Customer Reviews

Panasonic DVD-S27K Progressive-Scan DVD Player , Black

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a terrific DVD player for the price. Features include excellent quality progressive scan output, ability to play all writeable DVD formats (DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, DVD-RW VR Mode (random access mode used for some standalone DVD recorders, e.g. Sony) and DVD-RAM (random access mode used for some standalone recorders, e.g. Panasonic), and automatic one-button audio and video adjustments that can be used to "optimize" the output for a specific type of disc.

The picture quality, especially in progressive scan mode (output through the component out connectors) is appreciably better than the picture from "el cheapo" players in the same mode. The difference is that Panasonic uses a proprietary high quality video decoder chip.

Physically, it's a nice looking unit. And it's quite small. It has the standard component width, but it's only about 2" high and it is unusually short front to back. That can be either a plus or minus, depending on where you plan to place it. The unit is too shallow to be placed under a modest sized TV, for example. Other nice features include a good sized LCD display (a lot of cheap players these days skimp on the display or omit it altogether) and a decently ergonomic remote.

The primary downsides to this player are: 1) it only has a coaxial digital connector on the back, no optical connector; 2) it will not play the new audio/video hybrid formats, such as DVD-A or SACD; and 3) as note above, it's pretty shallow, which means that if it's going to be placed in a stack of components, it will have to be the top component. It can't be used as a pedestal for a TV, either.

You could spend more for a DVD player, but unless you need to play DVD-A or SACD, you aren't going to find another player with a better picture unless you spend several times the price of this unit.

We went with Panasonic because we've had the best reliability with the brand. And we're happy with the player. It seems most of the other players we've seen are all about exactly the same...they even have the same remote control as if one blanket company is making them for many companies. This Panasonic is definitely original. The Audio/Video Enhancer button is great. This is the best DVD player we've seen in its class (under $100 single disc). Why not 5 stars? Well, if this unit lasts a long time then I'll come back and give it 5 stars. UPDATE: It is now years later and I would change this to a 5 star review if I could because this player has been fantastic...no problems, good at playing scratched discs, etc.

Had this player for about an year, and we used it to an extent (almost 2 dvd's and 2 Audio CD's daily). And finally it gave up with H02 error.

As everyone does, I Googled on Panasonic + H02 errors, found the easy solution. Yes a Can of Air and try rotating the motor manually once worked. Then it started working fine as usual, and it is been 2 months now since the fix.

Best advice with ANY DVD player is to buy proper lens cleaning kit, clean it once a month or depending on usage. Do not use $1 or 50 Cents DVD's / cd's, remember to clean the media (CD/DVD) with soapy water before you insert (specially the ones from libraries and rental stores).

I finally broke down and bought my first DVD Player. I was going to hold out for the prices to come down on the DVD Recorders but at these low prices, I decided to go for it. I researched thoroughly and I am just thrilled with my Panasonic S27K. It has all the features I wanted in a single disc player - plus some. The picture quality is superb and the audio sounds great either run through my Stereo TV or by running it through my Surround Sound Stereo System.

As for all the warnings of this H02 error, I checked into it and did not find one occurrence on this particular model. There appears to be a couple of other Panasonic models that are plagued by this problem - but no online statements have been made of it effecting this model. Even if an H02 error does occur on one of these units there is a work-around. Just open up the case and clean it out with canned air. They say that resolves the problem.

The Quick Setup on this unit is wonderful. Even someone like me who has never operated a DVD Player before had this unit unpacked from the box, all hooked up, and was enjoying a DVD movie within 10 to 15 minutes. And this includes the time it took to add a couple of manual settings to customize the display. Absolutely love this unit and am so pleased with everything about it.

I recently bought my first DVD player. Close friends(whose judgment I trust) warned me of all the perils and problems with DVD players and discs. Diminished availability of new VHS product forced my hand and I bought a DVD player(Toshiba SD-3960). I did my homework on the internet; Toshiba scored high, the player in question reported to play " all kinds of DVDS: R's,Rams, etc.". BULL!! I soon found a problem playing discs from the company Image.I bought 2 Image dvds: both had heavy pixelation.Assuming(naively) the discs were defective I returned them. I bought 2 more discs from Image which had the SAME PROBLEM!! I then received a notice of a class action lawsuit against Toshiba for DVD problems ranging from skipping,pixelation(!),subtitles randoming popping up, etc. Toshiba told me there was nothing to be done, except to "live with the problem". So,I gave away my Toshiba & bought this Panasonic(S27S); it played ALL the discs in question & blows away Toshiba on all levels! For price & quality go with Panasonic and avoid Toshiba at all costs!!

I bought this dvd player, because it is one of the first ones that will play dvd-ram disc's that have been recorded on my Panasonic dvd recorder.

I really like the remote on the dvd recorder. The remote on this dvd player is just as good.

I bought this player to replace tow cheaper players. The first was a Daewoo, and the second was a CyberHome. Both of the remoted on these were hard to use. All of the buttons on the CyberHome dvd player's remote were small, marked with small print and looked alike.

From now on, I'd cleck out the remote, before I bought any other device using a remote control. As a satellite TV and home theater installer, I have experience with thousands of remotes, and I can navigate amost all of them with ease. But for long term use, I prefer one that is easy to use.

Add me to the set of users who were delighted with the player's functionality... until its demise at the age of only 18 months, with the classic H07 error.
I used to hold the Panasonic brand in high regard, but it'll be a while before I buy their products again.

I've been looking for a player that will play DVD-R's I've made myself. I've been creating DVD's from our home videos and finding our older player (and many new players) will not play them without skipping or freezing. I went through all the players at a local retailer and this one was the only one that played the whole DVD with not a single hiccup. It does a great job on purchased DVD's, and allows us to view our picture CD's on the TV. Anyone involved in home movie production may wish to test this player on their DVD's.

I rated it for four stars out of 5. I would have liked enough front panel controls to permit easy DVD menu navigation for those times you misplace the remote.

I bought this one mainly for its zoom feature, which lets me watch letter-box format DVDs on my crusty old 20" TV without the black bars on the top and bottom. Basically, it chops off part of the widescreen picture in order to fill up the whole screen---more or less is chopped off depending on which zoom setting you choose, from 100% fill to 80% fill ("European Vista" on the menu). That alone was well worth the price of the machine, but I found that this little baby is loaded with all sorts of amazing features for the buck! (Sixty four clams from abt electronics online shipped, to be exact.)

The menu system is amazingly easy to use, just as Consumer Reports described it---they ranked this DVD player at the top of its class, and now I can see why. My 2 year old Sony DVD NS315 is going straight to the eBay block.

The remote is nice, though I wish it were backlit but hey at this price point I can't complain. The bright LED readout is also fabulous, much easier to read than the Sony.

Can't stop raving...

player is used by kids and subject to many dirty and scratched disks. never had a problem. great set of controls, inuative remote, best picture in its class, and it has read every disk including a myriand of brands and types of home burned dvd's and cd's.

a great player.