Panasonic Triple Play PV-DF2000 20 inch TV/VCR/DVD Combo TV
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- Screen Size: 20 inch
- Combo Type: TV/VCR/DVD
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Panasonic PV DF2000 - Stylish DVD + TV + VCR
Pros
Easy to set up and use, one remote controls all, no cables, looks nice, features
Cons
Picture quality could be better, no way to record ever a non-Macromedia-protected DVD
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
The DF2000 is a good choice if you need a stylish, easy-to-use TV+DVD+VCR+FM+Alarm combination. For better picture and flexibility you will ...
Let me start by saying that I like Panasonic products. They make the best VCRs and DVD players, great TVs and camcorders. I myself have a Panasonic VCR, TV and a DVD player, CD player, shaver, etc.
Although I am perfectly happy with my separate Panasonic TV + Panasonic DVD + Panasonic VCR combination, when one of my relatives decided to finally get a DVD player, he got a Panasonic PV-DF2000 integrated TV, DVD and VCR. Was it such a good idea?
Convenience
There is no need to fight with cables connecting DVD, VCR and TV together if you buy a all-in-one device. The remote control allows you control all devices instantly. The device even has an FM tuner and an alarm clock...
Style
The DF2000 is sure stylish with silver finish, sharp angles and flat screen. The remote is also nice and backlit.
Picture Quality
Now the bad part: although the picture this TV produces is very good, there are issues with it. First of all, there is too much red. Second, the scan lines are clearly visible if you sit close (and since the TV is small, you have to sit close). There are ?unused? black areas around the picture forming a border.
The picture from DVD, according to some publications, has only 400 lines of horizontal resolution, which is worse than 540 lines the DVD player is capable of. The picture has 3 settings: Standard (contrast set to the max, picture looks too vivid), Movie (all settings at the middle setting) and Night (less bright, frankly don?t see why anyone would use it).
The settings can be customized (brightness, contrast, hue, color, tint). I find it that the good setting is somewhere between Standard and Movie ? with the contrast set to about 75%.
DVD
The DVD player?s tray opens and closes fast, but looks flimsy (unlike Panasonic?s standalone DVD player?s). The DVD player has Panasonic?s usual fast operation and 5 slow + 5 fast scan speeds. There is zoom and virtual surround sound as well as other DVD goodies.
VCR
First of all, you cannot copy a DVD to a tape. Not even the non-copy-protected DVD. Otherwise, the VCR in this unit is great and features 3 speeds (SP, LP and SLP) with recording at LP speed being a rare feature. The VCR Plus is present and commercial skip is useful for skipping commercials fast.
The VCR is 4-head Hi-Fi unit with excellent picture (limited by VHS standard) and sound.
Connections
The unit has a headphone jack, composite video input and analog stereo audio input on the front panel. The rear panel has an S-Video input, composite video input, analog stereo input, an RF input, stereo output and optical digital output. There is no video output of any kind.
Remote
The remote control allows you to control everything in the DF2000, and, as a consequence, has multitude of buttons (backlit). Although it takes some getting used to, the remote is easy to use. The menu system allows you control both TV and DVD as well as other functions (FM radio, alarm, etc.)
Bottom Line
The DF2000 is a good choice if you need a stylish, easy-to-use TV+DVD+VCR+FM+Alarm combination. For better picture and flexibility you will have to get separate components. You can get Panasonic RV31 for $180, Panasonic 4621 VCR for $120 and a good 20? TV with necessary cables for $300-400. This will save you $100-200 and give you more flexibility.
Although I am perfectly happy with my separate Panasonic TV + Panasonic DVD + Panasonic VCR combination, when one of my relatives decided to finally get a DVD player, he got a Panasonic PV-DF2000 integrated TV, DVD and VCR. Was it such a good idea?
Convenience
There is no need to fight with cables connecting DVD, VCR and TV together if you buy a all-in-one device. The remote control allows you control all devices instantly. The device even has an FM tuner and an alarm clock...
Style
The DF2000 is sure stylish with silver finish, sharp angles and flat screen. The remote is also nice and backlit.
Picture Quality
Now the bad part: although the picture this TV produces is very good, there are issues with it. First of all, there is too much red. Second, the scan lines are clearly visible if you sit close (and since the TV is small, you have to sit close). There are ?unused? black areas around the picture forming a border.
The picture from DVD, according to some publications, has only 400 lines of horizontal resolution, which is worse than 540 lines the DVD player is capable of. The picture has 3 settings: Standard (contrast set to the max, picture looks too vivid), Movie (all settings at the middle setting) and Night (less bright, frankly don?t see why anyone would use it).
The settings can be customized (brightness, contrast, hue, color, tint). I find it that the good setting is somewhere between Standard and Movie ? with the contrast set to about 75%.
DVD
The DVD player?s tray opens and closes fast, but looks flimsy (unlike Panasonic?s standalone DVD player?s). The DVD player has Panasonic?s usual fast operation and 5 slow + 5 fast scan speeds. There is zoom and virtual surround sound as well as other DVD goodies.
VCR
First of all, you cannot copy a DVD to a tape. Not even the non-copy-protected DVD. Otherwise, the VCR in this unit is great and features 3 speeds (SP, LP and SLP) with recording at LP speed being a rare feature. The VCR Plus is present and commercial skip is useful for skipping commercials fast.
The VCR is 4-head Hi-Fi unit with excellent picture (limited by VHS standard) and sound.
Connections
The unit has a headphone jack, composite video input and analog stereo audio input on the front panel. The rear panel has an S-Video input, composite video input, analog stereo input, an RF input, stereo output and optical digital output. There is no video output of any kind.
Remote
The remote control allows you to control everything in the DF2000, and, as a consequence, has multitude of buttons (backlit). Although it takes some getting used to, the remote is easy to use. The menu system allows you control both TV and DVD as well as other functions (FM radio, alarm, etc.)
Bottom Line
The DF2000 is a good choice if you need a stylish, easy-to-use TV+DVD+VCR+FM+Alarm combination. For better picture and flexibility you will have to get separate components. You can get Panasonic RV31 for $180, Panasonic 4621 VCR for $120 and a good 20? TV with necessary cables for $300-400. This will save you $100-200 and give you more flexibility.
