Well, I bought the Yamaha. If it wasn't for the review I probably would have never thought about it. My review after 2 days:
1. I don't think I have figured out the sub-woofer during DVD-Audio. It's working but not as loud or powerful, it seems, as the old panasonic. I'm running the multi channel out to my Denon and setting the recever (I can never remember where the "i" goes so i just leave it out...) to ext in. I have control of the sub-woofer thru the parameters section of the receiver (i was just kidding) via a attenuator on/off and also in the set-up section via a db selection of 0, +5, +10 & +15 (these have very little effect but according to the manual work during analog input). The only control in the Yamaha is either sub on or off. The sub-woofer is 100watts JBL and I have it connected from the reciever (****...) sub pre-out (a splitter plug takes the pre-out to 2 lines) and I use a dual line into the L & R LFE inputs on the sub. This is how I had it with the panasonic. I usually have the volume half way up for thunder boomness
but it seems lacking. I do notice more presence but I guess its "noticeably different" and I'll leave it at that.
2. I still have some "redbook" CD's that really sound like crap but I am beginning to think it is maybe my taste in music. Jimmy Page needs to die so someone that knows what they're doing can "fix" his music...cause I am declaring it digitally BROKE!
3. I really haven't analyzed the video quality because I really don't care...
4. Brain Salad Surgery is just kick ***. My wifes (really) Fleetwood Mac - Rumors is very impressive stuff...I don't have any SACD's yet (Pink Floyd - Dark Side o' the Moon) but I'll be taking care of that this weekend for a much anticipated (hallucinagenic) review.
All in all I think it was a smart upgrade. i do notice a large difference in "most" of my redbook CD's and I like that...
comments welcome as always,
P.S. anyone that doesn't know what "H01" is want to by a panasonic DVD Player (before I flush it)?