Blueray...Panasonic DMP-Bd55 or Pioneer BDP-51FD
Discussion
Now ordered my Pioneer Plasma. (5090).
Now loooking for a Blueray. Which one. I know the Pioneer will 'match', and its won the what HIFI test but their seems more spec on the Panasonic. (BD live 2, Plays DVD+R and DVD+RW, upscaling, memory card reader etc). Dont want to pay anymore than what these two are priced at.
Now loooking for a Blueray. Which one. I know the Pioneer will 'match', and its won the what HIFI test but their seems more spec on the Panasonic. (BD live 2, Plays DVD+R and DVD+RW, upscaling, memory card reader etc). Dont want to pay anymore than what these two are priced at.
kojak
It depends what AV amp you have (or may purchase in the future). The Pioneer BD51 can't decode DTS-MA audio and output it via the analogue outputs (though its promised in a future firmware upgrade) and it can send DTS-MA as a bitsream output on the HDMI so:-
1) If you have a legacy amplifier with 5.1 analogue inputs you will only get all the HD audio codecs decoded if you have the Panasonic BD55
2) If you have an AV amplifier with HDMI input that can decode all the HD Audio condecs, then either Panasonic BD55 or Pioneer BD51 will do, but since you don'y need the enalogue outputs from the player in this scenario, then you might want to consider the Panasonic BD35 as it's cheaper and gives you all the functionality that you will require. The BD35 is the same as the BD55 except it doesn't have any analogue audio output stages.
3) If you have no interest in an AV amp, and only are going to use it with your TV then again either will do, but so will the BD35.
Everything that I've read says that the picture quality at this level in the market is pretty similar from machine to machine. The BD51 has been noted within reviews to be a bit slower for handling menus and loading discs, something that takes quite a time with any BR player.
HTH
davidy
It depends what AV amp you have (or may purchase in the future). The Pioneer BD51 can't decode DTS-MA audio and output it via the analogue outputs (though its promised in a future firmware upgrade) and it can send DTS-MA as a bitsream output on the HDMI so:-
1) If you have a legacy amplifier with 5.1 analogue inputs you will only get all the HD audio codecs decoded if you have the Panasonic BD55
2) If you have an AV amplifier with HDMI input that can decode all the HD Audio condecs, then either Panasonic BD55 or Pioneer BD51 will do, but since you don'y need the enalogue outputs from the player in this scenario, then you might want to consider the Panasonic BD35 as it's cheaper and gives you all the functionality that you will require. The BD35 is the same as the BD55 except it doesn't have any analogue audio output stages.
3) If you have no interest in an AV amp, and only are going to use it with your TV then again either will do, but so will the BD35.
Everything that I've read says that the picture quality at this level in the market is pretty similar from machine to machine. The BD51 has been noted within reviews to be a bit slower for handling menus and loading discs, something that takes quite a time with any BR player.
HTH
davidy
Edited by DavidY on Tuesday 17th February 15:59
If the A2 has a 5.1 analogue input then the Panasonic BD55 is the one to go for as you will then be able to set up Panasonic to decode the HD codecs (inc DTS-MA which is effect uncompressed audio). I'm sure the Pioneer will do it in the future but when that may happen (especially with Pioneers current difficulties) who knows....
davidy
davidy
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