AVS Owner's thread for the pioneer elite bdp-62fd.. - Page 8

I'm thinking looking at the 62 vs 150.
I'm willing to pay a bit more for the 62 assuming it will produce better performance.

Has there been a firmware fix for the 24p sync issue?

Also- where do you buy the 62 in NYC?
No one seems to have it.

I did locate a 150


Does the 150 have the same sync issue?
Edited by bokes - 2/11/13 at 7:55pm

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/blu-ray-players/blu-ray-players-reviews/pioneer-bdp-62fd-blu-ray-player.html

It does not mention any 24p sync issue.

I agree with the reservations about the Elite badge.


Not quite. What the US Pioneer has over the US Sony models:
1. DVD-Audio (already mentioned in the review);
2. 576PAL DVD and 1080i50 BD support (assuming region free discs, like Oppo) - important for importers;
3. ability to output 2CH PCM from SACDs via Digital Out (coaxial), possibly at 88.2kHz (the previous year's model can output 88.2kHz) - offers unique opportunity for external DACs;
4. dual voltage (like Oppo);

YMMV, I don't care about streaming, NR, DVD upscaling, Wi-Fi and analogue outputs. The Sony 790 isn't even available in Canada.

I finally got around to posting a review of the BDP-62FD on Amazon, if anyone is interested.

I got a region-free BDP-62FD about a week ago. Works pretty well, but the user interface is horrible. It's like each screen was programmed by a different programmer with different ideas about how to use the remote.

(It came with the latest firmware. Have not tried all the features yet.)

DLNA, for example, only shows up to 100 or so elements max, doesn't load more chunks. The up/down/left/right navigation works fine, till you start a song, in which you need to press the media home key to return to the media list. But the media list allows you to use the return key to go back a folder.

Cannot find a single button step to exit Netflix directly to a DVD. I have to bounce through media.

It has locked up on me a few times, while attempting to navigate around. Had to power cycle it.

BD & DVD movies seem film grainy. Not sure if I have the noise settings right.

-=-=-

I also got the VSX-1022K for a good deal. Sounds fantastic, (upgraded from old Teac AV-G8050 with analog pro-logic), but again, the user interface is horrible. Similar problems to the BDP, inconsistent navigation and menu interaction.

The VSX correctly detects Dolby Digital vs DTS from BD/DVDs, but doesn't detect Netflix surround from my roku or the 62.

The VSX will play the open source Ogg/Vorbis music files, an unlisted feature. (Ogg is comparable to MP3 without the licensing.)

The Android app does not work on my tablet.

OTOH, the auto speaker config worked quite nicely, and the sound, when it detects properly, is significantly better than my old analog pro-logic receiver. I have a cheapy passive subwoofer, which got muddled on my old receiver, but the VSX drives it accurately.

In short, electronically, it's quite nice. But the user interface is pathetic. I've had microwave ovens with better interfaces... sigh...

I just experienced a wierd issue with my 62FD...

My setup is the 62FD with the primary HDMI out going to my 3D capable Elite 70" LED and the sub HDMI out going to my non 3D capable Elite SC-27 AVR. This used to work perfectly. TOday, when the Disney Brave disc switched to 3D durring the previews, my AVR stopped getting sound and the HDMI light was no longer lit on it. Furthermore, the 62FD stopped responding to remote signals at this point. It was truly bizare and Ive never seen this before. ill double check firmware tonight but does anyone have any clues?
-Evangelo2


UPDATE: Somehow my HDMI Mode setting switchded frmo SEPARATE to DUAL! Switched it back and all is well. Also updated my frimware from 2.05 to 2.09.
Edited by Evangelo2 - 2/16/13 at 5:04pm

Well, you are right about the 'media gallery', et al. interface on the player - it's not what it should be. But in Pioneer's defense, all of the home audio/video appliances are nearly worthless in this category. The Yamaha products are definitely a step up, but even their UI is very primitive compared to, say, my Apple TV.

That said, I don't think it really matters for two reasons:

(1) ControlAV2012 - simply the best in its class, IMO, compared to similar apps from Denon, Yamaha, et al. You can do everything from this app - especially if you have a Pioneer AVR;

(2) DLNA/uPnP Apps - if you have a media collection of any size, I can't imagine using the on-board UI. I have about 10,000 songs in my FLAC/AAC/MP3 library sitting on a WD MyBook Live. If your media collection is on a PC/Mac/NAS box (sounds like it is, based on the above), then there's an app for that.

If you are an iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch user, get the 'Kinsky' app; if you are an Android user, get the 'BubbleUPnP' app; trust me, those two choices work great and I've tried them all. I use BubbleUPnP to drive music playback via Twonky Media Server and for streaming video playback via Serviio.

There are some shortcomings with DLNA, however, with the Pioneer gear (BDP-62FD or my AVR), such as seeking with FLAC files (which works fine with AAC or MP3) - in this case, you can start/stop playback, but that's about it. And, the Pioneer renderer doesn't support gapless playback. Those items aside, however, everything seems to work well with smooth transitions between songs without clicks, support for hi-res music (up to 24/192) and playlist support via the apps above.

Cool... One-click Buy and I'm in

I ordered the Celtic Woman on DVD-Audio, after reading the reviews - sounds like a good find. Thanks!

Hi Krutsch,

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, probably not going to use DLNA much, though I could probably reorganize my music collection to better fit within the limitations. Wish those Android apps worked on my tablet, but that doesn't excuse the inconsistent design.

When playing video files on USB or DLNA, I miss the first 3 seconds as the BD player adjusts screen resolution. I have to start the video and immediately pause and wait.

When playing regular audio CD's, I cannot skip to the next track and rewind into the end of the previous track. EVERY other CD player I've had has allowed me to do this. Instead I have to FF through the entire track. Track advancing is incredibly slow, sometimes resulting in going further than one pressed.

Also, was watching Netflix and hit FF to skip the end credits of a show, instead of hitting up to go back to the Netflix browser, and it locks up on me every time, requiring a slow Netflix restart. On my Roku, it'll FF to the end, then return to the show description and advance to the next episode in the series.

Enh, I'll see if I can compile these bugs up and send them to Pioneer, they do have a feedback/problem system on their website.

Those Android app *do* work on tablets - I have a Nexus 7 and use BubbleUPnP daily for music playback and video streaming. Really, whatever you are using for DLNA, try BubbleUPnP and see if you have a better experience.

This has not been my experience, at all. I stream uncompressed Blu-ray images to the BDP-62FD using Serviio from my Mac and controlling it all from my Nexus 7 w/ BubbleUPnP. I never have to wait for screen resolution adjustments, but I have no idea what kind of videos you are streaming or what you are using for an AVR. I have my -62FD's screen output set to 'Auto' and my Pioneer AVR's video output set to 'Pure' and I am even able to stream at 24fps. The -62FD is simply awesome in this regard.

So, the Netflix players on my -62FD works as you describe - I have been marathon watching 'House of Cards' (I watched 6 episodes in a row, yesterday - yikes!). At the end of each episode, you get the countdown timer to auto-start the next episode or you can use the arrow keys to select one of the buttons (e.g. Back to Browsing, which takes you to the show description). Pioneer uses the 'stock' Netflix player that their OEM gets from Netflix, so it's possible that you are used to a different interaction model on your Roku.

Anyway, play around with it for a while and see if you don't get used to it and like it more...otherwise, just return it and try something else.

What is the best method hooking the player to the AVR for music? Right now I have it hooked up HDMI audio only to my SC-09TX for video use.

Why wouldn't you continue to use that? If you use the digital outs (coax or optical), you will lose the high resolution playback capabilities for SACD or DVD-A discs (seeing that your AVR supports DSD decoding).

Ok thanks.. Yea im not so much of music audio. But i occasionally use to listen to old cd collection when my bdp-09 was connected to my AVR. I never tried a sacd before. I'm thinking of getting into it. Just thought there was a preferred method for music only hook up. Man.. I wish any of the Alicia Key albums came out in sacd..

Digital output for 2CH SACD as PCM, IF CONFIRMED to be 88.2kHz is considered high res. I'm surprised no one has bothered checking so far: doesn't the receiver display incoming PCM sample rates?

Last year's Pioneer top-end AVRs apparently can convert 2CH (but not MCH) DSD to PCM to 176.4kHz (which Sony players can do for both). Otherwise little is known what happens to DSD inside AVRs in general.

This is why I asked about music audio hook ups. I'm not to familiar on this. What is the recommended way to hook up to get the most out of music? Right now I'm just using my 62 for video. And since my SC-09TX does not pass through 3D I'm using the second HDMI output for the sound.

rhed: I had a similar conversation here, the set-up is not the same but the same principles apply. Pls follow from this post onto the next page.

http://www.avsforum.com/t/1040061/official-blu-ray-player-audio-setup-thread-all-audio-questions-go-here/1560#post_22961713

There is no single right or wrong answer or one that applies to everyone. It depends mainly on what you listen to, in 2CH or MCH and the set-up.

For convenience, HDMI will do. It covers all formats which SPDIF (optical/coax) does not. So that is a requirement issue rather than sound quality alone. SPDIF is really only a clear advantage for people using an external DAC in a 2CH set-up and when HDMI handshaking causes the first few seconds of a track to be lost.

I'm not sure if the SC-09 AVR does PQLS for MCH or how it handles DSD internally. But we're here talking about minute or no audible difference with jitter (which PQLS deals with) or what sample rate DSD is converted to PCM, both are highly controversial subjects here.

Stick with the HDMI connection for audio. You have a very nice AVR; it will sound great and be the easiest to setup and manage.

OK.. Thanks for your guys help.

Has anyone had issues with IR receivers not functioning properly when watching 3D? I have a 70" elite 3D TV which is active shutter 3D.
-Evangelo2

I did have a issue with the IR on my 70" Elite too. I posted that on the Elite forum and seems its been a documented issue. BB replaced my set not for that though but for DSE on the Nov. build I had. After a month of having it the IR went bad. But didn't matter for me because my replacement set was on its way. Now all is good.

Where is the survey?

So how does this perform with usb playback? Does it play the majority of files people have thrown at it, xvid, divx, mkv, mp4 etc?

Most importantly, i would like to know people's experiences in playing back 1080 24p blu ray rips via usb - does it output them in true 1080 24hz resolution? I am desperate to replace my "skippy" samsung blu-ray player that i have at the moment; not only does it judder on every film i watch but it only plays back my usb bluray rips in 1080 60hz output, the resulting output not being very smooth.
Am i safe to assume that dvd rips i have too @25fps will be output in 50hz mode on this unit?
Look forward to your findings, your advice is much appreciated.

I would also like to add to the inquiry, does it play APE files?

I did RTFM by the way, and it is not listed but you never know.
Edited by AVfile - 3/4/13 at 7:12am

^^ Thanks!

Curious, what were the results of this test?

Also did the new firmware fix the chroma upsampling bug that Chris found in the Secrets review?

Thanks for your replies.
Stefan

For everyone that owns this player, is it a good player for blu-ray playback? I've read the reviews and saw the chroma bug (which I really don't think I'm worried about since I cant see it) and the sync issue (which im more worried about), is there a work around for this? because, I will be connecting the HDMI ports separately. I purchased this player yesterday but I didn't want to connect it until my new TV arrived, I'm just trying to get a general idea from an owners prospective on how well you like this player or If I should go with the s790.

Thanks