toshboy

I heard the panasonic RP56 was the best..

any other oppinions?

AUMMitsu

I have heard good things about thePanasonic RP-91

ZeroDegreeK

Well, it depends on how much you want to spend.

For the money, the RP-56 really can't be beat. The player itself is ugly as hell, but you will forget all about that when you see the picture it puts out.

The RP-91 has a few more features but it will cost ya.

AUMMitsu

Heres a quick reveiw of the two from CNET:

RP56
The good: One of the least expensive progressive-scan players; good video performance; MP3 and CD-R/RW playback.
The bad: Cluttered front panel; lackluster remote; no aspect ratio control; no coaxial output.
The bottom line: If you're looking for a bargain player with a nice set of features and you don't care about appearances, the RP56 is perfect. Otherwise, spend a little extra on something more satisfying.

Cost ~ 185 (Cheapest)

RP91
The good: One of the best progressive-scan DVD players available; 5.1-channel DVD-Audio support.
The bad: Slightly costly; difficult menu system.
The bottom line: A relatively affordable, top-notch progressive-scan DVD player that's particularly well suited for HD-capable TVs.

Cost ~ 430 (Cheapest)

ZeroDegreeK

I had both the RP56 and the RP91 in my house to try them out. I went with the RP56.

The output was identical. My eye couldn't tell the difference. I even captured a few images and tried to compare. I couldn't tell them apart.

For me that was all it took. 99% of the time, I just pop a DVD in the player and watch it, and that is what the RP56 is all about. I couldn't see spending twice as much for features I will never use.

The only gripe I have is the lack of scaling, but most if not all of my DVDs are anamorphic, so it really isn't an issue.

Also, the lack of coaxial digital output is no big deal, the RP56 has an optical out, which is just as good (debatable opinion)

AUMMitsu

I agree, for the price the RP56 looks to be the best right now.

sieve11

I also considered the RP56 because it is a great value with excellent pictures. But, I eventually got the Toshiba 4700.
To my tastes, the 4700 just had a little more to offer and the price was still under $230. I also looked one model up at the 5700, but didn't see enough extra there to justify to additional cost.

mquinn25

You can get them for under $500 now...they were close to $900 when they first came out. It is just a top-notch player. ZeroDegreeK says he doesnt notice a difference, so this is something to consider.....but remember there is a reason it is cheaper...and I am not saying the 56 is a substandard player...just remeber that the 91 is very highly acclaimed and for good reason....

You also may want to consider the Sony NS-700P ...for anout $300....very highly rated and the one i saw at Circuit City had a GREAT PS picture.

zarlor

Well, if you ask me I'd say the best PS DVD player is an HTPC. Dirt cheap compared to what you might pay for a PS DVD player w/ Faroudja scaler, but it does take a LOT more tweaking with it than the a standalone player. Not to mention that boot-up time.

__________________
Lenny Zimmermann
zarlor@acm.org

DISCLAIMER: I am not and have never been some kind of video expert. Take absolutely everything I post (along with anything else you read on the internet) with a HUGE grain of salt! If you really want the most complete and truthful answer, go to engineering school and find out how this stuff REALLY works.

Hannibal

I have recently figured out what Full Mode Lock is, and at the same time been told that the RP91 can fix it. I have tried to determine if a cheaper model, e.g. the RP56, had the same scaling properties, and now upon reviewing your post see that it doesn't. Are you aware of any other DVD players that have a "scaling" function, or something similar? I have several unenhanced DVDs that are making me crazy, e.g., 2001, RAN, Pulp Fiction, classics that I want to see in the best way possible. I can get the RP91 I suppose, but after paying $180 for a very nice Samsung, paying $700 for the RP91 is getting to me. Thanks for any help you can give me.

slamajam

Try the Panasonic RP62. It was just released this past month. It is suppose to be the successor to the RP56 and surprisingly it is less than the RP56 (I don't know how that is!!). You can get them at Fry's electronics for $179.99.

gsstenzel

I have done vast research on the web to find the best DVD player out there for less money than the boutique players. The Denon DVD-1600. It uses the Faroudja chip for deinterlacing, and also has aspect ratio control. There are very few DVD players that have is combination. I bought this DVD online for $400 dollars. Not too bad, and the picture is incredible!!!

GlenL

How about the pioneer DV-45A?

Good Bad yes no?

gsstenzel

I don't know that much about the DV-45A since I think it has even been released yet. I have a friend that has the DV-47A and he loves it!!! I looked at some of the specs of the DV-45A and they look good. The only thing I have read badly about the Pioneer PS technology is that it has the chroma bug and doesw not handle de-interlacing as well as Faroujda or Silicon Images technologies.

IOStinks

The DV 45A rocks...........a little on the pricey side, but after taking 4 PS DVD players back to the store, The Pioneer stayed right in the rack. Couldn't be happier.

__________________

• TV - JVC Av48WP30
• Receiver - Marantz SR7200
• Cd - Marantz CC65SE
• DVD - Pioneer Elite DV45A
• Speakers - Paradgm Studio 100's and Epicure CD50's

slc1t

Any input from the progressive scan pros would be very much appreciated. I purchased a mits tv in 2000 - ws-65905. 480p with toshiba sd-9200 looked amazing. No aspect ratio control through the tv, though.

Had a problem with the tv and got it replaced with the new 2003 model - ws-65711. With this model the tv can format the 480p signal. 480p looks horrible with the new ws-65711. In fact, 480i is much much better.

My current theory is that in order to allow people to format the picture, they had to do some additional processing of the signal. This additional processing caused artifacting and all of the other problems to crop up.

Bottom line is 480p with the new model looks horrible compared with the 480p I saw on the 2000 model.

Any thoughts??? Could everyone reply with the hdtv model they are currently using with 480p and let me know if the picture is better than 480i?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,
Chet

count_dookuHD

I would look into the Toshiba 5700 Cinema Series if you want incredible picture, easy but detailed menus, and DVD-audio sound that will BLOW YOU AWAY!

__________________
Its a shame that everyone does not appreciate HDTV. So they will be forced to. 2007 PLEASE come quick!!

spaceman_spiff

I have pana rp-62, great perfromance for the money. I got it at Circuit City for $168. Has all the bells and whistles that I need. Anyway current DVD players might become obsolete in next couple of years. Blue laser might be the standard and HD DVDs might come out. So why buy very expensive when you get good performance.

IOStinks

Why buy expensive when they might become obsolete in a couple of years???? If that were the case I would advise you to stop buying audio and video equipment all together. You can't stop progress, but in the meantime I will continue to buy the best quality equipment I can. Why, because "now" is when I'm using this stuff.

__________________

• TV - JVC Av48WP30
• Receiver - Marantz SR7200
• Cd - Marantz CC65SE
• DVD - Pioneer Elite DV45A
• Speakers - Paradgm Studio 100's and Epicure CD50's