Panasonic RP85? (1 Viewer)

[Peter_J_B]

Hey guys, I know there are a lot of great reviews of the RP82, and the Sage/Faroudja chip. I was at a local store that sells panasonic products, and saw that they had an RP62, and an old clearance RP56. I started asking the guy about the RP82 and the XP30 and he didn't have any on clearance and so forth, so he did some checking on his PC and found the RP82 on the discontinued list, but it showed the replacement model RP85, with a price of I think just under $300 Canadian, so it may be retailing for around $150 US? But I haven't heard anything about it, even though he said he could get it, I didn't make him REALLY check if he could actually order it for me or not.

Anyone here anything at all about this model? Panasonic's website is bereft of any info. I wonder if they are just not announcing it to steal any thunder from the new S35/55 and F65/85 lineup.

I'm not in a rush to buy, but it's a pain, knowing that the opportunities to get the older better technology is fading away, and the new technology isn't properly announced, so god knows what chip they will use in it.

Anyone with any further info, let me know and I'd appreciate it.

 

[DaveGTP]

From what I have read on the board here, Panny is using a new all-in-one chip that lets them sell at a cheaper price point than they used to be able to. The Sage/Faroudja combo is gone now in the new models.

 

[KeithH]

Peter, I have heard nothing about an 'RP85. I'm in the US, and maybe it isn't going to be sold here. It occurred to me that the 'RP91 is now two years old and has yet to be replaced. Could the 'RP85 be a replacement for the 'RP91. It's priced more like a replacement for the 'RP82. If there is going to be a 'RP85, I wonder how it will differ from the 'S55S.

 

[Craig W]

KeithH,

The probably have it messed up in their system with the F85. AFAIK there will be no replacements for the units that used DCDi, aka the Faroudja chipset. Sad but true. The fact is that these elcheapo Korean and Chinese brands have hit the major brands hard and they are trying to put the cheapest piece of junk on the market now to compete with them.

If I was buying a DVD player today I would look at the more upper echelon brands like Denon and Yamaha. Stay away from Panny and Sony now because quality is definately going to suffer at the price points they are aiming for.

 

[Peter_J_B]

Do all the RP62 models have the sage/faroudja chipset? Or is there a new breed out that lacks this functionality? I can get a new boxed RP62 for $250 canadian, as this is still a new model, or there is a RP52 or 56 can't remember what the number was on clearance for $300.

I have heard whispers of the RP85 as a replacement elsewhere on the net though. Just really sucks to not know whether you should spring for something now or wait for the newer models. I'm not sure how much a newbie like me could tell the difference with the naked eye anyway, and newer models will have probably better features as far as outputs or dvd audio are concerned.

I don't know why panasonic comes out with 4 models all roughly at the same pricepoint, and don't feel it to be a good idea to continue production of a higher end unit as well. I'm sure they coulda kept making the RP82 and tacked another $100-200 on to the MSRP and they'd still be going like hotcakes.

 

[KeithH]

Craig, I hear you. So often, we see technology get dumbed down further and further. Try finding a really well-made VCR in the chain stores now. It's tough. Getting back to DVD-Audio players, I am just looking for something for a second stereo system. There is no TV in this room, so the player will not be used for movies, and again, it is a stereo system, so I will not be doing any multi-channel DVD-Audio. That said, I obviously want a solid DVD-Audio player, and I'd love it if one of the budget Panasonic players did the trick. My fiancee would not be particularly happy if I went out and bought a Denon DVD-1600 for $500, as I just bought a Denon '3800 for my main system last month.

 

[KeithH]

Craig, I just noticed that crutchfield.com lowered the price on the '1600 to $450 (from $500). Well, now it's priced much closer to the Panasonic 'S55S and 'F85! Surprisingly, 6th Avenue Electronics (www.6ave.com) still lists the '1600 at $500. They normally discount, so I would have expected them to have it for less than $450.

 

[MikeSRC]

Do all the RP62 models have the sage/faroudja chipset? Or is there a new breed out that lacks this functionality?

Recent models with a "B" in the serial number do not have the Sage/Faroudja chip in them.

 

[Jim Golden]

I bought the Yamaha C920. I paid $350 from a local B&M. It has the Farjouda chip, and also has an option to turn off the video signal, while listening to audio CD's.

I bought this player for it's video capabilities, and have been very pleased. I haven't listened to any audio CD's on the player. It also has the Burr-Brown DACs.

Jim