Film-Like Image Quality.... The goal of any playback device should be accurate reproduction of the original content. In the case of DVDs, most of that content is film-based. Utilizing advanced progressive scan playback techniques and very accurate MPEG video decoders, this DVD player provides an image that faithfully represents the imageyou see at your favorite movie theater. Enjoy A Double--Or Triple--Feature Without Getting Up... If you wanted, you could have a 10-hour movie marathon with this 5-DVD changer. Load your favorite movie trilogy and watch all of them back-to-back without changing a single disc. Do your kids insist on watching the same movie over and over? Just leave it in the changer and cue it up when the time comes. You can even swap out 4 discs while one is in play. Play Many Popular Music Formats... Most people think of their DVD player simply as a movie machine. This DVD playernot only plays prerecorded DVDs and DVD-R/DVD-RAM discs, but also MP3s, CDs, CD-R/RW discs, WMA, and DVD-Audio discs. Pick Up Where You Left Off ... Let's say you're enjoying the latest Hollywood blockbuster, and one of your kidsneeds to watch his favorite animated character perform his antics--right now. With our position memory feature, you can mark the exact point on the DVD where you stopped it. Even after removing the disc and playing another, you can put the original disc back in the player and pick up right where you left off. This DVD player can memo
The Panasonic DVD-F87S five-disc DVD changer offers progressive-scan playback, Dolby Digital and DTS Surround Sound compatibility, and a slim design that makes it a perfect fit for any entertainment system. Other features include compatibility with DVD-Audio, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, and CD-R/RW discs, as well as MP3 and WMA digital audio playback. This model also comes with a black finish.
The five-disc changer allows you to keep up to five discs of any format in your player at the same time. A front-loading rotary carousel lets you change any of the four not-playing discs without disturbing what you're watching or listening to. The Audio/JPEG onscreen navigation menu enables you to quickly search for MP3 and WMA audio files or view JPEG images recorded onto CD-R and CD-RW discs via an onscreen menu. This feature also works with CD-R discs that feature multisession recordings.
The HighMAT (High-Performance Media Access Technology) feature, codeveloped with Microsoft, is a digital-media standard that provides a dramatically improved method of storing, arranging, and playing back personal digital photo, music, and video collections on recordable discs such as CD-RW media.
Panasonic's Depth Enhancer noise-reduction feature only processes an image's background, helping to leave the delicate details of the main subject intact and providing sharp images with incredible depth. The DVD-F87S uses a 54 MHz/10-bit video digital-to-analog converter, which reduces digital artifacts to give you a better picture.
When you play DVD movies encoded with DTS or Dolby Digital soundtracks, the built-in decoder processes all six channels of audio information (left front, right front, center, left-surround, right-surround, and low-frequency effects) without the need for an external decoder, and with the right audio components, lets you enjoy the amazing fidelity of discrete 5.1-channel surround sound. The decoder also allows you to control speaker configuration.
Other features include picture control (brightness, color, contrast, gamma correction, and sharpness), disc program play, and disc random play.
Tech Talk
Progressive scan: Progressive scanning, otherwise known as 480p ("p" for "progressive"), creates a picture signal with double the scan lines of a conventional interlaced picture, or 480i, to create a noticeably sharper image. Standard DVD-Video players use interlaced scanning to produce a picture. Interlaced scanning combines two fields to generate a picture of 525 scan lines (480 of which are displayed). Your television projects an interlaced image by first scanning the 240 odd-numbered lines of one field (in 1/60th of a second), followed by the 240 even-numbered lines of the other field (in 1/60th of a second). A progressive video processor enables all 525 lines (480 of which are displayed) to be scanned at the exact same time. A television with 480p component inputs can completely scan the entire image in 1/60th of a second, so it only takes one field to build one frame of video.
What's in the Box
Panasonic DVD-F87S five-disc changer, remote control, 2 AA batteries, AC power cord, composite A/V (RCA) cable, and printed operating instructions.
1 NIce unit but........................
Nice unit but it will only play DVD-R if they are recorded using a Panasonic DVD recorder or a camcorder. The description is a little misleading. But other then that nice picture and sound.
2 Worked fine for 9 months...
This DVD player worked just fine for around 9 months and now something has gone wrong with the processor- I no longer get any output to the subwoofer channel from either the Digital Coax or the analogue multichannel outputs. I am also starting to notice that the surround channels cut out frequently. Too bad that the warranty only lasted for 3 months...
3 AWESOME
This was so simple to plug in. I did it in about 3 mintues, and I'm a woman with not that much expierence with electronics. The sound, and picture quality is super nice. I love that it lets you know what disc's are empty and have a disc in them. It's super quiet. This was by far the best price I had found too. All the other places such as Target, and Best Buy sold it for another 30 bucks or more. This is a great buy for your money on a multi-disc DVD/CD player! I highly recommend it.
4 Excellent value
I've been using an F87S since last spring for multi-disc DVD sets. It works great with everything that I've played, and it handles JPG CDs better than my more expensive single disc player. I just don't see any difference between its video output and other higher-priced players I've owned.
The only thing missing is a TOSlink/Optical audio output, which is pretty standard these days. It has the Coaxial digital output, but that forced me to reconfigure my system as my receiver only had one Coaxial input that would work with a DVD player.
5 Poor Color Decoder - by design
This is the first time I have been unhappy with a Panasonic
product. It looks good, had nice features, decent remote, but
the picture quality is poor.
This unit displays distinct bands of color when it should display smooth gradations of color.
For example, a headlight on a foggy night displays as concentric bands around the headlight, instead of displaying all the shades of brightness between light and dark.
Panasonic tech support told my local repair shop that this is not a bug or defect. Rather, Panasonic uses fewer bits in its color circuits than most other DVD players. It is like reducing the number of colors on your PC screen settings.
I own 6 DVD players, including a
real cheapo model, and none of them dislay this banding.
I own Pana DVD TV combo which I love. I don't know why Panasonic
chose to build newer models with reduced bits, but the picture
is unacceptable on those scenes.
Most of the time the picture is OK. But when there is a scene with a sky, or a lamp in a dark room, I just want to throw
this unit in the basement and buy something that works.
6 Panasonic Does It Again
First of all, I'd like to address other users comments about Panasonic's motors burning out and about the freezing up problems. This is my third DVD player I've owned from Panasonic and the first two are still running like a champ, including the DMR-E55S recorder. The DVD-F85 (actually the model that this model replaced) works great and never had a problem playing discs. I have been always pleased by Panasonic products, if not for performance, then always for quality and durability.
Now for this model. It is an improvement over the last one. I like the fact that you can play a WIDE range of formats in this machine like DVD-RAM discs and DVD-Audio discs. I have an older receiver with 5.1 discrete inputs (no Dolby Digital decoder built-in). That's why I bought this model, because it had the decoder built in. The picture is stunning and the sound is excellent, as should every DVD player today. The setup is still a little complicated than I think it should be, but I was able to do it fairly easily. The manual is a bit poorly laid out, but everything you need to know is in there.
At this price, there is no argument that this is a great buy. And top-rated by Consumer Reports doesn't hurt your chances either. Get it.
7 Buyer Beware
Over the past few years Panasonic has been selling DVD players with motors that burn out after about 1 year. My player was an S35 and it lasted nine months. Panasonic has done nothing to address this situation. If you really want the Panasonic, scour the Web before you buy to make sure that there aren't a lot of complaints out there. Then cross you fingers.
8 I REALLY NEEDED THIS!!!!
My wife wanted to know why I wanted to buy a new DVD player when the one we had was only 6 months old. Simple...5 disc capability. I'm a DVD nerd. I love muti-disc, collectors, special, deluxe edition sets. What I don't like is having to get up and change discs all the time.
The panasonic F87S answers my prayers with this 5 disc capability player. It's a tough, durable machine that can handle the needs of someone like myself who always has 4 discs in the player, rotating around depending on what I want to watch.
Outstanding picture and sound and excellent features make this one a great buy for multiple disc DVD players. The manual is consice and easy to read but any DVD aficiando will know how to use it anyway.
Only minor complaint is the design of the remote control with its bulky, rear weight balance.
9 Excellent Player, terse manual, can't play DVD-MP3
I have had this player for over two weeks now and it has performed quite well. This is an excellent player for the price. It played some damaged DVDs better than other players I had tried.
I am giving this 4 stars due to the quality of the manual. The manual is too terse and not really well laid out.
I was also little disappointed that the player is able to show the MP3 files located on a DVD+R but can't play them.
10 very good picture,e xcellent sount, broad compatability
Have played at least 30 different combinations of dvd-r, dvd+r, and + and - r/w of many brands, this panasonic never had a problem.
As far as picture quality, I have compared high end sony and toshiba units side by side, and the panasonic is better than most, certainly in this price range. One can tell by zooming with high action picuters and hdtvs.
One reviewer below mentioned DVD-Audio syupport and 5.1. Keeop in mind they are talking about highly specialixed dvd audio disks, which are a very small niche market (100% of cd players and 99% of dvd players don't support dvd audio this way anyway, whcih is why dvd-audio is not very common, i.e.how many do you see at the music store or on amazon)).
This DVD player fully supports all audio formates on dvd videos, including 5.1 directly or through either the digital and 5.1 outputs to your receiver. (Your receiver does NOT have to have 5.1 inputs). Indeed the sound quality and capabilities are excellent.
11 Wow, What a Sound!
This Panasonic DVD player has the best sound I've ever heard out of a DVD player. The Multi Remaster feature is wonderful, allowing CDs sampled at 44.1 kHZ to be played at 88.2 kHZ (sounding almost as good as DVD-Audio) with my reciever. By the way, it also supports DVD-Audio 6 channel, but this is incompatible with the coaxial out (only stereo sound) and only compatible if your reciever has 5.1 inputs for each speaker. It also allows you to turn off the video circuitry for the highest quality sound with Audio CDs, MP3s, and WMAs.
The worst part of this DVD player is its video quality. It isn't bad, it just isn't anything to write home about. With the drastic improvement in sound quality, you'd expect the same increase in video quality.
This DVD player supports CD-A, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD-RAM, MP3, WMA, and commerical DVDs. It plays DVD+R great even though it is not listed as a feature.
12 Excellent performance and value
I wanted a budget DVD/CD changer that could also play DVD-Audio (DVD-A). I was a bit skeptical about this player, having read other user reviews.
At it's price point of $130, I decided to give this player a try - because I could always exchange it for another player if necessary. Currently I also own a JVC progressive and an Aiwa non-progressive DVD player. Both those players are good, but have problems playing certain DVD and VCD disks.
I was presently surprised to find that the new Panasonic DVD-F87 player played all the disks with which I had problems with my previous players. The player is quite thin and has a small footprint - the width being actually slightly less than my old JVC single-disk DVD player!
I set up this player using component video cables to a Samsung widescreen HDTV and using digital coaxial cable to a JVC RX-6030. I first tried the "quick setup" menu features, but was not impressed with the results. So, I decided to use the more advanced menu options and was able to tweak it to audio and video excellence.
Since I have a HDTV, I set it up to use progressive scan (selecting 480p). The video performance is excellent for the "film based" (24fps) DVDs using 3:2 pulldown, but average for "video based" (30fps) DVDs. This is because these low cost Panasonic players no longer have the Sage/Faroudja DCDi deinterlacing chip. Thankfully, almost 90% of new DVD movies released today are film based, so this player will have no problem producing excellent video output. Besides, its 54MHz/10-bit video DAC produces an increadibly good detailed image. Another feature highlight is its "black level" control, which improves picture contrast considerably. It has a number of zoom modes to suit the DVD format and your viewing style and does a superb job of scaling. You can even scale non-anamorphic DVDs to suit the aspect ratio of your TV (using the "Display" menu).
The real surprise is in the audio performance with its 192kHz/24-bit audio D/A converter. DVD-A and HDCD and two of the advanced formats supported (but not SACD) that provide very detailed sound quality. But the key feature that sets this player apart from the competition is the oversampling feature (called "multi remaster") with improves the detail in your normal (or "redbook") CDs. The result is very detailed sound, with clean and smooth highs with a wide soundstage and excellent imaging. Bass is also defined and tight. With multi remaster enabled, I compared the Panasonic F87 with a more expensive Marantz 4400 DVD player and the Panasonic won hands down. So I now have this player connected (in stereo mode) to my more high-end stereo audio gear.
On the downside, the thin manual does not do justice to the ton of audio and video features that can be tweaked using a combination of menus. But if you are an audio or video-phile I can guarantee you will have fun with this player!
In conclusion, I highly recommend this player to those of you who are willing to go beyond the "plug and play" and are willing to use the excellent menu features to tweak the player to your liking.
13 Freezes on DVD Playback--too bad, otherwise a nice player
I was pessimistic because of a poor experience with a Panasonic DVD player in the past...I've owned many different Panasonic electronic components and have been 100% satisified, except with their DVD players. Unfortunately, I should have trusted my gut and stayed away from Panasonic DVD.
The very first movie I played, which was brand new out of the package, was Matrix Revolutions. At chpt 21, the DVD player hangs up, freezes, and eventually skips ahead about 5 minutes into the movie. I took the DVD to my Toshiba DVD/VCR combo unit and it plays in the same area without a hitch. I tried playing the DVD in 3 different slots in the carousel and had the same exact problem. I'm returning this DVD player.
It is a shame, because I really like the features for the price on this player. It is slightly (though not much) quicker changing CDs than other DVD changers. The buttons are easily accesible on the unit itself (so finding the remote isn't mandatory), and it takes 2 pushes of remote buttons to get CD random play (which is better than some of the comptetitors. Quality of audio and video was excellent.
The only other major complaint is the remote. The range of the remote is weak. I couldn't get the DVD player to respond to remote inputs sitting on my couch which is about 7 feet from the DVD player...that was also annoying.
Stay away from Panasonic DVD, that is my advice. This is my second Panasonic DVD player that has issues with hanging up and freezing on DVD play. I'm now debating between Toshiba and Sony...
