thinking it was the disc I exchanged it for a new one, and it plays worse.

Also, "City on Fire" would not play at all ("NO DISC") and while trying to exchange it, the video store plopped it into their machine and it played fine.

Also, the dual-layer transition (when the machine switches to the second layer of information on the disc at a chapter break alleviating the need to put in another disc, i.e. "The Right Stuff.") has always been a little slow -- maybe a hair under a second. But now this problem seems to have gotten worse as the machine skipped from chapter 11 to 13 on "Galaxy Quest." I found a website documenting this dual-layer problem:
http://www.dvdfile.com/software/glitch_gallery/hardware.htm

So, having read the reviews here I decided I didn't want to send the thing to the shop over and over again now that the warranty has expired, so I thought I'd buy a new unit. I bought a Sony DVP-S560D and although it had no problems with the discs the Panasonic had, it had a noticeably softer image. Soft enough that I took it back for a refund. The Sony has Digital Video Enhancement which I didn't like at all. It's just artificial sharpness. The same kind that some TVs already have as a display feature. I did an A/B comparison and I have to say the Panasonic blew the Sony out of the water picture-wise. The colors were far more accurate and crisp too.

Now I'm totally baffled as to whether or not to sink more money into the Panasonic (others have had limited success with this approach) or to seek out a new machine with as good a picture, which is impossible to tell in a showroom unless they have your make of Television and DVD Player right there handy to compare. By the way, I've seen a Pioneer Elite Series DVD player choke on a disc my old Panasonic can handle, so God knows how you can tell what to buy.

My last note. It seems clear to me that DVD consumers have been swindled.

THE FORMAT IS NOT STANDARDIZED ENOUGH AND QUALITY CONTROL TOLERANCES AT DISC MASTERING FACILITIES ARE NOT NARROW ENOUGH. EVERY DISC SHOULD BE ABLE TO PLAY ON EVERY PLAYER. PERIOD. EVER SEEN A VHS MACHINE THAT COULDN'T PLAY ANY TITLE YOU PUT IN IT?

Similar Products Used:

Sony DVP S560D
Fujitsu Lifebook C6557 with DVD Rom

Do not purchase a Panasonic Product regardless of the model no. I have had the same problems with my unit that several other have had. There products are worthless and generally break after the warranty period has expired.

Similar Products Used:

Kenwood, Onkyo, and Denon Products

Excellent picture and sound capabilities

Pixelation, freezing, sound drop-outs, plays sections of DVDs that you didn't want in the first place

I absolutely thought this player was the best on the market. The picture, though not the best I've seen on a DVD player, was very good, sharp and defined. What really excelled was the upgraded Class AA sound on the A310. Both DVDs and regular CDs sounded awesome on this player. No CD player or DVD player I've heard even comes close to this player's sound playback. Old, crummy CDs that I've had for years sounded like brand-new recordings on the A310. Movie soundtracks, especially in DTS, had an extra punch, even on my crummy Bose AM 3s. I was perfectly happy with it.

I felt that Panasonic had another winner on their hands. I've had a Panasonic Flat Super Tube for years. Best picture I've seen on a 27-inch t.v. for the price ($550). I've also used Panasonic's older line of cameras, as well as editing equipment. Loved 'em all.

My electronic world was shattered when the A310 player started to fail on me. I was watching "Contact" one night and the picture completely froze. I knew it was one thing-the laser pick-up was shot. I've had the same problem with CD players in the past, and once the laser goes out, the machine is history. I wasn't about to spend $200 to "fix" the laser pick-up on this unit. I've never had luck with technicians fixing my equipment.

I thought, maybe, just maybe, it was the disc having fits. So, I tried playing other discs. "Gladiator," "American Beauty," and my daugther's "Little Mermaid II" started to pixelate, freeze and drop-out sound. Then, I'd select "menu" and select a program to play. The player wouldn't play what I requested. It would play the movie instead. I tried playing a CD. Total skipping.

In the last month, I've tried to find another player with the same initial quality this player had. I tried Toshiba, JVC, Pioneer, and Panasonic. None of them had the same sound quality and they were built cheaply, even on JVC's higher priced DVD Video/Audio player. The Panasonic DVD-A7 sounded poor, and not to my suprise, started skipping on DVDs. I finally decided to spend $700 on Sony's former flagship player, the S7700. I returned it. The picture was worse than the A310 and the sound was good, but not as good.

I understand that Panasonic is offering A310 owners a replacement. It's a replacement that is a very cheaply made model, the RV65. In fact, I've seen this player advertised for only $249. I spent $500 on the A310. Panasonic should step up to the plate and offer to give A310 owners their money back. I will not buy another one of their products because of my experience with this unit. Poor quality, Panasonic.

Similar Products Used:

None

Good picture when the unit worked

Poor reliability

I am the one out of luck to get a replacement. I wrote a letter to Panasonic about my experiences. it's very sad that Panasonic handled this issue in such a unprofessional way. See attached letter.

April 21, 2001

To Whom It May Concern, Panasonic,

This is a complaint from a faithful customer of Panasonic products.

I purchased a DVD player A310 in January 1999. I did not use this player a lot. Almost one year after using it, I started to find the problems with this player. These were the symptoms:

1. TV Screen showed up small boxes. It seemed the player had the problem to pick up the correct signal. Sound was not correct in this case.
2. DVD player could not play well on some of the DVDs but with no problem on the laptop.
3. Skip the track when listening the music CD. This did not happen very often.
4. A few weeks ago, when I watched a DVD, the problem in 1 and 2 were even worse. Finally the screen was froze. I could not control the player from front panel nor remote control. I have to power off , and power on again the player to gain control of the player. This was happened once before. But this time after power on the player, it could not recognize any DVD, Music CD or VCD anymore. Panel always displayed "NO DISC" when inserting any disc. The player was totally broken down.

Last week, I looked the internet to search a DVD player and find some useful reference before I purchase another DVD player. I discovered there are hundreds of customer complaints about A310 players. All the problems I have are commons to those complaints.

1. 4/14 I called Panasonic to explain my case and was looking for a replacement of RV65 based on the information that I collected. On the call I was asked to provide the information such as date of purchase, serial number, contact phone numbers and address, and was told Panasonic will contact with me in 24 hours since Panasonic representative found out the common complaints about this model.

2. No one called me in 24 hours. I called again on 4/17 and explained the situation. This time I was told that I will be contacted in 48 hours. (change from 24 hours to 48 hours).

3. Patiently waited for another 48 hours but no one called me. I called 4/19 and explained again and was told I will be contacted in 2 - 3 days. (24 hrs to 48 hrs then to 2 - 3 days).

4. Two days passed, I lost my patient so I called on 4/21. Representative told me that I should call another number for my case. It did not make sense why suddenly Panasonic told me this was not the right number to call for my case. I insisted on to talk to his manager. The manager told me that Panasonic was trying to call me 25 minutes ago and the line was busy. So he direct my phone call to a lady.

5. The lady told me that she could offer me to send the player to Panasonic Service center (?) and she could can pick up the $50 diagnostic fee. Then she can make further judgement.

This is totally unacceptable:

1. This player was under perform. The price I paid did not receive the quality and reliability than I deserved. Based on the data that I received this model has the design and manufacturing defect with laser and optical pick up which severely affect the reliability and its life.

2. The lady told me that this offer might end up with that I have to pay Panasonic to get the player fixed. Panasonic is trying again to generate revenue from my pocket due to this pool quality of DVD player.

3. Service response did not meet what Panasonic committed to me over and over again.

4. The lady told me that this offer was just valid today over the phone. I felt that I had been threatened. I asked to talk to her manager and was told it will take 7 to 10 days to talk to her manager. I asked her to leave me with her name and phone number. Initially her refused to provide that information to me. I have to insist on that she could not reject my request to obtain her name and phone number.

5. The lady even told me that she did not want to discuss those problems/complaints on the intenet but she could only simply talk the opinions or information on Paansonic web site. I request Panasonic publish my letter on Panasonic web site so other people have a chance to reference my letter to "discuss" Panasonic in the future. Panasonic will have my respect if Panasonic has the courage to publish my letter on your web in a noticeable place.

In general, I deeply disappointed about this mater because of pool quality of DVD player, poor service and poor response.

My reference number in Panasonic file: 9237403.

I have two VCRs, one microwave and vacuum machine from Panasonic and many other Panasonic products as the gifts to my family and friends.

PANASONIC SHOULD NEVER TREAT A FAITHFUL CUSTOMER IN THIS WAY.

I would like Panasonic find a people who can really responsible for to deal with this matter and seek a feasible solution for me.