Panasonic or Philips, DVD-Audio or SACD (1 Viewer)

[Gunn Ooi]

Hi,

I recently returned my 5 disc DVD player and is currently looking for a good digital video source that will produce good audio. In fact, the audio aspect is more important to me than video since I only have a 2 channel stereo pre/power amps setup.

Panasonic is introducing the Panasonic DVD-S35S Ultra Slim Progressive Scan DVD player that provides DVD-Audio capabilities. Philips has the Philips DVD763SA Multi-Channel SACD/DVD Player, no progressive scan but has SACD capabilities.

I am inclined towards the Panasonic because it has progressive scan. This means I can upgrade to HDTV in a later date and already have progressive scan.

However, Philips may have better audio capabilities.

Any opinion and suggestion is highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[John Kotches]

At their respective price points, I think you would be hard pressed to pick a clear winner.

Which format has the most titles you want?

If you buy the Panny, you can playback:
DVD-A as DVD-A, DVD-V, and CD layers of hybrid SACDs.

If you buy the Philips, you can playback:
SACD only media, Hybrid SACD, DVD-V track of DVD-A and DVD-V discs.

Regards,

 

[Gunn Ooi]

Thanks for the feedback John.

I was browsing in Amazon and the DVD-Audio discs are cheaper. Also, they have the selections that I am familiar with.

You're right, for entry level DVD players, the difference will not be day and night.

 

[Frank_Ber]

The Panasonic DVD-S35S can not play DVD-A high res.

 

[John Kotches]

Frank,

Good catch. I hadn't looked up that model # at Panasonic to verify its capability.

Regards,

 

[Gunn Ooi]

Thanks Frank. I meant Panasonic DVD-S55S Digital Remastering Progressive Scan DVD. I apologize for the typing error.

 

[Philip Hamm]

For a stereo only system, all things being equal, SACD seems to me to be a better choice than DVD-A. Some DVD-A discs do not have stereo mixes at all. All SACDS are required to have stereo mixes. (of course that doesn't matter if there are a bunch of DVD-A discs you're interested in and no SACDs! - Me, I have both formats.)

The Sony DVP-NS755V would be a perfect choice.

Progressive scan DVD and SACD all in one package. I have the predecessor, the 500V, and it's a fantastic SACD machine, a fairly good interlaced DVD player, and a good CD player also to my ears. An overachiever at the price point.

Here's Crutchfield's information page about the unit. You can find a better price than that I'll bet.

Of the two you first mentioned, I like the Philips, I've had some very good experience with Philips gear, both in quality stuff and in customer service, over the years. They're one of my favored brands.

 

[Michael St. Clair]

I can't think of a DVD-A released in the last 24 months that didn't include a PCM stereo/mono mix.

To be fair, other than AIX, I only buy major-label DVD-A.

 

[John Kotches]

Silverline (do they qualify as major?) is the only current practitioner of surround only. It is my understanding that they don't own the rigths to a stereo release for the discs that are 5.1 only.

Even small labels like MDG and Tacet are including stereo mixes.

Regards,

 

[Philip Hamm]

I can't think of a DVD-A released in the last 24 months that didn't include a PCM stereo/mono mix.

I don't think my Barenaked Ladies "Maroon" disc is that old, and it is conspicuously missing said stereo mix (and the player scrolls "CAN NOT DOWNMIX" when I play the tracks). Annoying, too, since it's mentioned all over the packaging. I also have a bad Silverline disc with no stereo mix.

 

[Michael St. Clair]

I don't think my Barenaked Ladies "Maroon" disc is that old, and it is conspicuously missing said stereo mix (and the player scrolls "CAN NOT DOWNMIX" when I play the tracks). Annoying, too, since it's mentioned all over the packaging. I also have a bad Silverline disc with no stereo mix.

Well, I said I couldn't think of one. I was still right. But so are you.

That said, what percent of (non-Silverline) DVD-A titles do not have a stereo mix?

It is definitely very small. I wouldn't choose SACD over DVD-A based on stereo-playback requirements.

Spence Chrislu, director of Warner Music DVD-A (who released the Barenaked Ladies disc in Sept. 2001) assured me midway through last year that a two-channel track had become standard. I believe him.