Panasonic DMP-BD35 Blu-ray Player Review

**The News Bot** · 25-01-2009, 5:10 PM

Reviewed by David Mackenzie
The Panasonic DMP-BD35 plays Blu-ray Disc every bit as well as the Playstation 3, and does so at a bargain price point. Highly recommended.
Read the full review...

stuartbrown21 · 27-01-2009, 8:43 PM

Over 400 views and no replies yet, suppose I may as well be the first!!

I've been a keen fan of both HD formats since inception, owning 2 HD DVD players but now being single format with my PS3. The PS3 was a godsend in the days when standalones were a grand or so. It's funny to think it's only 2 years since we had a format war, 1080/24p on players or displays was really quite exotic, and nothing could decode DTS-HD MA!!

I don't need to replace my PS3 but if I was going to, it would be with this player. As soon as I saw it, I was well impressed. Top notch PQ, full onboard audio decoding, great DVD playback, good load times and stability, and all wrapped up in a nice slim package available for under £200.

Well done Panasonic. A few years back nobody I knew was even remotely bothered about HD, but now a whole bunch of my work colleagues are getting interested in affordable neat players such as this and the Sony 350. I'm starting to feel quite positive about the future of Blu-Ray!!

Galaxy · 28-01-2009, 10:40 AM

Great review, and a great player....just one point you mention

"This setup was just fine for me as I have an amplifier capable of high-def audio over HDMI; owners of older amps/receivers will need to step up to the DMP-BD55 model to gain 5.1 Analogue Surround outputs, or make do with Standard Definition audio via the Optical output until they upgrade their amp."

But surely even with older amps like mine I can still access HD audio through the players own decoder and output as PCM through the HDMI.......

Well I hope so because thats the set up I am using presently until my amp gets old enough for the wife to agree to an upgrade

Best regards David

Simon Crust · 28-01-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galaxy

"I have an amplifier capable of high-def audio over HDMI"

older amps like mine I can still access HD audio through the players own decoder and output as PCM through the HDMI

thats the set up I am using

Absolutely

EDIT:Re-reading this it isn't abundantly clear what I was aiming for, Stuart's reply below sums up what I meant

stuartbrown21 · 28-01-2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Great review, and a great player....just one point you mention

"This setup was just fine for me as I have an amplifier capable of high-def audio over HDMI; owners of older amps/receivers will need to step up to the DMP-BD55 model to gain 5.1 Analogue Surround outputs, or make do with Standard Definition audio via the Optical output until they upgrade their amp."

But surely even with older amps like mine I can still access HD audio through the players own decoder and output as PCM through the HDMI.......

Well I hope so because thats the set up I am using presently until my amp gets old enough for the wife to agree to an upgrade

Best regards David

The point being made was that older amps without HDMI, or certain amps with HDMI but unable to accept LPCM over HDMI, wouldn't be able to access the HD audio. If your amp has these features then you'll be fine, otherwise you'd require the BD55 and it's analogue outputs.

Galaxy · 28-01-2009, 12:48 PM

Points nice and sharp now.....it was just a bit blunt before!

Keep up the great work.....looking forward to the upcoming yammy 1900 review.......

Best regards David

SibTiger33 · 28-01-2009, 5:24 PM

excellent player

although i find it very slow to open and close the drawer

Nuck_the_king · 28-01-2009, 5:58 PM

This is a really useful review

; but (call me a pedant if you like) I think that the picture next to the review on the reviews homepage is a Sony 350, not a Panasonic......

Cheers ,

Nuck.

Dacarlo · 28-01-2009, 9:34 PM

This is the player I've had my eye on for a while now. Just saving up a bit

It'll go well with my Panasonic TV with viera link too!

Small point of note. I saw on the review the 'best price' to be £198. The best price I've seen is actually £189.95 at Richer sounds (in store only). Together with a 5 year warranty if you pay 10% extra on top that's a damn good deal.

They do offer the option of unlocking the DVD region on the player too for £20 but if you've got a Harmony remote you can unlock this yourself (as seen on these forums iirc)

kingfats · 29-01-2009, 8:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuartbrown21

I'm starting to feel quite positive about the future of Blu-Ray!!

Yep

borrowed the 35 myself for a few days and it is indeed an excellent BD player.

irg · 29-01-2009, 11:14 AM

Thanks for another great, thorough review, David.

Am I alone in thinking that the SD-card slot _would_ be useful?

It would beat having to hook up my laptop to view photos on the big screen...

Iain (Gibson)

Galaxy · 29-01-2009, 5:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dacarlo

This is the player I've had my eye on for a while now. Just saving up a bit

It'll go well with my Panasonic TV with viera link too!

Small point of note. I saw on the review the 'best price' to be £198. The best price I've seen is actually £189.95 at Richer sounds (in store only). Together with a 5 year warranty if you pay 10% extra on top that's a damn good deal.

They do offer the option of unlocking the DVD region on the player too for £20 but if you've got a Harmony remote you can unlock this yourself (as seen on these forums iirc)

Just be aware...I went into Richer sounds after checking they had the BD35 in stock and was told they only had the multi region version available so was considerably more expensive than £189....I told them I could hack it myself in 5 minutes when I got home but they didn't seem to understand!

Make sure they have stock of the "unmolested" version before you travel!

Best regards David

**mabo** · 29-01-2009, 7:13 PM

Excellent review David - i was considering picking up a cheap region A player but this sounds good enough to warrant the extra expense and pick up a multi-region modded version to get rid of a few boxes from under the TV.

tigertop · 31-01-2009, 9:43 PM

Great review. I already have a Panasonic TV and DVD Player. The Blu-Ray looks just right for my next purchase

mclmk8d · 01-02-2009, 2:14 AM

I bought the BD-P35 a couple of months ago, paying $289, and I'm very happy with the picture quality. The only complaint, as SibTiger said, is that the drawer opens and closes very slowly. I believe it's because it is very polite...it says hello and goodbye on the display!
BTW, the Siberian tiger was always my favorite big cat...I used to see Natasha, one of the Siberians at the Bronx Zoo, all the time.

paulmapp8306 · 01-02-2009, 6:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dacarlo

They do offer the option of unlocking the DVD region on the player too for £20 but if you've got a Harmony remote you can unlock this yourself (as seen on these forums iirc)

How please? I have the BD35, a Harmony 895, and a Harmony 1. I dont know if mine is multi region or not !! Id like to unlock it if it isnt.

**mabo** · 01-02-2009, 7:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulmapp8306

How please? I have the BD35, a Harmony 895, and a Harmony 1. I dont know if mine is multi region or not !! Id like to unlock it if it isnt.

There should be all the info you'll need in this thread - Harmony Remote Multiregion DVD Hack for Panasonic, Pioneer & Sony Blu-ray's Part II

*dlb99* · 02-02-2009, 5:48 AM

Here in Aus the BD-35 is DVD region free out of the box

The cool thing with the BD-35 is the ability to mod it to Blu-ray region free as well. I'm going to have mine hacked soon.....and I will be in bliss (whilst giving the middle finger to certain Hollywood studios that want to persist with this region crap).

Anyway, this player has had universal praise.

For Joe Average this is the player to get.

Dennis.

nigel2shady · 02-02-2009, 12:49 PM

I bought this player 2 weeks ago really pleased,and to me movies look lot better than watching Sky Movies HD.I bought Rattatouille and casino royale cant wait to see what they are like later on it.

Seahorse · 03-02-2009, 1:19 PM

Other than the ridiculous warm-up/loading times (I believe this is true of all Blu-Ray player) it works great out of the box. Which is nice...

samgamgee · 03-02-2009, 2:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SibTiger33

excellent player

although i find it very slow to open and close the drawer

Youre not wrong.tried one in store..took about 2 mins for the drawer to open!

xit2050 · 03-02-2009, 2:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samgamgee

Youre not wrong.tried one in store..took about 2 mins for the drawer to open!

From turning on to opening of drawer takes about 20 to 30 seconds.

samgamgee · 03-02-2009, 2:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xit2050

From turning on to opening of drawer takes about 20 to 30 seconds.

Ok I exaggerated slightly but 30 seconds is a farce!

xit2050 · 03-02-2009, 2:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samgamgee

Ok I exaggerated slightly but 30 seconds is a farce!

I'll time it tonight.

**mabo** · 03-02-2009, 4:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xit2050

I'll time it tonight.

Mine's just arrived so we can all time ours and have a drawer race.

Tbh i don't see it as a problem as by the time the pj is on and i've got another disc out the drawer has long since opened.

Galaxy · 03-02-2009, 4:58 PM

Time the draw opening time? Yeah right!

Now where was that life I put down somewhere?

OK....lets have a race BD vs SD.....

samgamgee · 03-02-2009, 5:01 PM

[quote=mabo;8767252]by the time the pj is onquote]

What if we are doing it any time other than bed time?

xit2050 · 03-02-2009, 5:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mabo

Mine's just arrived so we can all time ours and have a drawer race.

Well, just tried it anyway

25.2 seconds.
Long way of 2 minutes isn't it?

**mabo** · 03-02-2009, 6:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samgamgee

Quote:

Originally Posted by mabo

by the time the pj is on

What if we are doing it any time other than bed time?

It took me a while to get that one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xit2050

Well, just tried it anyway

25.2 seconds.
Long way of 2 minutes isn't it?

If i hit eject while i'm sitting down, by the time i'm next to the player with another disc in my hand it's been open for a few seconds, so i'm fine with it.

If anyone wants a faster drawer, i'm sure they can attempt some hot rod electronics and replace the motor. Hell, why not put a petrol engine in and you could have it throwing the discs out like the predator.

xit2050 · 03-02-2009, 7:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mabo

If i hit eject while i'm sitting down, by the time i'm next to the player with another disc in my hand it's been open for a few seconds, so i'm fine with it.

I can't do that, mine is in a cabinet with a glass door.