blu ray player and avr help!

[okcowboy]

Looking to upgrade system. Buying either denon 1909/789 or yamaharxv663.since both decode all new audio formats.What blu ray player around or under 400.00 would anyone recommend. Any thoughts on the receivers as well.thanks

[Avond]

Since you don't need it to decode audio codecs, I'd recommend the Sony 350 if you wand a standalone player. There are other great players out there, but this one I have personal experience with and can confidently recommend.

[mreilly611]

Same here, the Sony 350 is a great player. I have had for over 9 months with no problems at all. Load times for all Blu-Rays I have are 30 seconds or less and I had to do a firmware update once. If you want to use Player for BD-LIVE you would also need to get a USB memory stick to plug into the back of the player. You can find the memory stick for $30 or less.

[okcowboy]

so the sony 350 will do dolby hd master with either receiver?

[Sammy]

I am pretty sure that all of the under $400 BDP's are pretty good. I have had nothing but good service from mine ($340 at newegg).

[cbm1965]

Originally Posted by okcowboy

Looking to upgrade system. Buying either denon 1909/789 or yamaharxv663.since both decode all new audio formats.What blu ray player around or under 400.00 would anyone recommend. Any thoughts on the receivers as well.thanks

I have a denon 2500btci paid 476.00 with tax. This was a 1 grand. Best blue ray I own to date. Own a sony and pioneer elite. The new audio playback with my Marantz 5300 is outstanding.

Denon receivers are great. So are Yahama. Whatever receiver gives more wattage during continous output with less noise ratio. I would get. Yahama are known for their easy setup and usage. Denon are know for their solid built.

[Zman2k2]

Originally Posted by okcowboy

so the sony 350 will do dolby hd master with either receiver?

Yes. What you're looking for when it comes to a player, based on your choices of receiver, is one that bitstreams the HD audio codecs. The Sony S350, the Panasonic BD35, and the Sharp BD21 will all work for you. There are alot of people who have the sony here, and it is a good player. I read the latest Home Theater mag and they really like the Panasonic. It really comes down to brand preference for you.

[icyteddy]

Cannot go wrong with the S350. Have mine and it works flawlessly. One of the best BD player for the price right now. Only 2 BD players out there now that can compete with S350 for the price is the Panny Bd35 and the PS3.

[okcowboy]

zman2k2 how do you like your pioneer bd player. that was another one i was looking at.

[Zman2k2]

Personally, I'm a big fan. I started out in blu-ray with a Sony S300, and man was that thing S.....L......O.......W. I sold that off after about a month, and purchased a PS3. Liked that, but there were things that I didn't like either. So I went shopping again. Doing research I found the Pioneer. I'm already sort of a Pioneer brand-*****, so I thought this was a logical step for me. One thing I wasn't expecting, but I find a real bonus is the PQ. I feel that the PQ is just that much better than the other players I had. Now, that may be just me wanting to see it, but I really didn't expect it. I find the picture to be a little sharper, or brighter, and the colors seem to pop a little more. The audio aspect is easy to use, as I bitstream the audio to my receiver as well. Once you sign in and register your player on Pioneer.com, they keep you up-to-date and send you info on when the next firmware update shows up as well. I love my BDP-51FD and easily recommend it to anyone. At least until the next blu-ray players from Pioneer get released.

[okcowboy]

any thoughts on buying the sony 350 now, or waiting on the new pannys 60 and 70 due out soon.

[Zman2k2]

I don't see any real advantage to waiting. The S350 is profile 2.0 so you'll get all the latest benefits of blu-ray. The only thing that may work out in waiting is that the Panny 60 and 70 may load a little faster. I haven't seen too many specs on the latest coming out.

[ryoohki]

Have the S350 for a couple of month. The ability of flash the firmware with the etherne directly in the machine simplify things a lot and you'll have have a warning when there's an update available. witch is great if you don't browse those forum each days..

[cbm1965]

[QUOTE=okcowboy;1644823]any thoughts on buying the sony 350 now, or waiting on the new pannys 60 and 70 due out soon.

I know for the price the sony is nice. The 350 is a good blu ray player. The thing is we want the best picture possible within our price range. You do not want to keep buying blu ray players. When we invest thats it until years later.

If your a gamer and load time matters the P3. Same picture quality as the 350

If your a internet geek and like to chat and have triva BD live is important. The Panasonic 35 or 55 if you can find them is awesome. The picture quality rivals Pioneer and its faster and does all codecs.

Just picture quality then the high end pioneer elite, Denon's model, & high end Sony ES. Everthing else is secondary. Matter of what your comfortable with and your favorite brand.
I'm like my Man. I am a huge Pioneer fan. But the Pioneer 51 & 05. Was not worth the price. They still slow and didn't do the the BD live. Just a good picture. So so did the Panasonic. for 200 dollars less. But overall picture quality the Denon is a @#&% kicker. Never had anything better. And I have the Pioneer Elite BD94-HD. Which is also a Bad @##% player. The Denon is better than that. 2500btci is slightly better picture quality. The 3800btci better. But to me not 1000 more better.

[okcowboy]

cbm1965. how do you like your denon 2500 as far as upconversion of standard. dvds?

[cbm1965]

Originally Posted by okcowboy

cbm1965. how do you like your denon 2500 as far as upconversion of standard. dvds?

It is excellent best I have ever own. Only the 2 grand models would be better.