Blu Ray Recommendations

[Ken]

Although I have previously been heavily into Home Theatre, (built our first Theatre in 1995 with ceiling mounted Seleco CRT), over the past 5 years I have reduced my involvement to a large screen LCD in the family room.

I am now looking to include a Blu Ray player into my system. Not looking for a top of the range model, something in the >$500 region would be OK.

What are the current recommendations and features to look out for.

Ken

[Voltaire]

I have a Panasonic BD-35, Rated in Aus HiFi mag as best under $500.00.

It does all I need it to do, brilliant sound and picture.


V

[Jake]

Me too. Seems to do a great job, if a little slow to start up.

[ENIGMA]

If you still have the Seleco, you can connect Bluray to it as well.

[Ken]

If you still have the Seleco, you can connect Bluray to it as well.

Seleco is long gone (left in the house when we sold).

Have had two others projectors since then, now only a large screen LCD.

Ken

[joz]

If your wanting the full 1080p you will need all your gear to be HDMI all the way through.From BDP>Reciever> Display.

If you want to enjoy the latest audio codecs your BDP will have to either have analogue outs for all channels
or
You will need a reciever that will decode these audio tracks,if this is the case you will need a suitable reciver wich is HDMI compliant aswell.

Machines that can do this are things like SonyBD550 recently on sale as a runout for $250.

[cableconnoisseur]

[quote=Voltaire;236695]I have a Panasonic BD-35, Rated in Aus HiFi mag as best under $500.00.

It does all I need it to do, brilliant sound and picture.


V

I've got one of these too.

They are the best available under $500.00

(http://www.homecinemachoice.com/revi...layer+06+04+09)

However, now that Sony's doing a run-out of the 550, I'd buy one of those if I were spending $500.00

If you're not a Sony fan, then get the BD-60 (or a BD-35 if you can get your hands on some old stock), which is Panasonic's replacement for the BD-35.

[Ken]

I went to Sony Central tonight the Sony 550 was advertised in store at a sale price of $494.00, however it was not actually on sale until tomorrow??????

I have one more question, does anybody know of a Blu Ray Player that has multi region DVD capability?

Ken

[cableconnoisseur]

None available in the open market, but there are kits to modify them.

The kit may void your warranty though...................

Russ.

[Ken]

Just to be clear,

I don't want Blu Ray to be multi region (I don't even know if it is region coded).

I only want DVD to be multi region.

How about anything from Pioneer? they are usually multi region.

Ken

[cableconnoisseur]

The BD-35 will play back DVD from all regions without a hassle.

It also plays back a few other formats of silver disc, so its a pretty good machine.

I'm unsure if the BD-60 does so, but a query with the salesperson might clarify this in an instant.

Happy Shopping.

Russ.

PS: Blu-Ray is also region coded, just like DVD

[HumanMedia]

The Panasonics are region free in Australia for DVD playback. If you find one that isnt, a utility from a dealer will make it so.

Also note that the Panasonics are the easiest players to mod for region free Blu-ray playback.

Running a Blu-ray-region-modded Panasonic BD35 myself. It doesn't have the nice utility menu graphics of the Sony but, where it counts - the audio video playback quality, is fantastic.

[vic]

Just to be clear,

I don't want Blu Ray to be multi region (I don't even know if it is region coded).

I only want DVD to be multi region.

How about anything from Pioneer? they are usually multi region.

Ken

Hi Ken,
I have pioneer blue ray bdp-LX71 and it is multi region on dvd (standard from pioneer) highly recommended,victor.
my system,
http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/showthread.php?t=13152

[murrmax]

Sony BDS550 - great image through HDMI out, but the audio optical output is a little low though, if anyone knows if there's a way to increase the signal output please let me know

[yamaha man]

Probable going to get crucified for posting this but i heard the Sony PS3 was as good as you can get for the money.

[Jliang70]

Probable going to get crucified for posting this but i heard the Sony PS3 was as good as you can get for the money.

If you are into some gaming or video streaming Sony PS3 is quite a good unit. When it was released more than 2 years ago PS3 was very good Bluray player and it was considered to have PQ as good as many more expensive standalone players at the time but things have changed over the last few years. Standalone machine such as those from Sony 550/5000, Panasonic 35/60, Samsung 1600/3600 and Pioneer FP51/71 are now better Bluray players than PS3. But PS3 is still pretty good value for money.

[Itsmoi]

Isn't the PS3 a bit noisy too?
Fan noise I mean, read that comment a few times in regards tp using PS3 as Blu-ray players.
Fwiw, I have the Panasonic BD-35, and very happy with that, but if buying a Panny BD player now I would get the BD 60 or 80...

[HumanMedia]

Probable going to get crucified for posting this but i heard the Sony PS3 was as good as you can get for the money.

Only when it first came out. Now its easily beaten by cheaper units.

[DarrenW]

Only when it first came out. Now its easily beaten by cheaper units.

And locked to DVD region 4.............

[yamaha man]

Any update to this thread?
Whats a good bang for buck blueray player these days?
Is it worth spending big dollars on a player?
Cheers.

[markm1111]

Anyone know anything about these? I understand they may be coming on special soon, so rather than $700+ they will be under $500. Has 7.1 analogue, hi spec blu ray playback, optical and coaxial digital out, and apparently good upscaling.

Interested in any thoughts

[proftournesol]

a slightly different question - which Blu-ray player has the best transport? I want to buy one with a good transport as my YBA CD player was a much better CD transport into my DAC than my Cambridge Audio DV99 universal player is.

[snowdownunder]

Although I have previously been heavily into Home Theatre, (built our first Theatre in 1995 with ceiling mounted Seleco CRT), over the past 5 years I have reduced my involvement to a large screen LCD in the family room.

I am now looking to include a Blu Ray player into my system. Not looking for a top of the range model, something in the >$500 region would be OK.

What are the current recommendations and features to look out for.

Ken

I had a Panasonic BD-35 for about a week, a good unit. I did take it back and got a BD-80 insted. With the BD-80 you have the ability to switch off the video out when using a HDMI cable. This is meant to reduce noise in the audio circuit.

[Cody]

a slightly different question - which Blu-ray player has the best transport? I want to buy one with a good transport as my YBA CD player was a much better CD transport into my DAC than my Cambridge Audio DV99 universal player is.

if looking for a digital transport only, id suggest the Oppo BD-80 (which is basically designed to be a transport like the old 980 before it). does everything, including DVD-A and SACD, all over HDMI.

for those looking at more of an "all rounder" in terms of Blu-Ray playback and analogue audio capability, id suggest looking at (in price order):

Marantz UD-9004
Denon DVD-A1UD
Denon DVD-4010UD or Marantz UD8004 (basically the same player)
Oppo BD-83SE
Cambridge Audio BD-650
Oppo BD-80

[Jliang70]

if looking for a digital transport only, id suggest the Oppo BD-80 (which is basically designed to be a transport like the old 980 before it). does everything, including DVD-A and SACD, all over HDMI.

for those looking at more of an "all rounder" in terms of Blu-Ray playback and analogue audio capability, id suggest looking at (in price order):

Marantz UD-9004
Denon DVD-A1UD
Denon DVD-4010UD or Marantz UD8004 (basically the same player)
Oppo BD-83SE
Cambridge Audio BD-650
Oppo BD-80

I would add Sony ES5000 to the list that is if you can find one. Some bloke in DTV said they got one for around $750 a few weeks ago.