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Played with the RP62 at home for an afternoon last weekend

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In Reply to: Anyone have Panasonic DVD-RP62 or RP82 yet?? posted by Aroc on July 09, 2002 at 09:16:05:

and decided not to keep, so I'm still waiting for the RP82. Due to the circumstances of my ordering, the 82 cost $10 more than the 62 does, so that's why, and might as well try that new-fangled DVD-A thing just to say I did... Still don't know if the 82 will have the Sage/Faroudja chipset. Or if the 82 will have coaxial digital audio out, Panny says it does, pics (from 6 months ago) don't show it. Will have to wait a month to see.
One thing I like about the 62/82 is they're made in Japan, most others in that price range aren't. The 62 has better audio DAC's than the 56. The 56 and 62 are both equally lightweight, the 1600 is heavier for sure, which could imply a better build, but I haven't seen inside any of these players. The 1600 has a better audio section than the 56/62. To me, the 56 looks nicer than the 62, which looks decidedly cheap, but YMMV.
I have an RP56, so I saw no reason to get a 62 as it's not really an upgrade as far as video goes. To choose between these two, I'd go by price or looks. Choose the Denon 1600 if you are going to use the player extensively for redbook CD's too (without an external DAC), same video quality as the 56/62.
Somebody else could give you better info re using DVDP's for music, as I don't do that, I keep my video and music systems fairly isolated, so I don't really care much about the DVDP's music capability; I use it half-assedly, so far just for music DVD's where I'm not too critical (there are some quite good ones). SACD is supposed to be a "high end" audio format, so I don't see the point of playing them on a cheap player, because you are restricted to the DAC/audio section the manufacturer gives you, and cheap ones aren't that great. And I wouldn't personally put $500 of mods into a $200 machine. Personally, there are not enough SACD's that I would really want to buy, but when there are, I think I'd get a player specifically designed for audio, not video, for them. By that time, who knows, all mainstream players might do video and none are audio only (except for cars and portable).

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thanks for your time, I appreciate it... - Aroc 10:39:19 07/09/02 (7)
I'm not sure what I want to do at this point. And that doesn't help me make a choice! Right now I have the audio and video systems integrated into a spare bedroom. I still might move the video stuff to the basement, where most of my computer lab resides. I've been cleaning items out of the lab, so I might have room for a poor man's HT - separate from the audio system. But I hate to needlessly duplicate efforts. But I really don't have rack space for a DVD player and a VCR in the main system.
Unless I can find something that trumps redbook on the EVS Millennium DAC 1, I won't need to worry about redbook from the DVD player. I know I won't be satified with the audio in a budget player ( <$300) but I'm hoping it won't be so noticable for movies.
- Does the EVS have Toslink input? - cfraser 11:11:40 07/09/02 (6)
  You will need that to use it with most cheaper DVDP's for redbook.
  - nope. only s/pdif coaxial rca... - Aroc 12:10:41 07/09/02 (5)
    The marantz is a pretty good transport when used with a jitterbox. Plus I like having a 5 disc carousel. It would be nice to find a DVD carousel. But there aren't any on the market that I like. (either can't read CD-R, had chroma bug, blah build-quality, only toslink (yeach)). So it seems that I should maintain two front ends (one DVD and one for redbook). Redbook performance, of course, is of paramound importance to me. I'd rather not spend the rack space for two front ends. then again. I'd rather not spend $500-$1000 for a DVD player I'll replace in less than 18 months.
    I see Crutchfield is an authorized Denon internet dealer. Plus I think they have some financing dealing (0%). I could get the Denon DVD-1600 for 30 days and see how I like it. I don't have high hopes it'll better the EVS unit, but you never know. Also since I'm just watching 1-2 movie a week, I'm not sure how much $$$ I should sink into this project. On the flip side, I don't want to (in effect) squander money by getting a DVD player I can't stand.
    - I made a mistake...clarification - cfraser 13:01:49 07/09/02 (4)
      I should have said cheap *progressive scan" DVDP's. The cheapest DVDP's (non-progressive) often DO have coaxial digital audio outputs, mainly the ones without component video outputs. The non-progressive ones with component outputs tend to have Toslink only. I had an exchange here with Rod M not long ago, and I can say that some of the very cheap non-progressive DVDP's are not bad at all, you should definitely try one and you might be extremely satisfied with it. You could use your EVS DAC for CD, it would look much better (with good source material, most) than VHS, so don't get too caught up in the high end features. You may be happy for next to nothing $$-wise. Then you will have a better appreciation of what capability you are buying for the next time, before sinking big bucks in a virtually daily changing technology.
      [Dang, I'm having trouble saying what I mean today...]
      - question on non-progressive players.... - Aroc 14:10:24 07/09/02 (3)
        
        In Reply to: I made a mistake...clarification posted by cfraser on July 09, 2002 at 13:01:49:
        
        Since my TV is non-progressive, I'm wondering if I should be looking at progressive players at all? Does the de-interlacer get in my way, video performance-wise? Could I get better 480i (whatever) output from a non-progressive player than a progressive one? Do progressive players inherently have compromised interlaced (not non-interaced) output? I understand - just like with audio DACs - it's the implementation of the technology - rather than the technology itself - that determines the "real" quality of the final output.
        > > You could use your EVS DAC for CD, it would look much better
        > > (with good source material, most) than VHS, so don't get too
        > > caught up in the high end features
        Do I even need a player with the Sage/Faroudja FI2200 chip? That's just the deinteracer, right? Not the MPEG decoder, correct? Does the chroma "bug" effect me since I can't view progressive material? I thought it still would. My ETA for a HDTV is currently 3-5 years at best.
        I can feed toslink into my AA DTI-PRO, which feeds my EVS DAC.
        > > Then you will have a better appreciation of what capability
        > > you are buying for the next time, before sinking big bucks
        > > in a virtually daily changing technology.
        That's pretty much my concern at this point. If the denon will last me three years, I'll get it. Decent analog outputs and DVD-A. That seems like an "OK" investment of $500. but if it will be embarrassed buy the new $200 players at January 2003 CES (summer 2003 release), video wise - then it's a not-so-hot investment. Even considering the audio. In that case, I'd be better of with an outboard DAC. Then I could just keep upgrading the transport and video sections. but if the Denon is going to be "about as good as it gets" for the next few years. The pendullum swings back to the denon.
        Also consider john Johnson's review of the Denon DVD-1600 at Secret's website. Specifically the following quote:
        ...but as you will see below, I am making the Denon DVD-1600 my reference DVD player because it passed just about every one of our Benchmark tests.
        Would the Panasonic RP56 not do as well? I think their [secrets] review of the RP56 listed some "combing" issues during their "Abyss" DVD tests. Here's a link to that review .
        did the Denon passt his test? It doesn't look like JJ performed that tests on the DVD-1600.
        Assuming the DVD-1600 performs no better (or no better than it would matter to me ), it's whether the audio of the Denon is worth $300 more than the RP56. (also DVD-A) Hmmm. There's a bit more to think about than I initally thought. That's both good and bad. heheheh.
        > > [Dang, I'm having trouble saying what I mean today...]
        Don't worry. It's seems that I'm not doing much better myself! LOL.
        :-)
        
        This is why I think you should try one - cfraser 15:19:23 07/09/02 (1)
        
        In Reply to: question on non-progressive players.... posted by Aroc on July 09, 2002 at 14:10:24:
        
        I am just not big (so far) on DVDP's for music, though many like them, usually with mods. The Denon should be much better than average for that. But don't you already have a CDP? It becomes a more complicated decision when you want the DVDP to do double-duty, and I don't have a good answer for you.
        I think you should try a cheap non-progressive DVDP from a place where you can return it easily, or else maybe get the RP56 for cheap somewhere. I just don't believe these devices are built for the 3-5 year timeframe, I view them as disposable, however I don't really want a collection of them (like I have for CDP's). I would not recommend you buy the RP62, maybe consider the non-progressive RV32 if you want Panny and you want a current model.
        The chroma bug can manifest itself even in non-progressive, but easier to see in progressive with the increased clarity. I wouldn't worry about it too much with the TV you have, not a put-down at all, I'm just saying enjoy it and you won't even notice it might be there.
        The RP56/62 and Denon 1600 are of the same video quality, audio and visible build quality distinguish them.
        
        I hear 'ya.... - Aroc 18:12:07 07/09/02 (0)
        
        In Reply to: This is why I think you should try one posted by cfraser on July 09, 2002 at 15:19:23:
        
        I'm also curious to see if the RP82 will use the same MPEG decoder as the RP91 (not referring to faroudja de-interlacer).
        The DVD-RV32 looks good in both black and silver.
        
        forgot to close an italics tag. D'oh! -NT - Aroc 14:11:45 07/09/02 (0)
        
        In Reply to: question on non-progressive players.... posted by Aroc on July 09, 2002 at 14:10:24:
        
        -NT

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