and then reality hits...

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steveinaz
steveinaz Posts: 19,546
edited May 2008 in Electronics
Ok, the Panasonic DMP-BD30K Blu Ray does suck with SDVD's. I'm past the denial stage. Grainy picture, artifacting, etc--almost like watching a VHS. BluRay is spectatcular, but this player was not meant for SDVD. So.....

I bought an Oppo DV-980H for SDVD duties! :D
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  • millerman 3732
    millerman 3732 Posts: 1,488
    edited May 2008
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    Update 1.8 was just released for the BD 30.

    http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/bd/download/bd30/bd30_na.html
    Casey
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited May 2008
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    millerman 3732 wrote: »
    Update 1.8 was just released for the BD 30.

    http://panasonic.jp/support/global/cs/bd/download/bd30/bd30_na.html

    Uh oh
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited May 2008
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    It's gonna take more than a firmware update to help this pup with SDVD.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited May 2008
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    Toshiba XA-1 upconverts like a sumuvabitch! I'm guessing the XA2 does even better, not sure about the A35 or whatever.

    If you can get one on close-out price, they make really good SD-DVD players and will keep whatever HD-DVDs you may have relevant. Slow, but silky smooth looking.
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  • millerman 3732
    millerman 3732 Posts: 1,488
    edited May 2008
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    I think the update is to help with some audio drop outs on some TrueHD tracks, sorry Steve, But enjoy your Oppo. I have read alot of threads about how bad the BD30's SD DVD playback was but I've never tried it, I play all my SD stuff in my Toshiba.
    Casey
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 8,064
    edited May 2008
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    V 1.8 supposedly only helps playback stability. No mention of improved SD playback.

    Steve,
    Don't worry. You did the right thing. The Oppo is a fine unit and has respectable audio output too.

    That's the main reason I added the HD-XA2 to my system: Great SD upconversion, with added bonus of playing back those HD-DVDs that I picked up for next to nothing on closeout.
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited May 2008
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    AndyGwis wrote: »
    If you can get one on close-out price

    A-3's seem to be going at $40-50 on Ebay, some with HD-DVD movies.
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited May 2008
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    AndyGwis wrote: »
    Toshiba XA-1 upconverts like a sumuvabitch! I'm guessing the XA2 does even better, not sure about the A35 or whatever.

    If you can get one on close-out price, they make really good SD-DVD players and will keep whatever HD-DVDs you may have relevant. Slow, but silky smooth looking.

    They are excellent with SD DVDs.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited May 2008
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    $169 for the Oppo, and top rated. This will work.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited May 2008
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    millerman 3732 wrote: »
    I think the update is to help with some audio drop outs on some TrueHD tracks, sorry Steve, But enjoy your Oppo. I have read alot of threads about how bad the BD30's SD DVD playback was but I've never tried it, I play all my SD stuff in my Toshiba.

    It's SDVD capabilities are poor. "Medicine Man" was just about unwatchable last night. I've been thinking about the Oppo for awhile, and last night sealed the deal.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2008
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    my SDVD's have never looked better using the Toshiba A3. quite good picture quality.. and sound it better too than my old Pioneer SDVD player.
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited May 2008
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    Sami wrote: »
    A-3's seem to be going at $40-50 on Ebay, some with HD-DVD movies.

    Yeah, I've got a few on my watch list. Since I have about 40-50 HD-DVDs these days (loved those $12 pick ems at CC), it would be great to have a backup player or two laying around. Hell, they'd make great gifts for people that are stuck using old non-upconverting DVD players.
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  • jflail2
    jflail2 Posts: 2,868
    edited May 2008
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    steveinaz wrote: »
    It's SDVD capabilities are poor. "Medicine Man" was just about unwatchable last night. I've been thinking about the Oppo for awhile, and last night sealed the deal.

    I love the Oppo (970) in our bedroom. Does an outstanding job with SDVD's.

    As an aside, Medicine Man is unwatchable in any format....
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited May 2008
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    I also noticed the severe grain on "Silverado" and some concert DVD's that I remember playing clearly on my Denon DV2910. I was able to clean-up Silverado a little by switching to 1080i output on the BD30k, but it was still lack-luster at best.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited May 2008
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    I replaced my OPPO with the A35. I loved HD DVD's, and STD DVD's looked also very good, though I thought that it was similar to the OPPO. With the death of HD, I was really annoyed by the fact that the A35's boot time was so long, so last week I decided to bring back the OPPO into the main HT. WOW!. This is when I noticed how much better the A35 is for upconverting. The A35 is back in the main HT and I don't care I have to wait a bit more.
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited May 2008
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    Are you sure that it's poor upconverting and that you're just not spooiled on Blu Ray?
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited May 2008
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    Ricardo wrote: »
    I replaced my OPPO with the A35. I loved HD DVD's, and STD DVD's looked also very good, though I thought that it was similar to the OPPO. With the death of HD, I was really annoyed by the fact that the A35's boot time was so long, so last week I decided to bring back the OPPO into the main HT. WOW!. This is when I noticed how much better the A35 is for upconverting. The A35 is back in the main HT and I don't care I have to wait a bit more.
    That pretty much summarizes my experience exactly! In fairness though that was an older Oppo model than the one you bought Steve
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited May 2008
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    Polkmaniac wrote: »
    Are you sure that it's poor upconverting and that you're just not spooiled on Blu Ray?

    It's definitely sub-par performance with SDVD's. I have a $39 Toshiba in the garage that shows a better SDVD picture. I don't know why Panny put such sucky SDVD performance in their bluray player, especially with the success the S77 and S97 had, but suck it does. The AVS forum is crawling with complaints about the BD30's SDVD playback.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • BIZILL
    BIZILL Posts: 5,432
    edited May 2008
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    Ricardo wrote: »
    I replaced my OPPO with the A35. I loved HD DVD's, and STD DVD's looked also very good, though I thought that it was similar to the OPPO. With the death of HD, I was really annoyed by the fact that the A35's boot time was so long, so last week I decided to bring back the OPPO into the main HT. WOW!. This is when I noticed how much better the A35 is for upconverting. The A35 is back in the main HT and I don't care I have to wait a bit more.

    thanks ricardo. now i won't even mess with re-hooking my oppo.:)

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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,637
    edited May 2008
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    steveinaz wrote: »
    It's SDVD capabilities are poor. "Medicine Man" was just about unwatchable last night.

    That movie is already unwatchable....who are you kidding?
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited May 2008
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    LOL! This is true. And I love Sean Connery but this movie...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited May 2008
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    LOL!

    Ok, ok I'm mailing my man card to Mark.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,637
    edited May 2008
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    I'll return it in 30 days Steve.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited May 2008
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    Damn, 30 days for "Medicine Man" didja think it was that bad?
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,637
    edited May 2008
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    If only people had realized that Lorraine Bracco couldn't act in 1992, we could have avoided her horrible portrayal of Dr. Melfi in the Sopranos.
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited May 2008
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    ROTFLMAO!!!! Mark you are a riot!
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  • hockeyboy
    hockeyboy Posts: 1,428
    edited May 2008
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    Stevinaz I am glad I saw this post. I had just about decided to pick up a Panny this weekend. What should be on my short list? Everyone says PS3 so is that the way to go? I will never play a single game on it so PQ and SQ is the only deciding factor. That being said, up-conversion of SD disc's will be critical as well.
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  • Lsi9
    Lsi9 Posts: 616
    edited May 2008
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    SD discs look damn good to me on the 30 but then again this is my first upconverting player...When people complain about grain I dont get it because grain to me is film grain, which is more film like... Perhaps my misunderstanding, I do see more grain but I like it

    what I do hate (which I have yet to see the panny 30 do) is pixelation in dark scenes as well as terrible moire patterns.

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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,546
    edited May 2008
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    hockeyboy wrote: »
    Stevinaz I am glad I saw this post. I had just about decided to pick up a Panny this weekend. What should be on my short list? Everyone says PS3 so is that the way to go? I will never play a single game on it so PQ and SQ is the only deciding factor. That being said, up-conversion of SD disc's will be critical as well.

    The BD30 is spectacular with BluRay, so my solution was to buy the Oppo for SDVD duties. I don't know if other BluRay players do better at SDVD. Keep in mind I'm pretty fussy---I was used to watching SDVD's on a Denon 2910, which did a beautiful job.

    Another option is to wait for Oppo's release of their BluRay player; rumored to be out around December...
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Source: Rotel CD14MkII CD Player - Speakers: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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