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Also, the biggest drawback to this player is the fact that you can't see how many minutes into the movie you are, only what chapter you're on. Not what I'd expect out of a DVD player well over $200. The picture quality was great, but this Panasonic DVD player lasted me barely 2 years. One day it got glitchy, then the next day to the point where it wouldn't even turn on anymore. So if you want to take the DVD out and continue watching it on your laptop or another DVD player, good luck skipping straight to the part where you stopped.
Slipped the DVD in and there was a long delay as it whirred and stopped and started and then came the message "Can't Play Disc." I guess I should've been more aware of the format war in which I had just become an unwitting casualty. Gathered friends, popped popcorn and told them to fasten their seatbelts in preparation for a visual treat--"Apollo 13" in glorious High Definition. So I read the glowing Amazon reviews listing all the various media the S97S can handle and said to myself--"This is clearly the best DVD player around. Jeez, it can play anything but a 45 rpm record." Hooked it up to the new flat panel TV and eagerly ordered some HD DVD's from Netflix. Hope this review will save someone from the bad investment this Netflix fan has made in the wrong player.
The picture blanks out about 3/4s through a normal length movie. As another reviewer mentioned, the machine gets VERY hot and I'm fairly sure this is the problem.
You can still hear the sound and if you press the audio only a few times, the picture comes back, but the color is distorted. I changed the cables to make sure this wasn't a non DVD problem.
I loved my old panasonic DVD player for 5 years, but when the spinning wheel finally broke, I decided it was time to buy a new machine. Once the thing is turned off for 5 minutes, the picture comes back looking normal.
After a lot of research I purchased this one. For about 8 months it works perfectly, but then I started to notice some strange behavior.
This is pretty dissapointing as I havent' had it that long and my other machine lasted me for 5 years.(Also, the fact the remote doesn't have an open/close button bugs me a lot).
The HDMI cable doesn't really improve the sound compared with the optical cable. Since I have the top of the line SA-XR70S home theather receiver, 8 speakers surrounding sound system (5 bose, 3 infinity), the sound is just simply wonderful, so theater-like environment. The DVD heats up quite fast and high after a few minute. I just got this DVD today and tested it right away. The included HDMI cable makes the connect so simple. I am not so sure if this is a general thing with this DVD line or just a individual flaw with my new DVD. My first impression is the slim, light-weight but high-tech look design. In general, I would give this toy a 4 star rating (I'd give 5 if there is no heating problem).
The truest color and enough adjustments for poor source video material to make almost anything watchable. I use it on a 60" TV and it makes most good quality DVD material look better than anything at 480p. Some poor quality material may actually look better on component inputs rather than HDMI but that my be my TV but at least you have the choice.The remote is not the easiest to use nor are any of the actions exactly lightning fast but remember the picture quality is goal one. Has the best picture . That is all you need to know. The S77S is nearly as good for as much as $100 less - might be the best buy for the dollar.
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