Customer Reviews

Panasonic PV-D4752 DVD-VCR Combo

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

 

 

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!

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

Briefly I ordered this for reasons everybody does but have already returned it & am considering my options on a different purchase. In the past I always had tremendous good fortune with Panasonic products so I tried this one without hesitation. The VHS player seemed wonderful, but the the DVD player would freeze for no apparent reason on brand new DVD's on a scene & you'd have to turn it off & the best you could get from it was to start over again at beginning. Sometimes it would claim the just opened DVD was "dirty" if you could not even get it to re-start at the beginning as it often would. The unwanted freezing would occur anywhere from every 5 to 20 minutes & became infuriating quickly. Maybe I was unlucky but this experience was unpleasant to say the least.

I purchased our unit in September 2001, and in that time it has broken down 3 times. First the DVD player died, but it was still under warranty so it was eventually repaired by Panasonic.

Now, both the VCR and DVD players have stopped working. I expect the cost to repair the unit simply won't be worth it, and I won't be buying anything from Panasonic again.

I purchased this unit to make the transition to DVD. We still use the VCR for exercise tapes, kids videos and recording programs on TV. The VCR machine works very well - clear picture, nice controls and features. The DVD player also seems to have a good set of features like zoom and progressive scan. Also, the unit has very good connectivity for various configurations. On the downside, I have had similar problems to others with the DVD player freezing. I put a brand new DVD in the player for the inaugural viewing. We watched the first 45 minutes of the DVD then it froze (to great dissappointment with the kids). When I tried to power the unit down, it would not immediately let me do that. When we turned the unit back on, it would play for 2-5 minutes, then freeze again. I called Panasonic, they said it was likely the DVD disc. I have read there are occasional compatability issues with certain discs but given that this is a new model DVD player and it was a fairly new release DVD, I find this odd. Eventually, Panasonic recommended that I exchange the unit which I did. Hopefully, it was a fluke.

This is bigger than I wanted and so I didn't fix my storage problem and I still can't fit everything. Can't seem to get the zoom message to go off. The VCR broke after 6 weeks and had to go into repair. Since this purchase I have seen better for less money. The DVD player is really nice.. good pic and sound.

I was weary in purchasing a combo unit, however due to space constraints I decided to take a chance. Boy was it a mistake. The DVD on the unit was not working right off the bat. Took it to the Panasonic Authorized Repair Center and it's been in the shop for the last 5 weeks waiting for a replacement part. By the time I get this piece of junk back from the Service Center the warranty will have expired. Stay away from combo units......

I've had this DVD/VCR combo for over a year. I didn't use it that often, and now I wish I had. It would have broken down sooner, and I would still have the warranty. The VCR works fine, but the DVD won't play my discs anymore. It makes a clicking noise and a blue screen comes on saying "this disc is dirty and has scratches, etc." Bull. All of my discs are recent purchases, new and clean. I tried them on my friends' DVD players and my own computer and they work fine. It is the DVD player that's not working. Panasonic used to be a good company, but I think they're no longer reliable. BUYERS BEWARE.

Pros: It was really easy to set up. Lots of great DVD controls on the remote. Programming the remote to recognize my TV was a snap (but see Cons below). The digital quality of the DVD actually blew me away! And the simulated Surround Sound is all it's cracked up to be. The crescendoing sound made during the "THX" logo made the hairs on my neck stood up. We had our Sony stereo TV on and have the duo deck connected to our stereo receiver. No formal "home entertainment" equipment, and it sounded great. The DVD looks stylish and operates quietly in the DVD mode. The VCR is louder than our old unit, BUT the loud rewind is rewinding faster than any other unit I've owned. Also, there are three levels of on-screen rewinding so you don't have to blow through your show while fast-forwarding through commercials. This unit does have Movie Advance and Commercial Advance, but I don't use those functions.

Cons: Mostly remote control complaints: no mute button, no channel jump (for TV and VCR), and the "light" button only lights up the top fifth of the remote (though I wasn't used to a light function, anyway). But the thing that may take getting used to is that children's tapes of half hour sometimes will not be accepted into the machine. The manual says the VCR plays standard 2, 4, 6, and 8 hour tapes, and it almost seems as if my toddler's tapes are too light to be accepted. But, I have been able to get some of them to be accepted by just working with them. Though, I'm afraid I might break the unit. My personal workaround is to only use those tapes with my old GE VCR that I know will accept them. Maybe the machine just needs breaking in?

I bought this as a Christmas gift, and have been mostly satisfied with it. We had a Panasonic VHS deck, and the only difference between it and the VHS feature on this model is that it doesn't have the commercial skip button to fast forward through commercials when watching a recorded tape.

When I bought it, it came with a mail in rebate from the manufacturer. I mailed it a few days after Christmas, and I still haven't gotten it yet. (Nearly March). The machine is much more reliable than the company. I would recomend getting this, but don't hold your breath on the rebate.