pioneer vs. panasonic blu-ray player

[mosteve]

I have been waiting for the new panny blu-ray to replace the bd-55 because I need the 7.1 analog out -puts for my older reciever.

I noticed that best-buy has the pioneer bdp-51fd 7.1 analog out-put on sale this week for $399 about the same as the expected panny.

So in your opinion is the pioneer the better player or should I wait for the panny or are they about the same.

thanks in advance for any input

[BACsader]

I would wait, because the Pioneer doesn't internally decode DTS-HDMA yet. It will soon. Not only that, next month Pioneer is also coming out with three new players and the mid-grade one will have the analog out and is supposed to start off at $399. You can get the BDP-51FD for 299 on amazon.

[sokrman14]

As good as the panasonic is, I feel the Pioneer to give a better picture and audio performance. The Pioneer is definitely a slower unit, but I would wait for the new Pioneer or Pioneer Elite units due out in a couple of months.

[Sonny]

If I had go pick one today it would be the panny but pioneer makes good players & the new ones next month are gunna the top notch. I'd wait also. I'm picking up a few when they hit Best Buy. The mid range pioneer will be $299 not $399, so they say...

[BACsader]

Originally Posted by Sonny

If I had go pick one today it would be the panny but pioneer makes good players & the new ones next month are gunna the top notch. I'd wait also. I'm picking up a few when they hit Best Buy. The mid range pioneer will be $299 not $399, so they say...

No, the low end one, the bdp-120 is going to be $250 while the bdp-320 is said to be either 349 or 399.

Link

[Blacklac]

If your going to use analog outs, get the Pioneer. It has better DAC's. It's supposed to get some more bass management options in the next firmware (with DTS-MA) too. I could be wrong, but I don't think the new Pioneer's have the same Wolfson DAC's that the 05/51 have, atleast the new lower priced models.

[primaz]

I was set on waiting for the new Panasonic BD80 that replaced the BD55 which list for about $499 but will likely be around $400 online but I've been reading up on the new OPPO player the BD83 as it has better specifications than any other player I have seen and it plays DVD's at impressive quality. http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-b...-Features.aspx I called them as they are local to my area and they guy told me it should be released towards the end of this month! he guess was around $500?

I think this player is worth the extra money to stretch your budget as it will provide the best DVD output and the best blu ray for anything near this price. To me it seems that it provides specs comprable to a much more expensive blu ray player; kind of like the Outlaw Audio for DVD and blu ray players

[SatinKzo]

I have both the 51fd ($266 new at 6ave) and a BD55. The BD55 has become my secondary (read as barely used) player now that i have my pio 51fd. I don't have to get into the DAC's (literally night/dat for CD playback compared to my BD55) as it's already mentioned, but PQ wise, I find the pio much nicer for BD and a top notch upscaler for SD, rivaling the best reon treatments out there.

For the price I got it for, it was a no brainer; especially now with rumor the next generation ones might not hit in April.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by mosteve

I have been waiting for the new panny blu-ray to replace the bd-55 because I need the 7.1 analog out -puts for my older reciever.

I noticed that best-buy has the pioneer bdp-51fd 7.1 analog out-put on sale this week for $399 about the same as the expected panny.

So in your opinion is the pioneer the better player or should I wait for the panny or are they about the same.

thanks in advance for any input

That price is not a sale price; Costco was selling them for $289 about three weeks ago.

I'd sit tight (that's what I'm doing, anyway) as several units are coming out in a few weeks with very good specs. Expect a big price drop on the 51fd, it's not 2.0, no ethernet connectivity.