Need serious help in choosing a new player

[Mike Z]

Hello all,

Okay, so my Sony BDP-S300 pretty much chooses what movies it will play and which ones it won't and I'm completely fed up with it.

I'm looking to get a new player, possibly the S350 but I'm leaning more towards the S550. I feel a little burned by Sony right now but based on what I've read in the forums the S550 seems to be popular but I have a few questions.

I have a 65" Mitsubishi 1080P DLP HDTV with the HDMI connection. However, it seems rare that I get that incredibly crystal clear picture that blu-ray is known for; except maybe with the Iron Man blu-ray which is phenomenal. Maybe I don't have perfect settings or whatnot but maybe someone knows the solution.

Have there been many problems playing certain discs on the S550? My player doesn't seem to play Fox titles and I really just want a blu-ray player that will, y'know, play blu-rays. I'm already at the 4.30 firmware level and the problems persist.

Also, I know I might get joked here but the truth is I don't know what the Profile means when it comes to these players. For example, Player Profile 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, etc.

And the last thing, I'm not really too much into audio, I enjoy the high definition video more than anything. But I'm looking for a player that will be able to connect to a good sound system. I do want to get a sound system down the road but people are always talking about 5.1 and 7.1 and PCM tracks and lossless audio and I'm kinda lost when it comes to that stuff.

I know there's countless threads about this stuff but I'm really just looking for some opinions and suggestions. I want to get a player and not have to worry about certain movies not playing and things like that. I just want to enjoy blu-ray.

I appreciate the help.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by Mike Z

I'm not really too much into audio

the S350 is really all you would need. And its cheaper.

[LiquidTension]

I agree with crack. Get the 350

[Mike Z]

But is there a reason the 350 is a better choice?

[Driver_King]

Price.

[andyman1970]

Would you consider a Panasonic DMP-BD35K or 55K? Or are you just set on Sony. The Panasonic's are great players from what I've read and I'm looking into one of these models myself as I fell confident from my past experience that Panasonic makes great products where like you I have been "burned" by Sony a few times.
Try to find one that is profile 2.0 or later if you can as they are able to decode and bitstream the HD audio codecs if you looking for a surround system or will be. The profile 1.0 can not do this through HDMI and you will only have PCM audio which in my opinion is not the best.

[Trix]

Originally Posted by Mike Z

But is there a reason the 350 is a better choice?

The 350 and 550, for the most part, are the same unit, with mostly the same parts. The 550's glory is that it has more DACs (Digital-analog-converters), enabling it to decode HD audio within the player, transcode the digital bits to analog signals, and output the analog signals via it's 7.1 analog outs.

If you don't know what 7.1 analog outs are, you don't need the player. If you know what they are, but have an HDMI 1.3 compliant A/V reciever or processor, you don't need the player.

Why not save a bit of money if it's to avoid buying something you don't need? Unless you're like me, and like the idea of having the analog outs in case (or, more precisely, for when) your receiver dies and you need to use a non-HDMI receiver to make due until you get the broker receiver replaced?

[Mike Z]

How's the PQ? Now I have to start looking for the best price.

[Midnightsailor]

Originally Posted by andyman1970

Would you consider a Panasonic DMP-BD35K or 55K? Or are you just set on Sony. The Panasonic's are great players from what I've read and I'm looking into one of these models myself as I fell confident from my past experience that Panasonic makes great products where like you I have been "burned" by Sony a few times.
Try to find one that is profile 2.0 or later if you can as they are able to decode and bitstream the HD audio codecs if you looking for a surround system or will be. The profile 1.0 can not do this through HDMI and you will only have PCM audio which in my opinion is not the best.

Agreed.

[callas01]

I agree with these guys, you don't need the 550, either the 350 or the Panasonic 35K would work for you. I just got the Panasonic and I am really enjoying it. The upconversion of Tropic Thunder I just finished watching was excellent, it almost looked like a blu-ray. Also, transformers and PoTC were 2 blu's I have watched in the past 2 days since having the player and they are both crystal clear pictures. Plus when you get a receiver this would be an excellent player to process your HD audio. As far as firmware updates, you can load them via LAN connection or if you don't have high speed internet (like me) you can call panasonic and they will mail you the update.

You prolly need to have your TV calibrated too.

[Trix]

Originally Posted by Mike Z

How's the PQ? Now I have to start looking for the best price.

Blu-ray-wise, both the Sony S350 and Panasonic 35 mentioned in a few posts are comparable. The biggest thing to keep in mind is, if you have a sizeable DVD collection that you intend on keeping and enjoying from time to time, the Panasonic 35 has been rated as one of the best upscaling BD players, even allowing for 1080p/24 playback of DVD's, which may be of interest to you. The Sony has still received good reviews, but there seems to be a concensus that the Panasonic is the superior unit, even if only slightly.

[Midnightsailor]

I like the look of the Panasonic better, too.

[fdm]

I'd go for the Panasonic DMP-BD35K. (Always reading something not quite right with somebody's Sony; hardly ever see much about the Panasonics, and when new firmware's needed they are really on the ball.)

The 35K apparently gets the DVD side of things right this time around... and does a marvelous job with Blu-Rays (video and audio - handles all different hi-def audio formats internally, can bitstream them also).

If I didn't get the 50K just 3 months ago (which is serving me very well (have had zero problems with Blu-Ray, plays anything/everything)), the 35K would be my current machine. [And I get tempted every once in a while...]

[mr peepers]

Originally Posted by andyman1970

Would you consider a Panasonic DMP-BD35K or 55K? Or are you just set on Sony. The Panasonic's are great players from what I've read and I'm looking into one of these models myself as I fell confident from my past experience that Panasonic makes great products where like you I have been "burned" by Sony a few times.
Try to find one that is profile 2.0 or later if you can as they are able to decode and bitstream the HD audio codecs if you looking for a surround system or will be. The profile 1.0 can not do this through HDMI and you will only have PCM audio which in my opinion is not the best.

there's a few things mixed up here i think....

first, profile 2.0 is final standard for blu-rays. i dont think you're going to find any of the "later" profiles now or anytime real soon. but indeed, look for profile 2.0 players, which both the 350/550 and panny 35/55 players are.

second, just because a player is profile 2.0, does NOT mean that it will also always decode all HD audio codecs. a player's ability to decode hd audio is a separate feature from bd live or profile 2.0 compliance.

third, most profile 1.0 players can decode the dolby trueHD tracks, but not dts hd ma. most 1.0 players are also able to bitstream both the hd audio tracks through hdmi or via analog outs if you're letting the player do the decoding.

fourth, pcm is what gets sent to your receiver when you have the bd player decode the audio tracks. therefore, its pretty much identical to dolby trueHD and dts hd ma, since its essentially all the same information, just decoded and uncompressed. you'll also see a number of blu-rays with an included PCM audio track, which generally sound quite phenomenal, as its another delivery method for hi-def audio.

[Mike Z]

Thanks so far guys. It seems like I'm down to the Panasonic and the S350.

Any other suggestions as to which may be better?

Thanks.

[blujacket]

Another Panny vote here. Best Buy has them for $249

[Michael.Schinke]

Originally Posted by blujacket

Another Panny vote here. Best Buy has them for $249

+1

Great player.

[Mike Z]

It sounds like you guys either have a Panasonic or have at least heard good things. Is the PQ good? Any instances where it doesn't play certain BD's?

I'm really leaning towards this player. I just feel like I can't trust a Blu-related Sony product right now.

Thanks for all the help so far

[Mike Z]

I'm thinking about getting the Panasonic.

2 questions:

Is the 35 a safe choice or does the 55 have something better about it?

Is there a way to tell on the box to make sure it's a Profile 2.0 player?

Thanks again.

[callas01]

I just got the panny 35 and it has no issues playing any videos. PQ is excellent and upconversion of tropic thunder last night looked almost like a blu-ray.