Panasonic DVD-A120 DVD Player

Panasonic DVD-A120 DVD Player

Product Description
Amazon.com Review
Ready to take the plunge into the digital world of DVD? If you're on a budget, a good choice is the Panasonic DVDA120. This moderate-priced digital video player delivers a clean, crisp picture and crystal-clear digital sound, making it the perfect starting point for your home-theater setup.

With over 500 lines of resolution, you'll immediately recognize the difference in video quality offered by DVD. If your TV is capable of S-Video input, you'll want to use that connection to experience the highest video quality.

In addition to DVD video, the DVDA120 will play your music CDs and CD-video (CD-V) format. While CD-V format has not proven especially popular in the United States, there are thousands of movie titles available in Asia on this pre-DVD format. The CD-V feature will enable you to play some fairly rare imported films.

For the full home-theater experience, check out the latest DVD video titles, which are often presented in the amazing multisound Digital Dolby (AC3) and DTS digital-audio formats. Connecting this unit to a full set of surround-sound speakers gives you the best audio quality. Since this DVD player does not come with a built-in Dolby Digital decoder, you will need a separate AC3 receiver to experience every earth-shattering rumble and action-packed explosion thrown at you in the latest Hollywood blockbuster. However, this model is equipped with a special surround-sound mode that satisfies those of us who don't yet own a Dolby Digital receiver or five speakers and a subwoofer. With just two speakers, this virtual surround sound mode offers expanded sound quality that is noticeably better than standard stereo sound.

The sound and video quality is also improved by this unit's design, which contains separate paths for audio and video output and input. As a result, this configuration helps eliminate the cross-talk interference that can impact both the video and audio during DVD playback.

Pros:

Great picture quality at a reasonable price

Virtual surround-sound support for those who lack a full home-theater setup

Compatible with CD-videos and audio CDs

Cons:

Dolby Digital decoder not included

Lacks some advanced features of higher-priced models

Average customer rating:

Functioning As If New
Plays DVDs well, otherwise unremarkable
Nice unit, but may completely die
A DVD Workhorse
Sure, it's great, until optical unit dies... (Updated)

Panasonic DVD-A120 DVD Player

Manufacturer: Panasonic
ProductGroup: CE
Binding: Electronics

Audio & Video | Refurbished & Used | Special Features | Electronics Features | Electronics

All | DVD Players & Recorders | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics

DVD Players | DVD Players & Recorders | Audio & Video | Categories | Electronics
Accessories:

Panasonic Optical Cable (1 Meter)

Product Features:

Plays DVD, CD, and CD-V formats
DTS digital output & Dolby Digital (AC3) output
Over 500 lines resolution
96 KHz/24-bit audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC)
Virtual surround sound

ASIN: B00000JMUG

Amazon.com Review

Ready to take the plunge into the digital world of DVD? If you're on a budget, a good choice is the Panasonic DVDA120. This moderate-priced digital video player delivers a clean, crisp picture and crystal-clear digital sound, making it the perfect starting point for your home-theater setup.

Pros:

Great picture quality at a reasonable price
Virtual surround-sound support for those who lack a full home-theater setup
Compatible with CD-videos and audio CDs

Cons:

Dolby Digital decoder not included
Lacks some advanced features of higher-priced models

Customer Reviews:

Functioning As If New.......2007-05-12

This product functions as if new. This pictures it produces are full with admirable color. It is a very goo product.

Plays DVDs well, otherwise unremarkable.......2007-02-26

I purchased this new in 1999 for $420.

Pros:

- Rarely had a problem playing retail DVDs

- Never had any problems with optics or electronics -- still works fine 8 years later.

Cons:

- Awkward form factor. Fairly large (tall) and yet fairly shallow. It's too tall to sit on top of a TV, yet too shallow and light to stack another components on.

- Does not play CD-R discs.

- Does not play CD-RW discs reliably (lots of skips)

- Problems playing DTS DVD-A discs. Not sure why, but I get no audio on some DVD-A's when using DTS mode.

Don't know why anybody in 2007 would ever have reason to purchase this. It's a fairly mediocre DVD player.

Nice unit, but may completely die.......2004-09-12

I have had 2 A120 units for about 5 years. One started acting up a couple months ago, with display problems. Now it just says "NO PLAY". I opened up the unit and it is dust free; I don't think there's anything I can do. No info at Panasonic web site.

So these units seem pretty good, until they're not.

A DVD Workhorse.......2004-08-31

I have had one of these for four years now, and my parents have had two of them for five years. And all three of them have performed flawlessly all these years. And, believe me, all three of them see ample use.

The price has really gone down a lot since these came out, making these a wonderful bargain. If you are looking for something low cost that will keep on ticking movie-in, movie-out then this is the unit for you.

There are many features that I like about this as well. You get full digital sound from the player. It has an S-Video output option as well as component outputs. If you turn off the player than it will resume playing where you left off. The remote control is easy to use. I can't think of anything bad to say about this unit othe than the fact that it isn't progressive scan.

Highly recommended!!!

Sure, it's great, until optical unit dies... (Updated).......2004-06-18

(Corrected and updated) Like most here, I had no problems with my A-120 DVD player for the first 10 or 11 months of ownership. Then I started getting consistent "NO PLAY" messages at about the 1-year mark, with occasional errors in play plus minor pixellation or noticeable minor audio glitches. I thought at first it had to to with dust or disk errors (even though I am a light renter, and take great care of the ones I own). But the player soon had to be coaxed to play almost anything I owned -- only by repeatedly opening and shutting the front tray could I get it to sometimes play a disk in spite of this. Horribly frustrating, especially for an appliance that's in flawless condition, and seems way too new to me to simply conk out after light use.

But it's dead. Now it won't play anything at all, and I'm definitely an unhappy camper. Panasonic reps were rude and basically told me to "buy another one."

Um... no. Like I told Panasonic, I think I'll just try Sony next time instead... a really disappointing experience, from a company I used to trust. Stay away from Panasonic unless you can afford to replace what doesn't work the first time.

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