One of the best affordable DVD players around!
Written: Jan 21 '03 (Updated Jan 23 '03)
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Pros: look, slim, progressive scan, video quality, Faroudja DCDi, digital audio quality, built quality, remaster(unsampling) option
Cons: no SACD_support, fingerprints on mirror_face, analog_audio quality, practical_but_ugly remote, mp3_playback quality, noisy when reading_chapters
The Bottom Line: What else should one ask for, for such a good player, at this price level?
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| ricehigh's Full Review: Panasonic DVD-RP82 DVD Player |
I was much attracted by its appearance when I first saw it, so did my girlfriend. My cabinet is also near out of space, if I buy this player, it can be stacked on the top of my panasonic VCR.
I bought it just three days ago on last Sunday. I was so excited and immediately I made all the necessary connections and tested it extensively. The test system configuration is as follows:
- Panasonic 37PW4 plasma display (japanese version);
- Hisaga component video cables;
- Denon 3803 AV Amp;
- Aiwa DVD-481 (for comparison);
- various CDs and one MP3 CD;
- SilverLink coaxial cable for digital audio;
- Infinity Primus BE300 floorstand mainspeakers with Olehbach 3mm2 x 2 speaker cables;
I played the lord of rings on both players, the aiwa was blown away within a second. The Panasonic has no artifacts seen, showing all the details with beautiful colors, the picture is of very good contrast, the black level is dark enough. Initally, I just wanted to buy a more than 10bit/54M DAC player. But now I believe that the video quality also depends very much on the processor and the software as well. I know that the RP82 has incorporated the Faroudja chipset. In addition to Panasonic's own hardware and processing software, it really gave amazing results! Of course, DTS two channel sounds are very satisfactory (for both players). I haven't unpacked the other 3.1 speakers yet and surely will try soon.
As I planned to build an all-in-one AV system for all audio and video formats, the audio performance for music listening is crucial to me. The RP82 is excellent for being a digital CD player, it gave a very decent digital audio signal output to my Denon amp. It has more details, cleaner and clearer than my Aiwa's coaxial out. But the difference is quite subtle. (The audio part of the awia is already very good indeed)
I have also tried the remaster mode 1 to 3. Mode 1 is too harsh and mode 3's sound is artitacially too thick or warm, mode 2 is a little bit strange as it is really between 1 & 3 (maybe I already has a warm sound speakers). So I turned it off now for more natural sound. However, this mode was one of the main reasons why I bought it (instead of Pioneer 655A (a 656A with SACD support)). For other brand, e.g., pioneer, only top-of-the-line 755 model has this feature (but it doubles the price)
The built quality is very good indeed. But if you like metal front panel, it doesn't has one. It is made in Japan which gives me more confidence about its quality.
The shortcomings, however, IMHO, are all minor. The mirror face whilst is beautiful but fingerprints like to appear on it. If Panasonic could support SACD, it will be an additional benefit (but I know they won't coz they need to battle with SOny!). The analog CD audio output is obviously too bad when compared with the digital coaxial out. Even my Ipaq playing mp3 has equal or even better sound!? The remote controller is a bit shocking in ugly appearance when first seen but it is a good servant indeed. Finally, the player has some little awful sound came out when reading chapters.
But at a price of $274, paid by credit card and with one year comprehensive warranty, what else should I be asking for? (Brand new goods with no warranty can be $50 off)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 274
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Epinions.com ID:
ricehigh
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Reviews written: 22
Trusted by: 2 members
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