Panasonic DMR-ES20 has LSI encoding chip

gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

The rumour about the Panasonic DMR-ES20 having an LSI encoding chip is true. I just got hold of an ES20... opened it up, removed the heat sink and the unit in fact has a LSI DoMiNo DMN-8602 encoding chip. What's more, the ES20 records full D1 at 720x480, not 704x480 (the "cropped" D1 format) like all the previous Panasonics do.

I made some quick test recordings with the DV and s-video inputs - same method as always... I used my Pioneer DVR-320S as the source player.

Panasonic DMR-ES20, DV input, SP mode

Panasonic DMR-ES20, s-video input, SP mode, Line-In NR Off

Marvingj · Posted: Dec 17, 2005 07:43

Stilll the ES10 has a better picture and the black are better. I notice that went I pick up a ES20 the picture look smera and the black level was grey. The pic you have looks pretty good, the ES20 I had must been defective. I wish you would compare pioneer to the ES20.

gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

I have an ES10, too. Here's what the s-video input recording looks like using the identical method (Pioneer DVR-320S source player)... I shut off the input video noise reduction to achieve the sharpest picture possible.

Panasonic DMR-ES10, s-video input, SP mode, Line-In NR Off

The ES10 has a softer recorded image than the ES20. Also, it crops 16 pixels from the left and right frame edges (704x480 format). The ES20 records in full D1 format 720x480.

For reference, here's what the THX test disc frames look like:

THX test disc frame grabs:

The ES20 recordings, especially using the DV input, are the closest to the original test disc in terms of sharpness, color, black level, etc. Plus, my experience with other LSI encoding chip based machines is that they make better looking MPEG2 recordings overall, with fewer artifacts. The Panasonic proprietary chip that has been used in all their other units produces noticeable macrobocks, especially on recordings longer than 2 hrs.

lordsmurf · Posted: Dec 17, 2005 09:48

But doesn't the ES20 still insist on LP mode (4-hour) at 720x480 with 2.5Mb/s bitrate? That's still no good, LSI or not.

The ES10 was also 720x480, as that is a "new generation" sort of Panasonic chip. Quality still sucked on it though, the changes were minor and Diga did nothing.

I would be interested in seeing if the LSI was used correctly on the ES20. Is it true VBR, are the chroma removal filters in use, and is 352x480 ever used?

I also wonder if the ES20 has the same sort of sync filter that corrects flagging/tearing like the ES10 did.

I don't know if you ever used the ES10 for those sort of tests, but I'd like to see how it compares to the ES20.

Also, could you comment on how well the ES20 timer recordings work?

How does the ES20 handle DVD+R DL (MKM), DVD+R and DVD+RW media (anything good, 1st/2nd class as per nomorecoasters.com)?

And then, does the ES20 handle PAL region-free discs?
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gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

Marvingj · Posted: Dec 17, 2005 12:33

The ES20 picture does look sharper than the ES10. But I don't believe that it has a Sync Filter like the ES10. When I try to record a VHS tape and use the ES20 as a Pass thru. It didn't do the same thing as ES10 did ( no correction in terms of video jittering). I think they chose to use LSI because of Complaints of Marcoblocks. Have you compare it to the JVC yet. I might try to pick up a ES20 to see do I get the same result as you have. Nice going gshelley61!

trhouse · Member Joined: 28 Aug 2003

I can confirm the ES10 is 704 by 480. I once heard that the ES20 had the DV input added to make it more competitive against Sony. It may be that they went with LSI because their own chip could not be redesigned quickly enough to accomplish that. The ES20 appeared about six months after the ES10.

gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

The ES20's LP 4 hr mode is indeed 720x480, which can't be good for high action scenes.

The unit has a nearly identical GUI and most of the same setup options as the ES10. For example, there is switchable Line-In Noise Reduction (On, Off, Automatic) just like the ES10. It has the same Black Level adjustment settings for input and output, too. The playback MPEG DNR is switchable, as well.

The noise reduction circuit is reasonably effective, suppressing grain and chroma noise pretty well. How it compares to the JVC noise reduction filters, I don't know at this point. In the tests I ran above, I left it off.

drmpeg · Member Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Location: Silicon Valley

The DMR-ES40V is also based on the LSI Logic DMN-8602.

gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

ncaahoops · Member Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Location: usa

[quote="gshelley61"]

ricky d · Member Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Location: United States

I purchased a ES20 from a local shop brand new. I bought it cause I heard / read how good the sync filters were on the ES10 - And since they dont make the ES10 anymore, I figured I would buy their upgraded model (just a little more than getting a used (out of date) 1 off fleabay). I checked on Panni's website, and they stated the identical "sync / dub filters" on both models...

However, I use this in my video chain coming off different VCRs, and as far as I can tell it does not do much to clean up the picture - flagging at the top. Maybe this is on certain tapes that I have not sene yet, but my results / tests were not even close to what LS raves about this box...

-Disapointing-

lordsmurf · Posted: Dec 22, 2005 14:28

Yeah, it's becoming clear that ES10 and ES20 are dissimilar in a number of ways. Sync filters gone most likely, and LSI encoder used instead (but poorly implemented, given the 720x480 LP).
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gshelley61 · Frequent Flyer Joined: 19 May 2004 Location: USA

What we need is someone to build a DVD recorder with the sync filters from the Panasonic ES10, the input video proc amp and noise filtering adjustments of the Pioneer DVR-533, and the LSI encoder with hybrid VBR and FR recording capability of the JVC. May as well put a 250GB hard drive in it with frame accurate editing, too.

ricky d · Member Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Location: United States

That would be sweet, but I would really just be happy with a standalone device (sync / dub filter) like the ES10's, without all the other crap attached to it. They could sell this thing by itself for a quarter, or even half the price.

If they can build this feature into that lame DVDr - Surely that can pull the chip set out, stick it in a small box, and run some S-video cables through it...

-I think we are just too small of a market-

lordsmurf · Posted: Dec 22, 2005 17:50

ncaahoops · Member Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Location: usa

The ES20 seems to clean up some VHS tapes at times, but I don't have an ES10 to compare to.

I accidentally made a VHS recording from an RF source with the RF cable half-way in. The recording on VHS was very noisy and too annoying ot watch. After recording it to DVD-RAM, it was visibly cleaner and more watchable. But I don't have any other DVD recorder to compare it to.

Sometimes when playing some VHS tapes right after a fast-forward-playback, the VCR has some interference junk at the bottom of the screen that recedes after 2-3 seconds. The ES20 does not remove those, but it cleans them up a bit, so you get cleaner junk

I don't know what the proper VHS term is for that, so I call it "interference junk", which is probably not a good description.

mray · Member Joined: 26 Mar 2004 Location: UK

So, is it the case, that for normal dvd recording, the ES20 is a better machine than the ES10? Or is there no difference?
Thanks in advance.

Rosco · Member Joined: 14 Dec 2004

vhelp · ..Semi Neutral.. Joined: 31 Mar 2001 Location: New York

Evening everyone

I have been looking at the test pattern pic you posted for the:

** Panasonic DMR-ES10, s-video input, SP mode, Line-In NR Off

And, I can't help notice that it looks the closest to the original
THX pattern from your dvd disk.

IMHO, I would have to say that the ES10 does a better job at retaining
(or reproducing) the test pattern image to the closest detail. That
means, that the ES10 has a chip (IMO) that does better job on the
sub-sampling process than the ES20 chip's.

I read earlier in this topic, how it was suggested that the ES10
has a slightly more softer look. I don't agree. I think that they
both look the same, sharpness wise, but what might be overlooked, is
the sub-sampling of the color space for each of the unit's chip process.

On the ES20, you can see how some of the color's bleed into the next
block. But on the ES10, its much less.

Now, I noticed this right away, on account of my current research and
study of yuv and sub-sampling processes. And, because I am deeply
involved in this area, it was all too easy for me to spot, quickly.

Also, because I used the original THX test image that gshelley61 had
posted here. And, I spent a good part of the day, studying and runing
various test scenarios of sub-sampling (via my yuv tool I'm developing)
and the results aftwards.

It is my honest opinion, that we need to first view the method of the
sub-sampling done for these units. Then, comes the overal picture
quality. Mainly becase these units incorporate various kinds of filter
processes. And, they can be anywhere's, from before, during, and/or
after the sub-sampling stage.

Last, it is also my opinion, that the sub-sampling step is a form of
filter on its own, and could be viewed as such. Therefore, I truely
believe that we talk about image quality from these devices, that it
is very important to first look at the sub-sampling results. To do
this, would require some test patterns, such as the ones that gshelley61
has posted here. These serve as good references, mainly on account of
the color blocks and how you can discern "bleeding" across each block's
bounderies.

@ gshelley61

If you could post *other* images that would show more RED colors, that
could (or might) help bring better conclusions on the overal picture
quality. What we are after here, is how well the *each* unit's chip
does in its processing. In this case, we are looking for how well
each chip handles (processes) during the sub-sampling stage.

I leave that up to you to consider

To recap:
** sub-sampling -- I believe this was overlooked, and should be considered.
** ES20 vs. ES10 - It is my opinion that the ES10 did a accurate job

** images -------- more should be demo'ed, but with RED colored areas.

footnote:
(Also, I thought it would be wise to include (in your first post) some
links to your *other* test pattern demonstrations. I think its a good
idea for us to reference. I don't know if you recall those test, but
if you do, maybe you could post them at the bottom on your first post
under "references" or something. Just a suggestion

)

-vhelp 3702
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lordsmurf · Posted: Dec 23, 2005 23:27

vhelp, don't get lost in stills. Watch the motion of the discs made in the ES10. There are some "ghosting" effects pretty bad in the units too, which contributes to image detail loss. It gets compounded by using the DNR of the ES10, but usually your tape is already screwed and some ghosting is better than a tearing picture.

The ghosting is actually POSTERIZATION here. That's something you get from limiting the color palette. In this case, your offender would (most likely) be the encoder chipset.

That's just the ES10.

Typical mediocre Panasonic quality image. But the filters are great for tapes otherwise considered lost to errors. Lesser of evils.
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ncaahoops · Member Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Location: usa

ncaahoops · Member Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Location: usa

trhouse · Member Joined: 28 Aug 2003

Now listed on LSI's web site as using an LSI processor,

http://www.lsilogic.com/products/product_showcase/index.html

texas1 · Member Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Location: United States

my ES10 burned out and I bought an ES20 from Ebay, New In Box. Now I am regretting it for the following reasons.

1. FR mode does not allow pause. This is a critical feature for omitting ads in real time without having to do it on the PC later. You can still pause in the other modes XP, SP, LP....

2. FR mode auto creates chapters about 90 seconds apart!! In XP mode, the chapters are also auto created but the splits are about 4:30 to 5:15 (min:seconds) apart which is normal and customary on Pannys I believe.

3. the worst feature is that on ANY mode, there seems to be copyright protection on any tv show, game etc where you cannot even play the FINALIZED disc on any other dvd player, dvd recorder, or PC drive. THUS I HAD TO extract the vob files using DVD Decrytor and that only in IFO mode (File Mode did not work for extraction). Then I had to reauthor the video then burn it to another disc.

anybody have experience with these issues?

what about the firmware upgrade U3-150, does it solve any of these problems?

any help is appreciated..