Panasonic DMP-BD30, or PS3?

[Nailhead]

Best Buy has an open box deal on this Panasonic DMP-BD30 BluRay player for $400. I really like the looks of this BD-30, but for the same price I could get a brand new player, (PS3).

I don't think I would use BD-Live features, I just want a stylish BluRay player that offers the best video quality for my 1080p HDTV. I love the looks of the BD-30, but it was used as a display model so it does have some minor wear and tear. I have an Xbox 360 and, there are no PS3 exclusives I am the lease bit interested in playing, so I would have no use for the PS3 as a game console. I am only comparing these two units as BluRay players, nothing more.

So here are my main questions with the Panasonic DMP-BD30 compared to the Sony PS3 BluRay player:

1. How does the video quality compare?
2. How do load times compare?
3. What about dealing with Java features?
4. How much noiser/quieter is this than a PS3?

I'm not too concerned with audio output, if I get a receiver to replace my dead Onkyo it most likely would not handle TrueHD audio and it's just a 5.1 setup anyway, my primary concern is how the video will look on my Sony 50" 1080p HDTV (KDS50A2000)

Your thoughts?

[AlaskaDon]

I have a PS3 and a Panny BD-30. The short answer to your question is that either one would be fine. Given that you don't really care about BD-Live, that cuts out an advantage of the PS3. As far as noise goes, the BD-30 is nearly silent, but the PS3 is not all that loud either. Load times are fastest on the PS3 but the Panny is pretty quick also.

This part is sort of subjective, but I would give a slight edge to the Panny in terms of PQ for Blu-ray Discs, but I also think that the PS3 does a better job of upconverting standard DVD's so you would have to decide which is more important to you. As far as AQ goes, the main reason I went with the BD-30 is because of it's ability to bitstream advanced audio codecs. Id does not decode them at all though, so given that you are not planning on buying an AVR that will decode TrueHD or DTS-HD MA, then the PS3 would be your better choice since it already decodes TrueHD and may eventually decode DTS-HD MA also. It could then be passed to your receiver as PCM and you would have them without getting a new AVR. Another consideration is Analog Outs. The Panny has them, the PS3 doesn't.

As you can see, there are some trade-offs to be made, so only you can really decide which is best based on your needs.

[xiong651]

If you don't play games as much, the BD30 is the way to go. I got it because it also match my tv....lol

[aiman04]

Originally Posted by AlaskaDon

I have a PS3 and a Panny BD-30. The short answer to your question is that either one would be fine. Given that you don't really care about BD-Live, that cuts out an advantage of the PS3. As far as noise goes, the BD-30 is nearly silent, but the PS3 is not all that loud either. Load times are fastest on the PS3 but the Panny is pretty quick also.

This part is sort of subjective, but I would give a slight edge to the Panny in terms of PQ for Blu-ray Discs, but I also think that the PS3 does a better job of upconverting standard DVD's so you would have to decide which is more important to you. As far as AQ goes, the main reason I went with the BD-30 is because of it's ability to bitstream advanced audio codecs. Id does not decode them at all though, so given that you are not planning on buying an AVR that will decode TrueHD or DTS-HD MA, then the PS3 would be your better choice since it already decodes TrueHD and may eventually decode DTS-HD MA also. It could then be passed to your receiver as PCM and you would have them without getting a new AVR. Another consideration is Analog Outs. The Panny has them, the PS3 doesn't.

As you can see, there are some trade-offs to be made, so only you can really decide which is best based on your needs.

What he says.

[tommyboy81]

Originally Posted by aiman04

What he says.

+1 If you don't play games doesn't mean you don't have to get a PS3 because it plays games. People need to realize that it's an awesome Blu-ray player not just a gaming system.

[Nailhead]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

+1 If you don't play games doesn't mean you don't have to get a PS3 because it plays games. People need to realize that it's an awesome Blu-ray player not just a gaming system.

A bulky and ugly BluRay player

But I am still leaning towards the PS3 simply because the panny is a little banged up from being a display unit, and it might not come with a remote. I think I will head down and see if my pretty boy looks can convince them to cut the price down some, $400 seems a bit high for a slightly scuffed up player, especially if it doesn't even come with the original remote. I just wanted some advice as to how the two compare strictly as BluRay players, so thanks that was some good advice!

[AOD]

Originally Posted by Nailhead

A bulky and ugly BluRay player

But I am still leaning towards the PS3 simply because the panny is a little banged up from being a display unit, and it might not come with a remote. I think I will head down and see if my pretty boy looks can convince them to cut the price down some, $400 seems a bit high for a slightly scuffed up player, especially if it doesn't even come with the original remote. I just wanted some advice as to how the two compare strictly as BluRay players, so thanks that was some good advice!

There's a Best Buy 10% off coupon floating around that would bring a new BD30 within $50 of the display one you are looking at.

[Nailhead]

Originally Posted by greddy1

There's a Best Buy 10% off coupon floating around that would bring a new BD30 within $50 of the display one you are looking at.

Thanks for the tip, but even if I could find the coupon it's not giving much of a savings making the player worth it to me. Yea $50 off is nice, but it's still $50 more than I want to pay. I really don't even want to pay $400, so I'm probably just going to wait and see if BestBuy will drop the price on this used player. It wouldn't kill me if someone else bought it, but if I can get it for $300 that'd be pretty sweet, so I'll play the waiting game.

Now if I could use that coupon on this open box player, awesome, but I doubt it. Still though, I'd be interested in reading the details behind that coupon if anyone knows about it.

[chasarms]

If you are willing to wait, I would speculate that you will be able to buy a NIB BD-30 for $400 or perhaps less as soon as the BD-50 hits the market.

I am not familiar with the PS3. I know there are many who love them. But, I do own the Panasnic, and I am very pleased with it.

The big benefit of the standalone IMO is the analog outs. With these, even though you can't decode TrueHD and DTS HD MA, you can enjoy the BDs that feature lossless PCM by analog output to a receiver with no HDMI input. (although most new receivers will have HDMI)

One thing I think I would not like about the PS3 is that it doesn't use a standed IR remote.

[tennisman20042]

You can also wait for the BD-50, which is released on May 1 (it looks exactly like the BD-30). Like you, I am not crazy about the BD-Live features but the BD-50 can bitstream and internally decode Dolby True HD and DTS HD MA.

[Stiny-Ray2]

Originally Posted by Nailhead

Best Buy has an open box deal on this Panasonic DMP-BD30 BluRay player for $400. I really like the looks of this BD-30, but for the same price I could get a brand new player, (PS3).

Open Box for $400? isn't that a little much for a return? $350 seems like a more ideal price. Also if i was you i would wait for the Panasonic DMP-BD50, that player is a Beast and it does it ALL!

[syncguy]

My vote goes to PS3. It may not be the best looking blu-ray player but it delivers a stunning picture with incredible detail and colours even on a large screen if the movie transfer is good. Some people complain about noise but I cannot hear it from the seating positions, so it is not an issue for us.

Sony is committed to evolve PS3 with blu-ray technology. This is a big plus in my mind. In case of Panasonic, today it is 30, tomorrow it will be 50 and so on.

As some posters have mentioned BD-30 may have better audio options, since PS3 is currently weak in that department.

[crackinhedz]

if I were to get a Panny...it would be the BD50.

If not, the PS3 makes a mighty fine player.

[cborbas]

If you own/plan to use a universal remote, forget using it with the PS3... It uses bluetooth.

[Nailhead]

Originally Posted by Stiny-Ray2

Open Box for $400? isn't that a little much for a return? $350 seems like a more ideal price. Also if i was you i would wait for the Panasonic DMP-BD50, that player is a Beast and it does it ALL!

That's why I posted this thread, because I have no clue how the picture quality compares, and since I have no interest in using the PS3 as a game console, if the panny has better picture quality I'd be more interested in that.

But I do agree, $400 is still high for what was a display unit, it has some minor marks on in from being on display and getting man handled by curious nerds like myself, so I'm going to wait until they drop the price, hopefully to $300, but I would probably take $350. And if someone else buys it, that's fine, it sounds like the PS3 wouldn't be much different as far as a BluRay player goes, but I am concerned with it's noise and absence of an IR receiver.

I know the BD-50 would be better, but that's also way more expensive than I'm comfortable spending, I could be wrong, but I am suspecting that because HD-DVD just dropped out recently that current BluRay player prices have not yet adjusted to the demand that has already begun to swell around BluRay, which is certain to increase as time goes on. I am expecting prices to become incredibly competitive in the next 6 months, so for that reason I have a hard time spending $300+ on a BluRay player when I believe I could wait and get a far better deal.

I would be willing to take a bit of a loss for 1080p goodness now though, so if I can get this panny for $300-350 awesome, if it gets sold I might just wait because I'm starting to lean away from the PS3. I'm going to hit up Best Buy again tomorrow and see if it's still there, but I figure they won't touch the price until after the weekend, no problem for me, I can wait

Oh yea, thanks to this forum I know to avoid Samsung players, they have an open box for $300, but it sounds like it might be a $300 paper weight so I'll stay clear!

[syncguy]

Originally Posted by cborbas

If you own/plan to use a universal remote, forget using it with the PS3... It uses bluetooth.

A USB dongle can be used as the receiver for IR remotes, so that a universal remote can be used. It is cumbersome but doable.

[bootman]

Some employers have agreements with Panasonic that allows purchases directly from Panasonic with discounted prices.
(Employee purchase plan)
It's how I got a new one for $375.