Top-notch PQ for a hardware-based player. Plays almost all disks well (as of review, it's the top-rated player on hometheaterhifi.com's DVD Shootout, which mainly looks at playability of disks).

Only has optical SPDIF out. I'm cool with that, but some will argue that coaxial is superior.

Great picture quality and plays virtually anything you throw at it. The picture is close to the same quality as my HTPC with TheaterTek, but without the headaches. Since having the XP-30, I haven't had any menu navigation problems and very few playback artifacts (only at the end of one movie during the credits). I'm sorry, but I can't say the same for my HTPC.

Similar Products Used:

HTPC using TheaterTek.

Video quality

No Dolby 5.1 surround

The XP30 has the best video I have ever seen. With the RP82 discontinued, this is a very good option to get the same video quality they say. However, unlike the RP82, the XP30 does not do Dolby Digital 5.1. Hence no surround sound. It does Dolby Digital 2.1 or 2.0. For this reason, my XP30 which came yesterday is going to go back. That leaves me with the option of getting the Dennon 1600 or somehow finding an RP82 at a highly infated price. The XP30 is a great deal if you can live without 5.1 surround. This makes little sense to me with my having a killer surround system and now a killer HDTV. Why would I want to give up the surround experience with everything else being so good?

Similar Products Used:

Dennon 900..it's good just not as good

1st class video, outperforming virtually every other player from $60 to $8000(the only thing better is a well configured HTPC, but who need the aggrivation?). Audio is nice and deep sounding. SOLID build quality, nice and heavy with a cool mirror finish. Everyone who's seen the player has remarked "whoa...space-age".

No coax digital out, this is not a weakness for me since I optical is just as good, but some will gripe.

THE RP-82 RE-INCARNATED. This player now in favor because it's video quality is equal to that of the RP-82 a player that is sadly no longer available. The video is smooth and film-like, set up is as simple as they come, and I love the feature to remaster CDs! I can't seem find anything to complain about. The XP-50 with more features is supposedly it's equal. GET EM' WHILE YOU CAN, LIKE THE RP-82, THESE ARE DISSAPEARING AS WELL.