Excellent image quality, optical toslink sound output, fast seek times, quiet, nice on-screen setup menu, reads every dvd w/out problems, mp3 decoding, vcd & cd-r support, decent remote, component & s-video output

No coaxial digital output, MP3 playback doesn't have many options, remote is not backlit (but otherwise is very nice)

This review is for the RV31. This is an awesome DVD player for the money. I haven't had a single problem with it...it is worth a lot more than what I paid for it! Everything is descibed in the strengths/weaknesses.

Similar Products Used:

DVD-ROMs, Toshiba SD1600

Myriad features, great interface, Component Video, VCD support.

Hmmm... No on-screen MP3 menu.

After returning the Apex 660 for something that offers just a bit more, I was blown away to discover just how much more this offers. The retail store did not advertise that it plays VCD, but it does, without any problems. On-screen menus are very easy to navigate.

The Component Video out makes all the difference, and I suggest some of the other reviewers check their connections! Sound and Video is excellent! Video rivals my PC-DVD and monitor quality. I don't have a subwoofer and I was turning down the bass on my 2-channel system with bookshelf speakers! For a mere $200 everyone should own this unit. I've squeezed 14 CD's on a single MP3 disk (128kb/sec 44.1MHz!) If that lovely scrolling LCD only told me the song titles, instead of "Welcome To DVD World."

Only weaknesses: VSS and "Cinema" features offer negligable improvements on picture and sound. Kind of useless. Also, unit lags about a second behind remote control commands. Difficulty reading dirty disc (Dark City).

Similar Products Used:

Apex 660

beautiful picture..good sound quality..easy to use

no coax.

Needed now to upgrading to dts sound..thinking of buying Toshiba and Sony..With the help of this review through a friend..We decided to purchase this RV30..soon as it was hooked up the quality and the difference of picture and sound is excellent for the price. Sears price was $199.00 but the rebate of $50.00 from panasonic.com made it better yet for an entry level machine..you'll lose out if you don't get this now, it beats high end machines. Take our advice from the experts.

Similar Products Used:

toshiba 2107/with no dts

Nice Picture, sound,

No coax out

I like this unit ,excellent DVD player for your money. Same as the Yamaha S796 player but 150$ cheaper.

Very clear picture and accurate colors. Easy to use and uderstand. Can't beat for the price.

None so far

If you can find this player for under $229 go ahead and buy it. People who pay under $200 for this player and complain about all the little details must be very cheap. If you want something better go out and spend twice as much. I don't consider not being able to play cd-r on this player a weakness. If you want something that will play cd-r try pioneer. I don't think the picture will be as good.

Similar Products Used:

Sony, Pioneer

Everything. Especially the ability to attach a separate subwoofer.

No coaxial output, but optical makes up for it.

This DVD player is awsome. The picture quality and sound quality is superb. The bass shakes the whole house when I attach a subwoofer, even the subwoofers that comes with a stero system. I don't know why people are saying it wont play CD-R's. Mine plays perfect cd-r's and cd-rw's. I've watched around 20 dvd movies so far and they all played without a single problem. The Mp3 ability is very neat and the sound quality isn't bad at all. The looks of this DVD player is very nice. I own a silver dvd-rv31s and it doesn't look like a player that's only 140. The overall value and quality of this DVD player is flawless. I would recommend this player to anyone. It's really a nice piece of maching by Panasonic.

Great picture detail, very clear voice conversation, play all media CD, CD-R, CD-RW and MP3, Good looking and with multi region enable. Made in Japan product.

Can't play RCE DVD code (need to modify the chip), No zoom capability, can't play MP3 in random mode

I bought it slight more expensive as I was inform it need to modify the internal chipset to play in multiregion mode. I was cheated as you can enable the multiregion mode in the menu option. The player was great in term of looks, operation, picture quality and sound effect. I hook-up my PC speaker, the Altec Lansing ACS-48 that comes with a sub-woofer, and woo.. the sounding system is great for that kind of simple setup( I'm not comparing with a theater system). I love it as this is my first DVD and you won't regret buying it.

Ps: I bought this product after reading this forum.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer 533

Handles everything I put in there (MP3, VCD, burned VCD, CDRW, and of course DVD), video quality is great

No random MP3 play, no zoom (not a big deal on a fair size TV), little expensive, DTS not enabled by default.

Using it with a Sony 36XBR450 TV with component cables, so no need for a zoom button anyways. Picture is sharp and crisp, and I haven't noticed any visual defects as of yet. Audio is going through a Yamaha RX-V800 receiver to Energy Encore speakers, and it just sounds amazing (to me anyways).

The Toshiba SD1600 belonged to my previous roomate, and at least once every movie the DVD would pop in between scenes, both visually and audibly, and that's never happened using this unit. Scene transfers are always clean and seamless.

Took me a while to figure out why DTS wasn't working. For some reason, Panasonic figured it would be a good idea to ship the unit with DTS disabled. Once I found that though, no problems at all.

In fact, just bought another for a wedding gift for my brother.

Similar Products Used:

Toshiba SD1600

Picture quality, sound, plays cd-w's

None that I've found

Let me start off by saying good job Panasonic!! I bought the RV-31 rather than the RV-30 since it's being discontinued. Nothing about this model on their web site yet, but I wasn't going to buy something that was "going away" shortly. Some of the features include: plays cd-rs, bass boost, dialogue enhancer for your center channel and one touch cinema memory settings.

So far it played everything from the Matrix, P. Ryan, Gladiator, etc..... The unit has a trim design and is quiet. All the outputs you need and audio cds sound great as well.

Wondering about the price I paid?? Well I thought so. One of the previous posts was correct! Sears has a great price matching policy. I recieved a copy of the policy from the webmaster. It clearly states that they match prices from e-tailers. So I went to Yahoo shopping, found a price from B & D Electronics and brought it to Sears!! No questions asked!! Let's just say, a lot more shopping is going to be done at Sears now!!

Anyway, great unit, unbeatable price!

Cheers!!

Similar Products Used:

Sony 360d, 560d

Picture quality, sound, plays cd-w's

None that I've found

Let me start off by saying good job Panasonic!! I bought the RV-31 rather than the RV-30 since it's being discontinued. Nothing about this model on their web site yet, but I wasn't going to buy something that was "going away" shortly. Some of the features include: plays cd-rs, bass boost, dialogue enhancer for your center channel and one touch cinema memory settings.

So far it played everything from the Matrix, P. Ryan, Gladiator, etc..... The unit has a trim design and is quiet. All the outputs you need and audio cds sound great as well.

Wondering about the price I paid?? Well I thought so. One of the previous posts was correct! Sears has a great price matching policy. I recieved a copy of the policy from the webmaster. It clearly states that they match prices from e-tailers. So I went to Yahoo shopping, found a price from B & D Electronics and brought it to Sears!! No questions asked!! Let's just say, a lot more shopping is going to be done at Sears now!!

Anyway, great unit, unbeatable price!

Cheers!!

Similar Products Used:

Sony 360d, 560d