My March 2009 Malaysian built Pioneer BDP 320 arrived late tonight. Firmware Version 3.04
Initial impressions from April 2009:
Decodes DTS HD MA out of the box.
Seems about as quick in loading and power on times as 51FD.
PQ for SD DVD and BD is identical to 51FD best I can tell.
AQ is very good over analogues; generally impressed by Burr Brown DACs.
Very slick looking.
Cannot seem to connect to the internet yet for firmware/internet connections yet.
Will play BD+ (QOS) discs without issue
Here it is boxed:
Attachment 141372
Front shot
Attachment 141373
Comparison of size to 51
Attachment 141374
Load Times
Pirates of the caribbean (black pearl):
JVC: Medallion 16 seconds; Disney 27 seconds
Oppo: Medallion 21 seconds; Disney 31 seconds
Pio 51: Medallion 49 seconds; Disney 1 min 13 seconds
Pio 320: Medallion 38 seconds; Medallion 1 min 3 seconds (3.34)
Dark Knight: to anti-piracy page
JVC: 17 seconds
Oppo: 16 seconds
Pio 320: 42 seconds
Pio 51: 45 seconds
Casino Royale: to Sony screen
JVC 18 seconds
Oppo: 16 Seconds
Pio 320: 43 seconds (w 3.34)
Pio 51: 42 seconds
Power on to Pioneer display screen when first plugged in:
18 seconds
Pressing Eject to open drive when in standby mode:
BDP 51FD: 33 seconds
BDP 320: 18.5 seconds (FW 3.41)
Oppo 83: 2 Seconds
Video Performance: Synthetic Tests
Source Adaptive Deinterlacing
Cadence: Racecar testing for moire in stands
* denotes lock on in second set.
Edge Adaptive Test Patterns
Jaggie test - Pio 320
Speedometer: pass 45 to 5. fail +/- 5, pass -45 to -5
Ship: Pass
horizontal scrolling text: pass
vertical scrolling text: pass
Relative Comparison to Other Players: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1156535
Frequently Asked Questions:
How does the 320 compare to the 51FD?
The 320/23FD is a bit faster than the 51/05. Eject/power on times are 13 seconds faster on the 320 and the 320 loads most discs 4-7 seconds faster.
The 320/23FD has a greater colorspace - 48 bit - compare to the 51/05 - 36 bit.
The 320/23FD are currently (5/14/09) able to decode DTS HD MA internally; the 51FD has been waiting for firmware since Oct 08 (delivered in June 09).
The 320/23FD are Profile 2.0 players and can access BD Live features over the internet. Firmware upgrades can be performed via the internet as well. The 51/05 are Profile 1.1 players and lack an ethernet connection.
The 320/23FD share the same video chipset (SoC) with the 05FD/51FD. PQ is identical best I can tell.
The 320/23FD have BurrBrown DACs; the 51/05 have Wolfson DACs. The Woflsons are great; BurrBrowns appear to be great as well.
The 23FD has PQLS jitter reduction for multi-channel codecs when bitstreaming to a Pioneer Receiver. The 320, 51, and 05 have this feature but only for 2 channel playback.
The 320/23/51/05 share the same remote control.
The 320/23FD have KuroLink, which automatically detects a Pioneer Kuro display and makes adjustments for the Kuro plasma.
Anecdotally, the 320 appears more reliable in rental disc playback (netflix) than my previous two 51s. Error correction/laser sensitivity appear to be addressed to some extent.
The 320/23FD will play 12 rounds without problem. This disc will not play on the 51/05.
How long are the DVD layer changes?
After FW 3.41, there is NO layer change.
How does it compare to the Pioneer BDP-120?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...9#post16551589
What are the differences between the 320 and the 23FD?
Video and Audio performance are identical over HDMI and should be nearly identical over analogue in most cases. The 23FD is the Elite version and carries a 2 year warranty (3 in Canada) while the 320 has a year warranty. The 23FD has backlit buttons on the front fascia and an amber display; the 320 has a light blue display. The 23FD is slightly taller due to its feet. The biggest function difference is the 23FD has MCH PQLS to reduce jitter when the player decodes audio codecs to a Pioneer Receiver; the 320 only has 2 channel. The 23FD also has an RS 232 control plug on the back for custom integration.
Can it output both HDMI and component simultaneously?
No
Can it be made region free for dvd?
Yes, but this is not confirmed: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...5#post17851965
How good are the tweaking menus in the Pioneer 320/23FD?
Excellent. They have numerous options for adjusting gamma, brightness, contrast, various forms of noise reduction and others. There are also pre-set video settings including Professional, Pioneer PDP, and others.
I have a Kuro PDP, what is the best setting for video?
Professional has the least adjustment. Pioneer PDP actually has the following adjustments:
Pioneer PDP:
Progressive Motion: 4
Pure Cinema: auto1
YNR: 3
CNR: 0
BNR: 0
MNR: 0
Detail: 5
White Level: 4
Black Level: 4
Black Setup: 7.5 IRE
Gamma Correction: 4
Hue:4
Chroma Level:4
Professional:
Progressive Motion: 4
Pure Cinema: Auto1
YNR: 0
CNR:0
BNR:0
MNR:0
Detail:4
White Level:4
Black Level:4
Black Setup:4
Gamma Correction:4
Hue:4
Chroma Level:4
Known Bugs:
Terminator 2 Skynet (5/31) - slow playback (CONFIRMED)
Generation Kill (7/9) - playback (UNCONFIRMED)
DollHouse (8/20) unconfirmed.
Initial impressions from April 2009:
Decodes DTS HD MA out of the box.
Seems about as quick in loading and power on times as 51FD.
PQ for SD DVD and BD is identical to 51FD best I can tell.
AQ is very good over analogues; generally impressed by Burr Brown DACs.
Very slick looking.
Cannot seem to connect to the internet yet for firmware/internet connections yet.
Will play BD+ (QOS) discs without issue
Here it is boxed:
Attachment 141372
Front shot
Attachment 141373
Comparison of size to 51
Attachment 141374
Load Times
Pirates of the caribbean (black pearl):
JVC: Medallion 16 seconds; Disney 27 seconds
Oppo: Medallion 21 seconds; Disney 31 seconds
Pio 51: Medallion 49 seconds; Disney 1 min 13 seconds
Pio 320: Medallion 38 seconds; Medallion 1 min 3 seconds (3.34)
Dark Knight: to anti-piracy page
JVC: 17 seconds
Oppo: 16 seconds
Pio 320: 42 seconds
Pio 51: 45 seconds
Casino Royale: to Sony screen
JVC 18 seconds
Oppo: 16 Seconds
Pio 320: 43 seconds (w 3.34)
Pio 51: 42 seconds
Power on to Pioneer display screen when first plugged in:
18 seconds
Pressing Eject to open drive when in standby mode:
BDP 51FD: 33 seconds
BDP 320: 18.5 seconds (FW 3.41)
Oppo 83: 2 Seconds
Video Performance: Synthetic Tests
Source Adaptive Deinterlacing
Cadence: Racecar testing for moire in stands
* denotes lock on in second set.
| Test | Pio 320 |
| 2:2 | pass |
| 2:2:2:4 | fail |
| 2:3:2:3 (PF-T) | pass |
| 2:3:2:3 | pass* |
| 2:3:3:2 | marg |
| 3:2:3:2:2 | fail |
| 5:5 | marginal |
| 6:4 | fail |
| 8:7:8:7 | marginal |
| 24p - pass | pass |
| Time-adjusted | fail |
Edge Adaptive Test Patterns
Jaggie test - Pio 320
Speedometer: pass 45 to 5. fail +/- 5, pass -45 to -5
Ship: Pass
horizontal scrolling text: pass
vertical scrolling text: pass
Relative Comparison to Other Players: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1156535
Frequently Asked Questions:
How does the 320 compare to the 51FD?
The 320/23FD is a bit faster than the 51/05. Eject/power on times are 13 seconds faster on the 320 and the 320 loads most discs 4-7 seconds faster.
The 320/23FD has a greater colorspace - 48 bit - compare to the 51/05 - 36 bit.
The 320/23FD are currently (5/14/09) able to decode DTS HD MA internally; the 51FD has been waiting for firmware since Oct 08 (delivered in June 09).
The 320/23FD are Profile 2.0 players and can access BD Live features over the internet. Firmware upgrades can be performed via the internet as well. The 51/05 are Profile 1.1 players and lack an ethernet connection.
The 320/23FD share the same video chipset (SoC) with the 05FD/51FD. PQ is identical best I can tell.
The 320/23FD have BurrBrown DACs; the 51/05 have Wolfson DACs. The Woflsons are great; BurrBrowns appear to be great as well.
The 23FD has PQLS jitter reduction for multi-channel codecs when bitstreaming to a Pioneer Receiver. The 320, 51, and 05 have this feature but only for 2 channel playback.
The 320/23/51/05 share the same remote control.
The 320/23FD have KuroLink, which automatically detects a Pioneer Kuro display and makes adjustments for the Kuro plasma.
Anecdotally, the 320 appears more reliable in rental disc playback (netflix) than my previous two 51s. Error correction/laser sensitivity appear to be addressed to some extent.
The 320/23FD will play 12 rounds without problem. This disc will not play on the 51/05.
How long are the DVD layer changes?
After FW 3.41, there is NO layer change.
How does it compare to the Pioneer BDP-120?
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...9#post16551589
What are the differences between the 320 and the 23FD?
Video and Audio performance are identical over HDMI and should be nearly identical over analogue in most cases. The 23FD is the Elite version and carries a 2 year warranty (3 in Canada) while the 320 has a year warranty. The 23FD has backlit buttons on the front fascia and an amber display; the 320 has a light blue display. The 23FD is slightly taller due to its feet. The biggest function difference is the 23FD has MCH PQLS to reduce jitter when the player decodes audio codecs to a Pioneer Receiver; the 320 only has 2 channel. The 23FD also has an RS 232 control plug on the back for custom integration.
Can it output both HDMI and component simultaneously?
No
Can it be made region free for dvd?
Yes, but this is not confirmed: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...5#post17851965
How good are the tweaking menus in the Pioneer 320/23FD?
Excellent. They have numerous options for adjusting gamma, brightness, contrast, various forms of noise reduction and others. There are also pre-set video settings including Professional, Pioneer PDP, and others.
I have a Kuro PDP, what is the best setting for video?
Professional has the least adjustment. Pioneer PDP actually has the following adjustments:
Pioneer PDP:
Progressive Motion: 4
Pure Cinema: auto1
YNR: 3
CNR: 0
BNR: 0
MNR: 0
Detail: 5
White Level: 4
Black Level: 4
Black Setup: 7.5 IRE
Gamma Correction: 4
Hue:4
Chroma Level:4
Professional:
Progressive Motion: 4
Pure Cinema: Auto1
YNR: 0
CNR:0
BNR:0
MNR:0
Detail:4
White Level:4
Black Level:4
Black Setup:4
Gamma Correction:4
Hue:4
Chroma Level:4
Known Bugs:
Terminator 2 Skynet (5/31) - slow playback (CONFIRMED)
Generation Kill (7/9) - playback (UNCONFIRMED)
DollHouse (8/20) unconfirmed.
Looks like I won't be bothering upgrading.
