Price Paid:  $1505.00 from One Call (web)

Summary:
When I recieved the unit overnight delivery from FedEx,
I was amazed how small the unit weighed in relation to its
size. Nice SOLID build! (Users might want to be carefull
with glass type audio/video racks) The player wieghts about
50 pounds. I'm not going to get into specifications as
you can see them at Panasonic.com.

I (of course), before hocking up the unit, opened the
top plate to see what I paid for... I could easily see
how BEAUTIFUL the unit is in ternms of design and componets.
The first thing I notice was the totally sealed transport,
covered by a die cast cover. The organization was breath
taking. Compared to the Pioneer DV-09, the Panasonic H2000
seems so much more simplistic, what many look for in terms
of having the shortest video/audio runs inboard and wire
wise. I could easily see 4 isolated chambers for power
supply, video section, audio section, and transport. I
could easily see how much quality components were used.
I also saw capacitors that I have never seen before. I
still have to open the unit again to identify the audio DACs
because I could not find a SINGLE bit of information on
them. The setup menus were incredibly easy to use, even
during DVD/VCD playback. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention
that YES this player plays MP3 files up to as far as I tried
at 320Kbs/stereo/CBR. MP3 on the unit sounds pretty nice.
The DACs... ARE TOTALLY AWESOME, even conpared to Pioneers
HiBit Legato Link Conversion S - on the DV-09. The DACs
linearity/detail/soundstaging/sonics are ALL awesome!!!
The DACs also upsample CD music via a 192/24 DAC and output
the to 88.2KHz stereo, 20/24-(not sure). (Oh yes, anyone
out there please feel free to correct my review.) The
video (DVD/VCD) is incredible!- even when not calibrated
using video setup discs. After video test disc setup,
the VIDEO ... I was totally speachless...............
true videophiles performance!!
The remote control is just as awesome as I described the
DACs. This unit can play MP3, CD-R/RW, DVD-R, DVD-RAM, VCD.
I'm not sure about SVCD or DVD-RW. (Revisions welcome).
On another note, I have not seen ONE review for this unit,
so I am wondering why? There are BNC progressove
connectors at the back (Panasonic has included BNC to RCA
couplers). There is also the component video connectors.
Two stereo sets of analog outs, 1 optical, 2 coax, and
a 6 channel output- it does have a DTS/DD decoder built
in for DD/DTS ready recievers, I have not tried to test the
quality from the built in decoders as I am using the Yamaha
RX-v1gl. And yes there's (i love this one) a removable
AC power cable, computer type. The DVD-audio is awsome as
well, even better than I have heard from other players
costing thousands more than this.

About the transport, I heard there's a glass platter (some
sort of disc stablizer) to imporve disc reading/jitter.
Also there's a newly developed optical pickup mechenism.

I can keep writing all day, but all I have to say is the
player is the best I have ever seen, in terms of audio/video
performace, remote control (there are two remotes included),
the ease of use, the contruction of the unit, and disc
support.

Panasonic H2000 MSRP $3,000

My equipment:
Yamaha RX-V1gl (pre amp)
3 Krell FPB 600c's
5 B&W Nautilus 801s
2 Velodyne HGS-18
Sanus Systems audio and video racks/stands
ALL Monster M series cabling, SVHS, TOSLINK, ANALOG,
COMPONENT VIDEO, speaker cables, power cables, all
cables....
1 Panasonic H2000
1 Pioneer DV-09
1 Pioneer AX-10 (Panasoic better than this)
4 Richard Grey 1200s Power Company's
1 Monster HTS-5000 Reference Power Conditioner
1 Monster AVS-2000 Voltage Stabliser

Strengths:
Awesome audio DACs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DAC has EXCELLENT LINEARITY!
DAC upsamples CD audio to 88.2KHz/24bit and outputs it via
PCM and analog outs!!!
AWESOME unit construction & transport design!
Too many to list!!!....

Weaknesses:
Maybe to heavy (50Lbs) for some glass shelfs... ha ha.

Similar Products Used:
Pioneer DV-09