Suggestions on a new Blu Ray Player.

[GardenVariety]

First off I have a Ps3 as my Blu Ray player. I am thinking of changing that out and getting a standalone. While I do think the PS3 is great, I now think players are coming into their own and competing with the PS3 as far as playback. I have several criteria in which I absolutely have to get out of my next player. These are:

1. The player must be rock solid in 24P
2. The player must bitstream the HD codecs
3. The player must excel in upscaling standard DVD content

Having said all this, if money is of no object (but I don't want to spend it if I don't need to) which player would you get and why?

[dachst8087]

Try looking at the 2 new Panasonics BD-35 and the BD-55

[posters5]

i would recommend a profile 1.1 or profile 2.0 panasonic. the funai clones (insignia at best buy, magnavox at wal-mart, sylvania at amazon.com) are also very good profile 1.1 players (very inexpensive, too).

[borghe]

Frankly if you are simply looking to replace the PS3, my suggestion would be: Don't. It's still generally the fastest loading player, is future-proofed, and honestly your desire to bitstream the codecs is pointless being as the PS3 can pass up to 7.1 channels of LPCM decoded sound. About the only way I would suggest getting a player other than the PS3 at this point is if you really wanted to save money on a new player. But if you already have a PS3, you are really better off sticking with it IMHO.

[GardenVariety]

Frankly if you are simply looking to replace the PS3, my suggestion would be: Don't. It's still generally the fastest loading player, is future-proofed, and honestly your desire to bitstream the codecs is pointless being as the PS3 can pass up to 7.1 channels of LPCM decoded sound. About the only way I would suggest getting a player other than the PS3 at this point is if you really wanted to save money on a new player. But if you already have a PS3, you are really better off sticking with it IMHO.

That's what I was afraid of... I was hoping that there would be PQ enhancements with other BD players and apparently (after scouring the net) there isn't. Plus I just ordered an OPPO 983H today so maybe I'll keep it for BD's only. If anyone knows of a BD player with better PQ on BD's then a PS3 please let me know!

[Firefly]

Just got the new Sony 550 and absolutely love it. Great new menuing system, smaller footprint, handles all audio codecs. But the best news is the load times. You can select a 'Quick load' setting (which is less energy efficient, like I care) which will get the unit from Power On to menu loaded and ready for a disc in about 5 seconds or so. It also loads the movies faster as well. Picture is fabulous. Not the cheapest, but has it all.

[GardenVariety]

I was looking at the Sony S350 or S550. Thing is I really feel like I am wasting my Denon 3808CI since I am not bitstreaming to it and I'm not even using it's speaker connections since I have an external amp. I just figured a standalone would have a better BD picture but I can't find any evidence to support that.

[thedude]

i would recommend a profile 1.1 or profile 2.0 panasonic. the funai clones (insignia at best buy, magnavox at wal-mart, sylvania at amazon.com) are also very good profile 1.1 players (very inexpensive, too).

if u get the magnavox make sure u get an extended warranty! based on my own expeirence and others... phillips/magnavox products dont last long

[borghe]

I was looking at the Sony S350 or S550. Thing is I really feel like I am wasting my Denon 3808CI since I am not bitstreaming to it and I'm not even using it's speaker connections since I have an external amp. I just figured a standalone would have a better BD picture but I can't find any evidence to support that.

you're not wasting anything. the denon's still handling DAC duties as well as any other processing. it would be another story altogether is you were passing 5.1 or 7.1 pre-outs from a cheap player to the Denon where you might see some sonic improvement, but just passing it the decoded LPCM you aren't going to hear any difference, and any post-processing the Denon does is going to happen after it has decoded the bitstream to LPCM anyway.

Passing the bitstreams is only important if your player can't decode them. if it can, it's really a horse a piece.

[stigmatica]

First off I have a Ps3 as my Blu Ray player. I am thinking of changing that out and getting a standalone. While I do think the PS3 is great, I now think players are coming into their own and competing with the PS3 as far as playback. I have several criteria in which I absolutely have to get out of my next player. These are:

1. The player must be rock solid in 24P
2. The player must bitstream the HD codecs
3. The player must excel in upscaling standard DVD content

Having said all this, if money is of no object (but I don't want to spend it if I don't need to) which player would you get and why?

Honestly, I've been able to test out several different standalones, and they just don't stack up to the PS3 in terms of speed... If you are spoiled to the PS3's DVD Player like speed, a standalone player will just annoy you, IMO.

[Arkadin]

1st choice- Pioneer 2.0 player that is coming out
this will be the BEST bd player hands down imo.
see thread and specs regarding this amazing player.
downside: cost of course--only about $2000, but looks to be the reference player by which all other Blu-ray players will be judged.
has separate amplifiers for all 7 channels.
2nd choice--the upcoming Oppo player
3rd choice--Panny bd-55

[GardenVariety]

After careful thought, and after spending $400 on the OPPO 983H I am just going to keep the PS3 until there is another BD player that shows significantly better BD performance. I am not sure that day is coming but I am eagerly awaiting it.

[Rich86]

1st choice- Pioneer 2.0 player that is coming out
this will be the BEST bd player hands down imo.
see thread and specs regarding this amazing player.
downside: cost of course--only about $2000, but looks to be the reference player by which all other Blu-ray players will be judged.
has separate amplifiers for all 7 channels.
2nd choice--the upcoming Oppo player
3rd choice--Panny bd-55

Are there any specifics about why the new Sony S550 did not make it on your list of choices? I ask as I am considering the 550 and the Panasonic 55.

[Arkadin]

no reason.
with so many players coming out now, it's becoming really hard to stay up on all of them.

For now, I just haven't focused on the Sony bd players.
and Samdung will never get any interest from me after what they did with the 1200 and the dual player at launch.
They are just a joke.

I have the Panny bd-30 and spend lots of time reading up on their efforts.
I feel very good about Panasonic, and am very pleased with the way they have addressed reported problems.
I would have no hesitation at all about getting another Panny player.
I have a Pioneer tv, and am very interested in Pioneer's future efforts as well.
honestly I dream about having that pioneer elite player.
that thing looks untoppable.
As far as the Sony, It may very well be worthy of the top 4 also.

[GardenVariety]

I have a Pioneer tv, and am very interested in Pioneer's future efforts as well.
honestly I dream about having that pioneer elite player.
that thing looks untoppable.
As far as the Sony, It may very well be worthy of the top 4 also.

The only thing Ark is that even with the Pioneer, is the PQ on BD's truly better then a PS3? It's seems with these new players the only thing they are improving upon is load times and compatibility.