Panasonic DVD-RP62S Progressive-Scan DVD Player

Other features include Cinema Mode, which cuts down glare and improves color resolution in a darkened living room; Quick Replay, which jumps back seven to 10 seconds; variable zoom, which converts any widescreen image to full screen on a 4:3 aspect-ratio TV (eliminating the black bands at the top and bottom of the screen); and high-speed smooth scan.

The RP62S is compatible with standard CDs, audio CD-Rs and CD-RWs, and discs encoded with MP3 or WMA (Windows Media) audio files. The player even offers an onscreen audio navigation menu for searching for MP3 and WMA files (and it works with CD-Rs that feature multisession recordings). A 192 kHz/24-bit digital-to-analog converter ensures optimal decoding of all disc formats except high-resolution DVD-Audio.

The RP62S is also equipped with an optical digital-audio output to feed a surround-sound signal to your Dolby Digital-decoding or DTS-decoding AV receiver, as well as a dedicated subwoofer output to let you enjoy those dinosaur stomps and timpani rolls to the fullest with but one additional speaker (see all subwoofers). If your subwoofer is hooked up to the player's dedicated subwoofer output, Bass Plus jacks up the low end.

To further round out the stereo experience, Advanced Surround (V.S.S.) simulates surround-sound effects using only two speakers, dynamic range compression limits the peak levels of Dolby Digital-encoded programs (found on most DVDs), and the Dialogue Enhancer increases the relative volume of the center channel, making center-channel content easier to hear.

For connections, you get the works: standard composite-video, S-video, and premium component-video outputs. The latter, of course, can be switched to deliver either 480i or 480p (progressive-scan) video. A single optical digital-audio output channels stereo and multichannel surround signals to your receiver, and the player also has a single set of stereo RCA analog audio outputs.