With an emphasis on a new slim design and strengthened picture and sound quality, the new Panasonic DVD deck features multiple format playback of DVD Video, DVD-R1 and DVD-RAM, CD-R and CD-RW2, as well as MP33 and HighMAT - a new technology co-developed by Panasonic and Microsoft for sharing digital media between PCs and consumer electronic products. Blending astounding performance with a new, elegant design, Panasonic's new DVD line is engineered with a host of advanced features to deliver an unsurpassed home theater experience. The new Panasonic DVD decks feature Advanced Progressive Scan, resulting in an extended frequency response, reduction of background noise and enhancement of depth. The higher-density video signal brings a film-like quality to DVD images, extraordinarily close to the way they originally appeared in the cinema, with rich detail, incredible depth of field, and precise color reproduction. The high resolution picture is also free of motion artifacts. With the rising popularity of high definition televisions and their ability to accept and reproduce a progressively scanned DVD picture, Panasonic's progressive scan players are positioned to take full advantage of this growing format.The DVD-S27 DVD player features Microsoft Windows Media Audio (WMA) and JPEG playback. It includes a one-touch AV enhancer for optimum picture and sound quality.
Panasonic's surprisingly affordable DVD-S27S DVD player handles just about any optical media format available, from standard DVD-Video to DVD-R, DVD-RAM, CD-R and CD-RW, MP3- and WMA-encoded audio CDs, and even JPEG picture discs. A handy feature called Quick Replay jumps back seven to 10 seconds in case you miss an important bit of action or dialogue, while high-resolution 24-bit/192 kHz audio processing and 10-bit/54 MHz video processing ensure vivid sound and picture from all compatible sources.
Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the DVD-S27S features a progressive-scan video processor that doubles the scan lines of an interlaced signal (from 480i to 480p) by scanning all 525 lines in 1/60 of a second for each pass. The result? Higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. S-video and standard composite-video outputs offer compatibility with nearly all televisions; use a video modulator (not included) if you have an older TV with only a threaded coaxial audio/video input.
Panasonic's 10-bit 4:4:4 Signal Processing converts recorded luminance and color difference signals from 8 to 10 bits and upsamples the color-signal data, delivering striking colors and a flat luminance signal response for high resolution and minimal picture noise.
The unit offers audio features like Dialogue Enhancer (which boosts the volume of the center channel during Dolby Digital 5.1-channel presentations) and a coaxial digital-audio output for channeling DTS and Dolby Digital surround sound to a surround-decoding audio/video receiver.
The player performs Dolby Digital and DTS decoding and fold-down to 2-channel for stereo listening (letting you enjoy the higher-quality DTS soundtracks even if you don't have a surround listening system), and Advanced Surround (V.S.S.) simulates a surround sound effect using only your front 2 speakers (left/right). Slow and fast audio playback lets you hear program sound even when you're scanning or watching in slow motion.
What's in the Box
DVD player, a remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, and a stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable.
1 Great value!
I purchased this DVD player brand new at Circuit City a couple of weeks ago. I'm partial to Panasonic and Technic products. I've always had good luck with them. Just to make sure, I did a search on Consumer Reports and they give this player an Excellent rating. First of all, I don't see why anyone would pay more than $100 for a DVD player. They've got these things down to science and the price should only continue to come down. With the S27 you definitely get your money's worth and then some. The unit and remote control are very easy to use. I've got it hooked up through a Technics receiver, Panasonic television and Bose Acoustimass 15 speakers. The picture and sound are crystal. Highly recommended!
2 bought 2 lemons
I bought one for my Mother in law for Christmas, Her's strated acting up after 2 months. I bought the same model for myself at the same time. Mine broke after 4 months. Panasonic only covers labor for 90 days. I spent a few dollors more on a Panasonic instead of a no name brand because of the Panasonic name, I thought I was getting something better, I found out that I was wrong. I will think twice next time I buy a cheap Panasonic product. I recomend staying away from this model. I would still purchase a Panosonic but not there bottom of the line.
3 year and half still going strong
player is used by kids and subject to many dirty and scratched disks. never had a problem. great set of controls, inuative remote, best picture in its class, and it has read every disk including a myriand of brands and types of home burned dvd's and cd's.
a great player.
4 -- Very good Player - Until you start seeing problems
Had this player for about an year, and we used it to an extent (almost 2 dvd's and 2 Audio CD's daily). And finally it gave up with H02 error.
As everyone does, I Googled on Panasonic + H02 errors, found the easy solution. Yes a Can of Air and try rotating the motor manually once worked. Then it started working fine as usual, and it is been 2 months now since the fix.
Best advice with ANY DVD player is to buy proper lens cleaning kit, clean it once a month or depending on usage. Do not use $1 or 50 Cents DVD's / cd's, remember to clean the media (CD/DVD) with soapy water before you insert (specially the ones from libraries and rental stores).
5 A Godsend in a Sea of DVD Players that are Finnicky
After a truly dreadful experience with another Panasonic DVD player (also reviewed online here) that I just couldn't take anymore after less than two months of use (it routinely rejected DVDs, etc.), I got online at amazon.com and epinions.com and other places and narrowed the field on what would be reliable. Sony models all seemed to mention great image quality but sometimes unwillingness to play discs. This model pretty much mentioned it played most all discs it was asked to -- very important to me. Reluctant to buy another Panasonic at first, I am happy to report it has worked flawlessly, plays discs other DVD players won't, and meets my expectations.
6 Good quality player
Had this for a few months now, plays flawlessly. I bought it specifically for the progressive scanning output into my infocus x1 projector. Almost perfect picture using the component to vga adapter. Great player. The only drawback is the tiny display on the unit which is a backward step from the other low end panasonic dvd players. But for the price no one can complain too much.
7 it just keeps going
I bought the unit in early January and it has been playing on "auto repeat" 10 hours a day since with no problems. It is cleaned on a regular basis and the image is very good and it plays DVD-R discs with ease. The remote is a "medium" in complexity, but so far so good as far as reliability. I will probably buy a few more. The price was good and some nonname brands were higher. Good unit.
8 Looks nice but beware quality
Pros: Looks sleek. LCD nice size. Onscreen setup a breeze.
Cons: "No disc" error right out of the box! Don't attempt to call the toll-free help line on the sticker because the phone system drops your call into limbo after 10 minutes of waiting.
Will try again with second unit (thanks Amazon for taking the first one back postage paid). Hope this is an isolated defect.
9 Best single disc DVD Player for the price
I finally broke down and bought my first DVD Player. I was going to hold out for the prices to come down on the DVD Recorders but at these low prices, I decided to go for it. I researched thoroughly and I am just thrilled with my Panasonic S27K. It has all the features I wanted in a single disc player - plus some. The picture quality is superb and the audio sounds great either run through my Stereo TV or by running it through my Surround Sound Stereo System.
As for all the warnings of this H02 error, I checked into it and did not find one occurrence on this particular model. There appears to be a couple of other Panasonic models that are plagued by this problem - but no online statements have been made of it effecting this model. Even if an H02 error does occur on one of these units there is a work-around. Just open up the case and clean it out with canned air. They say that resolves the problem.
The Quick Setup on this unit is wonderful. Even someone like me who has never operated a DVD Player before had this unit unpacked from the box, all hooked up, and was enjoying a DVD movie within 10 to 15 minutes. And this includes the time it took to add a couple of manual settings to customize the display. Absolutely love this unit and am so pleased with everything about it.
10 Garbage
Don't buy Panasonic DVD players. Go to Google and do a search on Panasonic and H02 errors. Their DVD players die quickly. Mine died within about six months and I only watched about two movies a month. What's more Panasonic wants to charge quite a bit to fix it and from what I hear, once fixed, it will die again in another six months. A company that doesn't stand behind their products doesn't deserve our business. Don't buy Panasonic.
11 Sticking With Panasonic!!
I recently bought my first DVD player. Close friends(whose judgment I trust) warned me of all the perils and problems with DVD players and discs. Diminished availability of new VHS product forced my hand and I bought a DVD player(Toshiba SD-3960). I did my homework on the internet; Toshiba scored high, the player in question reported to play " all kinds of DVDS: R's,Rams, etc.". BULL!! I soon found a problem playing discs from the company Image.I bought 2 Image dvds: both had heavy pixelation.Assuming(naively) the discs were defective I returned them. I bought 2 more discs from Image which had the SAME PROBLEM!! I then received a notice of a class action lawsuit against Toshiba for DVD problems ranging from skipping,pixelation(!),subtitles randoming popping up, etc. Toshiba told me there was nothing to be done, except to "live with the problem". So,I gave away my Toshiba & bought this Panasonic(S27S); it played ALL the discs in question & blows away Toshiba on all levels! For price & quality go with Panasonic and avoid Toshiba at all costs!!
12 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.
13 why buy a bigger TV? this player does it all!
I bought this one mainly for its zoom feature, which lets me watch letter-box format DVDs on my crusty old 20" TV without the black bars on the top and bottom. Basically, it chops off part of the widescreen picture in order to fill up the whole screen---more or less is chopped off depending on which zoom setting you choose, from 100% fill to 80% fill ("European Vista" on the menu). That alone was well worth the price of the machine, but I found that this little baby is loaded with all sorts of amazing features for the buck! (Sixty four clams from abt electronics online shipped, to be exact.)
The menu system is amazingly easy to use, just as Consumer Reports described it---they ranked this DVD player at the top of its class, and now I can see why. My 2 year old Sony DVD NS315 is going straight to the eBay block.
The remote is nice, though I wish it were backlit but hey at this price point I can't complain. The bright LED readout is also fabulous, much easier to read than the Sony.
Can't stop raving...
14 Superb
This is a fantastic dvd player. It plays all home burned dvd that I have put in it, and the time to begin plying them very fast. All that I wanted from my DVD player.
15 Great for price; no better picture unless you spend lot more
This is a terrific DVD player for the price. Features include excellent quality progressive scan output, ability to play all writeable DVD formats (DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD-RW VR Mode (random access mode used for some standalone DVD recorders, e.g. Sony) and DVD-RAM (random access mode used for some standalone recorders, e.g. Panasonic), and automatic one-button audio and video adjustments that can be used to "optimize" the output for a specific type of disc.
The picture quality, especially in progressive scan mode (output through the component out connectors) is appreciably better than the picture from "el cheapo" players in the same mode. The difference is that Panasonic uses a proprietary high quality video decoder chip.
Physically, it's a nice looking unit. And it's quite small. It has the standard component width, but it's only about 2" high and it is unusually short front to back. That can be either a plus or minus, depending on where you plan to place it. The unit is too shallow to be placed under a modest sized TV, for example. Other nice features include a good sized LCD display (a lot of cheap players these days skimp on the display or omit it altogether) and a decently ergonomic remote.
The primary downsides to this player are: 1) it only has a coaxial digital connector on the back, no optical connector; 2) it will not play the new audio/video hybrid formats, such as DVD-A or SACD; and 3) as note above, it's pretty shallow, which means that if it's going to be placed in a stack of components, it will have to be the top component. It can't be used as a pedestal for a TV, either.
You could spend more for a DVD player, but unless you need to play DVD-A or SACD, you aren't going to find another player with a better picture unless you spend several times the price of this unit.
16 Love the remote..........
I bought this dvd player, because it is one of the first ones that will play dvd-ram disc's that have been recorded on my Panasonic dvd recorder.
I really like the remote on the dvd recorder. The remote on this dvd player is just as good.
I bought this player to replace tow cheaper players. The first was a Daewoo, and the second was a CyberHome. Both of the remoted on these were hard to use. All of the buttons on the CyberHome dvd player's remote were small, marked with small print and looked alike.
From now on, I'd cleck out the remote, before I bought any other device using a remote control. As a satellite TV and home theater installer, I have experience with thousands of remotes, and I can navigate amost all of them with ease. But for long term use, I prefer one that is easy to use.
17 Bought it for viewing home made DVDs
I've been looking for a player that will play DVD-R's I've made myself. I've been creating DVD's from our home videos and finding our older player (and many new players) will not play them without skipping or freezing. I went through all the players at a local retailer and this one was the only one that played the whole DVD with not a single hiccup. It does a great job on purchased DVD's, and allows us to view our picture CD's on the TV. Anyone involved in home movie production may wish to test this player on their DVD's.
I rated it for four stars out of 5. I would have liked enough front panel controls to permit easy DVD menu navigation for those times you misplace the remote.
18 As good as it gets for its class
We went with Panasonic because we've had the best reliability with the brand. And we're happy with the player. It seems most of the other players we've seen are all about exactly the same...they even have the same remote control as if one blanket company is making them for many companies. This Panasonic is definitely original. The Audio/Video Enhancer button is great. This is the best DVD player we've seen in its class (under $100 single disc). Why not 5 stars? Well, if this unit lasts a long time then I'll come back and give it 5 stars.
