Time to go shopping for a new Blu-ray player, suggestions.

Ron-P

I'm so tired of my Samsung BD-P1000 not playing discs. I've never had so many issues with a machine before. I can't play Sunshine now due to it's BDJ encoding and 3:10 to Yuma had difficulty playing.

Any suggestions for a trouble free player or am I holding out hope for something that's not a reality yet.

PS: No PS3 suggestions please, I don't want a gaming machine for a stand alone player.

steveinaz

I'm really impressed with the Panasonic DMP-BD30K, but I run a simple 2-channel home theater---so I don't know about it's advanced audio performance/config.

MikeC78

There is a new Panny player comming out here soon, I think it's the BD50 model?

wingnut4772

steveinaz wrote: »

I'm really impressed with the Panasonic DMP-BD30K, but I run a simple 2-channel home theater---so I don't know about it's advanced audio performance/config.

Everytime I read that you do HT only in 2 channel..I cry a little.:(


P.S. I was gonna recommend the PS3 so I am out. Sorry.

Grimster74

Sounds like the Panny BD-30 is the way to go now. I have the BDP-S1 and have yet to have a problem getting a movie to play but if your trying to keep up with technology, buy the Panny, a hell of alot faster loading BD compaired to my Sony from what I've heard.

jakelm

wingnut4772 wrote: »

Everytime I read that you do HT only in 2 channel..I cry a little.:(

I cry alot..Like right now:(:(

millerman 3732

Panasonic.

steveinaz

Viva 2-Channel! I don't need no stinking surrounds......LOL

jakelm

steveinaz wrote: »

Viva 2-Channel! I don't need no stinking surrounds......LOL

Thats what Bose said. Nothing like good ol's Simulated Surround Sound.....LOL:p






....NOOOOTTT!!!!

steveinaz

I'll go surround right after I grow 3 more ears.

VIVA 2-Channel you infidels! LOL

cheddar

The DMP-BD50 seems like it may be out this spring with all the latest bells and whistles like internal decoding of TrueHD and DTS-HD MA as well as PIP (Bonus View, Profile 1.1) and Internet connectivity (BD-Live, Profile 2.0). It should price at slightly above the BD30.

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=215165&modelNo=Content01052008065621607&surfModel=Content01052008065621607

If you can do without internal lossless decoding and BD-Live and can't wait, you can go with the BD-30. There are also a flood of Bonus View capable players coming out in the next year if you can hang on a little longer. I wouldn't go with older players other than the BD-30 at this point with the good stuff so close to release. And even then, if the BD50 hits all their specs, it looks to be an outstanding player.

billbillw

MikeC78 wrote: »

There is a new Panny player comming out here soon, I think it's the BD50 model?

Soon, as in summer.

Ron, get the Panny BD30. Its one of the most trouble free players out right now. Either that, or a PS3.

cheddar

Just FYI, it looks like there are still blu-ray deals to be had even after the Warner announcement. All the hardware manufacturers still have to compete against EACH OTHER after all.

http://www.dealcatcher.com/

Deal catcher has a listed deal on the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U 42" 1080p Plasma HDTV which appearantly comes with a BD30 for $1,484.98 with Free Shipping.

Just add this Blu-ray Disc Player to your cart as well. During your checkout, choose free shipping, and you'll see the discounted price in the Place Your Order page. IT looks like the Blu-ray player ships in 1-2 months, so give it a little time.

billbillw

Fry's.com and Buy.com (w/5% coupon) are the cheapest places to get the BD30 right now. If you have a Fry's B&M store in your region, you can probably get a pricematch at BB or CC. Works out to about $380-$395 depending on if you have tax applied (frys).

steveinaz

cheddar wrote: »

Just FYI, it looks like there are still blu-ray deals to be had even after the Warner announcement. All the hardware manufacturers still have to compete against EACH OTHER after all.

http://www.dealcatcher.com/

Deal catcher has a listed deal on the Panasonic TH-42PZ700U 42" 1080p Plasma HDTV which appearantly comes with a BD30 for $1,484.98 with Free Shipping.

I would expect this, they'll probably put BR players on sale as a last ditch effort to thrust a final blow---marketing wise.

danger boy

get a PS3

Sherardp

the Panny should and will do the trick, I also have the Sony S-1. The Panny is the latest and greatest, unless you go for the dual format from Samsung.

margate21

i also just got the bd30, although the pq/aq just as good as my xa2. i am afraid that when software comes out with 2.0 info on it that it will choke the machine. so i have until february to decide.

Ron Temple

I've had the Sony S300 for a couple of weeks now. Initially, I had long load times and I wasn't very pleased with it's upconverting ability, however, without loading the new firmware yet, load times are much improved (I don't have any idea why, maybe the disks) and after doing some comparisons, the upconverting is stellar too. The only drawback is as music player. For an entry level player I have no complaints. I considered the Panny but didn't want to spend $500.

Ron-P

Thanks for the suggestions, seems the Panny is the way to go. I'll see what I can find and where and check out the specs.

mantis

Ron,
Sony has a Es model that was released and Pioneer ELite has there 95. For the money these are reference players but the Panasonic 30 is probably the best way to go.

Do you have preamp or receiver that decodes the audio formats via HDMI???

I have to also suggest the Ps3. In my experience it's the best overall Blue Ray on the market today for under 500.00. I perfer it over the Panasonic.

Todays market is getting away from stand alone. The Ps3 is a step in the right direction. It's up to you man.

Good luck,

Dan

rskarvan

Ron Temple wrote: »

I've had the Sony S300 for a couple of weeks now. Initially, I had long load times and I wasn't very pleased with it's upconverting ability, however, without loading the new firmware yet, load times are much improved (I don't have any idea why, maybe the disks) and after doing some comparisons, the upconverting is stellar too. The only drawback is as music player. For an entry level player I have no complaints. I considered the Panny but didn't want to spend $500.

I agree... the Sony S300 is a really nice machine. No complaints at all here.

mantis

Ron,
why do you want a stand alone player?

polkseller

My choices

Killer Ultra quality player: :eek:

-Denon Blu-ray ( High end Burr-brown chips and HQV chip Realta)

-Onkyo

-Pioneer Elite

Excellent Qaulity player:

-Sony s1 (old player)

-Sony bdp-s500 ( way way better than the s300, audio support DD+ DTS HD decoding)
- samsung 1200
-Panasonic latest player


Ok quality

sony s-300
sharp
samsung 1400

HAve tried them all except the u5000 and ultra quality player .

I-SIG

mantis wrote: »

Ron,
why do you want a stand alone player?

I obviously can't speak for Ron, but I have a sneaking suspicion that like me, he hasn't touched a video game controller in close to a decade or more.

Wes

Ron-P

I want a machine that's built for playing Blu-ray, not a gaming machine that can also play Blu-ray. I don't play video games of any kind.

My last gaming console was an Intellivison.

MikeC78

Ron-P wrote: »

I want a machine that's built for playing Blu-ray, not a gaming machine that can also play Blu-ray. I don't play video games of any kind.

From AVS...

Does the PS3 have the best video quality of Blu-Ray players?
Nothing is definitive, but most agree that it does. Additionally, it now offers 1080/24p output, which not all standalone Blu-ray players do.

How could that be possible? It is so inexpensive compared to other players.
While that is true, Sony is known to be subsidizing the PS3, while the other players are not subsidized. Sony wants to ensure the future of both Blu-Ray and PS3, so while this loses them money in the short term, theoretically, it will be a financial win in the long term.

For more info, Sound and Vision magazine has shoot out of the first batch of Blu-Ray players here . I'll ruin the ending, PS3 wins.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/hd-dvd-bluray/1927/shootout-3-blu-ray-disc-players.html

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=650544

danger boy

but does the PS3 have all the outputs needed for a home theater, or is it mostly just the gaming outputs? I know it doesn't have 5.1 analog RCA outputs..

MikeC78

danger boy wrote: »

but does the PS3 have all the outputs needed for a home theater, or is it mostly just the gaming outputs? I know it doesn't have 5.1 analog RCA outputs..

Use HDMI. It's the new technology capable of delivering it.:)

cheddar

danger boy wrote: »

but does the PS3 have all the outputs needed for a home theater, or is it mostly just the gaming outputs? I know it doesn't have 5.1 analog RCA outputs..

The only real omission is the analog multichannel outputs. It has HDMI and toslink. And until very recently, it had the most advanced HDMI implementation of any player. Now there are players like the sammy 1400 and panny bd30 that bitstream Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA to a pre/receiver for decoding. The ps3 is hardware limited in this regard and will have to internally decode these formats for the user to hear them. It currently decodes TrueHD to PCM just like a pre/receiver does and sends it out over HDMI (It will probably get DTS-HD MA decoding via a firmware update). The other drawback is that the remote has to be bluetooth based to turn the unit on. But they sell usb attachments that allow IR remote operation of everything else.

The positive side to it being a gaming machine is that while the dedicated players skimp on hardware to keep prices down, the ps3 includes tons of price subsidized hardware that it needs for gaming making it over engineered for doing something as simple as playing back BD disks. That's why the firmware updates for it have unlocked amazing playback options especially considering it was released as a first generation player. Updates gave it 24 fps movie cadence, dvd upconversion to 1080p, fine color space control, Profile 1.1 (bonus view -- PIP) with Profile 2.0 (bd-live -- internet connectivity, and it has a wireless connection too) soon to come, PC connectivity to act as a media streaming hub, etc. The gaming side doesn't just buy you a useless gaming controller if you don't game, it also includes more internet hardware, processor power, memory, and graphics power than any player spec blu-ray or hd-dvd (also plays SACDs) AND they sell it to you at a loss.

But I certainly understand if people need analog outs or new audio format bitstreaming...

Ron-P

Can you use a Harmony remote with the PS3?