Price Paid:  $250.00 from Tweeter

Summary:
Looks like I am one of the first unlucky ones in regard to the longevity of this player. I got mine in January, 2001. Now in May 2002, mine has died without any warning. Expect more posts like this to follow because other 2000 model Panasonic DVD players are dying an untimely death as well. FWIW, mine was manufactured in August, 2000, in Japan.

It worked flawlessly for seventeen months until May 19th, 2002. I watched a movie without incident the previous night. When I ejected the disc the next morning there was "blocks" all over the screen. None of my connections went bad or became loose, so I dug out the owner's manual and reset the processor. Nothing changed. Thinking that somehow condensation might be to blame, I opened the disc-drawer to let it air out for about twenty hours. Still no change. The player menus still work but much of the screen is obscured by the "blocks". It won't read any discs, even CDs. I then took off the cover but nothing appeared to be wrong (no burnt traces, dirty laser, or unlubed rails). Looks like I'm out of luck. As an aside, I kept my player on top of my AV cabinet so it got plenty of ventilation and never ran warm the way my A110 does.

It's a damned-shame because the picture was indeed sharper and smoother, with better color purity (even at the S-Video output, although I used component video except when recording to S-VHS) than my Panasonic DVD-A110. Ironically, the A110/A310 are know to have faulty laser modules but mine is still working fine after four and a half years. It can't match the RV-80's picture quality but at least it still works. I also don't have DTS now (my pre-pro does Dolby Digital but was made a year before DTS DVDs).

I hope everyone else has better luck, but after seeing all of the problems people are having with the RV30, I doubt it.

Strengths:
Great picture quality and DTS decoder, um, while it worked.

Weaknesses:
Didn't even last 1.5 years with light-to-moderate use.

Similar Products Used:
Panasonic DVD-A110

Price Paid:  $300.00 from THE WIZ

Summary:
This is a followup to a review I posted JAN. 2001
Since then NO player has come close to this.

It has been replaced by the the PANASONIC RA-60.
But that player lacks the extensvie video enhancement controls of the R-80

Plays all disks perfectly...Except the disks
that have BOTH a WIDESCREEN Version and a FULL
SCREEN Version on SAME SIDE.(A) With the EXTRA
Features on SIDE B. The WIDESCREEEN Version wont play.

These disks wont play properly - DINOSAUR, LEGALLY BLONDE
JEEPERS CREEPERS, and any NEW disk from MGM studios
that have BOTH a WIDESCREEN Version and a FULL
SCREEN Version on SAME SIDE.
I guess it needs a FIRMWARE Upgrade.

If anyone has a similar difficulty playing these type of
disks.Please email me at NYSOFTWAREMAN@HOTMAIL.com

Strengths:
Extensive Video Enhancement Controls.

Weaknesses:
Some DVD-18s give this player the hiccups!
Wont play new MGM disks with FULL SCREEN & WIDESCREEN versions on same sideof disk.

Similar Products Used:
DVD-RV31K

Price Paid:  $390.00

Summary:
I purchased this player because of the "high-end" features that Panasonic has packed into this moderately priced unit. I was looking for a low-cost way to add DTS capability to my HT system and this unit was exactly what I needed. I have owned this unit for 9 months and I am very pleased with it's overall performance. It has performed flawlessly with everything that I have thrown at it including some of the "problem" disks that people have mentioned and rented disks that were scratched or smudged. The 54Mhz video processor presents a crisp, clear picture that doesn't seem to be plagued with the video problems present in many players. Both the Dolby Digital and DTS decoders work very well. My only complaint with this unit is that the wrong keys on the remote are backlit. The keys that are needed for normal player operation are not backlit and are difficult to see in a dark room. Granted, I am being a little picky, but I can't seem to find anything else about this player that I don't like. It is my understanding that Panasonic has discontinued this unit due to lackluster sales. This is very unfortunate because I don't believe that you can find a player that offers more bang for your buck. Some online retailers still have stock, but I would suggest that you get one soon before they're gone.

Strengths:
Built in Dolby Digital and DTS decoders, 54Mhz video processor, styling

Weaknesses:
Wrong keys are backlit on the remote

Similar Products Used:
Panasonic A310, Panasonic RV31

Summary:
Dave, I totally agree with you. Ever Since I bought the RV80 in February, I've done additional research in order to come to a consensus...and the consensus is a great one. There's a huge following for this player at avsforum.com, and I encourage everyone to do a search for the RV80 at AVS as well as other HT sites. Since it was discontinued long ago and the RP91 hit the street, there hasn't been much talk about the RV80, but owners know that it's exceptional.

Oh, by the way....hundreds of discs, tens of new disc formats, and several CDs later, not one prob.

Summary:
Just thought I would post an update from my previous review on this player. It has performed flawlessly and I could not be happier with its performance. Unfortunately, I believe this player is no longer available so if you can find one I would snatch it up rather than have to go the dreaded Sony route. Nothing like a "No Disc" error message. Also, I was looking at the reviews since my last posting and all agree that this player is a winner. I can't help noticing again that stuart perez was the only person bashing this product and so I did a search under his name. It makes me laugh because he has reviewed other DVD players and given them all much higher ratings than this one. However, if you look at the overall ratings of his "preferred players", they are all in the three-star range. So basically, you can take his review of this product and throw it in the toilet. I hope he is enjoying his JVC pieces of junk. In slo-mo of course.