What's the "Best" Player with Excellent BD Performance and Bitstreaming?

[ClinicaTerra LTD]

In a discussion I was having with another member, it was revealed that perhaps all Blu-ray players are NOT created equal and there may in fact be vast picture quality differences between some of them...I'm not really happy with my Panny '10A so I'm looking for suggestions on a replacement. I had thought that all Blu laser technology was equal among players and manufacturers -- but I am beginning to get the feeling they're not.

The criteria for my next deck would be that they must exhibit breathtaking 1080p video over HDMI for BD playback AND they must be able to send all the high resolution surround codecs via bitstream -- this includes TrueHD and Master Audio.

What decks would be recommended?

Thank You.

[Geofruben]

Ps3

[Windmill McGill]

Originally Posted by Geofruben

Ps3

FTW! sorry for being no help to you though but seriously PS3 is the sh!t and you need to get one.

[ClinicaTerra LTD]

...okay, perhaps I should have been more specific:

Stand alone Blu-ray players, not the PS3

...would the PS3 really outperform a deck like the new Denon flagship on playback quality?

[Carlsberg19]

PS3 my arse...

[RUR]

Originally Posted by ClinicaTerra LTD

......would the PS3 really outperform a deck like the new Denon flagship on playback quality?

I own both and, as fine a piece of kit as the PS3 is, the answer is "no".

[bferr1]

Guys, you've got to read the OP's criteria. He wants a player that bitstreams all the high resolution surround codecs, including TrueHD and Master Audio, and you guys recommend a PS3?

To the OP, look into the upcoming Pioneer BDP-51FD or Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD. The Samsung BD-P1500 isn't a bad place to start, either. Also, try the Panasonic DMP-BD30.

However, if you want to more easily take advantage of things like PiP commentary or you want to hear interactive menu button sounds, a player with internal decoding and mixing-- like the aforementioned Pioneer models, the Panasonic DMP-BD50, the Denon DVD3800, and, yes, the PS3-- is recommended.

[bootman]

Originally Posted by bferr1

Guys, you've got to read the OP's criteria. He wants a player that bitstreams all the high resolution surround codecs, including TrueHD and Master Audio, and you guys recommend a PS3?

Ignore the lemmings who blindly follow the cell.
There responses are mostly reflexive in nature.

For the criteria above, the Denon flagship is a good choice.
It's really the only high end choice for bluray at the moment.

[captainrac]

Originally Posted by bferr1

Guys, you've got to read the OP's criteria. He wants a player that bitstreams all the high resolution surround codecs, including TrueHD and Master Audio, and you guys recommend a PS3?

To the OP, look into the upcoming Pioneer BDP-51FD or Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD. The Samsung BD-P1500 isn't a bad place to start, either. Also, try the Panasonic DMP-BD30.

However, if you want to more easily take advantage of things like PiP commentary or you want to hear interactive menu button sounds, a player with internal decoding and mixing-- like the aforementioned Pioneer models, the Panasonic DMP-BD50, the Denon DVD3800, and, yes, the PS3-- is recommended.

Since the OP's requirements are

1. Bitstream HD audio
2. Great Video

You might want to just go with the BD-30, since you already like Panasonic. I don't trust Samsung. Their track record has been REAL shaky. Bought a BD1400, it wouldn't even display video out of the box. The Denon will set you back $2K. The BD-50 will run you $700. Also, it's limited to 5.1 if secondary audio is turned on.

[zor]

Whether the PS3 is the best overall or the best in terms of AQ or VQ or not, it is AFAIK the most future proof. Not only is it compatible with Deep Color but it is also said to be upgradeable in the future to support nascent 3D tech (including some that have some kind of backward compatibility with some existing hardware ... but there's no standard yet and I'm guessing there'd need to be a new profile to support it ... an exec at one of these 3D companies is campaigning for it and mentioned how the PS3 could easily incorporate it). No BDs support Deep Color yet either and there are some SA players that support it. Games OTOH may support it soon enough.

Sony will probably eventually release a PS3 that can bitstream the latest codecs. I read that bistreaming is not compatible with certain PiP features, so I'm not sure why anyone would want to bistream unless you weren't interested in those features (or unless your receiver can't accept LPCM)

[ClinicaTerra LTD]

Originally Posted by Carlsberg19

PS3 my arse...

Just out of curiosity, why do you say this

[ClinicaTerra LTD]

Originally Posted by RUR

I own both and, as fine a piece of kit as the PS3 is, the answer is "no".

RUR,

Thanks for the reply. You own the flagship Denon? I didn't think that many people got a hold of these already; does it really perform better than the PS3 -- how about other players like the Pannys, Sonys, etc? Can you see obvious improvements with BD playback on the Denon?

[ClinicaTerra LTD]

Guys, you've got to read the OP's criteria. He wants a player that bitstreams all the high resolution surround codecs, including TrueHD and Master Audio, and you guys recommend a PS3?

Thanks; yes, my number one criteria next to good picture quality is the bitstreaming of those codecs...

To the OP, look into the upcoming Pioneer BDP-51FD or Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD. The Samsung BD-P1500 isn't a bad place to start, either. Also, try the Panasonic DMP-BD30.

Well, being that I'm not really happy with the playback quality on my '10A, I want to look elsewhere than Panasonic for the next deck...those Pioneer players seem interesting...I am demanding, for my other criteria, excellent, premium Blu-ray performance...something that will squeeze every pixel and drop of 1080p resolution from these discs -- one member suggested I look at one of the $300 Sonys that are out; which deck would provide jaw-dropping performance at this point...would it be the top of the line Sony ES? The Marantz that's due out? The Denon? The Pioneers?

However, if you want to more easily take advantage of things like PiP commentary or you want to hear interactive menu button sounds, a player with internal decoding and mixing-- like the aforementioned Pioneer models, the Panasonic DMP-BD50, the Denon DVD3800, and, yes, the PS3-- is recommended.

No, I am not interested in these features. But thank you.

[ClinicaTerra LTD]

Originally Posted by bootman

Ignore the lemmings who blindly follow the cell.
There responses are mostly reflexive in nature.

For the criteria above, the Denon flagship is a good choice.
It's really the only high end choice for bluray at the moment.

Boot,

When you say it's the only choice for high end BD at the moment, can you give me some more insight here? Would the lower priced step down $1000 Denon player perform just as good? What makes the top of the line Denon worth the price it commands -- what would be the differences between it, and say, a Sony or Panasonic priced at $500? Are there massive, obvious differences when playing Blu-ray discs on these different machines?

[GORT]

Originally Posted by ClinicaTerra LTD

...okay, perhaps I should have been more specific:

Stand alone Blu-ray players, not the PS3

...would the PS3 really outperform a deck like the new Denon flagship on playback quality?

Click on the Players Tab at the top of the page it has a good listing of new and upcoming players then if you see one you like you can research it further bottom line is make up your own mind on what player to get you are the one spending your money buying it

[ClinicaTerra LTD]

You might want to just go with the BD-30, since you already like Panasonic.

Well, I don't really "like" Panasonic -- I never said I did; in fact, if you read my original post, I am beginning to suspect this player isn't really up to snuff for even Blu-ray playback (FORGET about DVD upconversion) because I'm noticing a shaky, twitchy artifacting when playing back Blu rays on this player and I don't like it. Now I don't know if this is because the player doesn't support 1080p/24 and neither does my display, but...

I don't trust Samsung. Their track record has been REAL shaky. Bought a BD1400, it wouldn't even display video out of the box.

I agree...I am not considering Samsung.

The Denon will set you back $2K.

I know; I'm trying to ascertain if that money will yield much better Blu-ray performance in terms of picture quality...

The BD-50 will run you $700. Also, it's limited to 5.1 if secondary audio is turned on.

Yeah, I know about the secondary audio issue shutting down the bitstreamed codecs on the new Panasonics; I don't think I want to go with another Panny...

Thanks a bunch for your thoughts.

[ClinicaTerra LTD]

Whether the PS3 is the best overall or the best in terms of AQ or VQ or not, it is AFAIK the most future proof. Not only is it compatible with Deep Color but it is also said to be upgradeable in the future to support nascent 3D tech (including some that have some kind of backward compatibility with some existing hardware ... but there's no standard yet and I'm guessing there'd need to be a new profile to support it ... an exec at one of these 3D companies is campaigning for it and mentioned how the PS3 could easily incorporate it). No BDs support Deep Color yet either and there are some SA players that support it. Games OTOH may support it soon enough.

Zor,

Thanks for your thoughts; unfortunately, a stand alone deck is the main piece of my criteria, so I will not be considering a PS3. But thank you for the info.

Sony will probably eventually release a PS3 that can bitstream the latest codecs. I read that bistreaming is not compatible with certain PiP features, so I'm not sure why anyone would want to bistream unless you weren't interested in those features (or unless your receiver can't accept LPCM)

Yes, I am one of those people who are not interested in those features, just great audio and video quality -- plus, I really do want my Onkyo TX-SR605 to begin decoding the new codecs; that was the reason I purchased it. Unfortunately, I found out AFTER I bought the '10A that this player doesn't output the new codecs in bitstream, so I have to send TrueHD tracks as PCM to my receiver. Also, this player doesn't support Master Audio at all, and that's important to me as I have a bunch of Fox titles with these soundtracks.

So, my next deck must bitstream the new codecs and provide excellent BD performance in a stand alone, non-PS3 chassis.

Any suggestions now?

[RUR]

Originally Posted by ClinicaTerra LTD

Thanks for the reply. You own the flagship Denon? I didn't think that many people got a hold of these already; does it really perform better than the PS3?

Yes, I purchased it the first week it was available. Yes, it really does perform better than the PS3.

Originally Posted by ClinicaTerra LTD

-- how about other players like the Pannys, Sonys, etc? Can you see obvious improvements with BD playback on the Denon?

I also own a BD-P1200. I believe the Denon to be somewhat better in BD playback. Upscaling of SD DVD's is vastly better, thanks to the Realta. On the SQ side and using analogue out, the Denon SQ is considerably superior.

[ClinicaTerra LTD]

Yes, it really does perform better than the PS3

Can you give me some examples of how in terms of BD performance?

I also own a BD-P1200. I believe the Denon to be somewhat better in BD playback. Upscaling of SD DVD's is vastly better, thanks to the Realta.

Yes -- the Realta chip was the reason I was going to buy this player so upscaled DVDs would look good too, but I think I am going down the road of a separate Oppo DVD deck for upscaling right now...does the Realta mean anything for BD playback?

On the SQ side and using analogue out, the Denon SQ is considerably superior.

This wouldn't apply to me as I would be using HDMI OUT to send bitstreamed signals...

[browninggold]

Just purchased this week. Watched 4 blu-ray movies so far and one sd movie. PQ/AQ is excellent. I have it paired with a Denon 3808ci running hdmi cable. I also own a Toshiba HD A35 and the load time on the Denon is a lot quicker. Very impressed with the quality of the Denons.