Panasonic DVD-S27K Progressive-Scan

Panasonic DVD-S27K Progressive-Scan DVD Player

Panasonic's surprisingly affordable DVD-S27S DVD player handles just about any optical media format available, from standard DVD-Video to DVD-R, DVD-RAM, CD-R and CD-RW, MP3- and WMA-encoded audio CDs, and even JPEG picture discs. A handy feature called Quick Replay jumps back seven to 10 seconds in case you miss an important bit of action or dialogue, while high-resolution 24-bit/192 kHz audio processing and 10-bit/54 MHz video processing ensure vivid sound and picture from all compatible sources.

Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the DVD-S27S features a progressive-scan video processor that doubles the scan lines of an interlaced signal (from 480i to 480p) by scanning all 525 lines in 1/60 of a second for each pass. The result? Higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts. S-video and standard composite-video outputs offer compatibility with nearly all televisions; use a video modulator (not included) if you have an older TV with only a threaded coaxial audio/video input.

Panasonic's 10-bit 4:4:4 Signal Processing converts recorded luminance and color difference signals from 8 to 10 bits and upsamples the color-signal data, delivering striking colors and a flat luminance signal response for high resolution and minimal picture noise.
The unit offers audio features like Dialogue Enhancer (which boosts the volume of the center channel during Dolby Digital 5.1-channel presentations) and a coaxial digital-audio output for channeling DTS and Dolby Digital surround sound to a surround-decoding audio/video receiver.

The player performs Dolby Digital and DTS decoding and fold-down to 2-channel for stereo listening (letting you enjoy the higher-quality DTS soundtracks even if you don't have a surround listening system), and Advanced Surround (V.S.S.) simulates a surround sound effect using only your front 2 speakers (left/right). Slow and fast audio playback lets you hear program sound even when you're scanning or watching in slow motion.
Amazon.com Product Description

What's in the Box
DVD player, a remote control, remote batteries, a user's manual, and a stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable.

Panasonic DVD-S27K Progressive-Scan DVD Player

Test Report

Panasonic DVD-S27K Progressive-Scan DVD Player

Great for price; no better picture unless you spend lot more, September 20, 2004 Reviewer: 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.

Love the remote.........., August 27, 2004 Reviewer: I. Leong "mhz500" (Taylors, SC United States) - 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

Sticking With Panasonic!!, November 23, 2004
Reviewer: Michael Chiaro (Lodi,New Jersey) -

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!!