Product Features:

• Rotary 5-disc progressive scan DVD player; measures 16.9 x 2.7 x 16.25 (W x H x D)
• Compatible with DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, DVD-RAM/R, CD, CD-R/RW, WMA, MP3, JPEG, and HDCD
• Plays 1 disc while changing 4 discs; slim design
• Outputs: composite-, component-, S-bideo, 5.1-channel audio, subwoofer
• Advanced Virtual surround sound for enhanced 2-speaker sound; built-in Dolby Digital/DTS/Pro Logic II decoding

Product Description:

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.

Description from Manufacturer: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.Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Freezes on DVD Playback--too bad, otherwise a nice player Rating:
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...

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)