[crf]

In the budget realm, does anyone have experience with these? The 3960 got a good write-up in "Secrets of Home Theater", but the S47 hasn't been reviewed yet. I'm more interested in video capability than audio. Even if you haven't seen the 3960, I'd be interested in your review of the S47. Its little brother, the S27, did not fare well in objective testing at "Secrets".


I'm enthusiastic about the s97, but it's release is a mystery (plus it's $300). I'd only consider it if it's performance matches that of the XP 30 or RP 82. That the release of the S97 keeps getting pushed back doesn't make me confident (lots of bugs probably).

 

[povmec]

Quote:

Originally posted by crf In the budget realm, does anyone have experience with these? The 3960 got a good write-up in "Secrets of Home Theater", but the S47 hasn't been reviewed yet. These players are both rated in Consumer Reports. In the progressive-scan single-disc category, they place the Panasonic DVD-S47 first, while the Toshiba SD-3960 comes 11th. Of notice, the Panasonic DVD-S27 is third. The only difference between the DVD-S27 and the DVD-S47, is the missing optical digital audio out - and the price of course. Here are the main points of the review: Best for use with an HDTV: Toshiba SD-3960. Most versatile players: Panasonic DVD-S47 and DVD-S27. The DVD-S47 can play DVD-RW (VR mode) and DVD-RAM discs, formats the SD-3960 can't play. The SD-3960 has a built-in screen saver, the DVD-S47 doesn't. The DVD-S47 has an optical digital audio out, the SD-3960 doesn't (although both have the coaxial digital audio out). The SD-3960 lost points in the Ease of use category -the DVD-S47 got an excellent" rating, while the SD-3960 got a "good" rating. They both get an "excellent" in the Picture quality category. In the repair history chart, Panasonic is the most reliable, Sony being second, and Toshiba being third. Least reliable (among the covered brands) are Samsung, RCA and Apex being the worst. HTH, Ray.

 

[AkaStp]

> The only difference between the DVD-S27 and the DVD-S47, is the missing optical digital audio out - and the price of course.


There are several other differences also. The S47 can play DVD-Audio (two channel). The S27 can't. Best approach is to go to DVD Players section of Panasonic web site and do a side-by-side comparison.

 

[crf]

Thanks, very much.


Perhaps that's a new "CR" - the last one I saw that rated DVD players was Dec 2003. But maybe there was an update more recently. Unless those two models are that old...


Charles

 

[povmec]

Quote:

Originally posted by crf Perhaps that's a new "CR" - the last one I saw that rated DVD players was Dec 2003. The DVD players are now part of their continual-testing program.