Panasonic RV31 or RP56 DVD Player? (1 Viewer)

[James Zos]

First, I DON'T have an HDTV, just a regular 27 inch Panasonic. So my question, is: without being able to use progressive scan, would there be a noticable difference in quality between the RV31 and the RP56?

If not, I'll save myself $60 and stick with the RV31.

Please let me know your opinions...

 

[James Zos]

No one has any input for me on this?

 

[Bill Kane]

James, there's no differences I can see in interlaced mode on my 27in, nor should there be since I expect that chipset to be the same. The 31 is the entry-level DVD player and is fine if you dont plan on going to an HDTV-ready display for 2 years or more.

I moved to the RP56 as a xmas gift to myself. I know that it's highly-touted Sage chip for progressive scan isn't doing anything for my regular interlaced stuff -- but it gives me an incentive to keep looking at HDTV-ready displays!

I haven't seen Panasonic's hightly-rated RP91, but I will note that the construction of the 56 isn't any better than the 31 -- in that the chassis sheetmetal cover is flimsy and the top has rattled under one circumstance. So I put my VCR on top of the 56.

 

[David Susilo]

I own both, in interlaced mode, there is no difference. Just get the interlaced version.

 

[James Zos]

Thank you both for putting my mind at ease. I think you just saved me $60! One follow up question though: did you find any difference in sound quality? Or is that also the same?

 

[Bill Kane]

My response is that the audio is the same: both units provide optical (only) Toslink beyond composite RCA.

 

[James Zos]

Thanks Bill!

 

[David Susilo]

I know it's redundant, but yeah, the sound is exactly the same too.

 

[Steven Wesley]

Does the 31 suffer from chroma bug or any other glitches?

 

[Bill Kane]

Not to my knowledge. In the DVD Shootout by Secrets of Home Theater Hi-Fi, they found Panasonic to be the only player(s) that did not exhibit the chroma bug. Certainly for the RP-91 when it came out, this was highly touted!

I've had RV-30 and RP-56 and dont think I know what a "chroma bug" looks like. (But I dont have the Toy Story disk which is said to be worst-example).

 

[Steven Wesley]

Bill, thanks for the reply. I do own the Toy Story discs, thus my concern. Also, I note that there is now a RV32K... I wondered if that was simply the replacement for the 31 and if anyone knew if this was also a safe purchase. Anyone?

 

[Matt DeVillier]

Steven,

as far as I can tell, the RV-32 is the successor to the RV-31, adding support for windows media format audio/video files. There may be other minor differences, but I'm not aware of them. You might also check out the RA-60 if you are interested in DVD-Audio (has built-in DD/DTS decoders as well as a 10-bit/54Mhz video DAC, as opposed to the 31/32 which have a 10-bit 27Mhz DAC, support for MP3 but not WMA).

 

[Bry_DD]

Does anyone know if the RP-56 do scaling? I have mits 46805 and it locks up on progressive mode?

Thanks,

Bry

 

[Steven Wesley]

Matt, thanks for the reply. I appreciate the help.

 

[Kelley_B]

Bry,

No I don't think the RP-56 will scale.

 

[Ron Reda]

James,

Check out the most recent issue of "The Perfect Vision" (it contains a 21 player buyer's guide). They rave about the RP56 as being "the" player in the $200-$250 price range. Plus, why not spend the extra $60 now and be set for a while, especially if you plan on going with an HDTV in the future. No, it won't make a difference right now, but it stands to be *somewhat* future-proof.

 

[Steven Wesley]

as far as I can tell, the RV-32 is the successor to the RV-31, adding support for windows media format audio/video files. There may be other minor differences, but I'm not aware of them. You might also check out the RA-60 if you are interested in DVD-Audio (has built-in DD/DTS decoders as well as a 10-bit/54Mhz video DAC, as opposed to the 31/32 which have a 10-bit 27Mhz DAC, support for MP3 but not WMA).

Matt, are you saing that the 31/32 can't play DVD-A, or that it just won't play it as well?

 

[Matt DeVillier]

Matt, are you saing that the 31/32 can't play DVD-A, or that it just won't play it as well?

the RV-31/32 will not play the high-resolution uncompressed DVD-Audio tracks on a dvd-audio disc. It can play whatever tracks are on the dvd-video portion of the dvd-audio disc however (usually a DD5.1 track).

look at panansonic's site. the RV-31/32 are listed under dvd-video players, the RA-60 and RP-91 under dvd-audio players