Product Description

PANASONIC DVDF87 -- This all-purpose 5-Disc Changer displays DVD video on virtually any TV, includes Progressive Scan outputs for optimized display on most better recent model TVs. 54MHz / 10-bit Video D/A Converter Picture Modes - Normal, Cinema1, Cinema2, Animation, Dynamic Picture Control (Brightness, Color, Contrast, Sharpness, Gamma Correction) Monitor Select for optimum picture quality according to monitor type Black level control Multi Re-Master for higher quality audio reproduction 8-channel 192kHz / 24-bit Audio D/A converter Audio Only function protects noise from video circuitry Built-in DTS & Dolby Digital Decoder with speaker setting Dolby Surround Pro Logic II Sequential CD playback Twin Laser Pickup for DVD / CD playback Easy-to-operate one-touch remote control ENERGY STAR Qualified Finish - Black

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29095 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Panasonic
• Model: DVD-F87K
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 2.38" h x 16.94" w x 15.60" l, 8.68 pounds

Features

• Rotary 5-disc progressive scan DVD player; measures 16.9 x 2.7 x 16.25 (W x H x D)
• Compatible with DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, DVD-RAM/R, CD, CD-R/RW, WMA, MP3, JPEG, and HDCD
• Plays 1 disc while changing 4 discs; slim design
• Outputs: composite-, component-, S-bideo, 5.1-channel audio, subwoofer
• Advanced Virtual surround sound for enhanced 2-speaker sound; built-in Dolby Digital/DTS/Pro Logic II decoding

Amazon.com Product Description
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 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.

Customer Reviews

A pretty darn good space saving, high performance machine
I picked up this little beauty to replace both an ancient and cranky 5-disc CD Player and a single disc DVD player. I now have breathing room in the old entertainment center, so even my antique turntable can take a creaky spin every now and again.

Seeing that I can't connect a toaster without help, I called on my trusty better half to unravel the mystery of setting it up. In non-technical language, a.k.a. plain English, this is what you need to know about this mighty machine:

1. The manual needs a lot of work. It's neither user-friendly nor idiot-proof. Ditto for the boxy silver remote.

2. It is easy to set up if you already know how to do that sort of thing. (We have component video connections to the TV and digital coaxial connections to the receiver.)

3. It gives excellent sound from both CDs and DVDs. With the benefit of 5.1 surround, movies like Master and Commander can literally move you, and CDs have never sounded better.

4. It is as convenient as a 5-disc CD changer as it is a 5-disc DVD player, except that when you're playing more than one CD you'll need to put it in "CD Mode" first.

5. It can easily play different types of media, such as audio Cds, MP3s, DVDs and those other mysterious formats - just put in the discs and play away.

6. The video quality is very good on a regular TV. You can set up different pre-defined picture quality modes, or customize to suit your own taste if you're a techie or a buff. If you have difficulty making up your mind, ignore this option.

7. The player is chock full of options, but you have to explore for yourself, which can be a bit confusing until you get the hang of it. Read the manual, you say? See Item 1 above.

8. There's on-screen information for MP3s and photo CDs, with different views available for the contents. (Groups/folders or entire playlists)

9. I can't comment on the progressive scan feature, since I don't have an HD or HD-ready TV - yet. (Still waiting for that lottery win)

10. It is supposed to play DVD-Audio discs, but you need 6.1 channel inputs on your receiver to play them. Unfortunately, our receiver is lacking these inputs, but then again, I am also lacking any DVD-Audio discs.

Electronics buffs will probably say that it needs a bit of "tweaking" to get it to look and sound just right, but it looks and sounds great to me. All in all a very good player, perhaps excellent when you factor in the price.

Amanda Richards, October 1, 2004

Excellent performance and value
I wanted a budget DVD/CD changer that could also play DVD-Audio (DVD-A). I was a bit skeptical about this player, having read other user reviews.

At it's price point of $130, I decided to give this player a try - because I could always exchange it for another player if necessary. Currently I also own a JVC progressive and an Aiwa non-progressive DVD player. Both those players are good, but have problems playing certain DVD and VCD disks.

I was presently surprised to find that the new Panasonic DVD-F87 player played all the disks with which I had problems with my previous players. The player is quite thin and has a small footprint - the width being actually slightly less than my old JVC single-disk DVD player!

I set up this player using component video cables to a Samsung widescreen HDTV and using digital coaxial cable to a JVC RX-6030. I first tried the "quick setup" menu features, but was not impressed with the results. So, I decided to use the more advanced menu options and was able to tweak it to audio and video excellence.

Since I have a HDTV, I set it up to use progressive scan (selecting 480p). The video performance is excellent for the "film based" (24fps) DVDs using 3:2 pulldown, but average for "video based" (30fps) DVDs. This is because these low cost Panasonic players no longer have the Sage/Faroudja DCDi deinterlacing chip. Thankfully, almost 90% of new DVD movies released today are film based, so this player will have no problem producing excellent video output. Besides, its 54MHz/10-bit video DAC produces an increadibly good detailed image. Another feature highlight is its "black level" control, which improves picture contrast considerably. It has a number of zoom modes to suit the DVD format and your viewing style and does a superb job of scaling. You can even scale non-anamorphic DVDs to suit the aspect ratio of your TV (using the "Display" menu).

The real surprise is in the audio performance with its 192kHz/24-bit audio D/A converter. DVD-A and HDCD and two of the advanced formats supported (but not SACD) that provide very detailed sound quality. But the key feature that sets this player apart from the competition is the oversampling feature (called "multi remaster") with improves the detail in your normal (or "redbook") CDs. The result is very detailed sound, with clean and smooth highs with a wide soundstage and excellent imaging. Bass is also defined and tight. With multi remaster enabled, I compared the Panasonic F87 with a more expensive Marantz 4400 DVD player and the Panasonic won hands down. So I now have this player connected (in stereo mode) to my more high-end stereo audio gear.

On the downside, the thin manual does not do justice to the ton of audio and video features that can be tweaked using a combination of menus. But if you are an audio or video-phile I can guarantee you will have fun with this player!

In conclusion, I highly recommend this player to those of you who are willing to go beyond the "plug and play" and are willing to use the excellent menu features to tweak the player to your liking.

Another H07 warning for this DVD player!
I have owned numerous Panasonic electronics items over the past 30 years. This includes radios, phones, 3 VHS players, a VHS camcorder, boombox, TV, answering machine, and Mini-DV camcorder. I also own a 5-disc Panasonic DVD player, which is a inoperable piece of metal and plastic occupying my entertainment system shelf.
Soon after the warranty expires(if not before), your Panasonic DVD player is LIKELY to develop a malfunction which is displayed on the DVD as an "H07" error. This code is well known to owners of Panasonic DVD players. It is a signal that the spindle motor has failed, or is failing, not turning the DVDs enough to be "read" by the laser.
PLEASE research well on Google, Metacrawler, or your Internet engine of choice on the dreaded Panasonic "H07" code. I HIGHLY recommend against buying a Panasonic DVD player until the company acknowledges and corrects their manufacturing error in these machines. Even if your machine is still under warranty, you will need to ship it to Panasonic at your cost, and if it is past the first 90 days of ownership, you will pay $90.00 per hour for repairs.
This DVD player is NOT recommended.