Panasonic DMP-BD50

[dobyblue]

Well then let's all get Sony player shall we and forget about how many months the BD-enabled PS3 was pushed back!



Give me a product that works, is all I ask for.

If Panasonic had actually announced a release date that would be one thing, but as far as I can tell they said either Spring or May (One has almost 30 days left, the other 60 days) and I haven't seen any "sources" mention any release dates that I would consider reputable in the slightest.

Look at the press releases from Panasonic - they have e-mail contacts that I'm not just going to post here, but e-mail them and tell them you're frustrated with the lack of a release date and you'll get a much more informed answer than Panasonic's customer service line.

[bferr1]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

...and where have Panasonic said that it will not be out until Q3 or Q4?

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1024285

I and others have been told by different reps at Panasonic various time frames between now and the fall. Also, the listing right here on this website's player page has changed from April 1 to May 1. I'm sure it'll soon say June 1.

We want to buy their product, but the waiting game is enough to make one consider other brands. Panasonic could resolve this easily by giving everyone who calls their Customer Support line the exact same time frame for the player's release date. Or, better yet, why not wait until the player is actually ready for release before making a huge public announcement at CES?

[martinstraka8282]

I'm only pissed because my PS3 is so goddamn noisy that it drives me nuts, and I don't want to have to use it for my movies anymore.. For some reason it kicks into 3rd gear everytime even though Ive tried everything from fans, to different locations. IMO there has been no other standalone worth the price unless you have a receiver that decodes all audio codecs.

[Seretur]

I'm not taking this personally, you know.

I just want a reliable, fully-featured player. If I can get one from Panasonic, great. If I can get one from Sony, that's also great. It's annoying when a company says a player will be available, and then it isn't, but it's not like I'm losing sleep over it. They will come in time, and whoever is more competitive will get my money, end of story.

So please, Doby, don't take this as a big issue -- it's anything but.

[CassilineKnight]

So has it officially been pushed back or is that a rumor from some random person over at AVS?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by CassilineKnight

So has it officially been pushed back or is that a rumor from some random person over at AVS?

VisualApex still has the player listed for pre-order around mid to late May for $599.

http://www.visualapex.com/accessorie...sonic&Type=DVD

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by bferr1

Or, better yet, why not wait until the player is actually ready for release before making a huge public announcement at CES?

Yeah, I can only imagine how exciting CES would be if people only showed items that were ready to go.

No glimpses of the extreme contrast Pioneer plasma's, no sightings of the 150" 2160p Panasonic plasma, no showing from the Laser TV's, etc., etc.

You know Batman Begins was shown on Blu-ray at CES 2006!

[bferr1]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

Yeah, I can only imagine how exciting CES would be if people only showed items that were ready to go.

No glimpses of the extreme contrast Pioneer plasma's, no sightings of the 150" 2160p Panasonic plasma, no showing from the Laser TV's, etc., etc.

You know Batman Begins was shown on Blu-ray at CES 2006!

Yeah, you make a good point. But a lot of people are impatiently awaiting all of those products, too, and *****ing about why they're not released yet.

[WickyWoo]

Yeah, you make a good point. But a lot of people are impatiently awaiting all of those products, too, and *****ing about why they're not released yet.

Which is better than them *****ing about why they don't work right

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Which is better than them *****ing about why they don't work right

That will happen after they're released.

[CassilineKnight]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

That will happen after they're released.

Lol people are gonna flip out if the BD-50 doesn't work perfectly after all this waiting...

I probably will too...

[Lonwa]

Just got off the phone with Panasonic support, and the latest ETA on the BD-50 unit is:


Late July / Early August.


Just thought you guys would like to know.

Sorry.

Lonwa

[dobyblue]

No need to be sorry, Panasonic's customer support is there for existing products, not for products not yet released.

You can get different answers every time you speak to someone new at customer support regarding products not yet on the market.

Unless you've got a press release or official Panasonic dealer information, please don't think that you've just got the official up-to-date information because that's not it.

Unless you're talking to someone from the press office, take anything regarding release dates for CSR's with a grain of salt.

[moviefan]

Originally Posted by Lonwa

Just got off the phone with Panasonic support, and the latest ETA on the BD-50 unit is:


Late July / Early August.


Just thought you guys would like to know.

Sorry.

Lonwa

Then it's a race!
Panny 50 or Sony 550
First one out gets my money!

[dobyblue]

The 550 should have SACD support, but probably not DSD-native.
Something to consider for those looking for that option.
I don't think the Panny will play DVD-A discs.

Of course with the Oppo 980H costing just $169 and supporting both DVD-A and SACD (including native DSD output through HDMI) there's very little reason to look at hirez audio for this batch of players.

When Denon, Marantz and Pioneer Elite get into it, could be a different story.

I'm sticking with the PS3 for Blu-ray playback for a year or two. Bitstreaming audio has not impressed me anymore than PCM has.

[btf1980]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

I'm sticking with the PS3 for Blu-ray playback for a year or two. Bitstreaming audio has not impressed me anymore than PCM has.

What exactly were you looking for to impress you?

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by btf1980

What exactly were you looking for to impress you?

Some people find that bitstreaming sounds better than the player doing the decoding, I have yet to find this.

[WickyWoo]

Some people find that bitstreaming sounds better than the player doing the decoding, I have yet to find this.

Only if there's crappy hardware in the player should there be enough decoding errors to affect it

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by martinstraka8282

I'm only pissed because my PS3 is so goddamn noisy that it drives me nuts, and I don't want to have to use it for my movies anymore.. For some reason it kicks into 3rd gear everytime even though Ive tried everything from fans, to different locations. IMO there has been no other standalone worth the price unless you have a receiver that decodes all audio codecs.

I had a noisy PS3 (well, you could hear it... for a PS3 that's considered noisy). I called Sony support, told them the fan kept coming on high and that my machine was showing signs of overheating and wasn't ideal for Blu-ray watching. They sent me a box to return my PS3 and I had a new PS3 within the week. This ones completely silent, and I couldn't be happier.

[Grubert]

Press release:
Panasonic Introduces Third Generation Blu-ray Disc Player and Announces Pricing

SECAUCUS, NJ--(MARKET WIRE)--May 6, 2008 -- Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal U.S. subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE:MC - News), announces the introduction of the anticipated DMP-BD50, Panasonic's third generation Blu-ray disc player -- the ultimate playback source for high definition 1080p content. Blu-ray media offers a wide range of functions that foster the transition to HD -- including 1080p image quality, lossless Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio(TM) and versatile Picture-in-Picture applications. The BD50 adds the new BD-Live function, which uses the internet to further enhance the consumer's entertainment experience and employs VIERA Link,(TM) a technology that allows the consumer to operate VIERA Link equipped home theater components with a single remote. The DMP-BD50 will be available this spring and will have an SRP of $699.95.

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