Sharp BDHP21U Blu Ray Player Review
February 11, 2009
The Sharp Aquos BDHP21U is Sharp's second effort on the consumer Blu-ray disc player. The first effort, BDHP20U was a solid first effort from Sharp. This new player builds on the earlier model by adding high defintion audio support and Profile 1.1 support. However, it seems to lack the refinement and performance when it comes up against the Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung's Blu-ray players.
Features and Design
There's nothing new with the design of the player. It is pretty similar to the BDHP20U model in every aspect. The remote control can be quite useful if you have LCD Aquos television set from Sharp. The combination of Blu-ray disc player and the television set links them via Aquos Link which enhances the ease and speed of operation. This is similar to Sony's Bravia Sync with its Blu-ray player and the Bravia line of LCD television set. The other big feature is the fast loading speed. I'm not familiar with the earlier model BDHP20U's loading speed. But, according to varoius other reviews, it seems to be the big selling point for the Sharp Blu-ray disc players. The loading time is fairly fast compared to other manufacture's disc players. The lack of Profile 2.0 support is pretty dissapointing. And, the lack of ethernet connection limits its ability for firmware upgrade. The only other way to do it would be through disc flashing.
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Picture Quality
The video quality is fairly good. I did a lot of upconversion tests with regular DVDs due to its predecessor's trouble with the upconversion of regular DVD movies. I didn't notice any problem besides the normal problems of upconverting regular DVDs. The blu-ray disc played without problem. The colors were spot on and no noticeable artifacts or jaggieness. As noted earlier, the load time is faster than any other Blu-ray player tested. The audio options are definitely an upgrade from its predecessor. This model comes with onboard decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master audio. This should help with receivers that are not capable of decoding these audio formats. Also, the 7.1 channel and other standard audio output is supported through receivers.
This player is definite upgrade from the earlier model. However, it lacks the Profile 2.0 support as well as ethernet connectivity. If your not planning on using the BD-LIVE features, than this shouldn't be a problem. The Aquos Link feature is nice plus if you already own Aquos television. Also, the onboard decoding of high resolution audio is a nice plus. Overall, there are better players from Sony or Samsung or other manufacturers. However, this player should be cheaper than other models. And, if you already own Aquos TV this might be a natural buy.
Rating:
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Sharp Aquos BDHP21U 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player List Price: Sale Price: $136.00 You save: $113.99 (46%)  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days  |
Description
Now you can enjoy the best of 1080P video on your AQUOS LCD TV. Especially designed to work with AQUOS LCD TVs, the BD-HP21U AQUOS Blue-ray Disc Player provides seamless operability via the AQUOS LINK function through the HDMI connection...
Features
- Sharp BDHP21U Blu-ray Disc Player
- Full HD 1080p/24 fps video output
- HDMI digital Interface
- 7.1 Ch digital audio output
- Quick Start Mode: enjoy content quickly without delay
Insignia NS-2BRDVD Blu Ray Review
February 7, 2009
Insignia brand has enjoyed some success with their HDTV and Blu-ray dis players. Insignia, Best Buy’s in house brand, consistently delivered comparable products at lower price. Insignia’s first effort, NS-BRDVD, delivered acceptable performance for relatively small price. The player included Profile 1.1 and solid video quality for both Blu-ray and DVD formats. Good 1080p/24 mode playback quality was nice bonus. The audio support lacked the onboard decoding for DTS-HD Master Audio and TrueHD. However, it did have capability to output these formats in bit stream formats. Also, the overall operation time on the player was on the slow side. The player also came with bare minimum connectivity that lacked Ethernet or USB connections. In short, it was a minimal effort to bring a relatively inexpensive Blu-ray player to the market.
What's New!
The second effort, NS-2BRDVD, is a marginal upgrade to the original model. Aesthetically, Insignia has chosen to retain the overall shape of the original. The player retains the boxy look. The disc tray is located on left side of the player. The LCD dominates the middle and the directional dial replaces the single function buttons for the stop, pause, play, forward, and rewind. The NS-2BRDVD forgoes the SD card slot that was marginally useful in its predecessor. The remote control retains the basic shape and function.
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Audio and Video Features
The audio options are identical to its predecessor. It has no onboard decoding of DTS-HD Master Audio and limited Dolby TrueHD. However, it can decode Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution. It also has support for MP3 and WMA files. The player lacks connectivity for 5.1 or 7.1 channel audio outputs. It comes with standard HDMI interface, optical and coaxial digital audio outputs, composite video outputs, and component video outputs. Most users will want to utilize their HDMI interface to experience full 1080p resolution. With upgrade to Profile 2.0, the player comes equipped with Ethernet port as well as USB port. This is most likely the main upgrade over the previous model. Most of the newer Blu-ray movies come with BD-LIVE contents only supported by Profile 2.0. As of this review, the Profile 2.0 is not fully implemented on this unit. The upcoming firmware upgrade should fix this problem. The audio quality is on par with its predecessor. The sound comes out very crisp. The lack of some High resolution shouldn’t turn off buyers as it is difficult to differentiate them unless you own high end speaker system.
The video quality is on par with the original model. The problems with moire and uneven edges are present in some scenes. These defects are fairly hard detect unless you are specifically looking for them. For most viewers, you shouldn’t have problem with these defects. Moires can be prominent in certain fast sequences. From the test, it does not look like Insignia made any upgrades to its video processing. The upconversion of SD DVDs are fairly good over the HDMI. Overall, the video quality could be better. Normal users won’t find too many faults with video quality.
NS-2BRDVD supports most medias including various DVD medias and CD medias. It supports basic MPEG, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 AVC(H.264) formats. It lacks support for various MPEG-4 formats such as DivX, XviD, or WMV.
Conclusion
One of the chief complains about the original model was its slow overall performance. From powering up to loading disc, the unit took longer than most other players. Also, the player took longer than average to load Blu-ray movies. However, it didn’t have problem with regular DVDs. The performance did not improve with this unit. The player response time is very slow. When you press forward or reverse on the remote, it takes good 3 seconds for the player to respond. Also, the player needs good 40 seconds to power up before you can even open the tray to insert a movie. This might seem like a minor gripe but it does get tiring when you don’t get reasonable response time with the remote control. The lack of book-marking feature was also annoyance. Most players keep track of where you left off in the movie. This player does not keep track of the place. This could be a big deal for family who frequently switch out movies.
Pros
- Price
- Easy to set up
- Upcoming Profile 2.0 support
- Ethernet and USB connectivity
Cons
- Only Profile 1.1 out of the box
- Some video quality issues
- Lack of high resolution audio decoding
- No 5.1 or 7.1 channel output support
- SD Card reader gone
- Blu-ray Disc format compatible: For high-definition movie playback with resolution up to 5 times greater than DVD.
- Delivers greatly enhanced video performance with standard DVDs: By upconverting their video resolution to HDTV compliant 720p
- Plays BD-ROM discs: Backward compatible with DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD and CD-R/RW discs. Compatible with MP3, WMA and JPEG formats.
- Built-in decoders: For next-generation Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD high-resolution surround, plus lossless Dolby TrueHD (2-channel).
- HDMI output: Provides an uncompressed all-digital audio/video link for the highest quality connection and supports
- Aquos Link
- Decent audio options
- Good design
- Good remote
- Good upconversion
- Fast operation time
- Not Profile 2.0 compliant
- Lacks ethernet port
- Few visual defects
- Lack of divx or xvid support
- Sharp BDHP50U Blu-ray Disc Player, with RS232 Control
- Full HD 1080p/24 fps video output
- HDMI digital Interface, and Remote IR Input
- 7.1 Ch digital audio output, and mororized front cover
- Quick Start Mode: enjoy content quickly without delay
- The BDP-51FD provides up to 1920 x 1080p resolution for an unrivaled picture quality
- Single-Wire Connection: ¿¿One HDMI¿ 1.3a digital connection is all you need
- HDMI Control: ¿¿Master your home theater universe
- Wolfson¿ Audio DACs: ¿¿Each DAC features a signal-to-noise ratio of 117db
- BonusView Support: ¿¿Independent High-Definition simultaneous video streams
- D/A converter: 12 bit/150 MHz
- Picture enhancement: Progressive scan, Video upscaling, High Def (720p, 1080i, 1080p)
- Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
- D/A converter: 24-bit, 192 kHz
- Dynamic Range (1 kHz): 100 dB
- Full HD Resolution 1080p video output.
- Up-converts standard DVD's to 1080p resolution by HDMI
- 24fps for cinema like picture quality.
- Stream output and deep color processing-10/12 bit.
- Energy Star compliant.
- BD-ROM Profile 1 version 1.1
- New solid reference standard chassis
- DTS HD Master Audio and Dolby True HD via HDMI
- 12-bit/297MHz video DAC for high video quality
- 1920 x 1080p resolution
- 1080p/24fps-compatible HDMI video output, 12-bit Deep Color
- RS-232C interface for custom installation + IR In/Out ports
- SDHC compatible SD Card slot
- Direct HD audio bitstream output: Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio (lossless); Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio (lossy)
- High quality video processing with Chroma Upsampling precise pixel generation and 16-step motion detection
- Blu-ray Player
- BD Live / 7.1 Lossless Decode and Analog Output
- VIERA Link: Operate with your VIERA Remote Control
- SD Card Slot
Rating:
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Insignia NS-2BRDVD Blu-ray Disc Player with 1080p Output Sale Price: $40.00 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
Features
Review of Sharp AQUOS BD-HP50U
February 4, 2009
With the release of their Blu-ray players, Sharp has tried to leverage its popular Aquos television line’s success into selling their Blu-ray players. Sharp named all three of their Blu-ray player with Auqos as part of the name. Sharp didn’t just use the Aquos name for the sake of using the name. Instead, they created Aquos Link function to integrate the Blu-ray players with the Aquos television sets. When you connect the television set and Blu-ray player with HDMI cable, you can control both units with single remote. Also, many functions and features are integrated for easier access with the Aquos Link. The two predecessor models, BD-HP20U and BD-HP21U, both had this feature. The BD-HP50U is definite upgrade from the BD-HP20U. However, BD-HP21U seems to have some advantage when it comes to audio options.
Design
The BD-HP50U comes in a very pleasant design. The basic design can’t really deviate too much when it comes to Blu-ray players. All of the players have basic rectangle/box shape. However, Sharp adds nice touch with motorized front face plate. Even if it’s another feature that might malfunction down the road. The front face feature nice looking logo for DVD and Blu-ray in the middle. The left side features the power button with LCD space on the right. The player has glossy finish for most of the surface. Not much has changed for the remote control. It looks exactly like the one shipped with BD-HP20U. At simple glance I could not find any difference.
What's New?
BD-HP50U’s features are similar to the BD-HP21U model. Both are Profile 1.1 players with ethernet port missing. The main difference seems to be in the area of audio output options. BD-HP50U supports analog 5.1 channel output whereas the BD-HP21U does not. Curiously, the BD-HP50U lacks the onboard decoding for the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio with only bit stream support for these audio formats. And, BD-HP50U retails for about $100.00 more. However, BD-HP50U does come with RS-232 port which might come in handy for HTPC users.
Sharp has always boasted the operating time of their Blu-ray players. And, it is not an idle boast. This player as well as the older model boasts great time in power up and loading Blu-ray disc movies. Some players are plagued with slow response time loading time. Not this unit. You can literally pop in movie and enjoy them in less than 10 seconds like Sharp’s advertisement. However, this was with power off and with disc in the player. With power on disc loading time was not as fast. The response time between remote action and player response is seamless.
Audio and Video Features
The BD-HP50U supports most of the audio options. It can decode Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus. As stated earlier, Dolby True HD and DTS-HD MA can be bit streamed. If you want better onboard decoding option, you might want to look at BD-HP21U model. Regardless, the sound quality is nothing short of excellent. This player produced excellent sound for Blu-ray disc, DVD, or any music CD. If you own 5.1 or 7.1 channel speaker system, you will definitely appreciate the audio quality even without a top of the line receiver.
The BD-HP20U had some problem with video processing as well as sluggish performance on detailed menus. It didn’t do too well with the moire and jaggie problems present in some sequences. The java based menus gave it hard time with stuttering issues. It was like trying to run a program on a very outdated computer. This player seems to have solved most of that problem. The java based menu did not trouble this player as it moved around without any noticeable stutters. As for moire and jaggies, it was less noticeable than the previous model. However, I could definitely detect them watching The Dark Knight. I doubt most users will notice these few defects as they were rare. Few scenes failed to process the picture cleanly without these defects. The standard definition DVDs looked as they should in upconversion, which is less than Blu-ray quality but definitely better than their native resolution. Overall, the picture quality was very good.
Pros
Cons
Rating:
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Sharp Aquos BDHP50 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player List Price: |
Description
Now you can enjoy the best of 1080P video on your AQUOS LCD TV. Especially designed to work with AQUOS LCD TVs, the BD-HP50U AQUOS Blue-ray Disc Player provides seamless operability via the AQUOS LINK function through the HDMI connection...
Features
Review: Pioneer BDP-51 Blu Ray Player
February 4, 2009
Pioneer has consistently produced high quality audio and video equipments aimed at audiophiles and videophiles. Consequently, the consumer electronics they manufacture cost more than its competitor's products. The Pioneer BDP-51FD is aimed at higher end of the Blu-ray disc player market. The player supports most, if not every major audio formats. Also, the player incorporated Wolfson digital audio converter, which is stated as being professional grade audio component.
The BDP-51FD's design really stands out from other Blu-ray players. Primarily, it looks like an extra blu-ray player stacked on top of a blu=ray player. This effectively doubles the size of the player. Also, it is definitely heavier than most other Blu-ray player. The tray and LCD are loaced in the center of the player with basic play back function on the right side. The back of the player supports the HDMI, component and composite video, S-video, 2 channel and 7.1 channel output, and two digital outputs. It's nice to have out of the box support for 7.1 channel audio output. The player also links up with your Pioneer Kuro television set like Sony and Sharp. The combination of Kuro tv and this player gives you extra convenience and features. This seems to be the trend with big manufacturers, linking their television set with Blu-ray disc players.
I watched several blu-ray movies including Batman Begins, Ghost Rider, and Matrix. None of them showed any problems, which is on par with most other players from top manufacturers. No artifacts or jaggieness or motion blur. Also, the upconversion looked exceptional. Some players show definite signs of upconversion problems. Not this player. It upconverts with flawless accuracy.
The real selling point might be its prowess in audio front. It can bit stream all formats to receivers without many problem. Also, it has onboard decoding of Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, and DTS HD Master AUdio. This will be helpful if you have older receiver not capable of decoding these audio formats. Now, I'm not expert audiophile, so I didn't notice any difference between this player's sound system compared to other comparable players. This does not mean that there are no discernible difference in sound quality. It just means most consumers might not notice any difference in audio quality.
This player debuted around June of 2008. This most likely attributed to the lack of Profile 2.0 support. This player only supports Profile 1.1 out of box. I'm not sure if there is planned upgrade via disc flashing. Even with dsic flashing, I don't see it supporting Profile 2.0 as it lacks ethernet connectivity. Ultimately, it's up to consumer to decide if inclusion of Wolfson DAC is worht the extra $100-150.
Rating:
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Description
Spectacular 1080p Picture Quality: The BDP-51FD provides up to 1920 x 1080p resolution for an unrivaled picture quality. And with True24FPS, now see your movies as the director intended Single-Wire Connection: One HDMIR 1...
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Blu Ray Review: Philips BDP7200
January 30, 2009
The BDP7200 is Philips first consumer Blu-ray disc player. It was released back in May of 2008 and thus lacks the latest features that are present in the latest model offerings from Sony, Samsung, or Panasonic. With inital launch price of $350.00 it might have been attractive for those not wishing to place PS3 at the center of the entertainment hub. As of this review, the price hovers around $250.00 which is pretty nice price point for any Blu-ray disc player.
The aesthetic of this player stands out from other player. It has glossy front with disc tray on the left with LCD in the middle and the basic playback function on the far right. The corners are smoothed out which makes it stand out from other traditional looking players. The included remote is adequate and fairly easy to operate. You might opt for better universal remote if you have more than few appliances to operate. This model only supports the Profile 1.1. And, the lack of ethernet port means harder time updating firmware for future Profile update. This might be turn off if you are looking for BD-LIVE contents present on many new blu-ray movies. The legacy support for 5.1 analog channel audio is nice inclusion if you lack receiver. There is the standard HDMI and component video output present as well as 2 channel audio and coaxial outputs.
There have been reviews reporting some poor image quality with this player. However, I personally didn't experience poor video quality. I noticed on few artifacts playing Batman Begins. I'm not sure if it's the disc or the player. Other than that, everything was pretty much on par with other players. The playback of divx format is nice littel bonus. I'm not sure why it's necessary on Blu-ray player but inclusion might be useful for those that do their own encoding. The colors seemed to spot on and vibrant. The major problem I had with this player was the load time. It takes way too long compared to other players. Especially compared to the fast Sharp Aquos player. Not sure if this can be fixed with firmware update or not. Being an early model, this player has no support for onboard decoding of high definition audio. This means no decoding of Dolby TRueHD and DTS-HD Master audio. This might not be a problem if you have latest receiver because these can be bitstreamed to your receiver. Otherwise, the lack of option might be problem for people with legacy receivers.
Overall, its really not a bad player at $250.00. But, prices of other more competent players are coming down to this level as well. If you can put up with lack of audio option and slow loading time, this might not be a bad player. However, I can recommend at least 5 other players that are better at loading time with more audio options.
Rating:
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![Philips Factory Refurbished BDP7200 Blu-Ray Disc Player [Electronics]](http://www.buyblurayplayer.com/media/images/i/01seFrW99hL._SL160_.jpg) |
Philips Factory Refurbished BDP7200 Blu-Ray Disc Player [Electronics] List Price: |
Description
Enjoy the thrill of full high definition pictures delivered by the BDP7200. Indulge in every detail, silky smooth action and vivid colours with Deep Color. Current DVD favourites can also be enjoyed, with upscaling to 1080p via HDMI...
Features
Memorex MVBD-2510 Blu Ray Player Review
January 26, 2009
Memorex isn't synonymous with High definition video. Memorex isn't the brand we identify with high definition product. None the less, Memorex has produced an excellent Blu-ray player on the strength of low price and generally great performance. The player supports 1080p at 24fps as well as on board decoding of high definition audio. It comes with ample amount of connectivity options. Memorex has put together a solid player at a great price point.
The player looks like most other Blu-ray players. Tray is located in the middle with the LCD and playback buttons on right side. The player includes composite video and S-video connector for people without HDMI compliant television. It also comes with HDMI, USB, and 5.1 channel audio connector. The player only supports Profile 1.1 at this time. The lack of ethernet port would suggest it would not be upgraded to BD-LIVE compatible player. However, the USB could be used as an internet connection. I have not heard any news regarding Memorex's plan to upgrade the player to Profile 2.0. The remote control is functional at best. If you own a receiver and a High Definition television, you might want to invest in a quality universal remote.
The most important part of Blu-ray player is the video quality. This player passed all the imaging quality checks. I ran through several blu-ray movies. Both Ghost Rider and Serenity played flawlessly. The audio options are very nice for a budget player. It has on board decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD High Resolution. It can output the Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio if you have receiver capable of decoding these formats. I liked the fact that it came with 5.1 audio channel analog support out of the box. For a player that can be bought as cheap as $130.00, the audio options are fantastic. The minor complaint I have with this player is the load time. It did take little longer than most other players. Other than that, the performance is excellent.
I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of this player. This player stacks up very well with the basic Blu-ray player offered by Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, or any other major brands. And, it does it at a price point of $130.00. With holiday discounts, you might be able to find it even cheaper.
Rating:
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Magnavox NB500MG9 Blu-Ray Review
January 26, 2009
Magnavox is known for delivering cheaper electronics alternatives to Sony, Samsung, or other well established manufacturer. Magnavox NB500MG9 is priced around $200.00. This is fairly cheap for stand alone Blu-ray disc player. The player debuted at the price point of $300.00 but can be had for $200.00 as of this writting. Since it is not the latest model, it does miss some key features that might be important for high definition home theater buyers.
The player has fairly standard design. It has the loading tray on the left. The LCD is in the middle with basic playback function on the right. The remote control is fairly standard as well. It's not cluttered and important buttons are color coded. The player only supports Profile 1.1. Also, it does not have ethernet connection which means it wont be upgradable to profile 2.0. The back of the player includes the connections for component video, composite video, digital coaxial output, analog stereo output, and the HDMI.
The video output is pretty good. It can output 1080p in 24fps which is very nice feature for player priced around $200.00. The video output quality between different players are pretty close from different manufacturers. The very early players had some wide disparity in output quality but the newer models have similar performance when it comes to audio and video. I only played two movies for testing. The Ghost Rider and Batman Begins. Both played without any noticeable flaws. The audio quality was fairly good. The lack of 5.1 or 7.1 channel connection might be problem for people without a receiver. It also lacks any onboard decoding for the high definition audio formats. However, the high definition audio can be bitstreamed to receiver capable of decoding these audios.
The real attraction for this player is the price point. The $200.00 is fairly good for Blu-ray disc player. You might be able to find a better player at this price on sale through holiday season. Even so, it's a competent player if you are not looking for onboard decoding of high definition audio or Profile 2.0 player.
Rating:
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Magnavox NB500MS9 Blu-ray Disc Player Sale Price: $23.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
Description
This Magnavox RZV427MG9 DVD recorder/VCR combo has been refurbished to perform as new. It is sold with a 90-Day Product Warranty. The Magnavox RZV427MG9 DVD recorder/VCR combo helps you to create your own digital library of home movies...
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Review of Marantz BD7003 Blu-Ray Player
January 26, 2009
The brand Marantz might not be familiar to most consumers. Marantz tend to cater to high end A/V segment. Accordingly, their products cost substantially more than your average Blu-ray players. The Marantz BD7003 is a complete A/V solution. The on board decoding of most High Definition audio makes it an ideal center piece of home entertainment system. Accordingly, it is constructed with premium audio and video components as well as the construction material.
The player is constructed in aluminum/reinforced resin according to manufacturer site. The player does feel sturdier than most other players. However, I'm not sure what advantage this adds to the player as it will most likely sit on your entertainment center. Also, the player is built with higher grade DAC, digital analog converter, which should provide better audio and video visuals. As with most other players, it supports 1080p at 24fps. It also supports MP3/WMA/JPEG support with SD card slot. The player does not come with Profile 2.0 as it only supports Profile 1.1. It also lacks RS-232C and IR in/out functions seen on the Yamaha player.
Does the higher grade DAC translate to better video output? Watching through several Blu-ray movie discs, I honestly could not differentiate it between your average $250-$350 players. This does not mean it is on par with these cheaper players. With optimal settings and equipments, one might be able to see the difference in certain circumstances. I however, could not. For good measures, I tried few DVD s for upcovnersion and it showed no real difference. The audio options are the main feature of this player. It can decode almost every High Definition audio as well as bitstream it to the receiver. It also supports the regular 5.1 and 7.1 channel analog audio.
This is solid player that is able to decode most audio formats. You could by pass the need for receiver with this quality unit. Also, the remote control was fairly nice. It is not cluttered and has back light which is missing from a lot of the remote controls from other manufacturers. This player retails for around $800.00 which might be little too much for most consumers. None the less, it is an outstanding player if you can afford it.
Rating:
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Marantz BD7003 Blu-ray Player List Price: |
Description
The BD7003 offers Marantz's revered pedigree in engineering class leading universal players, which now includes Blu-ray playback, at an exceptionally competitive price point. The BD7003 creates a full High Definition 1080p image and outputs Blu-ray discs in a true film-like 24 frames per second...
Features
Yamaha BD-S2900 Blu-Ray Player Review
January 26, 2009
For the people looking for high end Blu-ray player, Yamaha brand is most likely on their list. Yamaha caters to video and audio enthusiasts that are looking for the very best in video and audio quality. For this reason, the average cost of the Blu-ray player is higher than that of the average consumer Blu-ray disc players. This is a complete player that can handle anything thrown at it. It has multitude of audio decoding options as well as video compatibility.
This player has many features that are not present in cheaper Blu-ray players. It can decode AVCHD, which is a digital format used by many high definition digital camcorders. It can do 1080i or 720p in AVCHD format. Also, it has RS-232c interface which allow you to use touch screen or computer integration. For people that use HTPC, this might be very useful. Also, it has IR in/out port. People with high end entertainment system, they are most likely using a high end universal remote control. This on top of all the features that are present in main stream Blu-ray players such as 1080p at 24fps and SD card reader for pictures and mp3s.
The video output is excellent. There are no noticeable difference between this player and $300.00 player. Most main stream players handle video output without any problems. I noticed no artifacts or motion blurs that were present in first generation players. On the other hand, the difference in audio compatibility is noticeable. It can output any of every high resolution audio formats including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD Master Audio, and DTS-HD HIgh Resolution Audio in bitstream format for your receivers.
This is not a player I can recommend to everyone. It is for videophiles and audiophiles that want the very best and are willing to spend more than $1000.00 on Blu-ray players. The lack of Profile 2.0 is troubling but not a must have feature as it is for bonus contents. This is an exceptional player and as such cost significantly more than average player on the market.
Rating:
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Yamaha BD-S2900BL Blu-Ray Disc Player List Price: Sale Price: $547.97 You save: $651.98 (54%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
Description
The Yamaha BD-S2900 offers compatibility with the latest Blu-ray Disc format and the finest audio and video quality, as well as the latest features like Picture-in-Picture (Secondary Video/Audio) and Virtual Package...
Features
Review: First look at Panasonic DMP-BD55 blu ray player
December 6, 2008
The Panasonic DMP-BD55 represents a very real challenge to the PS3 for Blu-ray supremacy. Playstation 3 represents a near perfect Blu-ray player through constant updates and its variety of audio decoding options. Some of the earlier players lacked the latest profile and the plethora audio decoding options that Playstation 3 is capable of. Furthermore at the price around $400 which includes game playback, the Playstation 3 is very attractive option for high definition player.
The Panasonic DMP-BD55 offers up a great alternative to Playstation 3 if your not looking for a game machine along with your Blu-ray player. The one thing that bothered me a lot with Playstation 3 was that it used Bluetooth for remote interface. This was hinderance if you wanted a universal remote control for your entire high definition enertainment system.
The main attraction for this player is that it has the latest features when it comes to Blu-ray discs. This means profile 2.0 that supports BD-Live features that are included in most of the newer Blu-ray
movies. Also, the player has ethernet port that naturally comes with profile 2.0 players. This means it will be fairly easy to update your player should there be need for future updates. Another nice addtion
is the SD card reader. You can pop in your SD card from camera or other devices such as mp3 player. You can view picutres from your digital cameras. The unit itself is standard looking player. The center has the disc tray for your disc with LCD on the left. On the right there is flip down face that has access to SD card slot and playback function buttons. The player seems smaller than most other players. It's not work of art. It's functional unit thats easy on the eye.
The video and audio playback is the real selling point of this unit. The test run with several Blu-ray movies revealed nothing out of ordinary. I played the Batman Begins and Transformers. Both of these
movies have great action sequences that should reveal artifacts and jaggies. I paused in several places to look for jaggies and none were present. I'm sure more comprehensive tests could be done but 99.9% of the people wont notice any difference even on big screen television sets. The upconversion was excellent as well. Some of you with the big DVD collection might place importance on upconversion capability.
The audio quality was great. I have a receiver that decodes high definition audio streams so the onboard decoding wasn't as useful as it might be for some other people. The onboard decoding can handle Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD master audio. The player also supports the legacy analog audio via 7.1 channel connectivity.
Overall, this is an excellent stand alone player if you don't wish to go with Playstation 3. The price point of around $400.00 (less during holidays) might be little more expensive than some players. But, it
is well worth the price for this feature rich player.
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Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blu-ray Disc Player List Price: Sale Price: $135.00 You save: $264.95 (66%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
Description
Amazon.com Product Description Panasonic's two new slim, BD-Live compatible, feature-filled Blu-ray players, the DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55, offer cutting edge technologies focused on producing the ultimate movie-viewing experience...
Features
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