I’ve been using the Panasonic DMP-BD84P-K for a month now, and it’s become my go-to for weekend movie marathons. The compact design is a lifesaver—it tucks perfectly into my cramped entertainment unit without blocking other devices.

The 1080p upscaling surprised me. My old DVDs of 'The Lord of the Rings' look sharper than ever, with richer colors and fewer artifacts. Dolby Digital audio makes dialogue crisp, especially in quieter scenes where my soundbar usually struggles.

Setup was laughably easy: HDMI cable (had to buy separately), language selection, and boom—ready to play. The tiny remote takes getting used to (I nearly lost it twice), but the buttons are logically placed. Pro tip: Keep the manual handy for obscure functions like subtitle adjustments.

Where it really shines? External USB playback. I loaded a hard drive with MKV files from my Europe trip, and they played flawlessly—no more fussing with streaming quality drops during peak hours.

One gripe: Disney's FastPlay menus are indeed finicky to bypass. But for $100 less than competitors, this little black box delivers where it counts—reliable playback without smart-TV bloat.