BluRay Players Available Now - Which Is The One To Own?

[Rasczak]

Just interested in what people think what is the BluRay player to own at present?

Samsung BDP1000
The 'oldest' BluRay player that has been universally criticised online. Not entirely unfairly as it is a poor SD DVD player (including being unable to display 4:3 SD material correctly) and lacks next gen audio codecs. But it is cheap - more than a match for the others in class - and performs well with LPCM.

Panasonic BDP10
Panasonic's effort is the best specced. A firmware update should be made available to add Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA support. It's PQ is a match for the Samsung but it is very expensive - even more so when so few BluRay discs support the audio codecs it gives.

Sony BDP1
Sony's player is made by Pioneer and boasts some impressive features: 1080p/24 and is well built. But it also expensive and incompatibility problems with some discs may make some 'excluisve BluRay discs' very 'exclusive'.

Pioneer Elite
Pioneer's own brand player is an enhanced Sony with added network capabilities. Again features are impressive but the price is absurd - the upcomign dual format player will be significantly cheaper

PlayStation 3
The budget way into BluRay with good PQ and an overall good package. But the lack of analogue 5.1 audio outputs will make it a poor choice for many AV fans, whilst potential compatibility issues with later UK releases may deter others.

...I think it's difficult to answer. I can see why the PS3 appeals given it's price. But then the Samsung is available cheaper now. Are people put off the Sony (and maybe Pioneer) models due to the compatibility problems? They are resolveable by firmware but international customers may not have access.

[charliecossie]

I voted for the Panasonic for two reasons:-
1) I live in Germany and paid 1199 Euros at Media Markt
2) I demanded (and received) five free discs with it.

Common sense says buy a Jap PS3.

[Baldybouncer]

Why would anyone spend alot on a blurry player now that LG have given in and produced a multi-format machine.They can see whats happening in the market and blurry isnt going to win this one however certain people on here wish it...

Soon Pioneer,Panasonic etc will follow suit. It doesnt make sense to bring to market a machine that only plays 1 format (this goes for hd-dvd aswell)

I for the moment am happy with my hd-dvd add on for my 360 (cost me 130). Once denon releases a multiformat my hd-dvd add on will then be put to work on my pc!

So unless you have alot of spare cash to 'waste' on a blurry player.. I would wait a few months to see who brings out the best multi-format player.

[Baldybouncer]

Originally Posted by charliecossie

Common sense says buy a Jap PS3.

???????

[mattym]

the LG unit might be hugely expensvie(some rumours of $1200), plus it might have some of the unreliabilities of hddud and bluray, though i think waiting is definately the best thing to do.

[Baldybouncer]

Originally Posted by mattym

the LG unit might be hugely expensvie(some rumours of $1200), plus it might have some of the unreliabilities of hddud and bluray, though i think waiting is definately the best thing to do.

At the current exchange rate thats only about 650GBP! its less than buying a hd-dvd player AND a blurry...

....and what unreliability? hd-dvd doesnt have any I am aware of...not sure about blurry though

Plus this price will come down quickly

[Dave2]

I dont think the ps3 has lack of 5.1 outputs. It has optical which gives one hell of a bang you also have the option for lpcm via HDMI the only option you dont have is the analouge outputs but as with HD-DVD using these to output tru-hd there is no big difference. Dont forget if the pS3 was sold at it manufacturing price, it would be the most expensive

My oppinion on ps3 blu-ray, blurry as i know it annoys some

[BadAss]

With the delays we've seen with both HD-DVD and Blu-ray it may be at least a year before we see the LG machine. And even then with it using both technologies its likely to be as buggy as hell. I for one wouldn't wait for that one.

I own the Samsung and it performs very well, not had any glitches on it at all. PQ with the right disc looks superb. But....

If the PS3 had of been out at the time and readily available then I would of got one of those. Best of both worlds.

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by BadAss

With the delays we've seen with both HD-DVD and Blu-ray it may be at least a year before we see the LG machine.

LG have said they are shipping it this month. Might get delayed a few months but a year? Wishful thinking?

And even then with it using both technologies its likely to be as buggy as hell. I for one wouldn't wait for that one.

And that differs from the BluRay players that can't play The Decent how?

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by Dave2

I dont think the ps3 has lack of 5.1 outputs. It has optical which gives one hell of a bang you also have the option for lpcm via HDMI the only option you dont have is the analouge outputs but as with HD-DVD using these to output tru-hd there is no big difference.

Indeed - I wasn't knocking the PS3 merely commenting it doesn't have analogue 5.1 outputs. As many people don't have HDMI amps - let alone ones that can handle multi-channel LPCM over HDMI - it is a major consideration for some.

[ash]

PS3 IMHO, then you can sit on the sideline and see who wins the "war". Along with the XBox360 HD-DVD drive. Great if you are a gamer and a movie fan, but if you are not a gamer.....

[Dave2]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

Indeed - I wasn't knocking the PS3 merely commenting it doesn't have analogue 5.1 outputs. As many people don't have HDMI amps - let alone ones that can handle multi-channel LPCM over HDMI - it is a major consideration for some.

Was not getting at you totally understood what you were getting at.

Ps3 was the only ever option for me to go blurry as it offers me the more important part `Games` and the plus point blurry.

I have had my doubts with the delaystation still do but at the moment it was worth my purchase and money . I cant wait for some of teh blurry titles i have ordered A) to check them out B) Films in HD i also like.

[mattym]

Originally Posted by Baldybouncer

At the current exchange rate thats only about 650GBP! its less than buying a hd-dvd player AND a blurry...

....and what unreliability? hd-dvd doesnt have any I am aware of...not sure about blurry though

Plus this price will come down quickly

you know as well as i do that $1200 will equal a lot more in english money, even if you import you dont know what region coding would be implemented, you can be sure a blu-ray licence wont have been allowed without something in place.

HDDVD is totally flawless is it? Both formats have their problems, only one group of 'owners' chooses to highlight each and every one fault of the others format..

heres some tosh problems
Toshiba Hd-E1 issues (post here)

Personally, i cant wait for a dual format player, it saves me a lot of thinking, i can buy what i want to watch without worrying about the format, i wont have to own the visually minging tosh(IMHO)or the not really wanted by me Xpox(you say blurry so i claim naming rights on xpox) but i am prepared to wait and see what comes along, im not going to get the plastic out just cos its new, or because all my mates have one

[Dave2]

Originally Posted by mattym

you know as well as i do that $1200 will equal a lot more in english money, even if you import you dont know what region coding would be implemented, you can be sure a blu-ray licence wont have been allowed without something in place.

HDDVD is totally flawless is it? Both formats have their problems, only one group of 'owners' chooses to highlight each and every one fault of the others format..

heres some tosh problems
Toshiba Hd-E1 issues (post here)

Personally, i cant wait for a dual format player, it saves me a lot of thinking, i can buy what i want to watch without worrying about the format, i wont have to own the visually minging tosh(IMHO)or the not really wanted by me Xpox(you say blurry so i claim naming rights on xpox) but i am prepared to wait and see what comes along, im not going to get the plastic out just cos its new, or because all my mates have one

Yup both formats have bad points hd-dvd has bad error correction alot of the times and blu-ray has bad pictures cant support certain discs. On both formats these bugs can be annoying but it is what we have to put up with on 1st gen equipments and second gen and 3rd gen there is always something new that pops up once they solve one problem.

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by mattym

you know as well as i do that $1200 will equal a lot more in english money

For an imported one from Movietyme though - it'll be what - £750? And the price is likely to fall quite quickly I would have thought.