[David Barteaux]

What models now have the Faroudja chip, but won't break the bank account?

 

[rickster904]

Denon-1600. Order online (hurry). Or:


I got mine about a week ago at Soundsaround for lower than the Crutchfield advertised price. (We are still talking about > USD $300. Do you consider this expensive?) Where are you in Canada? Do you have a Soundsaround close by?

 

[ckl_88]

Hi David,


not sure where in Canada you are, but I'm in Coquitlam, BC. I just bought an RP62K from London Drugs that has the Faroudja/Sage Fli2200 dcdi chip in it. I opened it up and made sure it was there.


Apparently, they have 3 silver ones left at the Coquitlam location that have NO B in the serial number and are manufactured before Oct 2002.


They are going for $179.99 CDN (regular 279.99). The sale is what made me buy it.


I checked the DVD shootout on the performance of this player and found that it scored a 75/100.


I just played the Superbit version of The 5th Element and it was pretty good.


BTW, this unit (RP62) is discontinued.

 

[David Barteaux]

I dont have that store near me.


Any new models at CEDIA?

 

[ckl_88]

Sorry to be so stupid, but what's CEDIA? Is it like a future shop?

 

[rickster904]

CEDIA is an annual HT equipment conference/trade show which was held two weeks ago. I don't think you'll lower end (inexpensive) models there.


David, if you are interested in the RP62 you can check Sears as well.

 

[ThumperBoy]

The only new models that have come out in the past few months with the Faroudja chipset are the Mitsubishi DD-8040 ($250 at Tweeter) and the Denon DVD-910 ($299) and DVD-1200 ($399). The Denon DVD-1600 is a couple year old design and is being (or will soon be) discontinued, selling now for around $300. The Panasonics with Faroudja have long since been discontinued, and they are not producing any new models with Faroudja. Your only other choice is too look for a used model of the good older Panasonics on EBAy - they usually sell for $200-400, except for RP62's which are under $100 but many have reported they fail (cheap motor) after only 8 months, so its not really a bargain plus it has acolor flicker bug that the others lack.

 

[Thomas F]

I just bought a new factory sealed Panasonic XP50 on ebay! I paid a little too much, but I thought I would go ahead and get it since they are hard to find. I think there is another one listed now by a different seller. Search for "Panasonic RP82". The seller I think has (XP50 or XP-50) and "like RP82" in the title.

 

[ThumperBoy]

I think you nabbed that XP50 away from me at the last minute. But I managed to win an XP30 ebay auction for less money any way - not factory sealed though.

 

[Thomas F]

Yeah, that was me. I think they call it "sniping". I really wanted it, so I waited until the last 15 seconds, then pulled the trigger. I paid a little too much, but it is really nice! Received it yesterday.

 

[splatee]

I just picked up the Mitsubishi DD 8040 today from Tweeter's. I like because it dosen't break the bank and the picture looks great

 

[ThumperBoy]

I got my Panasonic XP30 in the mail today (from an EBAY auction) and it works perfectly. I got a Mitsubishi DD-8040 last week from Tweeter for a similar price, I will take it back now since the XP30 is superior. But if I couldn't get it, the Mitsubishi is fine 2nd choice and readily available new in stores. I confirmed the XP30 is sharper and confirmed its flat frequency response on a scope, also its lack of color flicker bug. The XP30 also plays all types of DVDs (I tested DVD-R,RW,+R,+RW) also VCD and SVCD on CDR/RW worked too. The Mitsubishi also reads all the DVD types and VCD but not SVCD. The load times were similar for all types about 8sec.

 

[dd2]

The Philips DVD-963sa has the Faroudja chip, and can be had for about $400 online from an authorized dealer.

 

[coryk]

Philips Q50AT has FLI 2200.


No clue on its PQ though..

 

[ThumperBoy]

Those Philips models have a lot of failures reported by owners on this forum. The Denon DVD-1600 is available around $300 online, so its a much better buy than the Philips.

 

[splatee]

My Philips Q50 died on me, that is why i got the Mitsubishi DD8040. The Q50 would lock up or shut off all together sometims. Then the other day it finally croaked.

 

[zacster]

Be careful buying a Panasonic. They apparently don't last. My CP72 just died.

 

[ThumperBoy]

The only panasonic models that have quite a few failure reports (usually after 7-8 months of use) are the CP72 and the RP62. The RP82, XP30, XP50 models have an excellent reliability record however, so don't blame all the Panasonic models. The changer model has mechanical problems that don't affect the single disc models, and the RP62 used a very cheap motor that fails, the other models use better hardware.

 

[zacster]

I've had equipment that's lasted for 20 years or more. 8 months is unacceptable.


We buy equipment based on name brand, after taking into account features. I don't expect a cheap, no-name asian brand to last, but I do expect Panasonic to back up their products, and to have some sort of quality control. Maybe I'm expecting too much.

 

[rickster904]

Thumper,


Most consumers are not as logical and forgiving as you. A bad experience would quite often doom an entire brand from a consumer's future purchase decisions. And I'm talking about ALL product lines.


In this case if someone had a bad experience with a DVD player from Panny, it is quite normal that he/she would become cautious buying DVD players again from Panny.


My RP62 and XP30 are both quite new. Before these I have two non-Panny players for over 5 five years without any problem. (They are still working but retired.) If my Panny players don't last more than 3 years it will definitely leave me with a negative impression of build quality of Panasonic DVD players.