Panny BD55 vs Sony S550

[mmmmDoNut]

Seems both players are about same price and offer similar features so if you were buying today which would you buy and why?

[adrian42677]

Personally I would wait and get the Panasonic BD-55K as it will have eveything out of the box except for the 1GB memory which you can buy a 1GB SD card for around $5. With the Sony from what I've read, you will either have to update it for DTSHD-MA or it might not do it at all. At least with the BD-50 we already know it came with it, it has it and it works. If someone doesn't need internal decoding then they should be looking at the BD-35K as it has everything for HDMI users except for said 1GB memory.

[dachst8087]

Panasonic all the way !

[singhcr]

I am stuck between these two, and here is the priority of what I want in my new BD player.

1. Internal decoding of all sound formats
2. Highest quality BD playback, good DVD playback
3. Decreased loading time
4. Internal memory for profile 2.0 capability

Assuming the 550 decodes DTS-MA internally (but I don't think that it will), it will be whichever player has the best video performance and loading time. If the 550 doesn't decode DTS-MA out of the box, I will get the Pansonic BD55 without hesitation. They are the same price, after all.

[chris gerhard]

I am stuck between these two, and here is the priority of what I want in my new BD player.

1. Internal decoding of all sound formats
2. Highest quality BD playback, good DVD playback
3. Decreased loading time
4. Internal memory for profile 2.0 capability

Assuming the 550 decodes DTS-MA internally (but I don't think that it will), it will be whichever player has the best video performance and loading time. If the 550 doesn't decode DTS-MA out of the box, I will get the Pansonic BD55 without hesitation. They are the same price, after all.

It is my understanding that the BDP-S550 will decode DTS-HD MA and output over analog or HDMI connection.

Chris

[mmmmDoNut]

Agreed the S550 should decode HD-MA out of the box. Also I believe this player also comes with 1GB of storage space.

For me I want speed and HD-MA and I think based off the S350 reviews the S550 should be a nice match.

The thing I see going for the Panny is its Dvix compliant and may have better DAC's. In regards to Dvix I think that boat has saled. To little to late in my opinion. MKV is a superior container.

As for as DVD upscaling goes got no idea which would be better.

[comixguru]

I'd pick the Panasonic, but I'm a fan. There's nothing wrong with the Sony.

-comix

[iontyre]

We will have to wait for actual confirmation that the sony will decode DTS-MA. Most indications are it won't. In that case, Panny all the way!

[mmmmDoNut]

We will have to wait for actual confirmation that the sony will decode DTS-MA. Most indications are it won't. In that case, Panny all the way!

Agreed if no HD MA on S550.

[adrian42677]

Through various first reports it was claimed that the 550 would have DTSHD-MA out of the box. Then the Sonystyle website indicated that it would have to be upgraded through firmware for DTSHD-MA somewhere down the line. Then recently that was pulled from the website. So there's no way to tell what's going on with it. They could've removed the language to indicate it's available out of the box although the wording on the website seems to indicate that it's DD, DTS, True-HD and PCM internally and bitstream of DD, True-HD, DTS, DTSHD-HR and DTSHD-MA. They could've removed the language so that they are not liable if they cannot get DTSHD-MA to function. Being that the Panny BD-50 had all decoding internally, there shouldn't be a problem for the 35 & 55 to have it working also.

[jsmiddleton4]

Lord knows I'm a Panasonic fan, however if you have a display that is capable of reproducing 24fps but something in your display chain is messing up the hdmi handshake which would allow 24fps to be turned on in the blu-ray player, than Sony is the choice. As of today and despite some most excellent arguments on my part, and Panasonic gets it from a user point of view by the way they aren't bad folks, Pansonic Japan continues to refuse to add a "On" or "Forced" 24fps. This may change over time but TODAY, the Sony's do "On". So if I was deciding today or in the near future between the Sony and the Panasonic AND I had a display like my Samsung or a front projector like some other folks have that does not seem to get the hdmi handshake right for 24fps, Sony wins hands down.

Jim

[Solstice X]

Lord knows I'm a Panasonic fan, however if you have a display that is capable of reproducing 24fps but something in your display chain is messing up the hdmi handshake which would allow 24fps to be turned on in the blu-ray player, than Sony is the choice. As of today and despite some most excellent arguments on my part, and Panasonic gets it from a user point of view by the way they aren't bad folks, Pansonic Japan continues to refuse to add a "On" or "Forced" 24fps. This may change over time but TODAY, the Sony's do "On". So if I was deciding today or in the near future between the Sony and the Panasonic AND I had a display like my Samsung or a front projector like some other folks have that does not seem to get the hdmi handshake right for 24fps, Sony wins hands down.

Jim

I agree with you on the 24FPS issue. Also, I just don't understand any of the CE's issue with making secondary audio just a one button push operation. In activating secondary or mix audio I found the home system on the Sony S-350 much easier to use than the clunky menu on the BD-30. While I love my BD-10 and BD-30, home is what sold me on Sony's player.

[hifiguymi]

We will have to wait for actual confirmation that the sony will decode DTS-MA. Most indications are it won't. In that case, Panny all the way!

According to the spec sheet from Sony, the BDP-S550 does do dtsHD Master Audio decoding and nothing is mentioned about needed a firmware update to do so.

[mmmmDoNut]

Problem is spec sheet says one thing but over on AVS ppl are stating they have talked with Sony Techs and that this player wont internally decode it.

[jsmiddleton4]

Its not that it won't. Its that it may not when released. It most certainly will, can and is suppose to. The issue is not will it but will it when released. It may need updated firmware at some point in the next few months to get make the decoding work correctly.