The Panasonic DVD-RV31 is great, although there is a slight humm, but it's kept in a unit, so it's not really heard unless the doors are open.

Mine is just about a year old, so I wouldn't be too surprised seeing H02/H03 soon like the previous guys. In which case I'd try the suggestion of a squirt of compressed 02. That's what it's probably crying out for in the error message! Anyway, my fingers are crossed that doesn't happen to mine!

People have tried air compressor to clean the insides of the Panasonic DVD-RV31. After Google searching this, I finally found a way to fix the so-called "deadly" H02 problem. A thanks to "Miguel_Cerca" who posted this message on videohelp but this dude pretty much opened the cover while it was on, popped in a disc and pressed play..("then manually gave the disk a little push in the clockwise direction and bingo, no more H02 error"). I tried it and IT WORKS!!! Thanks Miguel!

To sum it up. If your looking for a good player that will play everthing from regular DVDs to Burnt DVDS in both formats. This is the one for you. If you love Music. This is the one for you too. It plays CD,CD-R,CD-RW & MP3s

I've owned my (not so cheap) DVD for 3 years BUT I haven't used it much. So I am very disapointed to get the H02 message which I understand from reading reviews on this and other sites basically means that the machine is knackered. Panasonic - never again!

My Panasonic RV31 DVD player was made in March of 2002 and it still works great and so does my sisters which was made in February 2002. I believe, after reading all of these reviews, that this is a great product with a grimlin. I think that after reading your reviews and with my experience, you will be perfectly fine with this product if you take care of it. Keep it away from all heat producing units like a receiver of any type; and also trying to stay away from stacking the units. All products from any brand have their good and their bad sides. On the other hand, my Sony products have had a life of only one year. I take care of my products so if I can make my Panasonic last this long (if it is as bad as you say) then don't buy Sony.

I too, had the H02 problem with the Panasonic RV31 but found that a heavy dose of compressed air works wonders. Since my warranty had expired I removed the four screws on each side and the three in back (do all of this with all connections disconnected - power too). You then have to slide the top slightly back then lift the rear area up and off. There is a cover top that guards the CD that you insert. I then reapplied power, turned it on, inserted a CD, and while it was pulling it in, I applied a massive amount of compressed canned air under the cover area. Either some foreign material was over the laser pickup or maybe even a tiny insect will reside in that area sometimes. I've found all kinds of tiny spiders living in Fire Detectors that would set them off randomly. As far as using the "Reverse Skip - Pause - and Open/Close" reset to Initialize, it's important that you turn the power on first, then push and hold the following buttons one at a time, "Reverse Skip then Pause then Open/Close". The first two buttons may be pushed in reverse order, but the last to push and hold is the Open/Close. Since the whatever CD you use has to be "seen" by the internal laser pickup, there's always a possibility of "hairs - dust - strings - or other microscopic materials to cover the pickup. Nothings perfect folks. I personally have a few other Panasonic goodies and believe that they try to build equipment that will be worthy of their name. I DO NOT work for them, do not have any stock in the company, nor am I acquainted with any of their employees.

The Panasonic RV31 worked great for about 1 year, then died and swallowed the DVD. It tries to read for about 1 minute, then gives an "H03" on the display, then "Stop". It won't let me open the door to remove my DVD. Initializing with panel switches, pulling the wall cord, etc., don't work either. Guess this will be my last Panasonic product!

I was very pleased with this Panasonic RV31 when I first bought it - it seemed to be excellent value for money. However it has recently fallen victim to the dreaded H03 error and from what I've read elsewhere on the web I'm pretty sure it won't last much longer - all this at the tender age of 20 months. Try a web search on "panasonic" plus either "H02" or "H03" to see more sorry tales like mine.

The DVD RV31 was working fine until one day there was this H02 error. After researching others who had the problem, it appears that the problem is with a motor connection in the laser tracking unit. This H02 problem seems to happen in most cases just after the warrantee period expires so the concern is that Panasonic has planned obsolesence in this product. Would rate a 10 if this problem did not happen.

My Panasonic DVD player was great I got it as a Christmas gift in 2001.

I had no problems except for a background humming sound during all playback. It wasn't too bad but it got really loud at low volumes and made some films unwatchable. It may have just been my player though, as other reviews seem to praise the sound quality.

Last week unfortunatly the dvd player died, it stopped reading any discs and presented a H02 error. After reading around I have found that after about one year most of these panasonic DVD players stop working with similar problems and either a H02 or H03 error. It is annoying as it has just run out of its warranty.

I would recommend not buying this machine and buying a similar priced machine from a different manufacturer. It's a shame because appart from the sound and it's death it was a very good machine.

Like this one alot. I just wished it played SVCD. Other than that I've never had a problem with it and performs very well.

I bought the multiregion version of the Panasonic RV31 DVD player and until recently I have had no problems with it at all. I have found it an all round excellent player. Playing region 1 and 2 and RCE discs with no problems. However. I have recently bought two discs that refuse to work. I have found that this is not just me and that many people have reported problems with the deep gold discs. However. I have also had a single problem with a standard silver region 2 discs which reports as the incorrect region. All in all though I have been pleased with the purchase which was only £140 for a multiregion dvd player.

My Panasonic RV31 DVD player was the worst purchase i ever made, it has been nothing but a panasonic scam, screwing us, the consumers, over with their shabby advertising and weak electronic performance. So i've said what i needed to but don't be scammed because my friend bought one a couple of days after me and his is doing the same thing.....so think twice...

Pi**** off..

Bought this Panasonic RV31 DVD player with Christmas money. Use it non-stop, hasn't failed me yet! It was good value for money and I found the best deal at COMET. I just wish that I could find a hack to enable me to watch my cheap american DVD's!

I bought this Panasonic RV31 DVD player around 6 months ago to play DVDs and VCDs.

First one stopped playing VCD after 4 days. DVDs were working. Showed it to Panasonic, they gave me a new piece.
After 6 months this one went bad. Could not play anything - DVD, VCD, CD or MP3. Kept getting the error code H02 all the time on the display.
It was repaired in 1 week by Panasonic.
After using it for 2 hrs. am getting the same error and plays nothing. Need to send it back yet again. I Am just sick of it and want to just get rid of it.
Never buy this product. Panasonic quality control sucks.

Overall the Panasonic RV31 is a good basic to mid-level DVD player.

THE PANASONIC RV31-THE GREATEST THING EVER! EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ONE!

I really like this Panasonic RV31 DVD player. The engineering seems solid, and the user interface is intuitive (except, perhaps, for the strangely named 'Action' feature on the remote). Otherwise, this is a highly recommended unit for someone who is getting their first DVD player. Panasonic has for some years now continued to produce good quality equipment for much less than the other guys (who shall remain nameless ... Sony for cripes sake!)