Panasonic DVD-CV50 5-Disc DVD Player
A good DVD player with a serious flaw
This Panasonic 5-disc DVD player has many features for a relatively low price. Picture and sound quality are both quite good, and the unit has all the basic functions that a DVD player should have, as well as many nice extras. This player can be loaded with a mix of audio CDs and DVDs simultaneously, and it has a handy &quot;play exchange&quot; feature, allowing you to change 4 discs in the carousel while the 5th disc is being played. So why I have been forced to give it a rating of only two stars? Unfortunately, this DVD player has a huge flaw: it cannot play CD-Rs or CD-RWs. That's right: any disc you burned on your PC will be unplayable on this unit. <br />On the positive side, the DVD-CV50 is a mid-level DVD player that will be easy to incorporate into almost any home theater setup, from the most basic to the relatively advanced. In addition to providing Dolby Digital surround sound, this unit also has useful features like support for additional languages, multiple camera angles, and bookmarks. It also keeps track of your place in a movie even if you shut off the unit. And don't underestimate how convenient it is to have a 5-disc changer. Once you get used to it, you will never want to go back, especially since many movies are now packaged on two discs.<br />The player comes with standard RCA-type cables, but if you have a capable home theater system, I strongly recommend that you purchase an optional S-video cable or component video cable so that you can take advantage of true digital output. I also recommend a coaxial digital audio connection as opposed to fiber optic, because unlike fiber, coax is almost impossible to break. The DVD-CV50 will reward you with a noticeable increase in sound and picture quality if you spend the extra money on these cables -- the digital picture is far superior to anything you can get with regular TV or video.<br />On the negative side, the remote control is nothing special; some keys glow but many more are unilluminated, makingit hard to use the remote in a dark room. The on-screen interface is also somewhat challenging to decipher and use. But these flaws are relatively minor; after all, the primary job of a DVD player is to deliver high-quality picture and sound, which this unit does. It truly provides a lot of functionality and value for the price. <br />I would rate this DVD player with 4 stars if not for the inexecusable fact that it cannot play CD-Rs. If you don't burn your own CDs, then this consideration doesn't apply, and I would happily recommend this machine. Otherwise, don't make the same mistake I did -- go buy the Panasonic DVD-CV51 instead. It can read not only CD-Rs but also data CD-Rs encoded with MP3 files.