Sony BDP-S550 vs Panasonic DMP-BD55K

[Tigerbert]

I’ve waited this long. I can wait a month or so longer to get the purchase right.

Sony BDP-S550 or Panasonic DMP-BD55K
1. Which one should I buy?
2. Why?
3. Although the PS3 probably builds up too much heat for my cabinetry, is there an IR solution to the Bluetooth remote? I utilize an IR repeater.

Thanks all.

[love blu or go home!]

Yes there is, I have one it works pretty good.
http://ir2bt.com/

[Blu-RayLover]

Originally Posted by Tigerbert

I’ve waited this long. I can wait a month or so longer to get the purchase right.

Sony BDP-S550 or Panasonic DMP-BD55K
1. Which one should I buy?
2. Why?
3. Although the PS3 probably builds up too much heat for my cabinetry, is there an IR solution to the Bluetooth remote? I utilize an IR repeater.

Thanks all.

This is a pretty tough one to tackle, so I'll go by the numbers . . .

1.It's probably too close too call as to which player is the best buy. They both are about the same in style and features. While the Sony S550 is perhaps the best technically impressive looking, the Panasonic is sleek and not as bulky as the Sony is in height. It's believed that for surround sound, the Sony has the advantage, while the Panasonic is more user friendly.
2.A reason to say which one of the players is worth having may depend more on one's budget than anything else. So far, the S550 is being discounted from its original list price of 499, now down to about just under 400 dollars and maybe even less! The Panasonic will probably be in the same price range, so here again, there isn't any positive way to say that one as an overwhelmingly solid advantage over the other. There simply isn't any “why” to this question, based on technicalities that are too much the same. It's simply best to try and check out each player for yourself and then decide which one gives you the “best feeling” or how much you like the features and style that are offered.
3.I'm an audio/videophile, so I can't really give any opinions about the PS3. I'm not into any sort of video gaming. If you're a gamer, than by all means, I would consider the PS3 and take it from there. It may have a heating problem, but the results and flexibility the PS3 has are impressive enough to be considered a good contender for anyone wanting to expand into Blu-ray video. One very interesting aspect to the PS3 is that it doesn't have to be placed on anyone's audio/video rack. You can treat the game-console like a PC and place it off to the side or out of sight. With a few wires running here and there, it's easily kept in a corner or placed vertically on its stand, just like a PC.

So that's my take on things, good luck

[gekke henkie]

I have not yet seen any evidence that the Sony does indeed internally decode DTS-HD-MA 7.1. From users I read that it decodes the DTS-HD (HR) core 5.1 only in that case. Of course it bitstreams the 7.1 DTS-HD-MA (undecoded), or it does 7.1 PCM and 7.1 Dolby TrueHD tracks, or it decodes the 7.1 'DTS-HD' track (meaning the core/HR-part only), but it does not decode the full 7.1 MA over HDMI! Same with Sony's website-change and the quotes from the manual (they only indicate 'DTS-HD', meaning the DTS-HD-HR and not DTS-HD-MA).

Therefore, I would currently choose the Panasonic. A second reason for me is the nice SD-card feature on the front, to show your pictures from your camera (and camcorder in my case). The third reason being that I think the Panasonic will probably be modded sooner by BlurayMods.com (since they only have the BD30 and BD50, currently) to make it region free.

Just my 0.02

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Blu-RayLover

It's believed that for surround sound, the Sony has the advantage

Who believes this?

http://panasonic.net/avc/blu-ray/dmp...nticsound.html

[AintNoSin]

Originally Posted by gekke henkie

I have not yet seen any evidence that the Sony does indeed internally decode DTS-HD-MA 7.1.

According to the audio specs on page 66 of the Sony manual, the S550 outputs DTS-MA as 7.1 LPCM over HDMI and also as 7.1 over the analog outs. Sounds like it decodes DTS-MA to me.

[Blu-RayLover]

Originally Posted by AintNoSin

According to the audio specs on page 66 of the Sony manual, the S550 outputs DTS-MA as 7.1 LPCM over HDMI and also as 7.1 over the analog outs. Sounds like it decodes DTS-MA to me.

AintNOSin. . .YOU'RE ABSOULELY RIGHT! This has been the first topic of discussion on this and other web sites about the Sony 550! It's already been totally determined or confirmed by users, who received their players just about a week ago, that the 550 does handle DTS HD MA 7.1 over the analog side. This places the 550 in a very powerful position, hitting the market place way ahead of the competition. The next best choice would be the Panasonic 55, that promises to give the 550 stiff competition in the months to come.

[AintNoSin]

And according to this guy over at AVS, decoded DTS-MA 7.1 from the S550 over analog outs is for real.

[Blu-RayLover]

Originally Posted by AintNoSin

And according to this guy over at AVS, decoded DTS-MA 7.1 from the S550 over analog outs is for real.

AintNoSin. . .I . . . Down To You!

[dobyblue]

The DMP-BD55 also decodes dts-HD Master Audio 7.1 through the 7.1 analogs...and from what I can see the Uniphier chip gives some of the best 1080p24 PQ on the market - not suprising from the people who do all the Fox and Disney Blu-ray encodes and who encoded the first Blu-ray Disc on the market to feature AVC/MPEG-4.

So I'm still not sure why the DMP-BD55 is the "next best choice"?

The DMP-BD35 uses the same chip as the 55, it just doesn't do analog.
http://www.panasonicsleepingbeauty.com/
However for $299 you get Ratatouille and Nightmare Before Christmas for free.

[BIslander]

Originally Posted by Blu-RayLover

It's already been totally determined or confirmed by users, who received their players just about a week ago, that the 550 does handle DTS HD MA 7.1 over the analog side.

?? I've been following the threads here and at AVS and, from what I've seen, the handling of dts-MA decoding for both analog and HDMI PCM transmission is hardly settled, let alone "totally determined". Lots of posters are having trouble getting the outputs they want. A few claim success. It all still seems rather muddled.

[gekke henkie]

Originally Posted by BIslander

?? I've been following the threads here and at AVS and, from what I've seen, the handling of dts-MA decoding for both analog and HDMI PCM transmission is hardly settled, let alone "totally determined". Lots of posters are having trouble getting the outputs they want. A few claim success. It all still seems rather muddled.

I agree with you; I have done the same. Since I won't hi-jack this thread, a just give you the link of what I wrote over there:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...6&postcount=59

My personal conclusion for now is that the Sony S550 doesn't handshake that well with every (Sony!) receiver regarding the decoding of 7.1 DTS-HD-MA and sending the 7.1 LCPM over HDMI. Hopefully, a software-update is on it's way...

[gekke henkie]

And here is another user confirming the above:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=185

[Blu-RayLover]

One of the basic reasons for a lot of the confusion surrounding the aduio 7.1 analog output, has to do with the navigator setup and not understanding the Audio Priority Output. If the S550 is not properly set up in the Audio Priority Output side of the menu, then discrepancies occur in the performance of the player.

[Scoob]

Need another BD player. Have been reading alot about these two..........I still can't decide which one to get. It seems maybe the Panny is a bit more user friendly. Any other input from anyone?

[InfectedStranger]

They are both good players, but if I had to choose one, I would go with Panasonic DMP-BD55K

[Mr. Cinema]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

The DMP-BD55 also decodes dts-HD Master Audio 7.1 through the 7.1 analogs...and from what I can see the Uniphier chip gives some of the best 1080p24 PQ on the market - not suprising from the people who do all the Fox and Disney Blu-ray encodes and who encoded the first Blu-ray Disc on the market to feature AVC/MPEG-4.

So I'm still not sure why the DMP-BD55 is the "next best choice"?

The DMP-BD35 uses the same chip as the 55, it just doesn't do analog.
http://www.panasonicsleepingbeauty.com/
However for $299 you get Ratatouille and Nightmare Before Christmas for free.

If the BD35 uses the same chip as the BD55, then I think I've found my next standalone unit. Any idea if the BD35 does a better job of dvd upconverting than the BD30? The BD30 has been a rock solid player. But I'd like a BD Live standalone unit now.

[Scoob]

Originally Posted by InfectedStranger

They are both good players, but if I had to choose one, I would go with Panasonic DMP-BD55K

Could you be more specific as to why? I have read a lot about both, and they seem to be pretty solid. It seems the video may be a bit different. It seems like it may depend on taste. The 55 seems to have a crisper, more proccessed look...........but the 550 seems to have a more lifelike image. So yep, I'm still a bit confused.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Scoob

Could you be more specific as to why? I have read a lot about both, and they seem to be pretty solid. It seems the video may be a bit different. It seems like it may depend on taste. The 55 seems to have a crisper, more proccessed look...........but the 550 seems to have a more lifelike image. So yep, I'm still a bit confused.

I don't know about processed.
Panasonic had a DMP-BD30 using the Uniphier chip hooked up to a 120" screen playing Fantastic Four RotSS that was split alongside a 2K projector displaying the original source material and no-one could pick out where the division of the screen was.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

If the BD35 uses the same chip as the BD55, then I think I've found my next standalone unit. Any idea if the BD35 does a better job of dvd upconverting than the BD30? The BD30 has been a rock solid player. But I'd like a BD Live standalone unit now.

It uses the same chip, but I can't speak for its upconverting abilities versus the 30. You'd need to check the prosumer reviews for that info.