Made in Japan!

Cannot reliably play cd's with a high number of MP3 tracks on them. Has problems with many VCDs from the store.

I paid CAD$299 for this DVD player from London Drugs. I've also seen it for this price at Future Shop. Since I don't have a proper HTS, I won't comment on the picture quality of the DVD player. However, what I will comment on is that this DVD player has serious problems with several VCDs in my collection as well as playing MP3s. If you want to reliably use this player for MP3s, do not record too many (i.e. >40 MP3s) onto a CD. For some reason, the player cannot reliably play the higher numbered MP3 tracks on a CD. It just keeps skipping on the spot on a somewhat random basis. I've tried directly accessing higher numbered tracks and this problem still occurs. This is an annoying problem. The problem is similar for VCDs. For some reason, after approx 40 minutes or so of several VCDs, it stalls out and freezes the frames. The frames are usually frozen for a few seconds and then the video keeps playing until subsequent stall-outs last for several minutes.

posted in wrong forum.

Sage chip, Sage chip, Sage Chip!

absence of picture adjustments, and some other minor issues

this was the third progresive player i auditioned with a new front projector, and this was the one i ended up keeping. i wished that the JVC had put out the picture this panasonic does, because in every other area( ergonomics, and intuitiveness of the remote, picture controls, asthetic design of the case, etc)-thats the machine i had fallen for-
however i couldn't help but concede. the picture on the panasonic with the sage chip, was just the better in the most important area for a progressive player-deinterlacing.
colors seemed to be better on the jvc also, but it just combed too much. i had both these players side by side, and it was amazing how stellar the results were with the panasonic. everything i threw at it remained rock solid.
even though the price dropped about 4 weeks after i bought it ( you should be able to find this for about $200 now, fairly easily) i'm still happy with my purchase.
this is one of the very best VALUES in HT gear today.

Similar Products Used:

JVC 65GD, Toshiba 5109

Faroudja/Sage chip, Price,

none

The Panasonic RP56 is a very good player. The Faroudja/Sage chip (used in many players at 4 times the price does everything in the RP56 that it does in the high-end players. I view through a Toshiba TW65H80 reqar projection TV and use the TV's picture adjustments. Therefore, the "lack" of picture size controls are not an issue. The overall picture quality is wonderful.

Be sure your set is set-up properly: convergence, color tint, sharpness, brightness and the true value of progressive scan will shine through.

The Digital-to-Analog converter in the RP56 is very good so, when playing audio CD's use the analog outputs direct to your pre/amp or receive. The audio quailyty will exceed that produced from the optical output with your Dolby Digital decoder in stereo mode.

By the way, my Pioneer DV414 is now used in the living room system as a CD player. It have a very nice Digital-to-Analog converter and sounds wonderful.

Similar Products Used:

Pioneer DV414

Progressive scan, Sage chip

few adjustments

What can you say bad about a $182 dollar progressive scan player? I am very impressed with the colors & sound from this player. I have tried some of the more expensive players, & the RP-56 seems to keep up with them, without the price tag. This dvd player is leaps ahead of my Toshiba 1600. I havent had any problems with playing dvds. Plus if your into it, you can play back CDR,CDRW,MP3,VCD,CD. The only minus if you want to call it that, is there are ot enough adjustments that you can make. There is only normal & Cinema mode, & black level. But again for the price, you can't have everything. I am very happy, going on 3 weeks now.

Similar Products Used:

Philips Q50, Panisonic RP-91,Toshiba nonprogressive 1600