PIONEER vs. PANASONIC Player question?
 

I am considering one of these dvd players:

PIONEER DV-444 (Progressive Scan)
MSRP $449.00

PANASONIC DVD-RP56 (Progressive Scan)
MSRP $299.95

Anyone know which one is better, or other suggestions?

Do not buy the Pioneer DV-444 as a progressive scan player!!!!!!

It does NOT do 3:2 pulldown correctly and has just a cheap line doubler. It's "progressive scan" is basically a marketing scam.

Check out this review and testing:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...-2-8-2001.html

The 440 is the replacement for the DV-434 they tested and the progressive scan performance is basically the same.

The RP-56 is a much, much better progressive scan player. It's the best progressive scan bang-for-the-buck($200 or so), especially if you watch a lot of interlaced source material.

On the other hand, if you are looking for an interlaced player, the Pioneer DV-440 is one of the best in it's price class.

I don't have the Panasonic player but I know it uses the Sage/Faroudja chip which is the best at the moment. It's not listed on the player like the $1500 Kenwood Soverign, but a couple of people have actually opened it and found the chip. You can find more information about it in AVS forum.

I can now say this...

I own the Panasonic. And I am very happy with it.

The common price at most places is $229 and you can do even better. To get that chip and progressive scan for such a low price is very good.

One other question...
 

Thanks for the input. It sounds to me like the PANASONIC is the way to go.

One other question between the two brands (Pioneer & Panasonic), for $1,000 or less who makes the best progressive
scan player for connection to an HDtv? And what model(s)
do you recommend?

See the progressive dvdplayer tests at this link:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...-2-8-2001.html

The Panasonic is the best bang for the buck because for $200 you get the Sage/Faroudja deinterlacing chip (FLI2200) that is found in much more expensive players.

Yet another question?
 

Any input between these two progressive scan players:

PANASONIC RP91N vs. PIONEER DV-37????