The panny DVD-52 HDMI (limited to 1080i/720p) performance is pretty good according to Secrets. Apparently the DVD-53 is just an update of the DVD-52 to 1080p. Anyone know how the DVD-54k compares to either of these players? I've been a fan of Panasonic's Matsushita mpeg decoder for a long time.

I also see the DVD-54k will do 480i over HDMI which is another bonus should the display scale/upconvert better than the player.

Best,
jeff

Anyone know what chipset is in the DVD-54k? Does anyone have this player and another player that they've compared it to?

Thanks,
jeff

Anyone know what chipset is in the DVD-54k? Does anyone have this player and another player that they've compared it to?

Thanks,
jeff
I looked and didn't see anything. In the biggest pic I could find I didn't see a DCDi logo, but the pic wasn't very big. Couldn't find an online manual.

larry

I found an online manual for the DVD-s54 (UK and australia) HERE (http://www.panasonic.com.au/support/downloads/more_info.cfm?objectID=2241&fileTypeID=2&productCategoryID=69&productID=6701&listQueryString=fileTypeID%3D2%26productCategoryID%3D69%26pr oductID%3D6701)

You're right that there's no mention of DCDi, but there's wasn't either for the DVD-s52. If the DVD-s54k has the matsushita mpeg decoder and is essentially an update to the DVD-s53 (which was an update to the DVD-s52), then it might be a good player. Secrets reports that the DVD-s52, on the HDMI side is quite good upscaling to 1080i HERE (http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=130#PanasonicDVD-S52%20(HDMI)). The s53 allowed upscaling to 1080p, IIRC.

So if someone has a s54k, can they open it up and see what chips are in it, or post some hi-res pictures?


Thanks,
jeff

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=125836&stc=1&d=1228353207

Thanks tvb6171. A quick google of the chip doesn't show up too much. I'm guessing it's the mpeg decoder? I'm guessing you have this player?

Why the lack of info from people on this player? Everyone gone on to oppo's or br?

Best,
jeff

Ya I have it, I dont use it much anymore, in fact I was just using the Sony DVP-NS700H last week, I sent it back, just not impressed with either of as I use my Blu Ray for all DVD playing, even tho the Blu Ray does trip up on a few(very few) of my standard dvd's. but back to comparing the the panny 54 and the sony 700h, thats a tough call, I like the panny for its rich color and it turns on much faster, but the sony does better with video based dvd's. but I decided to just send the sony back, I might put the panny back in my entertainment system just because its much faster at turning on than my blue ray.

Can you check to see if the panny clips blacker than black and whiter than white on HDMI at 1080p, 1080i and 720p?

I think you're see the Matsushita mpeg decoder for color richness. I like that too.

Thanks,
jeff

After studying the manual for the DVD-s54 (australian version) and this article HERE (http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/calibrate-your-system/hdmi-black-levels-xvycc-rgb), I'll bet the S54 will pass BTB and WTW when the Color space is set to YCbCr. There's also a standard and enhanced setting, but those apply to RGB only.

Any S54 owners testing BTB and WTW?

jeff

I received the player from amazon.com in 2 days. Tested it with getgray (awesome calibration disc). The player at 480i, 480p, 720p and 1080i running YCrCb colorspace DOES NOT clip BTB or WTW via HDMI. I'm stoked.

I also note that on the Snell and Wilcox moving circle test pattern that the proprietary Panasonic solution does quite a good job deinterlacing and adapting to motion. It does way better than I remember my old rp-82 doing at 480p.

Best,
jeff

Can you really notice the diference between 16-235 and 0-255 when you watch a DVD on a HDTV?

Can you really notice the diference between 16-235 and 0-255 when you watch a DVD on a HDTV?

Yes. in the sense that one range is correct and the other incorrect for a given display. (Unless the display has an option for RGB range, which I think is rare).

BTB and WTW are useful but not essential during calibration. DVD-Video (and Blu-ray) are not supposed to contain values outside of 16-235 in real movies. I've seen references to cases that do, but if your display is properly calibrated you wouldn't see those levels anyway.

The calibration advice I follow is to set brightness such that 16 and below are equally black. Maybe allow a bit more definition on the white end, using contrast.

The calibration forum has much more on all this.

-Bill

Do all HDTVs today support full 8 bit per channel (0-255)?

Do all HDTVs today support full 8 bit per channel (0-255)?

A/V gear is supposed to use 16-235. PC monitors are more likely to use 0-255.

If an HDTV does not explicitly have a range option, you should presume it is meant to use 16-235.

-Bill

A/V gear is supposed to use 16-235. PC monitors are more likely to use 0-255.

If an HDTV does not explicitly have a range option, you should presume it is meant to use 16-235.

-Bill

So if a set doesn't support x.v.Color I can assume it doesn't handle BTB and WTW?

So if a set doesn't support x.v.Color I can assume it doesn't handle BTB and WTW?

No, those topics are not really related.

Players and displays may or may not pass BTB and WTW with 8-bit RGB and YCrCb color spaces.

Since DVD-Video and Blu-ray do not use BTB and WTW this is not a huge issue.

-Bill

No, those topics are not really related.

Players and displays may or may not pass BTB and WTW with 8-bit RGB and YCrCb color spaces.

Since DVD-Video and Blu-ray do not use BTB and WTW this is not a huge issue.

-Bill

Does that mean there is no real benefit from having a DVD player which can pass BTB & WTW?

Does that mean there is no real benefit from having a DVD player which can pass BTB & WTW?

As I said, BTB and WTW are handy when doing calibration, but not essential.

Once the display is calibrated, there is no advantage.

-Bill

Although the spec for dvd and BR exclude 0-15 and 236-255, there is sometimes meaningful signal encoded there. Also if the display is clipping (or the player), then proper calibration, IMO, will be difficult. Low light levels will be the most problematic.

Best,
jeff