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What are some good dvd players (single play) * $500 ?

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elliot

(A)

Looking for dvd player at or below $500. Currently own Sony kv36fs17 tv so progressive scan is unnecessary at the moment. First time dvd buyer, but well informed except for current models. I do plan to run its coaxial digital output through my cd player. Any model suggestions would be appreciated.
THANKS,
Elliot

Follow Ups:

Denon DVD-1600 - Don Bunce 18:01:20 09/18/02 (2)
See hometheaterhifi.com for a review. A friend of mine has one feeding a Pioneer Elite 710 hdtv.Excellent picture,excellent sound.
- Re: Denon DVD-1600 - Brian L 06:30:35 09/19/02 (1)
  I purchased the Denon 1600 a few months back and have been very happy with it. Only drawback may be that it only has a Toslink output and no coax for digital audio. The video and audio is excellent. I haven't tried any DVD-A software.
  - Re: Denon DVD-1600 - Rod M 18:21:25 09/19/02 (0)
    I noticed that on a lot of players. To use my DVD player as an occasional mp3 player transport for my DAC and also for the HT processor, I needed both Toslink and coax. I didn't care about DVD-A. The JVC XV500 had both and progressive scan. The price was right too at $170 with 3 free DVDs. It's been great. Set it on 16x9 something and it automatically morphs to whatever is the best for my normal TV. I used a friend's older Sony for a while and you had to change the settings for every disc for letterbox versus pan and scan. What a pain that was.
Panasonic RP91 - Harmonia 16:56:01 09/17/02 (7)
No chroma bug, excellent picture, video scaling, decent audio (including DVD-A), progressive scan, good de-interlacer, 3:2 pulldown for film based material, usually available for under its list of $450.00.
Panny RP62 and RP82 are even less expensive, under $300 for the RP82, under $200 for the RP62. BTW, all the above have progressive scan. Even $140 players now offer it. I wouldn't spend anything for a non PS player, even if I didn't have an HD display yet to take advantage of it. The PS players aren't any more expensive than non-PS players. Just use the interlaced output from your PS DVD player til you have a TV that can take advantage of it.
- I second this call - Dalancroft 09:24:32 09/20/02 (0)
  Very good as a CD player too if you ever listen to 2-channel music in your HT rig.
- Harmonia, if I can jump in with f/u question... - DunninLA 11:43:39 09/18/02 (5)
  I bought a Denon 3000 in early 1999. We watch DVD movies about twice a month. Using Sony Wega 36" 2 year old non-HD TV. Don't need DVD player for audio. Using Adelphia non-digital cable split into seven rooms. No plans to upgrade to HDTV within next 2-3 years.
  Processor (for 5.1) is B&K 1030 into a very good sound system.
  The Denon went up to my daughter's room, so I need another dvd player for the main system. Money is tight.
  Under these circumstances, what are the reasons I might consider the RP-91 over its two cheaper siblings you mentioned?
  Thanks, DunninLA (I ususally post over in cables or general)
  
  Larry Dunn
  - Not Harmonia - cfraser 19:42:29 09/19/02 (4)
    but I'd go for the RP82...well, I did, the RP91 doesn't offer anything more for video IMO. IIRC Harmonia has an RP56, and I did too, the RP82 is just as good, not noticeably better to me. Many consider the RP56 to have better video than the RP91. Where these other models suffer is in build quality. Not nearly as good as the RP91. IMO anything for video playback is disposable, won't be worth anything in 2 years, so use it up. Build quality is irrelevant, this gear will be so out of date so soon. Makes DAC's look like good investments. The looks of the RP82 may be a turn off. I did not compare the RP62 directly with the RP82, but did compare the RP62 with the RP56. The RP56 seemed better to me. So I'd rate them 62-91-56-82, better looking less buggy video last. Just my opinion, wasn't considering them for music use at all, was a bit geeky/picky about video flaws.
    - Craig, Just curious..... - blake 11:42:48 09/20/02 (1)
      Have you by chance slotted the 82 into your 2 channel set up to see how it would compare to your digital front end there?
      - Re: Craig, Just curious..... - cfraser 17:11:26 09/20/02 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Craig, Just curious..... posted by blake on September 20, 2002 at 11:42:48:
        
        Hi Blake, I have not done this. The RP82 is now in the same rack sitting just above my CDP. This was part of the "rack consolidation project". The RP82 does not connect to my music system. Can you believe I haven't tried it? You are forcing me to violate my music/video separation edict. I suppose I'll recover...
    - thanks, just ordered RP 82s amazon $190.38, backordered NT - DunninLA 21:46:19 09/19/02 (1)
      .
      Larry Dunn
      - Good price! - cfraser 22:16:03 09/19/02 (0)
        
        In Reply to: thanks, just ordered RP 82s amazon $190.38, backordered NT posted by DunninLA on September 19, 2002 at 21:46:19:
        
        Hope you didn't order it just because of me? I hated mine at first, a build quality thing. Gotta admit it works like a champ. Don't know how long it will last, but while it does, it is doing a very good job. You will be using the component outputs? Gotta admit I haven't tried the S-video or composite. If you can, without a lot of trouble/expense, be sure to try the 5.1 ANALOG outputs into your decoder/pre, instead of the digital connection for Dolby/dts. That works very well here, much nicer sounding than my decoder DAC's etc. Even with cheap cables, since upgraded when I had finally determined it wasn't just my imagination.

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