Panasonic DVD-S97 DVD Player Review
by
Chris Tham
— last modified February 12, 2007
Panasonic DVD-S97 DVD player
Summary
- Product Name: DVD-S97 DVD Player
- Manufacturer: Panasonic
- Performance Rating:
- Value Rating:
- Review Date: December 10, 2005 19:00
- MSRP: $ 299
- Specifications
-
Hardware: - MPEG/MLP/DD/DTS Decoder: Panasonic MN2DS0004AP
- Deinterlacer/scaler: Genesis FLI2310-LF
- DVD/CD Transport driver: BA6679FM
- DVD/CD controller: BA5838FM
- Graphics (SDR SDRAM) Memory: Samsung K4S643232H-UC60 2Mx32, 2 x Samsung K4S641632H-UC75 4Mx16
- Memory (Flash): Fujitsu 29DL323TE-90PFTN 4MB
- D/A Converter for Video: Analogue Devices ADV7320 216MHz/12bit with NSV and Macrovision
- D/A Converter for Audio: 4 x TI/BB PCM1791 192KHz/24bit
- Audio op amps: 4 x JRC 4580 dual op amps
- HDMI Transmitter: Silicon Image SiI 9030CTU PanelLink
Software:
- Updatable via DVD-ROM
Power Supply:
- Input Voltage/Frequency: AC 230~240V 50Hz
- Power Consumption in Standby: ~1 Watt
- Power Consumption in Operate: 20 Watt
Video Characteristic: - Video Amplitude VP-P (V): 1.0 (75 ohm)
- S-Video Amplitude VP-P (V): Y:1.0VP-P/75 ohm, C 0.286VP-P/75 ohm (NTSC), 0.300VP-P/75 ohm (PAL)
- YCbCr: Y:1.0VP-P/75 ohm, Cb/Cr 0.7VP-P/75 ohm
- YCbCr Resolution: 720X480X30/NTSC or 720X576X25/PAL (progressive and interlaced)
- Horizontal Resolution (TV Line): ≥ 500 lines
- Video Signal-to-Noise Ratio: ≥ 65dB
- HDMI: 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i
Audio Characteristic:
- Frequency: 4Hz~44KHz (DVD @ 96kHz), 4Hz~20KHz (CD), 4Hz~88KHz (DVD-A @ 192kHz)
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio: 115dB
- Dynamic Range: 100dB (CD), 110dB (DVD)
- Total Harmonic Distortion: 0.002%
Unit Dimension:
- 16-5/16" x 10-1/16" x 2-5/16" (430mm X 249mm X 59mm)
- Net Weight: 2.5kg (5.3lbs)
Pros
- Excellent video and audio
- HDMI 1.1 A/V digital out with support for 5.1 high resolution multi-channel audio
- Good value for money
Cons
- User interface is a bit sluggish
- Front panel display is too minimalist (doesn’t display elapsed time)
- Remote control has no back-lighting
- No time delay for subwoofer
- Time delay in milliseconds, not feet/meters
Introduction
Panasonic has always made highly regarded DVD-video players, and the DVD-RP82 was widely regarded by many as one of the best DVD players ever made (so much so that when it was discontinued, these players were selling on E-Bay for higher than the original Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price!) However, it seems that after the DVD-RP82, Panasonic went down-market and released a set of lackluster models.
