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Originally Posted by nateman
Should I wait for the Panasonic as well?
It is nice to have the most audio options, but my big concern is the upconverting of DVDs. The PS3 does a great job at upconversion, but how will the standalones fair? Do the new BD standalone players unconvert DVDs better than the PS3, the same or worse? For example: Watching House, M.D. on the PS3 makes it look fantastic. It rivals the actual HD broadcasts. Will I get the same quality with the standalones, though? |
I would note that like my LG BH200 the Samsung UP5000 stretches 4X3 DVDs so you have to switch your TV to 480P on some sets like mine. For that content I prefer to watch them hassle free on the PS3.
The Reon is higher rated than the Qdeo on the LG, but overall I've been pretty happy with the DVD quality on the LG and PS3. |
Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
The Samsung UP5000 (combo BD/HD) player has the Reon chip which makes DVDs look fantastic. As far as DVD upconversion on other units...probably the same as the PS3. IIRC, the Sony 350 is a notch better than the Panasonic BD50....but I need the DTS MA internal decoder so I'm going to go with that one. I have an XA2 so it makes DVD upconversion a moot point for me.
After I packed everything up I plugged in my cheap $69 Sony CD/DVD DVP - NS67P and although I can tell a slight difference between it and the PS3 (the DVP - NS67P isn't an upconverting player); the Sharp Aquos even makes video input look good. I've had bad luck with Samsung products, so I think I will stick with getting the S350. With BD players coming down in price I will probably end up getting more than one. I might also consider getting an upconverting DVD player and a BD player so I don't use one player for everything. If I can find a XA2 I'd love that for upconversion.
Originally Posted by darkside
I would note that like my LG BH200 the Samsung UP5000 stretches 4X3 DVDs so you have to switch your TV to 480P on some sets like mine. For that content I prefer to watch them hassle free on the PS3.
The Reon is higher rated than the Qdeo on the LG, but overall I've been pretty happy with the DVD quality on the LG and PS3. |
Originally Posted by nateman
What type of HDTV do you have? It won't let you squeeze content in 1080p. You have to drop the image from the player down to 480p to squeeze it. It isn't the biggest deal in the world, but I usually find it easier to just use the PS3 since it is a great DVD player and formats 4X3 content correctly on DVDs. It also remembers where you leave off on every DVD you play. Very handy with TV box sets. |
Originally Posted by nateman
I think this might just be the first standalone BD player for me. I just got a 32" Sharp Aquos, Pioneer receiver and a HD PVR and since February when I got the 40GB PS3; I've found myself yet again hardly playing any video games. I was going to wait for the Sony BDP - S550, but the S350 looks like it'll be a good standalone. I'll probably still end up keeping the PS3 around just encase anything happens, but I've always been a fan of standalone players. I will miss some of the features of the PS3 and I might even consider buying the new PS3 coming out in the fall just for more storage.
I do need a little help, though. I can't find the S350 anywhere. Is it out in Canada yet? I'm one of those people who don't like shopping on the internet for some reason and I'd even ask if anyone here could find one and send it via COD (cash on delivery) for me... So, if you have a Best Buy near you and you don't see it on the shelf, ask. I believe that you can also check the availability of the player at local stores by going to the BB website. |
I saw the 350 at my local BB last week. It was high up on the shelf back where the TV stands are located. They clearly want to move the 300's first (mine ha a stack of at least 20 of them), but the 350 is easily noticed due to the black and blue box.
It will be in next weeks Best Buy ad so they will have to put them out by then... |
It's really sad that even at this point, I can't find a 100% reliable Blu-Ray player that lives up to the PS3's standard, for around $300. Blu-Ray is really taking off, a lot of software is out, a lot more is coming, reduce the price of these players and get more people in on it already!
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Originally Posted by Darkside
Sharp Aquos LC-52D64U
It won't let you squeeze content in 1080p. You have to drop the image from the player down to 480p to squeeze it. It isn't the biggest deal in the world, but I usually find it easier to just use the PS3 since it is a great DVD player and formats 4X3 content correctly on DVDs. It also remembers where you leave off on every DVD you play. Very handy with TV box sets
Originally Posted by lizard
I don't know if the Sony S350 has made it to Canada but it has been reported at Best Buy and Circuit City in the US. However, a number of people have said that the Best Buy stores they have visited only have the obsolete S300 on display... for the same $399 price! They reported that they had to ask to get the S350 because BB is trying to move the old stock of S300s first.
So, if you have a Best Buy near you and you don't see it on the shelf, ask. I believe that you can also check the availability of the player at local stores by going to the BB website.
Originally Posted by mzupeman2
It's really sad that even at this point, I can't find a 100% reliable Blu-Ray player that lives up to the PS3's standard, for around $300. Blu-Ray is really taking off, a lot of software is out, a lot more is coming, reduce the price of these players and get more people in on it already!
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Standalones continue to be crippled by their design. I think they will start to shine when they stop being underpowered Linux boxes. The PS3 gets away with its design because the Cell is so powerful, but the standalones just seem slow and clunky by comparison.
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Holy Crap!
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.en...ay-dis-600.jpg We've been following the rumor since January, today it's official: LG's BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player will begin streaming Netflix movies in the US this September. The player will cost "well under $500" and allow Netflix members to stream more than 12,000 standard definition TV and films through the device at no additional increase to their monthly paid subscriptions. Members will use the Netflix website to add movies or TV to their individual instant queues. Movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds when selected from the TV where users can browse, make selections, read synopses, rate movies, and fast-forward / rewind video streams using the BD300's remote control. While specs on the player itself are scarce, we do know that it supports BD Live and LG's SimpLink technology to integrate easily with LG TVs and AV products. One thing's for sure, with this deal announced and those with Roku and the Xbox 360 in the bag, it looks like Netflix is grown-up and ready for the digital age |
Giz, I saw your post on AVS. Any word on analog out and internal decoding? If that is the case, I'd likely get this over a PS3 and/or the S550 or BD50/51.
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http://gizmodo.com/assets/images/giz...8/07/bd300.jpg
Dolb Digital Plus? Any Blu's have DD+...me thinks this was suppose to play HD DVDs at some point and time... http://gizmodo.com/assets/images/gal...aa8a96b7_o.jpg http://gizmodo.com/assets/images/gal...9e13b260_o.jpg |
Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
Holy Crap!
Ok, I'll be buying this as long as it decodes DTS MA... |
Sorry if I haven't read the whole thread, but are there any issues with the Panasonic BD30 that I should know about? I wasn't planning on getting a standalone player for another year or so, but I saw one for a price that may be too good to pass up - $207. I haven't been paying much attention to standalones, so I don't know much about them.
I know it doesn't do BD Live, but I really don't think I care. If there are any problem discs I could still use the PS3 for those. I've been using the PS3 for games a lot more lately, so maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a standalone to reduce wear and tear on the BD drive. The firmware should be pretty mature by now, right? |
Originally Posted by Drexl
Sorry if I haven't read the whole thread, but are there any issues with the Panasonic BD30 that I should know about? I wasn't planning on getting a standalone player for another year or so, but I saw one for a price that may be too good to pass up - $207. I haven't been paying much attention to standalones, so I don't know much about them.
I know it doesn't do BD Live, but I really don't think I care. If there are any problem discs I could still use the PS3 for those. I've been using the PS3 for games a lot more lately, so maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a standalone to reduce wear and tear on the BD drive. The firmware should be pretty mature by now, right? |
$207 is amazing, I'd snap one up at that price.
Keep in mind if you want DTS MA you'll have to bitstream it to a receiver that can decode it and obviously no BD-Live. Other then that....GET IT! |
Originally Posted by Drexl
Sorry if I haven't read the whole thread, but are there any issues with the Panasonic BD30 that I should know about? I wasn't planning on getting a standalone player for another year or so, but I saw one for a price that may be too good to pass up - $207. I haven't been paying much attention to standalones, so I don't know much about them.
I know it doesn't do BD Live, but I really don't think I care. If there are any problem discs I could still use the PS3 for those. I've been using the PS3 for games a lot more lately, so maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a standalone to reduce wear and tear on the BD drive. The firmware should be pretty mature by now, right? I just added the new Sony 820 receiver to it and am now able to bistream DTS HD MA. Sounds amazing. |
I should add the Panasonic 30 and 50 are having issues with some new Paramount /Universal titles where 24FPS must be turned off. Other then that...get it.
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Well, I got it. Now I have to see if I actually have any CD-ROMs to do the firmware update.
There Will Be Blood is the last Paramount disc I bought, so hopefully that plays fine. I don't have any Universal discs yet. Oh BTW, I read about the DTS "bomb" thing, but I updated the firmware on my Onkyo 605 a few months ago. So that shouldn't be a problem, I suppose. |
Originally Posted by Drexl
Well, I got it. Now I have to see if I actually have any CD-ROMs to do the firmware update.
There Will Be Blood is the last Paramount disc I bought, so hopefully that plays fine. I don't have any Universal discs yet. Oh BTW, I read about the DTS "bomb" thing, but I updated the firmware on my Onkyo 605 a few months ago. So that shouldn't be a problem, I suppose. |
Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema
What version are you on? 1.8 is the most current, but 1.6 was the last major update. If you don't have problems with 1.6, I don't think you need 1.8. I'm still using 1.6, although I never had a problem with any version.
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Originally Posted by Drexl
Well, I downloaded 2.2 which is dated July 14th. However, the CD I used didn't work for some reason. I'm not sure if I have any more here (I've gone to DVD-ROMs). It's at 1.6 out of the box.
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Picked up my BDX1 (S350) from Costco yesterday...and I love it. Easily one of the best stand alone Blu-ray players on the market and almost as fast as my PS3. The remote is laid out much nicer (and the Costco version is actually backlit) and the size is so damn small. As soon as the S550 comes out I'll be getting that one. Panasonic lost my business.
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As mentioned in the bargains thread, today's Amazon Deal of the Day is the Sony S300 for $299. Ten months after Profile 1.1 was established, they are still trying to unload the Profile 1.0 S300 players everywhere I look. Sony must have made a boatload of them.
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Panasonic BD50 already discontinued?
Blu-ray Players When it comes to high definition, Blu-ray technology is the future. One of Panasonic’s Blu-ray players is a must-have for the high-def techie on your holiday gift list. Both the DMP-BD35 and the DMP-BD55 players incorporate the new UniPhier® processor which reproduces crisp, natural colours faithful to the original movie. Brilliant images are complemented by an exceptionally pure, accurate sound achieved through leading-edge sound technologies. Both players also incorporate a high capacity SD card slot for easy AVCHD Video and JPEG image viewing. In addition to the above, both models have the capability to connect to BD-Live™ via an Ethernet terminal to give users the ability to network and download additional website content onto an SD memory card for additional entertainment enjoyment. The DMPBD55 focuses additional attention to audio performance with the addition of 7.1 analogue outputs, audio grade components and isolation feet to reduce the effects of vibration. Pricing available upon request. |
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