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Combining videophile picture quality with compact simplicity, Panasonic's PV-D4752 plays both DVDs and VHS tapes, and it's a whiz at decoding MP3 CDs, suiting it well to movies, television, and music. Its component-video outputs even perform progressive scanning, a feature designed for use with high-definition and HD-ready TVs. Progressive scanning displays all 480 video lines in one pass, rendering horizontal image lines sequentially rather than interlacing the even lines with the odd. The result is high vertical resolution and flicker-free, high-density images--reason enough to make the HDTV leap. The unit's S-video and composite-video outputs work fine with most older TVs. If you'll be using the interlaced output from the DVD player, one RCA composite-video connection (supplied) handles both DVD and VCR outputs. But if you plan to watch DVDs through the component-video or S-video outputs, know that the VCR signal still requires a separate composite-video connection. The PV-D4752 plays CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, standard DVD-Video discs, and most DVD-Rs (recordable DVDs), from which you can easily make VHS copies of wedding footage, birthdays, and other special events. Copy-protected commercial DVDs cannot be recorded. We were duly impressed with the PV-D4752's MP3 playback abilities. Each player handles discs differently, but this model read our most difficult test discs, offering fast track skips, scanning within MP3 files, and repeat functions for tracks, folders, and discs. The player does not support ID3 tags, however, and it limits the display of file and folder names to 11 characters. The two biggest drawbacks are the unit's reliance on the onscreen display (the front-panel display shows no elapsed time during DVD or VHS playback) and its habit of interrupting whichever format you're watching when loading another. For connections, you get one each composite-video, S-video, and component-video output, as well as two sets of composite-video inputs (one on the front and one at the rear) and one RF (cable-type) input and output for the VCR. An optical digital-audio output feeds a surround-sound signal to your Dolby Digital- or DTS-decoding audio-video receiver. It sports two sets of stereo RCA analog audio outputs and two sets of inputs (one each on the front and back). --Michael Mikesell Pros:
- Easy setup and above-average user's manual
- Convenient two-in-one design
- Fast track access
- Above-average read abilities for MP3 discs
- Good MP3 disc navigation
- Folder, disc, and track repeat function for MP3 files
Cons:
- No front-panel display for disc or tape elapsed time
- Loading a tape while watching a disc (or vice versa) interrupts playback
- Can't search for other MP3 tracks or folders while disc is playing
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 Very, VERY pleased |
| Review Date: May 26, 2002 |
| Reviewer: Carol Roberts, Montgomery, AL United States |
I recently received my Panasonic DVD/VCR player and I am very pleased with its performance. I could have bought another brand DVD/VCR combo for less, but I already have 2 Panasonic VCRs and have been extremely please with their performance, so I wanted to stay with the Panasonic brand name. I was not disappointed.
The DVD/VCR player has all the same features as my old VCR and operates similarly, so there was no learning curve. It is loaded with features for the DVD player as well. One advantage to the DVD/VCR combo is that I can tape my favorite programs from the TV while I (or my 2-year-old) watch a DVD. Also, the VCR can now tape program whether it is in the ON or OFF position, so no more missing programs because you forgot to turn the VCR off to tape.
Installation was easy... I simply unplugged my old VCR and plugged up the new DVD/VCR combo exactly as the old VCR was set up and it worked perfectly. I am not even running a special cable between the DVD portion of the machine and the TV, and the DVD picture is absolutely flawless! Which is a good thing because I wouldn't even know how to do anything but the most basic hook up.
My only complaint is that that remote should be lighted, so you can see what you are doing in the dark.
UPDATE: 5 years later, and this machine still works like a charm! Kudos to Panasonic for making an exceptional item! |
Excellent DVD/VCR Combo
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| Review Date: May 2, 2002 |
| Reviewer: Ned, Eldersburg, Maryland United States |
| If you are limited on space for both a VCR and DVD unit, then this unit is not bad. It was easy to install, picture quality is excellent, and there are plenty of options. Here are some highlights: a) Keys do not light on the remote. b) Has MP3 Playback options c) Universal remote capability to include your TV and Cable Box d) All 3-tape speeds are available for VCR recording (SP, LP & SLP) e) S-Video out connector for the DVD f) Video and Audio in on the front for easy access g) Timer recording for the VCR h) VCR includes a search system where an invisible mark is placed on the tape. A program index and information are also included for timer recording. These marks are used to access or scan recordings. i) Lock feature for the DVD (a 4-digit can be defined to view a blocked program or change rating settings) j) Energy Star compliant k) Home Theater ready l) Progressive Scan for a clearer picture signal for digital TVs |
DVD Newbie, but computer geek...
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| Review Date: July 29, 2002 |
| Reviewer: , California |
| OK, so we took a while to switch from VHS to DVD. Heck, we didn't even have a TV for the last 14 months. Our kids had to do stuff like read, play board games, etc. -- the horror! This unit is nice. Here's how we have it set up. The video out goes to the Zenith cheapo TV. The sound goes to a set of 80 watt Yamaha computer speakers (2 + sub). The remote works fine with the TV and took all of 5 minutes to figure out. We've played several DVD movies, a couple VHS tapes, and a bunch of audio and MP3 CDs. The VHS and DVD output is very nice and the sound over the Yamaha speakers is great. The MP3 playback works fine, but the interface is a little slow and you can only see 10 or so characters of the song title, so be sure not to include the artist or album name. That drawback considered, it's still very cool and the unit will probably end up sending the audio to our Harmon Kardon amp instead of the computer speakers. We gotta get a piece of furniture to hold it all first. Easy setup, beautiful video and audio output, and the VHS/DVD combo combine to make this the right choice for us. Plus we haven't had any freezes or other problems other than seeing 50 songs all titled "The Gourds -- F" on the MP3 display on the TV. And it arrived 3 days after ordering, shipped free, no tax. |
Mine is Great, but there's always the Luck of the Draw...
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| Review Date: June 29, 2003 |
| Reviewer: Use it EVERY Day (with kids, too)..., Madison, WI United States |
| The thing that strikes me most as I peruse these and other related reviews is how often any given unit has ardent fans, giving a product 5 star ratings, while other users pan them and express great frustration over their units' technical problems. No VCR-DVD model seems exempt. It must be the "luck of the draw". Take this specific Panasonic model, for example. I bought it a little less than a year ago and it has been just fantastic! No problems. Everything works fine. It was easy to set-up and operate. It has never chewed-up a VCR tape, nor damaged any DVD's. No pauses, shudders, or explosions. Picture and audio quality have been superb. Absolutely NO service issues. I am very pleased with this unit and can recommend it with a clear conscience to anyone. As an aside, use of the s-video connector cable instead of the old composite cable noticably improved picture quality. I also liked the fact that this unit is totally configured for home theater and HDTV, which I don't currently have but may convert to in the next couple of years. My only minor complaint is that the display does not have a VCR tape counter, so it is difficult to tell how far the tape has played, recorded, rewound, etc. So, if you buy this item, it should work fine for you too. Unless, of course, the luck of the draw gives you a lemon to deal with... |
Easy to use, great picture, good concept
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| Review Date: June 21, 2002 |
| Reviewer: , |
| I picked this up yesterday, and set it up easily. The picture is wonderful. The remote is a little complex, but I'm not sure that is avoidable. And, at least for the near future, I think a combination VCR/DVD player is the way to go. |
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