Pioneer Elite BDP-LX500

[gkolb]

Originally Posted by Kris Deering

I am the one that was doing the DVD Benchmark you linked to from Secrets before. With Sound and Vision the limitation is the work count, because it is based on a print magazine article. So it is trying to cover the main points without getting lost in the smallest details that probably don't matter to more than 99.9% of the readers. There is certainly no incentive for me to be flattery or cater to the product though. I don't get paid any different from a good or bad review or received any pressure to.

Thanks for the disclosure, and professional composure.

I’m sure there are trade offs in most things in life, and you undoubtedly have guidelines and constraints on the work product you submit for articles. The editors probably have final say on what’s printed as well.

[HDTV1080P]

I have seen once and awhile when Widescreen Review magazine and Sound and Vision magazine publishes very negative reviews on a product and other times average or excellent reviews. Consumers are looking for fair and accurate reviews. And as a reader of both magazines for several decades I trust Widescreen Review and Sound and Vision magazine to give fair reviews on a product.


I enjoyed the Pioneer Elite UDP-LX500 review and that player is a excellent match for those wanting the absolute best Blu-ray player since OPPO Digital INC is no longer making Blu-ray players.

[Squad 701]

I’d be interested in hearing what the problem with ‘Lucy’ was !
As I use it as Demo-Material on my Pioneer LX-800 with zero problems, also no problems with Blade Runner 2049, the video spec on the LX-800 and LX-500 would be close to identical.

[Kris Deering]

Originally Posted by Squad 701

I’d be interested in hearing what the problem with ‘Lucy’ was !
As I use it as Demo-Material on my Pioneer LX-800 with zero problems, also no problems with Blade Runner 2049, the video spec on the LX-800 and LX-500 would be close to identical.

Again, this was glitching during playback or not loading consistently. Could be sample variance but I have to report what I find.

[Mobe1969]

Can anyone with the unit comment on the subtitle options? The Panasonic has luminance and position options, that aren't in the manual, so was wondering what the Pioneer might be able to do.

[HDTV1080P]

The Pioneer Elite UDP-LX500 has a official list price of $1,099, however the cheapest online brand new street price appears to be a Amazon dealer at $989 plus free shipping. In fact many dealers are selling this Pioneer UDP-LX500 for around $999 with free shipping.


However tariff's have been increased on some Chinese electronics from 10% to 25% today. Therefore in the coming weeks or months there is a possibility that this Pioneer UDP-LX500 might be sold at the full list price of $1,099 plus maybe $50 shipping. Just a wild guess at what could happen in the future.

[Member-425016]

I can't find any info on the 3D features of this unit.

Does anyone know if it supports 2D to 3D conversion like the Oppo 203?

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by Filmfan73

I can't find any info on the 3D features of this unit.

Does anyone know if it supports 2D to 3D conversion like the Oppo 203?

According to the user manual the Pioneer UDP-LX500 supports playing of native Blu-ray 3D discs in true 3D when 3D equipment is connected (like a 3D projector). However 2D to 3D conversion is not mentioned in the manual and is most likely not supported. I never liked artificial 3D that converts 2D to 3D, native 3D looks better. Many 3D displays have the artificial 2D to 3D conversion feature if the Blu-ray player does not support it.

[sa5150]

I may be able to get this player for quite bit cheaper then the list price . My viewing is 95% blu-rays and dvds that will be watched on a new Oled , Is this worth the almost 3 times price tag over the Sony x800m2 or the Panasonic's 820 ? I like to have sacd but I only own 3 discs so I can probably live without it. There a lot of hype and proven facts on the Optimizer of the Pannys ...But do I really need it with no DV or HDR10 discs that I own . The 2 UHD discs I own are just HDR .

[LordoftheRings]

You have a collection of three SACDs and two UHD discs...HDR only (no DV).
Get the Sony X800 for $199 without looking back.
It plays Blu-rays and DVDs (95% of your viewing).

Forget the Pioneer LX500, it's not the player for you.

[RalphoR]

Can't believe Pioneer and Denon are part of the same company now (along with Marantz, Onkyo, and Integra). It will be interesting to see what kinds of products we'll get moving forward.

[JimShaw]

Generally, less competition means a rise in mediocrity and prices



.

[sa5150]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

You have a collection of three SACDs and two UHD discs...HDR only (no DV).
Get the Sony X800 for $199 without looking back.
It plays Blu-rays and DVDs (95% of your viewing).

Forget the Pioneer LX500, it's not the player for you.

oops got confused and I meant HDR10+ that I was thinking of that they don't have (I don't think many even do yet) and it turns out that surprising for old titles "Grease" has DV . I know 3 is nothing but assuming they do release more catalog titles in DV should I just wait for maybe a price drop on the Sony x800m2 maybe by Christmas ? What about SDR to HDR conversions I hear a lot on these boards , How important is that with what I have and Pioneer vs Sony vs Panny etc.. ? Thanks for any help

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by sa5150

oops got confused and I meant HDR10+ that I was thinking of that they don't have (I don't think many even do yet) and it turns out that surprising for old titles "Grease" has DV . I know 3 is nothing but assuming they do release more catalog titles in DV should I just wait for maybe a price drop on the Sony x800m2 maybe by Christmas ? What about SDR to HDR conversions I hear a lot on these boards , How important is that with what I have and Pioneer vs Sony vs Panny etc.. ? Thanks for any help

You don't have a Blu-ray player already, just keep using it till you buy more 4K movies. By that time 4K Blu-ray players will be $29.99 (with both Dolby Vision and HDR10+). For SACDs just keep using the player you have now.

Save your money and buy a new bike, or a new car (sell your old one)...explore the country side. You can stream high def movies and high res music for very cheap...Netflix, Tidal, Roon, iTunes, HBO, YouTube, etc.
Do you have a radio in your receiver?

No sweat I'm here to help you save money and enjoy life on the wild side.

Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side (audio) - YouTube

[sa5150]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

You don't have a Blu-ray player already, just keep using it till you buy more 4K movies. By that time 4K Blu-ray players will be $29.99 (with both Dolby Vision and HDR10+). For SACDs just keep using the player you have now.

Save your money and buy a new bike, or a new car (sell your old one)...explore the country side. You can stream high def movies and high res music for very cheap...Netflix, Tidal, Roon, iTunes, HBO, YouTube, etc.
Do you have a radio in your receiver?

No sweat I'm here to help you save money and enjoy life on the wild side.

Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side (audio) - YouTube

Awesome buddy !!!

[Auditor55]

If this player doesn't have wi-fi and you are not connected via wired, how then are you notified when there's a firmware update?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Auditor55

If this player doesn't have wi-fi and you are not connected via wired, how then are you notified when there's a firmware update?

A poster on AVS last year posted:

Pioneer claimed the wifi modules add distortion and degrade S/N. That’s why they said they went with only a LAN connector.

Three AVS people actually agreed with that?

IMHO it’s because Pioneer lack of anything network is based on a player devoid of internet functionality. They just don’t believe a player needs to be something it’s not. BD-live is no longer relevant, and there is no media that lack of internet prevents playback operation.

The player has only seen 2 FW version since release.

[Auditor55]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

A poster on AVS last year posted:



Three AVS people actually agreed with that?

IMHO it’s because Pioneer lack of anything network is based on a player devoid of internet functionality. They just don’t believe a player needs to be something it’s not. BD-live is no longer relevant, and there is no media that lack of internet prevents playback operation.

The player has only seen 2 FW version since release.

Would one of the FW update happen to have been HDR10+, if so, how did consumers manage to get the update? More importantly, how are you notified when an update is available?

There is no purpose to connect to a wired connection other than to get a firmware update. Who wants to run long Ethernet cables into their Blu Ray player.

Pioneer claimed the wifi modules add distortion and degrade S/N. That’s why they said they went with only a LAN connector

As to that claim, why is it that high-end Panasonics can have Wi-fi in their players not get those complaints?

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Auditor55

Would one of the FW update happen to have been HDR10+, if so, how did consumers manage to get the update? More importantly, how are you notified when an update is available?

There is no purpose to connect to a wired connection other than to get a firmware update. Who wants to run long Ethernet cables into their Blu Ray player.

As to that claim, why is it that high-end Panasonics can have Wi-fi in their players not get those complaints?

see below

CHANGE HISTORY:
Version V01.12
- Improve stability of playback for, BD-R/RE and SACD.
- Improve stability of playback web content.
- Minor bug fixes and stability improvements.

Version V01.08
- Minor bug fixes and improvements stability.

For starters you need to examine the Japanese marketplace which is heavy on all forms of physical media playback, not this phone centric, streaming mess that is the USA marketplace, they don't trust that stuff.

If your going to attempt to show Panasonic is high-end you get laughs seriously!

The Japanese audiophile web sites show some really elitist products that Robert could not even afford to stock. (size/prices) They are very big time into what the USA gave up decades ago which is true high end A/V systems. Thats one of the reasons the $2300 LX800 isn't sold in the USA, because we aren't in their opinion a worthy A/V marketplace, too much of what is sold here is cheap solutions.
Examples






Look at e-earphone – Japan’s number one headphone retailer



God it makes BB look like a 5 and 10 dime store! I hate so much that you have to buy stuff like this from Amazon because we have stores chains that don't distribute so many brands from Asia.

[danny24]

Japan would be so much fun to shop in I do miss stores like that and Tower Records. It's to bad the USA has become so phone and streaming driven like you said. There still is a market for this stuff in the USA and physical media still but not as big as Japan sadly it's niche in USA.

That LX800 I am sure is an amazing disc player.