OFFICIAL "HELP ME CHOOSE A PLAYER" THREAD: Can't decide? Start HERE. - Page 66

YES!!!! at 1080i you will notice a huge difference. definitely worth it then upgrade the tv when you can/...i also have an old cow of a toshiba 57h83

First off, don't get an Onkyo! Long story (read the 905/875/805 firmware post over in audi section). Get either the lowend end Denon (1909/989) or the Pioneer (VSX-01TXH, VSX-03TXH, or SC05) AVR's instead. You'll be much happier!!!!

But for now, which receiver do you have? If you have 5.1 or 7.1 analog inputs, then you CAN listen to the latest audio on your current receiver now if you buy a BD player that has at the minimum 5.1 analog OUTputs.

But for the future of using HDMI later, of all the players I have tried (looking for that "magic" bitstream player):

SONY = S300, S500, S350, PS3
Samsung = 2550
Panasonic = BD30
LG = BH200

I truly loved the LG BH200 the most! Not only because it would replace my Toshiba A35 (HD DVD), PS3 (BD, but no bitstream or Harmony control), and old Pioneer 59AVi (for 1080i upscale of DVD) all in one unit, but because it would bitstream and the QDEO chip does a fantastic DVD upscale to 1080p! But sadly, it had serious audio problems (HDMI handshaking) with my new Pioneer SC-05 AVR, and so had to return it. If you buy a Denon, I have heard it works just fine with those - but both LG and Pioneer are not interested in finding a fix

But on the other hand, all this time I was in search for the perfect bitstreaming BD player because to my ears that sounded best on my Onkyo 805. But when Onkyo abandonded all us xx5 model users, I decided to dump Onkyo and go back to Pioneer - and boy am I GLAD I did!!!!!! Even with the cheaper VSX-03TXH (which later I said the heck with it, and exchanged it for the SC-05 instead), suddenly even the LPCM from my PS3 sounded FANTASTIC!!! So now that even the PS3 can sound fantastic with the new Pio, I am not so sure I need to search for anything else anymore.

So, in a way, it will depend on what AVR you might buy, as to which BD player you want to get now. But for a stand alone, you can not beat the LG BH200 with all it can do, as well as look great on the screen. But if you decide you want one of these now, ya better hurry. They are not made anymore, so are hard to find. They cost around $399 (or less?), but used to be $1000 when they first came out. So you KNOW this ain't no cheaply built unit!

i guess I am not sure what the exact question is in your post--it confuses me a bit--if you could reformulate the question I am sure we'd be happy to help. DO you mean which players offer the best performance including upscaling not including the 'premium' marantz and denon 3800? Do you need advanced codecs to be output via bitstream/hdmi or analog (some do one but not the other)

Thanks for the reply - the LG sounds good, but I really have no need to play HD-DVDs, so that might be a bit of a waste. Also (should have mentioned this in the first post), I'm really looking to keep it under $300 - any more than that and I'll probably sit out a little longer for prices to come down. So is the Panasonic BD30 a good buy at that price, or are there any other good options? Or should I wait it out?

Hi, I am Looking into getting a BluRay Player. A Friend of Mine was sayin it is Best to go with a Sony Player since they make BluRay it should be better then the other makes??

Is this true?? Are the Other makes any good or should I stick with a Sony BluRay Player??

I am mainly looking for 1 with the 5.1/7.1 Analog outs between 400-600US Bucks??

Sony is only one of several companies making Blu-Ray. Panasonic actually owns more Blu-Ray patents than Sony does. Sony is well known for Blu-Ray since they built the 1st BD player the PS3.

Sony has even sold BD players made by Pioneer and they were badged as Sony units.

The Panasonic 55 coming out next month for $499 or the Sony BDPS-550 for $399 next month will probably suit you fine. Both have analog outputs and should support all advanced audio codecs.

I have one of the most basic questions, and have read a lot of pages here but not seen a clear answer.

I'm interested in a blu-ray player for my new 65" LCD.

Since the PS3 seems to get decent reviews as a player, and as the best value, I'm thinking of going with it.

It's for those reasons as well as the 'I might even try PS3 gaming a little", but I'm a PC gamer with not much interest in PS3 gaming.

Naturally, my question is what I don't know about why not to, and what to get instead, if that's not a good idea.

Can anyone summarize why I should/should not go with PS3 over other players available either now or expected later this year? Thanks.

Ultimately, its your call, but I went with the PS3 and have been very happy for the following reasons:
1. Decodes TrueHD and DTS-MA
2. Plays Blu-Ray disks with no issues
3. Is a pretty solid DVD player
4. Built-in wifi for profile 2.0 stuff and updates
5. Relatively quick at loading and playing disks
6. Well-established history of adding features and addressing issues through firmware updates.
7. Lots of fun games
8. Media extender

Downsides: probably louder than a stand-alone BR player, requires a funky solution for IR remotes, doesn't match the look of the rest of the gear in my AV cabinet (but hell... 1/2 is silver, 1/2 is black, it is all fugly already).

So, if you're even slightly tempted to game, I say go for it. There are some fun games to go alongside what you get on your PC. Oh... its a pretty good BR player, too.

dude, run, don't walk, run out and get a Blu-Ray player! Sheesh... first off, your Samsung HLN507W TV displays at 720p, but can accept 1080i. In any event, Blu-Ray is far more than just resolution. People put WAY too much in the whole 1080 vs 720 thing. Yes, more lines is better, but don't ignore the superior contrast and color accuracy the BR brings over standard DVD. Those two features are, IMHO, as if not more important than the improved resolution.

Also, you have a very nice AVR that has a sh*tload of HDMI inputs, and decodes the latest lossless audio formats. And, you have Energy speakers, why would you need to upgrade? In fact, with the new lossless audio tracks available through Blu-Ray, your speakers will probably sound better than ever. So yeah, you will see AND hear a difference. Easily. If not, you're probably loosing your sight and hearing.
As far as what to pick, you are in a fortunate situation; your AVR gives you a lot of options. The PS3 is certainly a good choice, but there are some decent looking stand-alone players showing up that undercut the PS3 for price and offer some good features.

So, while I can't really answer the question as to what player you should get, I can emphatically say that yes, you should make the leap to Blu-Ray.

Finally, when that time comes, pop over to monoprice.com for an HDMI-DVI cable (if you don't have one already). That way, you can route everything through your receiver.

good luck!!

what is your audio setup--do you have a prepro or avr that will accept/convert bitstream dts-hd ma and dolby truehd? nothing wrong with the ps3 overall--the answer to whether it will work for you is probably in your current or potential audio setup if that is important to you (i.e. you care about the difference between dolby 5.1 and dolby truehd and dts and dts-hd ma). If you are content with standard dolby and dts (like a regular dvd) but want blu ray hd video then you have a winner and you may anyway depending on your audio setup. From what I gather the ps3 either can or will be able to do dolby truehd via pcm or potentially bitstream but i don't know about dts ma hd. people seem to like the picture on the ps3--variable opinions on sd dvd upconversion but ther are probably a few better. Overall a good unit but useless if you need analog outs (doesn't have them) to get hd audio formats. you will get standard dts and dolby 5.1 via toslink (optical) though.

way true--its not just resolution---very good point and very obvious at any hd resolution.

Thanks to everyone who replied to my question!


The short answer is that I don't know enough yet about it to know if I'm going to want the better dolby. But you gave me some good info.

Do you have any opinion on how much the audio issues are worth preferring the better dolby for?

The PS3 decodes all formats including DTS-MA to multichannel PCM over HDMI. If you have a multichannel PCM-capable receiver then you are all set.

OK, I've read just about all I can on audio and I am more confused than ever.

Could really use some help, and I must say the forums are great! I just bought an s350 from Amazon. I have an older Denon receiver that only accepts component 5.1 and optical.

Can someone help this Id10T understand if I have to have HDMI to get the True HD audio formats through the Denon with the s350?

Thanks in advance.

The answer is yes. You can't pass any of the advanced audio codecs over toslink or coaxial, they must go over HDMI. If your Denon has analog audio inputs then you can get a player that decodes the codecs internally and output into the analog inputs on the Denon, if it accepts them.

What jmpage said is correct, but the problem with analog outputs becomes getting what you actually are aiming for. For the highest fidelity, using analog outputs requires either adequate bass management (BM) in the player, high quality analog/digital conversion for BM in the AVR, or an outboard analog bass manager. Unfortunately, these three criteria can be very difficult to fulfill.

For all practical purposes, it is probably better to go ahead and upgrade the AVR. Since you already have an s350, you would then simply need a fully capable HDMI 1.3 AVR and you'll be able to take full advantage of the new audio formats. There are pretty decent options for less than you'd expect. Spend some time over in the amp/processors part of the forum:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=90

I do agree with everything cpcat says. You can get a very good HDMI capable AVR for under $500, with excellent ones available on the $800-$2000 range. If you really want all the audio goodness that the new formats have to offer and you already own decent speakers you should upgrade the AVR.

I'm ready to jump into the Blu-Ray world and looking for advice. I see that Amazon has 3 players that are under $300: The Sony BDP-S350, Samsung BD-1500 and the Panasonic DMP-BD30K. I'm wondering which player would be the best for me? (or is there somewhere else that has an even better deal?) I will be hooking it up to a BenQ 5000 projector.

I will be using an Integra 9.8 or 9.9 pre/pro for my HT. I need a player to play nice BR disks and be a fantastic upscaler for my many SDDVD.

I would prefer 1 unit. I want all the latest audio supported, either bitstreamed or internally decoded (Integra can do the work)

s550: Not out yet, not sure on upscaling ability
51FD: so far top pick for me
ps3: not sure on sddvd upscaling, does not bitstream, no IR (without dongle), cheaper, potential media/music player
Panny BD30: can do what I want just not impressed with SDDVD play, would need to get the Oppo unit (more $$$)

Wouldn't you want the 9.8/9.9 do do the scaling? It should have the reon chip. Then the 51FD would my choice. If you are looking for more than just a BD(DVD) player, then the choice is simple... PS3.

Alright help a guy out... I some how won a $200 Gift card to Best Buy from my work.
I figure I'll put it towards a Blu-Ray player.

Display: Front Projector Sharp DT-400 (720p) setup at 110" diag.
Sound: Yamaha 6.1 HTIB... The best it does is DD EX and DTS ES I believe.
std DVDs are played on my Oppo OPDV971H (I can't see DVDs looking better than this)
I have an Xbox 360 for HD DVDs. And later this fall Maybe for NetFlix streaming as well.

Here is what I'm looking for I believe.
1)buy at Best Buy (Unfortunate cause the Oppo's Blu-ray won't)
2)Sound to be Decoded by the Player and sent Optical to my AVR, which does have 6ch analog input.
3)I'm in no rush to buy cause I still have HD-DVD's in queue on blockbuster.
4)$399 is the price limit.
5) Ethernet jack on the player at least.

Player short list.
Sharp:
BD-HP20U $299
LG:
BH200 $399
BD300 $399
Insignia:
NS-BRDVD $229
Samsung:
BD-P2550 $499 (Needs to come down in price)
Panasonic:
All seemed out of my price range

Alright what would you do? Wait. Choose one of these. Or, Choose a different Player.
Thanks ~Nate

Are you planning on using optical or analog? You cannot take full advantge of the HD audio through optical. Here is a thread with a table that describes audio support for various BD players:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1050507

i have a Pioneer Plasma 720p. 42 inch. so what do i want to get and will it really make that much difference? Have looked at the Pioneer Elite dv48 upconverter $99.00-$150.00 and the Pioneer Blu Ray 51. $599.00. you can see the big price difference. so if i go the Blu Ray route, any suggestions or just get the dv48 and call it a day. thanks in advance.

sam. bdp1500, under 2 c-notes @ radioshack.com; 'til wed.

click on home ent., dvd players, put in cart for low price.

I can only buy at Best buy! If I'm going to spend $200 then I'll get a $400 player.... rememeber the gift card?

What is the cheapest player that can play AVCHD files on SDHC cards?

Thanks I'm a little behind on audio. I'm more of a video guy. Looks like I'll hook up to my 6.1 channel analog input on my AVR.

Hey guys, I'm looking into getting my first blu-ray player. I had planned on waiting until black friday to pick one up for fairly cheap, but i see that radio shack now has the Samsung BD-P1500 on sale for only $199, which was the price i was waiting for. Now i'm trying to decide if this is a good buy, since prices will only get better as the holidays approach.
Blu-ray PQ is my main concern, SQ and dvd upconversion don't play much of a factor to me. Any thoughts?

You only need to use analog if you want lossless audio. Of course, for lossless using analog, the player needs to do the decoding. None of the ones on your list can decode the lossless formats. The Panasonic BD50 is the only moderately priced player with dts-MA decoding and 5.1 analog outputs. But, it's more than $400. If your HTIB receiver has HDMI 1.1 and can process audio over HDMI, then you have more choices. A PS3 would be in your price range.

Thanks!!! That's the price I've been waiting for since the end of the format war. Free shipping too. Here's another tip. Add something else to your cart to get another $20 off orders over $200. So $180 for such a nice player is a steal.