New Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu-ray Player Shows Improved Picture Quality and Features

[Tekman]

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/005823.html



Today, at its Burbank-based Panasonic Hollywood Labs, Panasonic showed off its new DMP-BD30 Blu-ray Disc player. The reaction of many in the demo--myself included--was surprise: The player boasts a new imaging chipset which Panasonic says can improve picture quality over existing Blu-ray Disc players, including its own. Then the company proceeded to back up its claims in its demo.

As showcased on two Panasonic 50-inch plasma displays, the $500 DMP-BD30 produced clearly better sharpness and richer colors on the title Legends of Jazz than did a competing player, the $500 Sony BDP-S300. In a side-by-side comparison of the DMP-BD10 and the DMP-BD30, I saw the BD30 produced a sharper image than its predecessor, with better contrast in the highlights and shadows in the opening Walt Disney logo sequence: the castle's rocks were more distinct, and the weathervane was clearer, for example. (I look forward to taking this model for a spin in PC World's Test Center.)
With the BD30, said, Takuya Sugita, president of Panasonic's video business unit, the image signal processing is identical to what Panasonic sees on reference boards in its Panasonic Hollywood Labs facility.

The image quality improvements--which surprised many participants in the Blu-ray event Panasonic hosted today--stem from Panasonic's UniPhier combined image and audio processor. UniPhier couples Panasonic's P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD; already in use on the company's earlier DMP-BD10/10A models) with the Panasonic Hollywood Labs' Reference Chroma Processor. The resulting processor deftly handles imaging by reproding colors and textures that are faithful to the original film. In a demo on a jumbo screen in a screening room, Panasonic showcased excerpts from the original film and from their player in a split-screen format. Distinguishing among the two was practically impossible.

The DMP-BD30 has a few other noteworthy points. The player achieves its slim profile in part because of its Unipher image and audio processor. However, it's also because it packs a notebook-sized Panasonic Blu-ray Disc drive inside. By contrast, competing players rely on desktop-sized, "half-height" Blu-ray drives inside; those drives require far more real estate than their slimmer notebook component cousins. "The PC technology comes into play in our consumer technology as well," noted Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, vice president of corporate development and general manager of Panasonic's Blu-ray Disc Group.

The player, due in stores on November 12, may also be the first to market to support Blu-ray Disc's Bonus View features. Bonus View--the newly coined, official name for Profile 1.1 (or Final Standard Profile, as Panasonic refers to it in its press release) players--requires a minimum storage requirement in players, as well as requires players to support picture-in-picture and in-player audio remixing, so you can switch between audio tracks (among other uses). LG's already-announced, dual-format BH200 player will also support Bonus View; that model will ship sometime in the next couple of weeks, according to the company.

In addition to Bonus View, this player supports 24 frames-per-second playback to match film's frame rate; and it outputs TrueHD and DTS-HD Master audio as bitstream over HDMI. At back you'll find HDMI (version 1.3 with Deep Color support; no Blu-ray Discs support Deep Color at this time, since Deep Color is not part of the Blu-ray Disc spec); coaxial and optical audio jacks; component video outputs, and 5.1-channel audio outputs.

[Aquos]

The two player that look most interesting are this one and the 40GB PS3. Does anyone know if the Panasonic will have an ethernet port?

Any Pro's and Con's between the PS3 and the Panasonic DMP-BD30?

[Blu As Hell]

That's it!!!! I'm getting the Panasonic!!!!!!! And just when I thought I was going to pay 700 dollars for the S500!!!! 500 dollars and final standard!!!! In the words of our great redneck poet "Stone Cold" Steve Austin..."Gimme a Hell Yeah!!"

[Sling]

One sweet looking BR Player

[Sonny]

my $$$ is ready.

[Blu As Hell]

You know Sonny is somewhere reading this and he is humping his computer monitor in excitement right now. LOL!!!!!

It's okay Sonny...Nov 12th and everything will be alright.

I just posted this about you Sonny my boy!!!!! LOL!!!!!

[Aquos]

First Look at Panasonic's $499 DMP-BD30 Blu-Ray Player (Product Review)
http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/pa...d30-1275.shtml

It's a nice player. Too bad about the network port.

[Southpaw]

If anyone finds this available for preorder, please post.

[Amel]

how would this compare to the PS3 picture quality?

[MATTYBLU2]

too bad it looks like it comes with the same remote as the ones before this one. i know alot of people compalined about the remotes for the 10a models and the spin dial on it. they should have improved the remote as well.

sweet looking player though

[Jim L]

Originally Posted by Amel

how would this compare to the PS3 picture quality?

I presume it would be better.

Don't get me wrong, the PS3 has a very good picture.

I have compared the PS3 side by side to the Sony BDP-S1. The standalone has better contrast, sharpness and richer looking color. It also does not exhibit as much pulsing noises in problem titles like Planet Earth.

The BDP-S1 has equivalent PQ to the BDP-S300. One reviewer has said that the new Panny is better than the BDP-S300. So I figure this new Panny will be 2 notches above the PS3.

I already have a PS3, but I'm thinking of getting this player for a new standalone. I've had a Panasonic DVD player in the past and it was excellent.

[JJ]

:uts BD-10A back in box, starts looking for receipt::

[Y3k Bug]

That is one tempting player...must...resist...urge...to...buy.

It would be kind of nice to actually be considered as a Blu-ray purchaser by HD people (currently have the PS3 and as we all know, those don't count.)

I think I can hold off for now, but that looks like a heckuva machine.

[Seretur]

Just out of curiosity, which Panasonic LCD TVs would support the true 24p output of this model?

[Tekman]

Originally Posted by MATTYBLU2

too bad it looks like it comes with the same remote as the ones before this one. i know alot of people compalined about the remotes for the 10a models and the spin dial on it. they should have improved the remote as well.

sweet looking player though

From Cnet:
"Panasonic wised up and included a more reasonable clicker on the newer model. Toward the bottom half of the remote is the circular directional pad, which is surround by three large buttons (Top Menu, Pop-up Menu, and Display) and four smaller buttons in the corners (Sub Menu, Status, Functions, and Return). Directly in the center of the remote are the Stop, Play, and Pause buttons, and we appreciated their large size and blue color, which makes them easy to find. Because the DMP-BD30 lacks the annoying flip-down door, the clicker is able to include the handy Open/Close button--so the tray will be waiting for you by the time you get off the couch. Our biggest complaint with the remote is that the setup menu button was buried at the bottom, but overall it's one of the better disc player remotes we've used recently."

[UTVOL06]

Originally Posted by Seretur

Just out of curiosity, which Panasonic LCD TVs would support the true 24p output of this model?

Im curious as well and do you even need a true 24p LCD tv to reap the benefits of the Panasonic player that has the 1080/24p support built in?

[MATTYBLU2]

Originally Posted by Tekman

From Cnet:
"Panasonic wised up and included a more reasonable clicker on the newer model. Toward the bottom half of the remote is the circular directional pad, which is surround by three large buttons (Top Menu, Pop-up Menu, and Display) and four smaller buttons in the corners (Sub Menu, Status, Functions, and Return). Directly in the center of the remote are the Stop, Play, and Pause buttons, and we appreciated their large size and blue color, which makes them easy to find. Because the DMP-BD30 lacks the annoying flip-down door, the clicker is able to include the handy Open/Close button--so the tray will be waiting for you by the time you get off the couch. Our biggest complaint with the remote is that the setup menu button was buried at the bottom, but overall it's one of the better disc player remotes we've used recently."

ya i saw that after i read the cnet article, sorry. i guess they did improve it, thank god.

[MATTYBLU2]

was wondering how they will do firmware updates on this model if they dont have an ethernet port? will they just send you a disc in the mail?

[JJ]

Same way it was done with the 10AK? Burn the file to a disc and stick it in there?

[Rike255]

Wow that is one sexy player, I may have to think about this one long and hard...although I would rather a new tv first.

I'm glad theres a profile 1.1 player coming out right now, and for a reasonable price too.