Panasonic PV-D4752 DVD-VCR Combo

The Panasonic PV- D4752 with Progressive Scan plays most DVD-R disks, as well as audio formats such as CD-Rs and CD-RWs containing MP3 recordings. The PV-D4752 combination deck is the same width as standard audio components, making it ideal for integrating into any home theater. Front A/V inputs make it easier to connect your camcorder, headphones, game system or other video equipment to your DVD/VCR. The unit features Simulated Surround Sound, an illuminated remote control that easily operates your DVD/VCR, and most TVs and cable/DSS boxes and DVD Resume play that starts your movie from where you left off, even if you press stop.

Progressive scanning displays all 480 video lines in one pass, rendering horizontal image lines sequentially rather than interlacing the even lines with the odd. An optical digital-audio output feeds a surround-sound signal to your Dolby Digital- or DTS-decoding audio-video receiver. The two biggest drawbacks are the unit's reliance on the onscreen display (the front-panel display shows no elapsed time during DVD or VHS playback) and its habit of interrupting whichever format you're watching when loading another.

For connections, you get one each composite-video, S-video, and component-video output, as well as two sets of composite-video inputs (one on the front and one at the rear) and one RF (cable-type) input and output for the VCR. The player does not support ID3 tags, however, and it limits the display of file and folder names to 11 characters. The result is high vertical resolution and flicker-free, high-density images--reason enough to make the HDTV leap. We were duly impressed with the PV-D4752's MP3 playback abilities. Copy-protected commercial DVDs cannot be recorded. Its component-video outputs even perform progressive scanning, a feature designed for use with high-definition and HD-ready TVs. If you'll be using the interlaced output from the DVD player, one RCA composite-video connection (supplied) handles both DVD and VCR outputs. --Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Easy setup and above-average user's manual
• Convenient two-in-one design
• Fast track access
• Above-average read abilities for MP3 discs
• Good MP3 disc navigation
• Folder, disc, and track repeat function for MP3 files

Cons:

• No front-panel display for disc or tape elapsed time
• Loading a tape while watching a disc (or vice versa) interrupts playback
• Can't search for other MP3 tracks or folders while disc is playing

Each player handles discs differently, but this model read our most difficult test discs, offering fast track skips, scanning within MP3 files, and repeat functions for tracks, folders, and discs. It sports two sets of stereo RCA analog audio outputs and two sets of inputs (one each on the front and back). The unit's S-video and composite-video outputs work fine with most older TVs. But if you plan to watch DVDs through the component-video or S-video outputs, know that the VCR signal still requires a separate composite-video connection.

The PV-D4752 plays CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, standard DVD-Video discs, and most DVD-Rs (recordable DVDs), from which you can easily make VHS copies of wedding footage, birthdays, and other special events. Combining videophile picture quality with compact simplicity, Panasonic's PV-D4752 plays both DVDs and VHS tapes, and it's a whiz at decoding MP3 CDs, suiting it well to movies, television, and music.