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.
Simplify your TV and movie viewing with Panasonic's PV-DF2704, a 27-inch set that includes a full-featured DVD player and hi-fi VCR. The unit's PureFlat picture tube renders a distortion-free picture from corner to corner with precise, brilliant colors and extraordinary clarity. Front and rear A/V input jacks make it easy to connect other entertainment devices, such as camcorders and game consoles.
The DVD player produces high-resolution video images and high-quality audio, passing both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround signals through an optical digital-audio output for connection with a surround-decoding audio/video receiver and surround speaker system.
Those lacking the room or the budget for a full surround system can still enjoy rich-sounding movie soundtracks, thanks to Panasonic's simulated surround-sound effect, which uses the TV's built-in stereo speakers. Additional DVD features include picture zoom, auto switching field/frame still, and multi-language, multi-angle footage.
The set's 4-head VCR comes equipped with Commercial Skip and auto clock set, which uses the Extended Data Service signal carried by many PBS stations to set the time. A back-up system automatically resets the time and date within 24 hours of a power outage. One-month, 8-event programming keeps you from having to miss a favorite show when you go on vacation. Zero and index search simplify the process of accessing desired sections of tape.
Extensive parental controls include V-Chip content blocking as well as both VCR and DVD tray locks. And, Panasonic has imbued the PV-DF2704 with its Ready-to-Play feature: as soon as you plug it in the combo will automatically sets its clock and local TV channels.
What's in the Box
TV combo, remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, and warranty information.
1 can't run cable/DSS box w/remote
Having a TV combo with a remote that can run my DSS box is very important to me. A previous review states that "you can run TV/DVD/VCR and most cable/DSS with the Panasonic remote".This appears to not be true. Although I didn't buy this TV, I did download the owner's manual, and there is nothing there that indicates that the Panasonic remote will work with a cable or DSS box. So if needing only one remote control to operate everything is important to you, you might want to keep looking.
2 Buggy and Broken
The one I got has a poor-quality DVD player; it keeps skipping and hanging on brand new out-of-the-box DVDs. Plus after a year the remote control sensor in the TV itself broke and had to be replaced - out of warranty, of course.
Other than that the picture is sharp and clear, the sound is excellent, the on-screen controls are excellent, and the remote control is well-laid out and easy to use. I'm just knocking it down 3 stars because of the remote control sensor problem and the mediocre integral DVD player.
3 My Third Panasonic TV/DVD/VCR!
I bought the PV-DFWhatever 27" two years ago and sold it when we moved--bought the PV-DF2703 last year (that was a major improvement--they shaved off 9-10" from the depth of the previous model (probably because of complaints that it wouldn't fit in entertainment centers unless they were away from the wall). Just bought the PV-DF2704 as a gift for my parents--and they love it! These are easy televisions to fall in love with--the quality is excellent, they're easy to set-up, you can run TV/DVD/VCR and most cable/DSS with the Panasonic remote. One plug in and one cable/DSS/antenna lead and you're all set--no need to run wires and speakers and stuff if you don't want to. The sound quality is far superior to ALL the other televisions I looked at (I think manufacturers assume everyone's just going to hook up a home theater system anyway.) Great product for technophobes and anyone that hates tangles of wires. Be forewarned--it's heavy and the dimensions are somewhat outsized because of the speakers to either side of the screen. If you have a 27" inch entertainment center it may not fit. I like it and my family likes it! A real value!
