Home audio & video: What Blu-ray Player Should I Buy?
What Blu-ray Player Should I Buy?
by Adam Jackson - 9/6/08 7:22 AMThere aren't very many on the market, but, I was wondering which one I should buy...
I have a Samsung LN52A650 TV with an older (no HDMI connection) surround-sound system. Will the Blu-ray player play the sound over my system? Will I need to buy a new home theater system to hear the HD sound?
I'm looking for a player in the $250-400 price range that has upconverting capabilities...
Blu-Ray player
by Dan Filice - 9/6/08 8:02 AM In reply to: What Blu-ray Player Should I Buy? by Adam JacksonAt this early time in the Blu-Ray game, I think you will have a tough time finding a Blu-Ray player for the price you seek. The Panasonic BD-30 is one of the better players, but it's around $450 or so. The newer version, BD-50, is around $550. All Blu-Ray players will do upconversion, so that's not an issue. Even though your TV does not have HDMI, you can simply use the component video connections to get HD video from Blu-Ray discs. Component video cables do not carry audio like HDMI, so generally you use the two RCA audio plugs that are next to the Component-Video Out plugs on the DVD player. Your TV probably does not have anything other than RCA plugs for Audio-in. Once you get a receiver and speakers to enjoy 5.1 Surround, then use the Optical Audio-Out from the DVD player and plug that into the receiver.
hey guys
by jostenmeat - 9/6/08 2:57 PM In reply to: Blu-Ray player by Dan FiliceDan, I think you mighta missed my most recent price alert:
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7596_102-0.html?forumID=60&threadID=305688&messageID=2839835&tag=forums06;search-results#2839835
BD-30 was $299 last week, went up $12 it looks like.
Sony announced $100 drop in bd player prices, I think for this month?
I own a Pana BD-30, and it works perfectly . . . for ME. But for Adam, I don't recommend it. Firstly, you won't get hi-def audio, at least to its full capabilities, without an HDMI receiver. The BD-50 you can, if your receiver has multi ch ins. Now... if you ARE going to upgrade your receiver eventually, and want to take advantage of hi def for the time being... then the BD-30 is fine. That's what I did (took a few months or something for me to upgrade the prepro/receiver).
Secondly, the BD-30 is one of the worst players to buy for DVD playback. This is a moot point for me, but if this is your ONLY player, and you like to watch DVDs, I recommend something else.
in all honesty, with or without hi def audio, the video is worth the money in itself, IMO. Trust me, no one here was more excited about the prospects of hi-def audio. IMO, its a bit better, but not anywhere near what I was hoping. It seems that HT audio tracks are simply not mastered to a level that one would hope for... in general, at least.
Hope this helps. And lastly, this Oppo is going to get a LOT of people to jump on the bluray wagon... that is .... when it finally comes out (take note Dan!)
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/transports/high-definition-dvd-players-hd-dvd-blu-ray/oppo-bdp-83-blu-ray/image/image_view_fullscreen
Thanks or the update
by Dan Filice - 9/6/08 3:58 PM In reply to: hey guys by jostenmeatI've been so busy at work I haven't read the newspaper or a magazine in a couple of months so I've been out of the pricing loop. And about the OPPO BD player, I am waiting to see how it is when it comes out. My only problem is that my Yamaha receiver will not handle the HD Audio, so before I buy another BD player I need upgrade the receiver.
OPPO BD player
by masonaries - 9/7/08 5:32 AM In reply to: hey guys by jostenmeatjastenmeaat,
Thanks for the info on the OPPO BD player. I have been looking to buy my first BD player and I want a good player. I just know OPPO will come out will a superior player and worth the wait.
Blu-Ray player Prices
by masonaries - 9/7/08 5:22 AM In reply to: Blu-Ray player by Dan FiliceDan
What about the Sony BDP-S350 for $342 at Amazon or the Samsung BD-P1500 for around $299?
BD suggestins
by Dan Filice - 9/7/08 9:08 AM In reply to: Blu-Ray player Prices by masonariesmasonarie,
I can't really give you suggestions on either the Sony or Samsung that you are considering but I would certainly look at the CNET reviews of each and more importantly, read User Reviews to see what individuals say. I own a PS3 from Sony and so far it's been great (after I bought the stand-alone remote), but I have used two Sony DVD players and combo players and both are crummy. It makes me worry about my PS3, but so far, no problems. Someone posted above that the Panasonic BD-30 is selling for $299. I would certainly put my trust (from personal experience) into a Panasonic player first. When OPPO comes out with their BD player, it will not be cheap.
OPPO BD
by masonaries - 9/8/08 4:58 AM In reply to: BD suggestins by Dan FiliceI emailed OPPO and they emailed back within 24 hours. Wow. They said they hope to release their BD player this winter but will not until they are sure it is right.
BR
by bevillan - 9/8/08 12:44 PM In reply to: What Blu-ray Player Should I Buy? by Adam JacksonPersonally, I think the best deal still out there is the Sony PS3 for a BR player. Pretty short load times, on board TrueHD/DTS-MA sound decoding, steady stream of updating firmware support, and the newest SKU version of the PS3 runs quieter than before. Just $400
To get all that you would need to drop $600 on the Panny BD-50
Blu-Ray Player
by masonaries - 9/8/08 3:03 PM In reply to: BR by bevillanThe only reason to buy the Panny BD-50 is for certain sound systems. If your like me and you use the TV's speakers and you don't game and you want a stand alone BD player the SONY BDP-S350 at $341 at Amazon is a good option. Has Dolby-True Sound and fast start up times and a good HD picture with good up conversion of DVD's
Oh.
by jostenmeat - 9/8/08 3:21 PM In reply to: Blu-Ray Player by masonariesIf its just TV speakers, and budget is concern #1, take a look at Magnavox and Funai players.
You don't get it.
by masonaries - 9/8/08 3:30 PM In reply to: Oh. by jostenmeatYou just don't get it. Read my post again.
Why bite the hand that feeds you?
by jostenmeat - 9/9/08 1:07 PM In reply to: You don't get it. by masonariesFind me another regular here that is as profuse as I am in helping others in the last year.
Whether Bluray players, hi-def audio, or just all topics combined at this AV forum, whether audio, projectors, seating, cabling, theory, amps, receivers, setup, acoustics, treatments, subs, speakers, viewing angles, immersions, remotes, you name it.
The magnavox was actually decently reviewed by a fellow poster at audioholics, by perhaps the most frequent reviewer of new bluray titles.
good luck finding help from other posters. the person I think of that has some knowledge of bluray players beyond that of her own personal possession is givemeaname.
im done here.
...
by givemeaname - 9/10/08 11:59 PM In reply to: Why bite the hand that feeds you? by jostenmeatthe oppo will be over Adam Jackson price range, mostlikly will be $500 or more, but it should be a kick a$$ player.
the Panasonic BD-30 is a very good player, it just has a little LFE 'bug' but that can be corrected with an A/V calibration of the bass.
Panasonic BD-50 is a great player (LFE 'bug' fixed). 'certain sound systems' I don't under stand that one. It was the first 2.0 stand alone player + does ALL the HD audio & has 7.1 analog outs.
If your just using tv speakers... Magnavox and Funai/Sylvania are good BD players, surprisingly I have not read anything real bad, just that they are ugly. There is also the other 'older' models BD players out there 1.0 & 1.1 players. The only BUT part is they are not 2.0, but most of us care 1st for video, close 2nd HD audio (but if your just using tv speakers...), last is the 'extra gimmicks' ( bd-live & video commentary).
If you want 2.0 the Sony BDP-S350 is real nice player, even nicer whenever sony does the $100 price drop.
For Adam Jackson if your reciever has 5.1 or 7.1 analogs ports, just get a Bluray player that has 5.1 or 7.1 anaglogs out & if you want HD audio look for one that can internally decodes DTS-HD + DD-True & bitstream out via analogs & just turn that 'old' receiver into an Amp for the BD player.
... keep an eye open for these that will be released very soon in your price range before the holiday shop season. Sony bd550 $399, Samsung BD-P2550 (MSRP $499.99 but also has a HQV chip), Daewoo DBP-1000 (no MSRP yet but should be resonable priced 2.0), Sharp BD-HP50 ($449 msrp), Panasonic DMP-BD55 (MSRP?), they will be cheaper online. There will be more releases in the next 2 months & big sales for the holiday season push.
Overall, great info g.m.a.n.
by jostenmeat - 9/11/08 12:21 AM In reply to: ... by givemeanamebut two corrections for your future information.
- the LFE bug of the BD-30 has been fixed since the 1.6 FW. I don't even know, or really care, what version they are on. Everything works beautifully.
- I am not sure exactly what kind of A/V calibration will fix an LFE cut. You would have to have a pre-pro/receiver that has variable adjust on the LFE internally. Or a +5 boost, exactly, as an availability.
Because . . . the only way you can just turn up the sub gain and have it be perfect is if all other speakers, and I do mean all, are being run as full-range. This probably happens for 1 out of every 1,000,000 systems out there. Not only due to speaker limitations, but room interactions with speakers close to boundaries usually makes having a higher x-over preferable, even if all speakers could be full-range (extremely unlikely).
Ok, in a nutshell, if you turn up sub gain, you are also proportionately turning up all summed bass that is rerouted to the sub from the other 5/6/7 speakers. That means summed bass will be running 5 db hot.
Maybe you know all this already, and know of a solution I do not. Would love to learn.
Which leads me to my last my point regarding m-ch analogs. Extensive research should be done on any player in regards to the inherent LFE cuts, as well any receiver that is to accept these and what kind of features they have to boost LFE. Kinda nuts.
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