panasonic now has a software upgrade to fix the layer switch problem this past month (we have a regional repair center here) Never had problems with "contact" but newly released "the seige" had major skip.did not try it a second time before the upgrade to see if dvd could "learn" to fix. The tech missed a step in the reset the first time and the patch was "worse" on other features ie. reverted to 16x9 mode and subtitles on by default but that being redone it works fine now. adding a dts decoder ac500 and listening to eagles "hell freezes over" is just awesome. dts sound smokes dolby digital! hopefully more titles to come in this format.

Superb video, sound, quality, value

None at all

This superb machine is used as the basis of the camelt dvd player a $3500 item. Although 1st generation few can beat it.

I believe the bashing of this unit is the work of one maybe 2 individuals posting multiple times trying to destroy the rep of this great unit.

I contacted panasonic and urged the to find out who this individual was and perhaps 'go after him'.

This is a 5 star, top quality machine.

Picture quality, searching (when it works)

Pixellation/freezing (prior to them fixing it)

OK, update on my previous review. I dropped of the A310 at their service center and picked it up 10 days later. They said they replaced the LPU (laser pickup unit) and did some reallignment and cleaning (All at no charge!!!) Brought it home and tested it. The unit seemed noisier than before (no big deal). Popped in "Gone in 60 seconds". To my suprise - no problems! Good picture, sound, smooth scan. (the same DVD pixellated and frozed prior to them fixing it). I have a 30 day warranty for this repair, so I'll be testing it with more DVD's. Just hope it does crap up again after the 30 days.

BTW- I talked to another guy there who was picking up his A110. He's had it repaired 2 or 3 times already, spending up to $200 to repair it.

?

Pixellation problems, etc, etc, Terrible customer support.

I experienced the same problems that have been reported on this and other forums. Called customer support and got a call back from this b*tch-on-wheels "Chris". Extremely rude and obnoxious. She would not even let me get a word in edgewise. "We've heard it all before", blah, blah, and "I don't care if you talk to the president of Panasonic" blah, blah . She offered the $45 evaluation, but looks like they will not make this right and replace the defective unit. I am very disappointed and will let this be the last Panasonic purchase I make.

SEE BELOW

SEE BELOW

I SENT MY UNIT BACK TO PANASONIC BACK IN MARCH AND ALL THEY HAVE GIVEN ME IS THE RUN AROUND!!! I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER PIECE OF JUNK MADE BY PANASONIC!!! AND AS FOR JIM DOWN BELOW IF YOU HAVE HAD SUCH GOOD LUCK WITH PANASONIC MAYBE YOU SHOULD INVEST IN THE COMPANY THAT WAY YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO RETIRE EARLY!!!

Similar Products Used:

SONY 7700

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PIECE OF JUNK IS A WEAKNESS!!!!

I BOUGHT THIS PIECE OF JUNK NEW IN 1998 THINKING THAT I WAS GETTING A FIRST RSTE PLAYER. MAN WAS I EVER WRONG!!!
I FINALLY SENT IT BACK TO PANASONIC AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $154.95 TO FIX IT!!! WHAT A JOKE. THW GUY AT THE ELECTRONICS STORE WHO SHIPPED IT FOR ME TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS AN OLD PIECE AND IT WAS ONLY MADE TO LAST A YEAR OR TWO.
WHAT A CROCK OF S--T THAT IS!!!! THIS GUY EVEN SELLS THIS JUNK!! MY ADVICE TO YOU IS DO NOT EVER BUY ANYTHING MADE BY PANASONIC UNLESS YOU LIKE TO GET RIPPED OFF!!!

Similar Products Used:

SONY 7700

Good Image and sound

bad made, laser won't read well and after a year it stop

Hello, I am writting to say that I have just call Panasonic to see what they can do about this issue. Every thing said here about the DVD A-310 has happen to me and it is not my fault that the DVD went off. This the companys dealing with for selling products that are not tested and priced for a high price in those days. I hope they can exchange it and give me the RV65 like the others. If they don't it won't be eqaul to others. As I say again it is not my fault this player stop working.
P.S. No wonder they stop making this model!!!!!

Similar Products Used:

Tosiba-SD3109

When it worked that is - seemed to have a good picture and acceptable sound for a DVD player.

pixilating, locking up, picture anomolies ect. ect.

You guys were right, just got off the phone with Panasonic (1-800-973-4326) and after hearing my complaints and problems I have experienced with the A310, they offered to replace it with the RV-65 unit. I am not at all familiar with the Rv-65, but who cares as long as it works longer than the A310 did. Thanks at everyone who submitted their reviews and information on this junky DVD player. Without your input my A310 would be left to rot in the basement until it was bonfire time this fall :)

Panasonic should have done the right thing to begin with and issued a product recall due to a faulty laser mechanism, but they try not to make a fuss I'm sure so they don't appear incompitent.

I submitted a review on 1/1/01 - I noted "Have always had great success with Panasonic in the past, but it's doubtful I'll purchase a Panasonic product again unless I can figure out a way to get some $ back for this lemon."

Well, I sent a pretty descriptive email to Panasonic about that time, mentioning all the newgroup talk, my previous success w/Panasonic and unlikelihood of ever purchasing from them again. Well, like other recent posts, I was contacted by their customer support. I played phone tag for a couple weeks (I was very busy in Jan...never at my phone) but finally got the info to ship my A310 back. Sent it out on Feb 12th, and I received a new Panasonic RV65U back yesterday on Feb 28, which isn't too bad of a turn around.

(RV65: http://www.prodcat.panasonic.com/shop/templates/rect_template.asp?ModelId=4624&show_all=false&product_exists=True&active=1 )

Will be hooking it up this weekend (already got a replacement Toshiba SD-1600) and see how it compares. In any case, I'm now again willing to consider Panasonic in the future - although the A310 still deserves a zero on a scale of 1-5. I imagine that there will soon be a lot of reviews for the replacement RV65 (the box has the "U" at the end...not sure what that designates - the documentation is RV65)

worked great for 2 years but...

Panasonic made a product that dies after 2 years.

It seems that this model dvd player has a design flaw (or was this an intentional ploy to cause people to buy new dvd players after 2years?) that causes it to die after two years. I am thoroughly disgusted with Panasonic and I will never bu Panasonic again. I still wonder if Panasonic has pulled a scam on the consumers and placed a secret program that causes the player to malfunction after two years so that everyone will have to buy a new player and make even more money for Panasonic? BEWARE OF PANASONIC!!!