Panasonic DVD-S47 DVD Player with MP3, DVD-Audio and SVCD
Written: Sep 14 '04 (Updated Sep 21 '04)
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Pros: Price, features and performance, both coaxial and optical digital audio outs
Cons: MP3 playback quality could be better
The Bottom Line: If you don’t demand the best MP3 playback quality and the best progressive scan performance, the S47 is a great player at a great price.
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| dkozin's Full Review: Panasonic DVD-S47 DVD Player |
Usually, as soon as the new generation of Panasonic DVD players appears, I trick myself into selling my previous player on eBay or Amazon.com marketplace and buying the newer model. My mother inherited my Panasonic DVD-RV31 as I upgraded to DVD-RV32, which was sold to get the Panasonic DVD-S35.
In every case, there was a reason to upgrade (or so I made myself believe). The RV31 had poor MP3 playback interface, the RV32 has better MP3 playback, the S35 had aspect ratio control, DVD-RAM playback. As useful features appeared, the number of playable formats grew and the prices kept decreasing, I noticed that the players were also getting lighter and that the newer S35 didn’t have the excellent response time of the older RV31.
So some useful features appeared and the prices declined, but the alarming trend of lighter players and slower response time ensued. Nothing is free.
MP3 Playback
As Panasonic released the new line of its DVD players and I decided to buy the Panasonic DVD-S47 to see if its new features justify the cost of the upgrade. Chiefly, I was disappointed with the MP3 playback of my current Panasonic DVD-S35. The MP3 playback quality (both through the optical digital out and through the analog stereo out) was worse than if I took the same MP3 files, burned them on a CD-R/W disc (in CD-DA format) and played on the same player.
The S47 features so-called Multi Re-Master upsampling mode for, supposedly, warmer and more realistic sound. Also, the S47 can play DVD-Audio (2-channels only).
Upon bringing the player home and hooking it up to my Panasonic SA-HE70 receiver feed into Athena Point Five speakers, I played my test MP3s, followed by the same music recorded from those MP3s, but in CD-Audio format. Unfortunately, re-master or not, the sound remained worse than when burned in CD-DA format. The guitars are too soft and some frequencies seem lacking.
I have liked the MP3 playback interface on the S35 and the S47’s is good as well, but my main criterion is the MP3 sound quality and, since I see no meaningful improvement, the S47 goes back to the store (god bless the return policy) and the S35 stays.
They are Getting Lighter
The S47 is very light, which is good and bad. It is good since the low weight keeps manufacturing and transportation costs down as well as lets you move the player with ease. It is bad (or rather not-so-good) since the higher weight normally means durability and better vibration resistance as well as electromagnetic shielding.
I would definitely pick a lighter Panasonic player over a heavier no-name (or a name brand) player, but the newer players lack the heft that inspires confidence when you lift the older RV31.
The player I got has silver finish with stylishly-mirrored display under the disk tray and slim profile.
Connectivity
The S47 features both the coaxial digital audio connection ad the optical.
In addition to the coaxial and optical digital audio outs, the player has an analog stereo audio out, which can be used for DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, CD-Audio, MP3/WMA and VCD/SVCD/XVCD. All of the aforementioned format can also be played through the digital audio outs, except for the hi-resolution DVD-Audio.
Video inputs are represented by the S-Video, composite video out and a component video out, which can be switched between “standard” interlaced and progressive scan (provided you have an HDTV or EDTV monitor).
To summarize, all connectivity options are present short or 5.1 analog audio or digital video (which you are unlikely to need).
Audio Performance
As I mentioned, the MP3 performance was good but not excellent. It might satisfy you if you don’t see a problem with 128 kbps MP3s. Although the player will play even 320 kbps MP3 files, they don’t sound as good as they could.
The CD-DA sound as well as your receiver and speakers can reproduce them, provided the optical digital connection is used. Ditto the DVD-Video. The analog connection is slightly noisy (I haven’t tried DVD-Audio) and I don’t recommend using it, if you have a decent receiver.
Video Performance
The video performance in “standard” interlaced mode was excellent with vivid colors, well-defined edges and excellent detail level. If you need the best in progressive scan, you will have to spend much more money on Faroudha/DCDi-equipped model, but the S47 will perform as well (if not better) as anything for this price.
Remote Control
The remote control changed quite a bit from the previous generation. I am happy to see that it is not as hard-edged as the previous model, but some buttons were moved for no apparent reason. For example, the Position Memory and Quick replay, which used to be in the right column of the two rows of buttons below the menu control buttons are now in the upper part of the remote. They are easier to access in one-handed operation though.
I don’t like the “Eject” button that is surrounded by other buttons. With some of the previous remotes, that had similar configuration, I would hit the Eject button occasionally with no intent of doing so, thus engaging the disk tray, which in turn would fit the glass door of the cabinet I keep some of my A/V gear in. Same can happen with this remote, especially in the dark.
Image Sizing
The same sizing flexibility as the S35 is present – you can select the aspect ratio of your TV and the image will be presented without distortion and you will be able to eliminate black bars on either side of the TV screen either automatically or my pushing the Zoom button.
JPEG
The player can display JPEGs from the CDs on the TV screen.
Bottom Line
If you don’t demand the best MP3 playback quality and the best progressive scan performance, the S47 is a great player at a great price.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 99
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Epinions.com ID:
dkozin
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 in Electronics |
 - Top 10 |
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Location: California
Reviews written: 845
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About Me:
I love to push buttons on electronic (audio and video) equipment. It makes me happy.
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