Panasonic DMP-BD65 - Page 3

My problems at the moment are isolated to dvd in light level fluctuating. I own those titles and will try as well. I do wish Panasonic saw it fit to allow for some picture adjustments on Netflix.

If one is not interested in quality of DVD playback, but primarily only the quality of blu-ray playback (and not that interested in streaming stuff), is there anything I'm missing in choosing the BD65 over the Oppo 80? I would save about $100.00, but I'm not convinced blu-ray quality is always equal. Have you compared the two?

Also, if you need to down rez to 720p (for a 720p PJ) -- how well does the bd65 do this (particularly compared to the Oppo 80)?

Update on DVD playback and brightness level fluctuating. As I posted earlier, I noticed the brghtness fluctuation on some scenes of older DVD (Rosemary's Baby). I originally thought it was just a transfer problem. Since then I have watched two other DVD's completely ("Tropic Thunder" and "Big"-extended edition). I did not notice any brightness fluctuations on either of these two DVD's, and video quality on both was excellent.

However I did notice an anomoly when watching the "Big" DVD extended edition. This DVD offers two versions of the movie - theatrical and extended. You choose which one to watch in the main menu of the DVD. I don't think there are two complete versions of the film on the DVD, but depending on which you choose, the player should add the additional scenes to the movie when choosing the extended version.

Anyway, when playing the extended version, the 65 would freese when adding extended scenes, then play the extended scene, then go back and replay the original prior scene and then continue on. This made it difficult if not impossible to watch. After it did this a couple of times, I switched over to the theatrical verision and everything was OK (except the extended scenes were missing, obviously.) This DVD has played correctly on other players, so it seems that the 65 may have some problems handling DVDs with complex menu stuctures or DVDs that contain more than one version of the movie.

Keith

Is anyone else having Lip sync issues with Netflix playback? I seem to be getting it on most of the Netflix titles that I have tried. Its not unbearable, but its off enough to be a bit of a distraction.

-J

Sounds like something is going wrong with DVD playback and the Macrovision copy protection on it, esp. since you mention it only happens with DVD and not BD's.

FYI: Macrovision is about analog output protection and not digital output.

This seems to be some kind of internal DVD decoding and/or display flaw.

After going back and forth between LG550, Sony 470 and Panny BD65, I bought the Panny today from B&H. I already have a Panny BD60 and it is excellent (except for the slow loading time), so after reading the few reviews that exist, I chose to go with the Panny again. It has proven itself for me. I'll post again after using it awhile.

I emailed Panasonic re the light level fluctuation on dvds:

I have noticed on dvds light level fluctuating in many scenes, in particular Season 4 of Six Feet Under. For example on disc four, episode two at 14 minute mark, the light level fluctuates for about 15 seconds. I have tested the same disk on the same display with both my Panasonic 35, Pioneer 320 and Oppo and it does not exhibit the same behaviour. The light level movement appears to be only on dvds and not blu rays or netflix streaming.

Will post response on winstonsreviews.com

Any other owners experiencing this? very distracting.

winston.
I want to ask you something in a PM. if that is okay.

Jacob

Anyone know if BBC Life,UK edition is playable on Panasonic DMP-BD65?
Thanks.

there's a few questions i would like answered before i buy this panasonic.


are other wireless dongles compatible or do i have to buy the panasonic?

can i access video files located on my network (not connected directly to unit)?

can mkv files be played?

My understanding is you cannot use a dongle other than the one they make. Won't work.

The Panasonic does not support playing files over the network, and probably never will with this player.

I'm pretty sure mkv files are incompatible with the 65 / 85, but not 100% sure.

Got a BD65 last week, comparison (in my eyes) to my BD35;

• Better color repro
• Better upconversion
• Way faster boot/load (obviously)

Not related to the 35, but Netflix and Amazon movie streaming works and looks great, surprisingly even a little better than streaming from a nice PC. And all this for $179? Hard to beat...

For me, the movie streaming on the 65 is so nice, I'm seriously considering replacing my perfectly good 35 with a 65 (I already replaced a Sam 1400 with a 65).

Netflix does not support HD streaming to any PC.

Although the 65 is faster loading than my 35, it's not a night and day difference.
It still takes a lot longer than DVD.

Also, if you don't enable the fast boot(utilizes more power in standby), the boot up seems to be about the same as the 35.
The disc loading is faster than the 35 but not a considerable amount.
You're still waiting through all that Java wait(icon) to load before any picture is displayed.

I was expecting a lightning fast boot & load quickly like a DVD player but I guess blu-ray HW isn't quite there yet.
*Disc tray eject in .5 sec != actual disc boot time, which will vary from disc to disc as previous players.

So, in other words, other than Netflix streaming, there isn't much more in BD65 compare to last year's BD60 (it has fast boot feature as well).

Have you noticed the dvd light level fluctuation I have?

Update from conversation with panasonic tech support:

- FW coming in late summer/early autumn to add Pandora
- No other reports of light level fluctuation on dvds. I walked through the CSR in the ins and outs of the issue and he said can you just watch them using the yellow, white and red cables (composite). Got the feeling within a minute that I knew a hell of a lot more about their product than he did. Explained the nature of HDCP to him and how HDMI is the only connection to be used to obtain upconversion of dvds. They are going to pass the report up the food chain internally, but I think other folks seeing this are going to have to report the dvd's faulty image.

Without a firmware correction, I am strongly discouraging folks from buying this player based on its dvd upconversion ability (which frankly is its sole differentiator over the Sony 470). I am debating whether to significantly decrease its rating on my website for this reason. Should mention I exchanged my first 65 at Bestbuy with another; same issue.

winston.. you are right.. you know more about the player then the panasonic people. I had the same problem with them. I wanted to ask you about the sony 370.. you have some limited contact with sony?

I need to ask you something about that.

Jacob

The US PR Manager and I have been in contact re my review. He provided clarification/correction re DLNA compatability

that is the reason that I wanted to talk with you.
I having a problem with the sony 370. the netflix is not working.
but the roku and ps3 is.
perhaps I can take this to a pm for you?
Jacob

Quote:Foxbat121

"Netflix does not support HD streaming to any PC."
------------------------------------------------------------

Probably should have clarified, I was referring to an SD to SD comparison for Netflix.

I have not.

What's the problem with the BD65's upconversion?

.

I'm deciding between the 65 and the s470. DVD upconversion is quite important to me. Is there a huge difference between the 2? I have a 58" plasma display (sammy PN58B650). I don't care about 3D or DLNA, but do care about Netflix.

I'm in the almost exact situation you are in. I have gift cards saved up at Amazon and just waiting for the prices to go down a little in a couple months. Hopefully by then the brightness issue on the 65s will get sorted out. With the exception of that, I'm leaning towards the 65 (plus it's cheaper, which is always good).

But yes, it looks like the 65 & the S470 are the top contenders. Netflix access will be good.


tim

I'm probably going to get the s470 today. I currently have the old s350, so I'm use to the interface, plus I can't wait. I'm already paying for netflix, might as well start streaming it as well.

Hi, I just got the BD65, and I was wondering if there was any way to play MPEG2 and AVDHC video files off of a USB drive?

Although non-Panasonic wireless USB adapters do not work (boo!), I was able to use the 'wired' connection option to connect to a wireless range extender that had an Ethernet port.

Previously I had reported that I had noticed the brightness fluctuations reported by Winston on one older DVD (Rosemary's Baby).

I have since confirmed that what I was seeing was in fact in the transfer of the movie and not a problem with the Panny player. I tried the movie in my Toshiba A3 and also a Samsung player and the BD-60 and noticed the same fluctuations on those machines.

Since then I have played about 6 DVD's and have not seen any problems with the DVD upconversion. Compared to the BD-60 it is noticably better to my eyes. I have both the BD-60 and BD-65 now, trying to decide which one to keep. Based upon the features and improved upconversion of the BD-65 at this time I am leaning to keeping the BD-65. However, I will be testing more DVD's from my collection in the coming weeks and report back if I notice any brightness fluctuations or other problems.

Keith