Panasonic DVD-XP30 Region-free DVD Player

Price: $ discontinued

DVD/CD player with progressive scan

With its ultra-slim chassis and sleek mirror finish, Panasonic's DVD-XP30 stands out from all the "me-too" DVD players out there. It's a standout performer, too, giving you the choice of either interlaced- or progressive-scan video. (Progressive scan offers more stable images, more fluid motion, and an overall smoother look, when displayed on an HDTV or HDTV-ready TV.) Use interlaced-scan mode if you have a regular TV.

The DVD-XP30 is your one-stop A/V entertainment source — it not only plays DVDs, but also CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and even CD-R/Ws with MP3 or WMA (Windows Media Audio) files burned on them!

An optical digital output lets you make a simple one-cable connection to your Dolby® Digital receiver for thrilling surround sound. If you don't have a home theater system yet, Panasonic's Advanced Virtual Surround Sound circuit makes 2-speaker sound bigger, fuller, and more enveloping.

Feature Details:

• MP3/WMA Playback: This unit can play MP3 and WMA audio files that have been recorded on CD-R and CD-RW discs. When playing an MP3 disc, you can use repeat play, however, you cannot use program play or random play. The maximum number of recognizable tracks and groups is 999 tracks and 99 groups for both MP3 and WMA files. Compatible compression rate for MP3 is between 32kbps and 320 kbps. Compatible compression rate for WMA is 48kbps or more.
• DVD-R Playback: This unit can play Panasonic DVD-Rs recorded and finalized on a Panasonic DVD video recorder.
• Video D/A Converter: This player uses a 54MHz/10-bit video digital-to-analog converter, which reduces digital artifacts for a better picture.
• Audio D/A Converter: This unit includes a 192kHz/24-bit D/A converter for playback of high resolution audio through the analog audio outputs. It will also process 96kHz/24-bit audio signals. Note: If the DVD is copyright-protected, the signal is converted to 48kHz/16-bit before being passed through the digital output. If the DVD is not copyright-protected, a 96kHz/24-bit signal is passed through the digital output.
• Progressive Scan Output: This DVD player may be set to output a progressive scan or interlaced video signal from the component video output. Instead of splitting each video frame into two sequential fields like interlaced scanning, progressive scanning displays the entire frame in a single sweep. Where a standard DVD player's 480i output displays 30 frames (60 fields) per second, a progressive-scan player's 480p output displays 60 full frames per second. Progressive-scan picture quality is more film-like, with more fine detail and less flicker. Progressive-scan viewing requires a TV with a progressive scan compatible component video input.
• Component Video Output: In addition to the composite video output and the S-video output, this unit is equipped with a set of component video outputs. When connected to a television with a component video input, the component video output of this unit will provide picture color and detail that is superior to video from composite and S-video outputs. The component outputs can be set to pass either progressive or interlaced video.
• Dialogue Enhancer: This feature makes dialogue easier to hear by raising the volume of the center channel. Note: Dialogue Enhancer only works with DVD software that has at least three channels of recorded audio, where the dialogue information is recorded in the center channel.
• Advanced Virtual Surround Sound (V.S.S.): If you are only using two front speakers or headphones in your system, this feature simulates a surround-sound environment. If you are playing a disc with surround effects recorded on it, the effects are broadened and the sound seems to come from virtual speakers on either side. You can select "Natural effect", "Emphasized effect", or Off. Note: Headphone V.S.S. can only be used with Dolby Digital or Linear PCM DVDs only. Speaker V.S.S. can be used with Dolby Digital, DTS, and Linear PCM DVDs.
• Cinema Mode: Cinema mode combines brightness control with picture noise canceling to provide better picture quality in certain viewing conditions. It lessens glare, giving you colors that are more cinema-like and picture resolution that is gentler to the eyes. Cinema mode also improves the visibility of details in dark scenes by automatically adjusting picture contrast, and helps to suppress color smearing, as well.
• Bass Plus: This feature delivers enhanced bass response when an optional powered subwoofer is connected to the subwoofer output on this unit.
• 4:3 TV Zoom: This feature expands a letterbox picture to fill more of a regular 4:3 aspect television.
• Quick Replay: This function allows you to jump back 7-10 seconds during playback. This is helpful if you missed a line of dialog or want to see something again.
• Resume Function: The Resume function allows the player to remember the point where you stopped play as long as the unit is on. Playback will resume from the point stored in memory. The stopping point is cleared if the unit is turned off or the disc is exchanged.
• Position Memory Function: The Position Memory function allows the player to memorize a position to start from even after switching the unit off or changing discs. You can memorize positions on up to five different discs at a time.
• Re-master: This function, when activated, digitally converts standard 44.1kHz/16-bit CD signals to 88.2kHz/24-bit so sound quality approaches that of DVD-Audio. There are three modes, each suited for a different music type: Sharp acoustic imaging best suited for pop and rock, High clarity sound best suited for jazz, and Smooth and full sound for classical music.
• Speaker Settings: When connecting a receiver/amplifier and 3 or more speakers using the player's analog outputs, you can set the presence, size, delay and channel balance of the speakers.
• Auto Power-Off: If the unit is in stop mode for approximately 30 minutes, it will automatically switch to standby mode.
• Sleep Timer: This unit is equipped with a sleep timer that will automatically turn the unit off. You can select 60, 90, or 120 minutes, or an Auto setting that will turn off the unit 5 minutes after play finishes.
• Parental Control: You can select a parental control rating from 0-8, which is protected by a 4-digit password.
• Video Still Mode: This mode allows you to specify the type of picture shown when the player is paused. You can select Automatic, Field, or Frame. When Field is selected, still pictures are displayed without blur. Field should be chosen if jittering occurs when Automatic is selected. When Frame is selected, even sharper still pictures are displayed. Frame should be chosen if small text or fine patterns cannot be seen clearly when Automatic is selected.
• Black Level Control: You can select the black level of the picture: Lighter (normally used when the TV is connected through the composite or S-video output) or Darker (normally used when the TV is connected through the Component Video output).
• PCM Down Conversion: In the menu, you can select whether you want the player to down-convert a high-resolution audio signal (96kHz or 88.2kHz sampling frequency) to 48kHz/16-bit before passing it through the digital output. When No is selected and the unit is playing a non-copyright protected DVD, a 96kHz/24-bit signal passes through the digital output. If the DVD is copyright protected, no digital signal is output.
• Dynamic Range Compression: When playing a Dolby Digital encoded DVD, you can turn the Dynamic Range Compression On for late night viewing.

Key Features:

• Region 1-6 PAL and NTSC compatibility
• plays DVD-Video discs, CDs, audio CD-Rs & CD-RWs, and MP3 & WMA CDs
• 54MHz/10-bit video D/A converter
• selectable interlaced/progressive-scan component video output (progressive scan requires a compatible TV)
• de-interlacer with 3-2 pulldown processing
• Hi Speed Scan (up to 200X)
• 4:3 TV Zoom
• top-mounted controls
• Advanced Virtual Surround Sound for enhanced 2-speaker sound
• Dialogue Enhancer
• video black level control
• optical digital output for Dolby Digital/DTS/PCM (96kHz/24-bit-capable)
• 1 A/V output (composite video, S-video, and 480i/480p component video)
• subwoofer output
• 192kHz/24-bit audio D/A converter
• audio signal-to-noise ratio 115 dB
• Bookmarking
• Display Color: Blue

Outputs:

• Digital Optical Output
• Composite Video Outputs
• S-Video Outputs
• Component Video Outputs
• Progressive Scan Output

Specifications:

• CD Frequency Response: 4-20kHz
• CD THD: 0.0025%
• CD S/N Ratio: 115dB
• CD Dynamic Range: 98dB
• DVD Video Frequency Response: 4-22kHz
• DVD Video Dynamic Range: 102dB
• Dimensions: 16-15/16"W x 2-1/16"H x 12-1/4"D