OFFICIAL "HELP ME CHOOSE A PLAYER" THREAD: Can't decide? Start HERE. - Page 10

Isn't it funny sometimes to just sit back and think of how far technology has come? I remember in the 90's the latest and greatest out there was a 5.1 HI-FI VCR and a 50" Flat Screen Projection TV and everyone would marvel at it. There was nothing else but that to choose from. Now we have HD, 1080p, 120hz, blu-ray, TrueHD and Master Audio, LCD, Plasma, DLP, OLED, bla bla bla. We have soo many things to consider when buying a TV or player that it takes months on end to research what you want and pick the right things. And even after a decade since then, all the work and technology and everything that went on, nobody can make a product that just works!!! like they use to!!!

I wasn't aware there was a 5.1 VCR.

OK I'm convinced it's the Panny BD30 now where do I find it?

I've been looking for a another BR player, but I agree, these post-christmas prices are pretty sad. I've got the BD30 in the main room and the Sammy 1200 in another. But the 1200 isn't happy with the 50" Vizio (randomly won't accept a signal), so I'm thinkin' I'll just swap it out with a different brand player. And I want to bring the 1200 back to the main room for SD upconversion.

Just figured I could find some good deals on a cheap blu-ray player... but they're still going for $400 retail (a bit cheaper elsewhere). But still crazy. The latest profiles and HD audio also aren't important for this room, so the S300 sounds like a good option. Just not at those prices!

I suppose the blu-ray camp doesn't feel they need to compete on prices with most consumers already accepting blu-ray as the winning side and grabbing any blu-ray player than can get their hands on. Or perhaps they are waiting for the new players from CES '08 to ship before lowering the price; but by then, why bother with the older ones?

Oh well...

I apologize if this has been asked before, but I wanted to know... are there any bluray players that will decode the DTS HD or Dolby TrueHD and output them uncompressed over analog?

The only ones that I have seen so far require an HDMI connection, which ain't gonna happen!

For those that have decided on the Panny BD30 (am still undecided myself), my local Costco (Southlake, TX) had a stack of them in stock yesterday for $439.

Well I want a bd player but still with all the SD disk I have upconverting is number 1 to me. PS3 is supposed to be ok on upconverting but I don't like the remote or the idea that I can't stop a movie and continue later.
Any inexpensive bd's have great upconvert?

Currently only for TrueHD and not DTS-HD MA.

Yep, I'm not impressed with the SD upconversion on the BD30. It's "OK". Especially after coming from the 1200. But it does blu-ray discs very well (way better than the 1200). Almost got the PS3... but just couldn't get over the remote/audio issue. The BD30 w/ the 605 is an excellect combo.

cheeper at buydotcom and if you do a little searching you can find a 5% ($15 max) coupon to get it just below 4 bills. no tax and free shipping too. later.

I'm also considering the jump from a HD-A2 to BD.

Platform 1.0? Platform 1.1? Platform 2.0??

Looks like Platform 1.0 is a dead-end. Platform 1.1 may or may not be cool enough, and Platform 2.0 is unavailable?? Do we need BD-J?

I want to watch movies -- if I wanted a video game I'd buy a PS3.

How can one tell which player to buy? I'm looking for utility, not sizzle (the sizzle is in the movies).

Just to let you know guys that, SAMMY 1400 is good after FW1.2 update, most of people using had no issues as such after FW updates. so when you are reading about Sammy 1400 make sure you pay attention if the person has upgraded the FW correctly and then decide on that.

I bought a brand new in box Sammy 1400 from a local guy for $250 then did a FW update via cable it took me ~90 mins, as player takes its own time through cable net. I had to do two upgrades so that's why it took me so long. But after that it just works fine, takes ~30-40 sec to load Blu discs. I played POTC-AWE and LFODH, these two were causing lot of issues to people and this worked just fine for my machine. So if you don't want to spend a 100 more on a Panny you might as well take a look on this one. Eb also has many of those in 300 range. Frys also had last week for $299.

There are solutions to the remote issue and unless you have a receiver which can decode DTS-MA, there really aren't any audio issues.

The BD30 definitely seems the best of the current standalones (and I considered buying it) but the PS3 is still faster and will be upgraded to BD Live (SOny has a very good track record with firmware updates for the PS3). It also has some additional Home Theater related functionality such as a decent built in MP3 player and the ability to stream audio/video from a PC. If you have an IPod, you can just plug it into one of the USB ports and copy the non protected songs to the PS3's internal hard drive with a couple of clicks of the controller. It also plays SACDs.

The answer then is pretty simple, just buy the Panasonic BD30.

Hi Guys,

I need help as well with purchasing a BD Player. I am crossing over from HD DVD. I'm stuck between the BD30, PS3, or waiting it out for the BD50. I'm looking for as many bells and whistles as my current system can handle within a reasonable price ~ below $600.

I currently have a Panasonic 58in 1080p Plasma - TH58PZ700U
My receiver is the new Denon AVR-2808CI
I also have a Toshiba A35 HD DVD Player, that has pretty good SD upconversion.
All of the above have HDMI 1.3

Do i need to hold out for the BD50? or will the BD30 give me what i need? or since the PS3 is "future-proof" should I go with that?

Thanks
Hoss

Does it upgrade the player to Profile 1.1? I believe this is a 1.0 player?

No. The 1400 is Profile 1.0 and is not upgradeable to 1.1

Get the Bd30.

What are your audio requirements?

The Denon 2808ci does decode the new codecs.

Your right. I was looking at a different model.

Yeah, I saw some of the PS3 IR solutions. I believe it was around $50 for the one that could power on/off... could be cheaper now, but that was a bit much. I actually bought the Onkyo 605 w/ the BD30 specifically so it could decode all of the audio formats and to get HDMI. Works great!

Another reason I steered away from the PS3 was that I wouldn't play games with it and already have a 3TB Vista Media Center system setup; which pretty much makes the other PS3 features sorta irrelevant... at least for me.

But the player I need would either have to be cool enough to replace the BD30 in the main room, or cheap (and reliable) enough to replace the 1200 in the bedroom. So I think I'm just going to have to hold off for another BR player, at least until the prices drop and/or the new models arrive.

My only reasons for holding back on a PS3 are...
1. Fan noise and heat.
Is the fan that audibile? I sit quite close to my AV rack.
Does the PS3 put out much heat, compared to a regular standalone?

2. No decoding for DTS-MA.
Is this likely to be addresssed with an update?

Currently, I have a Samsung BD-P1000. I'll be getting a NAD T175, which had HDMI 1.3, but no decoding of the new formats (I'd rather let the player do that anyway).

* The PS3 decodes Dolby TrueHD, correct?
* Is the PS3 Profile 1.1 yet?
* Can the PS3 be upgraded to Profile 2.0 / BD-Live, when it happens?

Seems like the PS3 is potentially the most future-proof of ALL BD players out there...

Thanks in advance.

So, I just bought one this week and thought I'd add my $0.02


I have the 40GB version and the noise to me is non existant.


We are not sure, but the consensus is that additional hardware is not required so this is possible.




Yes, DolbyTrueHD
Yes it is 1.1

We are not sure if it can go to Profile 2.0 but "rumors" are that Sony will update it to that spec. In my research, a lot of people were talking about Sony's announcement that they indeed will update, but I did not find anything concrete. (And I found a lot of people quoting a lot of people quoting other people saying it would *likely* happen.)

I decided I rarely watched special features and rolled the dice on this one.


That is why I bought one. If nothing else, it will likely have resale value as a game console.

As I am about to post in the deals section, I was able to use the Circuit City 8% discount to AAA members on the purchase which was nice.

--Carl

I ended up with a BD30K, which I received earlier this week. Didn't like the PQ at first, but adjustment has improved things greatly. I have a receiver that doesn't do the new codecs but was planning on upgrading later this year anyway, so I don't miss the new audio codecs for now.

I sold most of my HD-DVDs and replaced all the ones I sold with Blu-Ray versions. Very happy for now.

I'll be waiting for the BD50 as I want a player to decode the new audio formats so I don't have to upgrade my receiver just yet. Man I'm glad this war is over and I hope it becomes official very soon.

At $410, it's a little bit pricey.

How well does it upconvert SD DVDs?

Also, can someone comment on my other questions? Is there a compelling reason to wait for Platform 2.0?

Just like DVD's have Dolby Digital and DTS, Blu-ray and HD-DVD have Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA, and PCM of course. There will be no more surprises with audio. Unless either Dolby and DTS come out with super-duper lossless formats there should be no more additional audio formats in the forseeable future.

I do agree with your point, isingh, that to wait for the perfect player means you never buy anything. The new Panasonic BD50 will have the features that most AVS members are looking for in a Blu-ray player today (well actually in the spring when it comes out).

I own an Arcam AVR350 which supports HDMI video, but not audio. Arcam, perhaps arguably, feels that the HDMI feed is inferior with respect to audio and, instead, supplies analog and digital (coax and toslink) inputs. In htis case is the BD30 still a wise choice. I have a Zenith DVB318 which works well for me in SD but, no Blu-Ray for those formatted movies.

Saying for the moment money isn't an issue...

Where does the Pioneer Elite BDP-95FD fit into all this?

I know it can bitstream all the HD audio formats.

But how does the PQ compare to say the BD30.

SD DVD upconversion note worthy?

Thanks bunches!

Mia

Edit: Perhaps I should have posted in the "Help a Gal pick a Blu-Ray player" thread if I wanted to receive answers. :P