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Panasonic A120 DVD Player The A120U looks like a DVD player -- stylized and futuristic. Everything about it screams DVD player. The buttons are right on front, easy to use and well-situated for quick access. The drawer slides from the center out and when the power goes off, it automatically pulls back in for safety. The front panel is easy to read, with most information you need right there. An information "wheel" lets you know you're in play mode, and when you scan forward or back, the speed of the wheel increases as well. It's a nice touch. It also flashes and blinks in different patterns -- and once you get used to it, you'll know everything you need to know about what mode you're in by reading that little wheel.  The on-screen graphics are well utilized as well. The standby mode is a pretty killer DVD logo (reflected off a pool of fluid). It doesn't move, but it's better than having a stark blue screen screaming at you. The first thing you notice about this player is it's courtesy. As soon as you turn it on, the player reads: "Welcome to DVD world." That's nice. It even says "Bye" when you turn it off. The back of the player is clean and means as much business as the front. Audio and video outs are close to the center, Digital out on the left and Component out on the right. For safety the AC plug detaches from the player -- and I always like that. You never know when that comes in handy -- whether for convenience or emergency, having a detachable plug is a good thing. That pretty much sums up they player's looks. You know it's a DVD player, and sitting on your self you know it belongs there with all the other pieces sitting next to it. The remote isn't as impressive. I like the overall style of the remote, it has everything you could possibly want in a remote -- but. I hate buts, don't you? It's awkward. It's top heavy and very wobbly. The batteries are too far up front for it's own good. On the positive side, the remote is compact and looks very different than most other remotes I've played with. The buttons are well formatted on the remote itself -- plus the remote contains duplicate buttons of icons that your menu screen displays on the monitor. Those menu display icons are real easy to use by the way -- not just the remote, but also the on screen ones as well. When you hit the display button on the remote, a bar pops up on screen. It's all the standard stuff like markers, "go to" time link, subtitle and track change -- that sort of stuff. All of the features are accessible from your remote as well with well marked buttons. Like I said, the remote is pretty well thought out, it just handles awkwardly. One of the things that this player features, that is pretty uncommon is Virtual Surround Sound (VSS). It is what it says to be -- it creates a "faked" AC-3 sound field just in case you decide to watch through two speakers of from your TV's built ins. It works pretty nicely, there is not substitute for the real thing (as with anything) -- but it's neat for people who appreciate a few extras. The overall playback of the player is midrange. Colors are a little subdued and I didn't find the overall blacks very powerful, but it is a great, a wonderful entry level player. If you're shopping around for a player with nothing but the basics. It'll hook up to a DTS converter, it'll hook up to your AC-3 or right into your TV. It looks tricked out, but it really isn't. It a very standard player that will fool your friends into thinking you went out and spent a cool grand for a player, when you really didn't. It's pretty much a no brainer. There's better players on the marker, but this one is just about as good as most things you'll find. And for those of you who don't care for all the tricks, this one is perfect for you. Todd Doogan January 1999 If you have any questions regarding this review please e-mail todd.doogan@dvdbuyingguide.com. For sales enquiries please visit http://www.dvdcity.com 
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