Is my DVD player multi-region or not?

[Rupert]

The region management information for my Panasonic DMP-BDT700 (3 years old) says: The unit can play back BD-Video/DVD-Video discs of the following regions codes, including 'ALL' .. and there follows a couple of diagrammatic examples, one with the letter 'B' within a square and the other with the numeral '2' within a hexagon.

For 'ALL' I was assuming that's the same as Region '0' or 'Region Free' but, just to be sure, I sent an email to Panasonic asking them the same question as in this thread heading. They replied: In response, I would like to inform you that the unit plays DVD region 2 and region "ALL" discs only. I would like to inform you that region "ALL" is a specific region, despite the fact that it's name may be misleading. Region 1 discs will not be played by the unit.

I've found Panasonic's technical support to be very helpful in the past, but their reply has potentially thrown a spanner in the works, as I'm on the verge of purchasing a Region 1 DVD from outside the UK.

If you yourself had a player that was designated 'ALL', wouldn't you assume, as I did, that it was essentially 'Region Free'? Confirmation and/or clarification from anyone in the know would be greatly appreciated.

 

[hammill]

Region "All" are discs that the producer of the disc wishes to be playable in all players, so all players can play them. Your player cannot play region 1.

 

[bigboss]

You need this to make your existing player multiregion for DVDs.

 

[Rupert]

You need this to make your existing player multiregion for DVDs.

Thanks bigboss, this looks interesting, although the illustration makes it look a bit 'Heath Robinson' around the button/green light area. He seems to have sold a helluva lot of them .. do you know anybody who's used one? Presumably, with that many sold, it won't cause damage to any of the delicate circuitry within the player?

 

[bigboss]

I had used it on my Panasonic BD55 back in 2009. No issues. They do say that after a firmware update, you may lose the multiregion ability but I didn't face such issues. Use the remote again if that happens.