Panasonic DVD-RP91? (1 Viewer)

[Paul Arnette]

I tried a couple of searches, but I could not find an answer to this question, so I thought I would go ahead and ask it in a separate thread.

Panasonic's Web site is notorious for having mis-information concerning their DVD players specs, so could someone tell me if the Panasonic DVD-RP91 truly has a 12 bit Video D/A Converter?

This history behind this question is that I am entertaining the idea of replacing the DVD video portion of my Pioneer DV-47Ai with a player that does not have the chroma bug. I'm not looking to spend a lot of money, since I already did on the DV-47Ai, so I am looking at the Panasonic DVD-XP30, which I ordered from Sharper Image.

I understand that this is the same player, video-wise, as the Panasonic DVD-RP82, minus the DVD Audio. And that this player did better in the Progressive Shootout than the RP91. However, it only has a 10 bit Video D/A Converter, whereas the DV-47Ai, and supposedly the RP91 have 12 bit.

Every other player on Panasonic's site show a 10 bit Video D/A Converter, so I thought I would confirm.

Thanks.

 

[greg_t]

The RP91 does indeed have a 12 bit video dac. The big difference between the 91 and the 82 is that the 82 uses the Farajouda 2200 DCDI deinterlacer, and the 91 uses the older Genesis chip. The DCDI does a better job deinterlacing tricky material but does not do scaling of non-anamaphoric dvd like the RP91 does.

 

[Jeff Adams]

So are you saying that the XP30 is the same player video wise as the RP82??? I am also interested in video only, I don't care about cd playback, sacd or dvd-audio, I have other players for that, I just want the absolute best picture quality my 16x9 hdtv can produce. I am seriously considering the RP91, what other dvd players are out there that can produce a better image? I am also buying a Panasonic DMR E50K dvd recorder. Is the picture quality one that for normal dvd viewing just as good as the RP91 or is it worse?

 

[ChadLB]

Denon 1600 might be an option...

 

[Jeff Adams]

Doesn't the Denon 1600 have the Chroma bug?

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

The Denon 1600 is supposed to be rebadged version of the Panny RP82 video-wise w/ the audio side upgraded to Denon standards. It should yield nearly identical results to the RP82 (and no chroma bug).

If you really don't care about the audio side, then get the XP30, if you can still find one, and save yourself a couple hundred bucks.

And if you would rather have aspect ratio scaling (for non-16x9 DVDs) than top notch deinterlacing (basically for badly encoded DVDs or DVD segments and for video-sourced content), then go w/ the RP91. That's what I did recently, and so far so good.

_Man_

 

[Jeff Adams]

_Man_,
Thanks for the info. So you think the Denon 1600 or the Panny XP30 would be excellent video players for anamorphic dvd's? I currently have a JVC XV723GD, how would you compare those two players to that one? Thanks. Another question, does the 1600 and XP30 play dvd-r discs?

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

The Denon 1600 and Panny XP30 should do better than the old JVC due to the superior deinterlacing. But if you're using the Film mode on your JVC for film-sourced DVDs, you probably won't notice a big improvement for them, except maybe for a few problem titles like The Red Violin. The big difference will likely show up in video-sourced DVDs like TV shows and DVD extra features.

Also, exactly how much difference you notice depends a lot on your own eyes and on the distance-to-screen-size ratio you use among other things.

Don't know about DVD-R support although I don't see why not.

_Man_

 

[ChadLB]

The denon 1600
Key Features:

plays DVD-Video, DVD-R, and Video CD
plays DVD-Audio, CD, CD-R & CD-RW, and MP3 CD-R & CD-RW


THE PANASONIC XP30
Multi-Format Playback (Playable Disc Type) DVD-Video, DVD-R, Video CD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW

 

[Jeff Adams]

Yeah, I have my JVC set to film mode. And watch maily film based dvds that are anamorphic. So would you save the money and go with thr Panny XP30?

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Given what you said, Jeff, are you not happy w/ the PQ of the JVC?? If it were my money, I'd stick w/ the JVC unless there were some DVDs that made me think 2x about it.

And if the audio side doesn't matter, then go w/ the XP30. It seems to cost a lot less than the Denon.

Oh, the Denon might be a tad faster at layer changing w/ its decent size buffer although it doesn't seem to show in the Secrets Shootout.

_Man_

 

[AaronJB]

I think the Phillips 963 has a 13-bit video converter. I had the JVC player mentioned in this thread (723) and I think the improvement in PQ (not progressive scan, which I don't have) on the Phillips is quite noticable.

 

[Jeff Adams]

I am very impressed with the picture quality, however I am one of those people who likes to upgrade every few years. And my friend wants to buy it for $175, so I figured I can get a better model. I am having a heck of a time finding an XP30 though.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Aaron,

Since you use interlaced output, you probably saw some deinterlacing artifacts being introduced into the interlaced output of the JVC. That was one PQ quirk about the JVC's 480i output -- they seem to re-interlace their deinterlaced video for the 480i output. So w/ the JVC, the PQ is affected by the deinterlacer regardless of which output you use.

BTW, glad to hear you liking the Philips so much. I might finally get one also in these next few days, assuming it's not inferior in CD/SACD to the Sony C222ES.

Jeff,

I guess there are no Sharper Image stores in Colorado Springs? Maybe you can try mail-order w/ them. It doesn't show up on their site. Maybe a phone call will work?

_Man_

 

[Jeff Adams]

I think I am just going to go with the Denon 1600, it seems to be a very nice unit. That shootout I read on it really praised it.

 

[Jeff Adams]

_Man_
I noticed in another thread that you were looking at a Philips for 16x9 dvd's, is there anything that makes the Philips better than the Denon or Panasonic?