Denon2500Btci vs Panasonic BD 55

[Imdok]

I have a new Denon AVR 4308ci (still in the box). I also bought a Denon 2500

BTCI BD player from Best Buy when it was on sale last week. I have

30 days to return it if I want.

My question is: Is the new Panny BD 55 a better over all player for my use

in HT situations?

I understand the differences between the two (one's a transport only, etc.)

I'm just wondering about PQ and up-scaling.

I bought a Panny BD 35 for the bedroom yesterday and I'm really impressed

with its up-scaling to 1080p of my SD dvds.

Any consensus about which is better technologically, PQ, and up-scaling?

Don't really care too much about the 2.0 version "live" stuff because I'm not

too sure I'd use it.

Thanks

[Jase Fox]

Originally Posted by Imdok

I have a new Denon AVR 4308ci (still in the box). I also bought a Denon 2500

BTCI BD player from Best Buy when it was on sale last week. I have

30 days to return it if I want.

My question is: Is the new Panny BD 55 a better over all player for my use

in HT situations?

I understand the differences between the two (one's a transport only, etc.)

I'm just wondering about PQ and up-scaling.

I bought a Panny BD 35 for the bedroom yesterday and I'm really impressed

with its up-scaling to 1080p of my SD dvds.

Any consensus about which is better technologically, PQ, and up-scaling?

Don't really care too much about the 2.0 version "live" stuff because I'm not

too sure I'd use it.

Thanks

Hi Imdok, IMO id stick with the Denon 2500, i own the denon also & its by far best for PQ & AQ alike ive also used the panny BD50 & 55 & although there very good machines & for the price id recommend anyone to buy one however the denon takes things even further & it more than justifies the extra cost, so if you want the best bluray performance for Pic & audio quality & the best upscaler of standard dvds stick with the denon !! i realise the denon isnt 2.0 but im just giving my opinion on its pic & sound quality & for now its the leader in terms of this, hope this helps

[btf1980]

Have had both. The Denon has the superior build quality, but the BD 55 is the better overall player.

The Denon is a transport only. The BD 55 is a full fledged profile 2.0 player. It not only bitstreams, but it will internally decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. It also has 7.1 Analog outs. DVD upscaling is also fairly good. Something that is more or less an afterthought with the 2500btci, but again it's just supposed to be a transport.

Unless your criteria for a player is "built like a Sherman tank". I can't in good conscience recommend the Denon over the BD-55. The BD-55 does everything the 2500 will do (bitstream) and heck of a lot more for a third of a the price. I don't really understand why it would come down to these two players anyway. The couldn't be more apart.

Look for Denon to announce new players next month at CES. The 2500 will be dirt cheap then.