Considering an upscaling DVD player like the Panasonic DVD-S53 retails for substantially less than either a Blu-ray or HD DVD player, it can be a solid compromise for consumers who don't want to commit to one of the new high definition formats until a clear winner has emerged. Using an HDMI connection, the Panasonic DVD-S53 upscales standard DVDs to high-definition 720p, 1080i or 1080p signals so you can enjoy an HDTV-compliant picture with about double the resolution provided by an ordinary progressive scan DVD player. This is a great way to optimize the picture quality from your existing DVD library.

The DVD-S53 is a slim, neatly styled device available in a choice of colors to complement your existing home theater set up. The player comes in a black finish as model number DVD-S53K or in silver as model number DVD-S53S. In every other respect the two models are identical, so whichever finish you opt for, you'll find the DVD-S53 offers excellent picture quality and disc compatibility. Upscaling to 1080p, the unit produces clean and sharp images with deep blacks and plenty of shadow detail. The unit handles just about any format of recordable disc, including DVD-RAM and those encoded with DivX, WMA, MP3 and JPEG picture files.

As well as a good selection of picture adjustments including five preset modes, we were also impressed by the selection of audio controls on the DVD-S53. These include three Digital Noise Reduction settings and a Dialogue Enhancer that boosts the central channel audio. The unit's Advanced Virtual Surround Sound simulates surround sound using just a twin speaker output. The DVD-S53 can also route Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 channel sound to a full featured A/V receiver.

The onscreen menu navigator is clear and intuitively organized and the included remote control is neatly laid out. In fact there is very little to complain about with this unit. It does lack a USB port for accessing digital files such as DivX movies directly from a storage device, although these can be played via disc. There are no outstanding extra features on this DVD player but for picture and audio performance it is a very solid buy at less than $100. We recommend the Panasonic DVD-S53 as a versatile DVD player that offers excellent performance, disc compatibility and upconversion to 1080p.

Pros: HDMI connection, upscaling to 720p, 1080i or 1080p resolution, plenty of picture and audio control options, DivX compatible
Cons: No USB port, no HDMI cable included

Warranty
90 days, labor; 1 year, parts