So, which player should I get NOW? - Blu-ray Forum

Zvi · 10-18-2006, 05:25 PM

H All,

Well, I've got a few discs already, few more on pre order, 2 lost in shipping (and of course those are Terminator and Terminator II, my absolue favorites). Thus, the time is to buy a player. I was waiting for Pioneer, expecting it to be released this month, but apparently it was moved to Jan. Which is way too much to wait. That leaves me with Sammy, panny and ??? Anyway, is there any particular reason I should wait for Sony player or Panny will do?
My setup is Samsung 6188W DLP TV, Pioneer Elite VSX-82TXS and 5.1 sound.

Josh · 10-18-2006, 05:35 PM

I think the best player out there right now is the Panasonic, and will be until the Pioneer comes out (assuming that it will handle the advanced codecs). The Sammy is nice, but unless your receiver has HDMI (sorry, not familiar with your model), you will be hurting for the analog audio output (which the samsung doesn't have). Coming out (hopefully) soon is the Sony, the Philips, and the Sharp, all which don't have firm specs, but should have the analog outs you require at a lower price than the Panny.

Isn't choice grand!

Zvi · 10-18-2006, 05:50 PM

Receiver does have 4 hdmi inputs, though 1.2. Which isn't an issue at this point I guess.

Actually 3rd variant is to buy refurb Sammy for 550$ and waith for Gen2 players?

Spankey · 10-18-2006, 06:12 PM

If money isn't an option, I would go with the Panasonic. I think you will get everything you need in a first gen product, including advanced audio decoding. I picked up the Samsung, mainly because it is going into the families every day viewing set. For more critical viewing in a dedicated HT, I would have gone Panasonic.

Josh · 10-18-2006, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phloyd

Actually the Samsung does have 5.1 analogue out. I am using it that way at the moment.

Really? Wow, learn something new everyday. I was under the impressions it didn't have 5.1 analog output.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zvi

Receiver does have 4 hdmi inputs, though 1.2. Which isn't an issue at this point I guess.

Actually 3rd variant is to buy refurb Sammy for 550$ and waith for Gen2 players?

If you have HDMI v1.2, I would get the Panny and not think twice about it. It will support everything except BD-Live, which may or may not interest you. Of course, if it is important, then the Samsung will be a great pick-up.

Dave · 10-18-2006, 08:16 PM

I vote for Panasonic, but if i were you i would wait to see Sony and Pioneer in action before making a final choice.

Zvi · 10-18-2006, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

I vote for Panasonic, but if i were you i would wait to see Sony and Pioneer in action before making a final choice.

Yeah, which is why I am considering #3, geting the refurb to get by for 3-6 months. I dunno what exactly to expect from Sony, is it worth waiting?

The problem is that I am tired of waiting

phloyd · 10-19-2006, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zvi

The problem is that I am tired of waiting

I hear that. If I had the $$$ I would have the Panasonic shipping to me right now

divedude · 10-19-2006, 01:49 AM

I have the Panny and would highly recommend it. It works and works like it should

Zvi · 10-19-2006, 04:23 PM

Folks, does anyone know if 1080p output on Panny is the same as on Samsung, that is 1080i deinterleaced to 1080p? I.e. is it doing any processing or sending source directly to the out if 1080p selected?

Josh · 10-19-2006, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zvi

Folks, does anyone know if 1080p output on Panny is the same as on Samsung, that is 1080i deinterleaced to 1080p? I.e. is it doing any processing or sending source directly to the out if 1080p selected?

Yup, just like the Samsung. Though, the Sigma chip in the Panasonic is capable to output 1080p24 straight from the disc, and they could give that capability later in a firmware upgrade (my prediction with nothing to back it). I think the Pioneer will be the first to do native 1080p24 out of the box.

Zvi · 10-20-2006, 03:17 PM

That sucks. Why do that I don't understand.
I guess I'll pick up refurb Sammy for now and wait till January to see what's new. Thanks guys for your input

Josh · 10-20-2006, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zvi

That sucks. Why do that I don't understand.
I guess I'll pick up refurb Sammy for now and wait till January to see what's new. Thanks guys for your input

I think it is because there are very few TVs that can input 1080p24. The Sammy uses a Broadcom chip, and the Panny uses the Sigma. KJack over at AVS works for Sigma, and has said that their chip will output 1080p24 (it is currently outputting 1080i and there is another chip which does the progressive conversion). It is my guess that Panny will over a firmware upgrade at some point allowing this, but its all speculation at this point.

Zvi · 10-27-2006, 05:30 AM

I got my Sammy today! Hooked up, made sure it worked. Next was the firmware upgrade, I already had the CD prepared. Went w/o a hitch. By the time I was done programming Harmony remote, the player was done with FW upgrade.
I didn't watch whole movies, not much time during a weekday, but still, managed to play with a few.
First movie I checked out was Terminator. Did have film gran, that I was expecting to see. Still, looked very good for the movie that old.
Next went Total Recall. Also, grainny, but better.
And finally watched Swordfish. Hands down, the best quality. No sign of any noise or anything else wrong. Pristine pic, same as on Tosh. HD DVD. That's the only movie I saw in both formats anyway.
I have few more movies I haven't unpacked, including Silent hill, Species, T2, Crash, etc. Some more incoming. Overall, I am real happy with this player for now.

Loads noticably faster than Tosh HD-A1, resumes playback after stop properly and so on. For 575 it was a real bargain IMHO

Much less clunky than HD A1, remote is better too, and player is lighter as well.
Now I can wait for native 1080p player, perhaps second gen to get sub 5 second boot times.

10-18-2006, 05:25 PM	#1
Zvi Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2006 Blu-ray collection:121	So, which player should I get NOW? H All, Well, I've got a few discs already, few more on pre order, 2 lost in shipping (and of course those are Terminator and Terminator II, my absolue favorites). Thus, the time is to buy a player. I was waiting for Pioneer, expecting it to be released this month, but apparently it was moved to Jan. Which is way too much to wait. That leaves me with Sammy, panny and ??? Anyway, is there any particular reason I should wait for Sony player or Panny will do? My setup is Samsung 6188W DLP TV, Pioneer Elite VSX-82TXS and 5.1 sound.

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10-18-2006, 05:35 PM	#2
Josh Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Sep 2006 Home Theater Gallery:50 4K collection:37 Blu-ray collection:407 Digital collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 15 Trading Score:34	I think the best player out there right now is the Panasonic, and will be until the Pioneer comes out (assuming that it will handle the advanced codecs). The Sammy is nice, but unless your receiver has HDMI (sorry, not familiar with your model), you will be hurting for the analog audio output (which the samsung doesn't have). Coming out (hopefully) soon is the Sony, the Philips, and the Sharp, all which don't have firm specs, but should have the analog outs you require at a lower price than the Panny. Isn't choice grand!

10-18-2006, 05:50 PM	#3
Zvi Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2006 Blu-ray collection:121	Receiver does have 4 hdmi inputs, though 1.2. Which isn't an issue at this point I guess. Actually 3rd variant is to buy refurb Sammy for 550$ and waith for Gen2 players?

10-18-2006, 06:12 PM	#4
Spankey Power Member Member since:Oct 2006	If money isn't an option, I would go with the Panasonic. I think you will get everything you need in a first gen product, including advanced audio decoding. I picked up the Samsung, mainly because it is going into the families every day viewing set. For more critical viewing in a dedicated HT, I would have gone Panasonic.

10-18-2006, 08:16 PM	#6
Dave Expert Member Member since:Jun 2006 Location:Somewhere	I vote for Panasonic, but if i were you i would wait to see Sony and Pioneer in action before making a final choice.

10-19-2006, 01:49 AM	#9
divedude Member Member since:Oct 2006 Location:Waxahachie, TX Blu-ray reviews:1	I have the Panny and would highly recommend it. It works and works like it should

10-19-2006, 04:23 PM	#10
Zvi Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2006 Blu-ray collection:121	Folks, does anyone know if 1080p output on Panny is the same as on Samsung, that is 1080i deinterleaced to 1080p? I.e. is it doing any processing or sending source directly to the out if 1080p selected?

10-20-2006, 03:17 PM	#12
Zvi Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2006 Blu-ray collection:121	That sucks. Why do that I don't understand. I guess I'll pick up refurb Sammy for now and wait till January to see what's new. Thanks guys for your input

10-27-2006, 05:30 AM	#14
Zvi Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2006 Blu-ray collection:121	I got my Sammy today! Hooked up, made sure it worked. Next was the firmware upgrade, I already had the CD prepared. Went w/o a hitch. By the time I was done programming Harmony remote, the player was done with FW upgrade. I didn't watch whole movies, not much time during a weekday, but still, managed to play with a few. First movie I checked out was Terminator. Did have film gran, that I was expecting to see. Still, looked very good for the movie that old. Next went Total Recall. Also, grainny, but better. And finally watched Swordfish. Hands down, the best quality. No sign of any noise or anything else wrong. Pristine pic, same as on Tosh. HD DVD. That's the only movie I saw in both formats anyway. I have few more movies I haven't unpacked, including Silent hill, Species, T2, Crash, etc. Some more incoming. Overall, I am real happy with this player for now. Loads noticably faster than Tosh HD-A1, resumes playback after stop properly and so on. For 575 it was a real bargain IMHO Much less clunky than HD A1, remote is better too, and player is lighter as well. Now I can wait for native 1080p player, perhaps second gen to get sub 5 second boot times.

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