Panasonic DVD-F87K

Panasonic DVD-F87K DVD Player Review

The Panasonic DVD-F87K 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 silver finish.

The Panasonic DVD-F87K 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-F87K 5-disc changer, remote control, 2 AA batteries, AC power cord, composite A/V (RCA) cable, and printed operating instructions.

What Features Does the Panasonic DVD-F87K Have?

� Color: Black

� Disc capacity: 5

� Progressive scan: Yes

� Playback formats: DVD Audio, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, and CD-R/RW discs, as well as MP3 and WMA digital audio

� Aspect ratio control: 4:3

� Dialog enhancer: Yes

� Integrated amplifier: No

� Integrated receiver: No

� Front-panel operation: Yes

� Multi-angle viewing: Information unavailable

� Black-level adjustment: Yes

� Chapter preview: Yes

� Custom bookmarks: Yes

� Frame advance: Yes

� Still/freeze frame: Yes

� Jog/shuttle dial on unit: Information unavailable

� Karaoke: No

� Multilingual support: Yes

� Parental controls: Yes

� Picture zoom: Yes

� Play exchange: Yes

� Random play: Yes

� Recording capability: No

� Repeat play: Yes

� Resume play: Yes

� Reverse-frame step: Information unavailable

� Slow motion: Yes

� Text display: Yes

� VCR capability: No

� Audio outputs: 5.1-channel audio, subwoofer

� Headphone jack: No

� Video outputs: Composite, component, S-Video

� Surround-sound output or Virtual surround sound: Advanced Virtual Surround Sound for enhanced 2-speaker sound; built-in Dolby Digital/DTS/Pro Logic II decoding

� THX-certified: No

� Item width: 16.9 inches

� Item height: 2.7 inches

� Item depth: 16.25 inches

� Item weight: 8.9 pounds

� Warranty: 1 year parts, 90 days labor

Conclusion

Experience your favorite movies with theater-like quality with the Panasonic DVD-F87K 5-Disc Progressive Scan DVD-A/V Changer with Multi-Format Playback and Dolby Pro Logic II.

Features DVD-video and audio, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, HDCD, CD, CD-R/W, MP3, and WMA playback capabilities; 54MHz/10-bit video D/A converter; variable and auto zoom; picture control; advanced surround (V.S.S.); 192kHz/24-bit audio D/A converter; S-video, component video, 5.1-channel surround sound audio out; 500-line horizontal resolution; front-loading, 5-disc rotary changer and much more.

Best DVD Recorder Reviews Rating

8/10

Get the latest price for the Panasonic DVD-F87K

Panasonic DVD-F87K DVD Player Review
Back to home page