Panasonic's vision of the digital future is driven by the needs and aspirations of its business customers and millions of consumers around the world who use its products every day. The company shares their dream to live a fuller life by providing ways of working smarter and enjoying the rewards of technological advances.Panasonic PV-D4744K is a Progressive Scan DVD/VCR Combination Deck with Multi-format Playback.
Panasonic's full-featured PV-D4744 integrates a high-quality, progressive-scan DVD player and four-head, hi-fi VCR. It features compatibility with a variety of disc and digital audio formats, front A/V inputs, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound compatibility, and a multibrand remote control. And since it's the same width as standard audio components, the PV-D4744K will fit nicely into an attractive-looking home theater system.
On the DVD side, the PV-D4744 is compatible with DVD movie and CD audio, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, Video CD (VCD), and CD-R/RW discs. You can also play MP3 and WMA digital audio and view JPEG images burned to CD-R/CD-RW discs. Other features include 5 Smooth Motion scan speeds (from 5x to 100x), multiple angle viewing, karaoke disc compatibility, and picture zoom (up to 2x).
The VCR's four-head design ensures smooth slow-motion tape play (forward and reverse) and clear still-frame images, and with hi-fi sound the unit records and plays back stereo audio tracks. The unit even lets you record a TV show while watching a DVD at the same time. By receiving the Extended Data Service signal from your local PBS channel (where available), the PV-D4744K sets its own clock and date. Furthermore, a 24-hour backup system saves the settings and, in the event of a power outage, resets them automatically when the power is restored.
Front audio/video inputs make it easy to hook up your camcorder or gaming device. A set of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio output for direct connection to a full-featured A/V receiver. The player simulates surround sound from DVD programs for a spacious effect from any two speakers.
Other features include auto VCR head cleaning and tape-position display, a trilingual onscreen display (English, Spanish, French), and Energy Star compliance.
Tech Talk
Progressive scanning: Progressive scanning displays all the horizontal lines of a picture at one time, as a single frame. A progressive scanning DVD player converts the interlaced (480i) video from DVD into progressive (480p) format for connection to a progressive display. It dramatically increases the vertical resolution.
What's in the Box
PV-D4744 DVD/VCR combo, remote control, remote batteries, audio/video cables, and printed operating instructions.
1 Incompatibilty Problem
Okay, this is a nice unit in most aspects. It works great in the areas people have mentioned...BUT
It does not display time elapsed on the display during DVD play, all it says is ...PLAY. Not huge but annoying. Chapter indication at least would be nice.
Worst of all, this deck is very dicey about playing home-burned DVD's. Most of my -R's work fine but only one of the dual layer disks I burned work on this machine. They work perfectly on a Toshiba DVD player in another room. I consider this a major problem and had I discovered it soon after I bought it I'd have returned the unit.
It also hasn't been very good at playing RW DVD's but that doesn't surprise me.
2 Panasonic comes through again
I have always been very pleased with the Panasonic products I've purchased, so I was delighted to find this "combo" at a very reasonable price. Setup was very simple and everything worked immediately. I particularly like the two switch buttons placed approximately in the middle of the remote, one for VCR and the other for DVD.
Now for the caveat: I bought this unit for our small home gym, where we wanted something that would play both VHS and DVDs. The television there is simple, verging on primitive. It doesn't even have dual channel audio inputs or an S-video input. In two other rooms, we have switch boxes to select input, but I wanted something simpler this time, and something that could be completely controlled from a remote (no one wants to get off a cardio machine to switch TV inputs). The Panasonic combo is working out very nicely. I can't say, however, how the machine would work with HD TVs or with more sophisticated systems. For what we wanted, it was a pretty much perfect solution. It also takes less space than the previous Toshiba 5-disc DVD player we had (which now seems to be unable to recognize the presence of a DVD).
Extras: the twenty buttons on the bottom of the remote that another reviewer mentioned perform a fair number of functions that you would usually have to return to the main menu for, such as subtitles. Very clever indeed.
All in all, a nice, solid performer and excellent value.
Followup: Turns out, we liked this machine so much, we ordered a second one less than a week after receiving the first. The real joy of the machine is that it makes life so much simpler. At first I scoffed at the idea of a combo, dismissing it as convenient but basically silly. Wrong again! Convenience wins out. You eliminate yards of cables and, over time, hours of needless frustration. So much simpler to press the VHS or DVD button on the remote. Thanks again, Panasonic.
3 Utter Junk
I bought one of these. Right out of the box, it would play a music CD. I put in a DVD. Digital audio out was a 4x per second incessant clacking, NO normal audio output. SVIDEO out was ONLY black and white. I used the standard cable jack out, video was color. I hooked up a different DVD player to those same cables on my same system, and all was fine. Problem: Panasonic.
I'll be taking this back tomorrow..Do you think I'll get another Panasonic, knowing what trash this one was directly out of the box? I didn't think so.
UTTTER JUNK.
CAVEAT EMPTOR.
4 Will not work with some HD TVs
Will not work with some HD TVs.. Oh they meant ME!
I own an RCA 38in 16x9 TV with direct TV satellite tuner built in. A truly great TV. Being a nearly flat tube.. It is brighter and better than every LCD TV I have ever seen. I think a high resolution Plasma Flat screen might be better. 1600x1200 range.
Well, anyways.. Bought the low end Panasonic dual DVD + VHS deck to this TV. I thought since the deck had component OUT.. Both the tape and DVD would use that connection. Answer? NO! But it will output both signals to composite AOK. Sheesh!
So no matter what we tried the deck insisted on outputting both signals to the composite. Thus the audio would play for DVD and then not VHS. Then back again...
Now that I have spent an afternoon banging my head against the wall.. If you have low end equipment? Simply love Composite (the yellow RCA connector) this is a great deck? This player DVD connection will work great.
If you like seeing all those pixels coming out of a quality 480p progressive scan DVD using component.. and a quality Panasonic VHS player.. Give up! Buy a separate quality DVD player and VHS player.
Folks.. People still listen to Vinyl Records. I have a wall full of SVHS/VHS tapes. Not going to grow old transferring them to DVD. So how about a SVHS and a Progressive DVD deck that has the option to out put to ONE Component or DVI? Composite should just die.
5 Great buy
I bought this item after a bad experience with a Cyberhome DVD player. The cyberhome worked for about 2 DVD's before having problems. On the 4th DVD in the Cyberhome player, the thing froze and I couldn't eject the DVD. I had to take it apart to remove the DVD from the player. I am very happy with the panasonic PV-D4744 DVD/VCR combo. I have only used the VHS side a couple of times. The VHS is nothing special. If you're looking for great technology in a VCR, then you might want to think about upgrading to DVD. However, the VHS works fine for your old tapes you have laying around. The DVD performs very well. I have tried some of the features and was pleased with the ability to pause and use slow motion in both forward and reverse. Since I bought the PV-D4744 a few months ago, I have probably watched somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 DVD's. I have not had any problems with this system so far. If you are on a budget and you would like to find a good DVD/VCR combo that performs well, I would highly recommend the PV-D4744 from panasonic.
6 DONE WITH PANASONIC!!!
I paid $300.00 for this when it first came out. The dvd part is fine, but the vhs part stinks. Wouldn't accept half my tapes (lighter tapes). Would put the tape in, would spit it back out for no reason. Tried all different types, came to realize it wouldn't accept light tapes, such as children's videos, shorter movies, etc. And if the tape wasn't rewound, forget it. My fault on not bringing it back in after buying it (did it from day one). But when you spend that kind of money for something brand new, it should work perfect and it should last a long time. Now the vcr part is completely broken. Nothing but problems with my panasonic phone too. I do not recommend buying this brand, until they can fix all their problems with their electronics. I know I won't be buying their products anymore, because every panasonic item I have owned has had to be replaced.
7 Panasonic PV-D4744 DVD/VCR Combo
Received my DVD/VCR Combo today and has to return it.The DVD did not open or close. Called Panasonic Customer Service and got a nice representative who tried to help me out. Did a couple of tests but didn't work. Suggested to return it which I did. Also my first hand impression of the quality of the DVD/VCR were not that great eventhough the price was right.
8 moving into the 21st century...finally !
I finally decided to join the rest of humanity, and get a DVD player, and this nice "Double Feature" Panasonic VHS/DVD Combo was the right price and fit my needs.
I'm "reading challenged" when it comes to electronics manuals; they could be written in an unknown language for all the help they are to me, but this machine is simple enough for even me to program the essentials.
I was able to figure out how to set it up manually (I'm in an area where that is necessary), and play my first DVD and record a tape from a TV program without too much trouble, or too much time.
The lightweight remote has 20 buttons on the bottom half of it, but all the essential ones are on the perimeters making it easy to use, and as my TV is also Panasonic, I can get by with this single remote for everyday use.
Other features I will probably never use include a 24 hour lock feature, auto shut-off, multiple angle and zoom capability, and much more.
The size is the same as my old VHS player so it doesn't take up much room, and I don't think anyone who wants a "combo" can do better in this low price range.
I have had very good luck with Panasonic products as far as longevity, and so far, I'm impressed with how much I have compared with how much I spent, and think the value is excellent.
9 Just one little frustrating issue
Okay, you're looking for a combo unit that will record and play your VHS tapes AND play DVD's. You don't want to spend too much money, but you want something that will work well. This MIGHT be your unit. I've had mine in use for several months without any problem...except for one pesky quality. It's hard to stop the tape exactly where you want to stop. It's like a freight train; it takes anywhere from 15 seconds to 3 minutes of reel/tape time to get it to stop or play. This is especially frustrating when you're zipping past an unwanted (versus those informative and desireable) commercials. It's also a pain when you want to replay one sentence, but the closest you can come is to replay most of the scene. It's just not accurate enough to stop/rewind/play precisely where you want to.
The picture quality is very good and it's simple enough to use (although the remote has as many difficult to read buttons as a space shuttle), but it's lack of precision control on the VHS tape is bothersome and frustrating.
All in all, it's still a lot of technology for the price. You just have to decide how much patience you have for imprecise tape controls.
10 OK for the PRICE BUT NO LP RECORDING SPEED!
THE MAIN REASON I BOUGHT PANASONIC is MY EXCELLANT PAST EXPERIENCE WITH the PANASONIC NAME ESPECIALLY THEIR VCRS. I HAVE ONE of THEIR EARLY HI-FI MODELS THAT is ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD and STILL WORKING. HOWEVER I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT PANASONIC is HAVING SOMEONE ELSE MANUFACTURE THEIR VCRS BECAUSE THIS UNIT PLUS a NEW PANASONIC VCR I BOUGHT DOES NOT RECORD in the VERY PREFERRED SPEED of LP WHICH WAS ALWAYS a BIG REASON I BOUGHT THEIR BRAND. THE LP SPEED is a GOOD COMPROMISE BETWEEN USING the VERY FAST ( and Tape Eating ) SPEED of SP and the SLOWER, POORER VIDEO QUALITY of SLP. THE LP SPEED ALSO GAVE YOU MUCH LESS of a PROBLEM WHEN PLAYING a RECORDED TAPE ON ANOTHER VCR WITH TRACKING PROBLEMS. I ALSO LIKED HOW YOU COULD FIT TWO HOLLYWOOD MOVIES ON ONE TAPE in the LP SPEED THAT GAVE YOU 4 HOURS of RECORDING TIME. I HAVE READ on ANOTHER SITE THAT the VIDEO RECORDER in PANASONIC DVD/VCR RECORDERS are MADE by ANOTHER CHEAPER KOREAN MANUFACTURER WHICH I NOW BELIEVE is TRUE. THIS UNIT WORKS OK WITH TINY BUTTONS and DOES the JOB. ONE THING ABOUT THIS MODEL I REALLY HATE is THAT YOU MUST PUSH in and HOLD the TIMER BUTTON AFTER PROGRAMMING IT or IT WILL NOT RECORD. THIS is EASY to FORGET and MOST VCRS RECORD AFTER PROGRAMMING and TURNING the POWER OFF. I WOULD NOT PAY OVER $115.00 for THIS SINCE PANASONIC is NOT the PANASONIC I ONCE KNEW. I DOUBT THAT PANASONIC MAKES ANY VCR THAT STILL RECORDS in the LP SPEED @ ANY PRICE SO I AM HOLDING ON to MY TWO THAT STILL DO. MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT is THAT PANASONIC is PROBABLY NOT MAKING MOST of THEIR OWN PRODUCTS and EVEN by EXAMINING THEIR CURRENT VIDEO PRODUCTS YOU CAN SEE a LOSS of QUALITY. THEY USED to be of a GREATER QUAILITY and IT SEEMS THEY are TRYING to STAY COMPETITIVE PRICE WISE. I STILL RECOMMEND THIS UNIT OVER the SONY BRAND WHICH ALSO HAS CHEAPENED ITSELF MANY YEARS AGO. SAMSUNG EVEN THOUGH KOREAN is a NOW a GOOD BRAND and RECOMMENDED by CONSUMER REPORTS. I HAVE a SAMSUNG DVD/VCR COMBO and IT is a LITTLE BETTER FEATURE WISE THAN the PANASONIC. MANASQUAN TOM
