Panasonic DVD-RP56 DVD Player With Progressive Scan, CD-R/W And MP3
Written: Feb 20 '02 (Updated Jan 06 '04)
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Pros: Price, picture quality, performance, fast operation, features, looks, solid feel
Cons: Remote could be better designed
The Bottom Line: The RP56 is an excellent progressive scan DVD player. Its competitor Sony 700P has combing issues, doesn’t play MP3, has no ...
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| dkozin's Full Review: Panasonic DVD-RP56 DVD Player |
The Panasonic DVD-RP56 is truly amazing because it is one of the cheapest progressive-scan DVD players available, yet its picture quality rivals DVD players that cost several times more.
Picture Quality
The players that use Sage/Faroudja FLI2200 deinterlacing chip usually cost much more than $220 for which the RP56 usually sells, yet Panasonic somehow managed to incorporate this advanced chip (that features DCDi) in this model. This chip (usually found in expensive DVD players) does both cadence detection and deinterlacing.
It suppresses artifacts caused by composite video mastering by embedded cross-color suppressor and this also completely eliminates the “chroma bug”, from which, for example, a lot of Toshiba players suffer as well as some popular Sony DVD players.
The patented Directional Correlational Deinterlacing (DCDi) of Sage/Faroudja FLI2200 makes the diagonal edges look straight and eliminates artifacts affecting moving images in video-sourced mode. You can also manually switch the player to Video mode from the Film mode and back, but the Sage chip is very good at detecting video or film mode, so there is usually no need to do this.
The “chroma bug” (streaky saturated colors), is widespread and affects such models as Toshiba SD1600 (Zoran MPEG decoder), Apex A600 (ESS MPEG decoder) and even Sony S360 (LSI MPEG decoder).
The JVC (Medianatics decoder) and Panasonic players (Panasonic MPEG decoder) don’t have this problem. The picture quality of this player, overall, is excellent in both interlaced and progressive modes and rivals models that are much more expensive.
Features
One of the most noticeable features is the speed with which the player executes your commands, which is very fast. The player plays CD-R, CD-RW, VCD and MP3 discs as well as XVCD. The MP3 playback cannot be programmed and there is no random MP3 playback, but there are several scan speeds available in all modes, including DVD-Video (5 speeds up to 100x fast scan), Video CD (up to 40x), MP3 and Audio CD.
The front shuttle control allows you adjust the slow/fast scan speed. The slow video playback at 5 speeds is also available, but in Video CD playback mode there is no slow playback in backward direction. The player features dialogue enhancer, virtual surround sound, bookmarks and ability to jump to a scene by entering the time, separate subwoofer output.
There is a set of A/V outs (composite, component and S-Video) and a digital optical out in addition to the analog stereo out and subwoofer out. The front panel has not only buttons for basic functions, but also buttons to control “Cinema Mode”, Virtual Surround; Dialogue enhancer, and such.
The player’s tray looks and feels solid as are the controls.
Remote
The RP56 uses the same remote as some other Panasonic DVD players (RV31 for example). You can adjust almost all settings on the fly by using “Display” button, but it takes time to remember all pictograms, which are quite small. There is no way to switch from “standard” (interlaced) mode to progressive scan and back from the remote.
It does not control anything else other than the player itself. The buttons are not backlit and the “Open/Close” button is located directly above “Play”, which will definitely cause you to press it unintentionally (I myself do it about once a month). Also, there is no way to decrease the scan speed – you have to go back to the “Play” or “Pause” mode and increase the speed from there.
Bottom Line
The RP56 is an excellent progressive scan DVD player. Its competitor Sony 700P has combing issues, doesn’t play MP3, has no shuttle control and costs more. At this price, the RP56 is definitely the best choice for those who needs a progressive scan DVD player.
Current Panasonic DVD Players
Below you can find the current lineup of Panasonic DVD players:
Panasonic DVD-F65
Panasonic DVD-S55
Panasonic DVD-S35
Panasonic DVD-S25
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 220
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Epinions.com ID:
dkozin
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Location: California
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I love to push buttons on electronic (audio and video) equipment. It makes me happy.
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