Upgrade to Blu Ray or just a Standard DVD?

[mitsufan]

Okay my old relic DVD player (Pioneer 414) is dying a slow death, now won’t even play Ratatouille and my 3yo is all bent out of shape about it…lol I’ve been putting off getting a new player until the war was over. Currently my TV is the WS-55711 Mitsubishi so I only have component connections at this point and no up converting until I change out the TV to a model w/ HDMI. I do plan on upgrading my TV but that won’t happen for a bit and the fact my DVD is failing is the most vital component to replace. Alternatively, should I just go get a cheap progressive scan model? I do have access to reduced cost players but Denon but haven’t found if their Blurays are up to snuff so to speak.

Other models I’m looking at:
Pioneer BDP-51FD
Panasonic DMP-BD50

Other models I should look at for $500 or less? I assume the prices will keep coming down as all manufactures are now producing them.

 

[yourbeliefs]

Okay my old relic DVD player (Pioneer 414) is dying a slow death, now won’t even play Ratatouille and my 3yo is all bent out of shape about it…lol I’ve been putting off getting a new player until the war was over. Currently my TV is the WS-55711 Mitsubishi so I only have component connections at this point and no up converting until I change out the TV to a model w/ HDMI. I do plan on upgrading my TV but that won’t happen for a bit and the fact my DVD is failing is the most vital component to replace. Alternatively, should I just go get a cheap progressive scan model? I do have access to reduced cost players but Denon but haven’t found if their Blurays are up to snuff so to speak.

Other models I’m looking at:
Pioneer BDP-51FD
Panasonic DMP-BD50

Other models I should look at for $500 or less? I assume the prices will keep coming down as all manufactures are now producing them.

I'd say just get a regular DVD Player at this point and then around Xmas time when all the prices come down, go nuts with the new Blu Ray Player and HDTV.

 

[ripnbigc]

Without a HDMI connection most of the BluRay discs will be downconverted to 480p.

 

[teachsac]

Without a HDMI connection most of the BluRay discs will be downconverted to 480p.

Absolutely not true. Discs as of yet are not flagged to downscale. You will get 1080i over component. You will not be able to upscale SD DVD's, though.

S~

 

[teachsac]

Not having an HDMI imput, there will be no upscaling. With the PS3, he will not be able to take advantage of advanced audio codecs either. Of those choices I would go with the BD50. You will be able to output either 480i or 480p over component for SD DVD. I believe the the 711 acually deinterlaces superbly. It's been a while. You will also get a nice improvement with BDs over SDDVD as the horizontal resolution is 1200. The BD50 will also let you take advantage of Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master using the analog 5.1 connections on the Denon 3300. Should you upgraade later on you'll be set. Until then you will be able to take full advantage of your setup.

S~

 

[Chucky Cheese]

Absolutely not true. Discs as of yet are not flagged to downscale. You will get 1080i over component. You will not be able to upscale SD DVD's, though.

S~

:up:up One of my HD sets doesn't have and HDMI or DVI and through Component I watch every Blu Ray at 1080i. I won't upscale but I don't have the heart to get rid of it yet.

 

[gadgtfreek]

Those are both great models. If you have the dough, go for it now. If you'd like to wait for a better Christmas deal, fine, but a cheapo upconvert added to the cost of the discounted BD player will prob equal the current price.

Knowing what I know now, Id recommend pulling the trigger on a good reliable BD player.(Most of use love our BD30's, so Im partial to the BD50)

 

[mitsufan]

I know no up scaling will occur, but the image nonetheless should be improved over a non-progressive 10yr old DVD player. Once I upgrade my TV then I’ll use the HDMI input.

In addition, is it my understanding to always connect the video directly from the DVD player to the TV yields the best result?

Does the BD-50 have digital out puts for 5.1?

Roger Dressler of Dolby Labs has just confirmed that the Panasonic BD10 and BD30 BD players plus the Denon BT-2500 BD Transport are running 5db quieter than they should be on the LFE channel over HDMI when reproducing PCM. This includes both straight PCM soundtracks and other codecs transcoded to PCM internally; bitstreamed codecs are unaffected. Right now he says that he is "not optimistic" that it can be fixed with firmware, but that it may be possible to raise the HDMI PCM LFE at the expense of the analog LFE - perhaps an advanced menu setting. From my own speculation, its very likely the $2k Denon also has this issue and a real possibility that the BD50 will have it, too.

Does anyone know if this has been corrected?

Anyone know when Denon will come out w/ the newer models? Or are the current models on their website it for now?

 

[gadgtfreek]

I was under the impression the low LFE PCM was fixed.

 

[teachsac]

In addition, is it my understanding to always connect the video directly from the DVD player to the TV yields the best result?

Does the BD-50 have digital out puts for 5.1?

Roger Dressler of Dolby Labs has just confirmed that the Panasonic BD10 and BD30 BD players plus the Denon BT-2500 BD Transport are running 5db quieter than they should be on the LFE channel over HDMI when reproducing PCM. This includes both straight PCM soundtracks and other codecs transcoded to PCM internally; bitstreamed codecs are unaffected. Right now he says that he is "not optimistic" that it can be fixed with firmware, but that it may be possible to raise the HDMI PCM LFE at the expense of the analog LFE - perhaps an advanced menu setting. From my own speculation, its very likely the $2k Denon also has this issue and a real possibility that the BD50 will have it, too.

Does anyone know if this has been corrected?

Anyone know when Denon will come out w/ the newer models? Or are the current models on their website it for now?

1. With your set up, I would run the Component cables directly to the TV and the analog outs to the receiver. Once you upgrade everything running HDMI through the receiver is no big deal. many receivers do video passthrough.

2. Yes. The BD50 internally decodes all audio codecs into PCM, applies the digital to analog conversion, and passes the audio through the 5.1 analog outs to the receiver.

3. I don't know where Roger's been, but the BD30 was corrected months ago with firmware 1.6. There has been no evidence of LFE with the BD50. Yes the Denon's have the LFE and so did the Toshiba's. It toook much longer for Toshiba to fix it than Panasonic. Denon is addressing it.

4. It will be quite a while before the newer Denon's come out. There will be one less expensive one than current models and then a flagship that will go for $3500.

If you can get a good deal on the BD50 through your son, it will really meet your needs since it has everything including 2.0. I have always been happy with the Panasonics and their customer service.

S~

 

[mitsufan]

Thanks Teachsac

So when I upgrade my TV in the future I can still use the 5.1outputs and then just connect the HDMI to the TV? Audio-wise, the most important point to note is that it will both decode and bitstream DTS-HD MA, but HDMI connection will be required. So does this mean that I will just have to settle for DTS and not be able to take advantage of DTS-HD until I have HDMI?

 

[teachsac]

With the BD50 you don't have to upgrade your receiver..... ever (unless it blows up). You will always be able to take advantage of DTS Master and TrueHD. As I said, the player will decode to PCM, apply the digital to analog conversion and pass it out the 5.1 analogs to the receiver.

Once you upgrade your TV to one that has HDMI, simply run it straight to the TV and turn HDMI audio off within the player.

S~

 

[mitsufan]

Also is the ehternet port able to connect to my wireless router?

 

[teachsac]

Also is the ehternet port able to connect to my wireless router?

I actually don't have the answer to that one. I don't know if you can do wireless or it has to be a hard connection. You might ask one of the few owners in the BD50 thread over at AVS. My gut says it is a wired connection. PS3 might be the only one that can do wireless.

S~

 

[teachsac]

OK I guess their is a way. Check here.

Panasonic USA - Support User Guide Detail

S~

 

[nonrev]

Most of use love our BD30's, so Im partial to the BD50)

I strongly advise you to stay away from the BD30 mainly because it has no internal decoding for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution, or DTS-HD Master Audio. This lack of internal decoding is particularly disappointing because the older DMP-BD10A itself offered internal decoding for all of these formats.

CNET on the BD30 "The results on the next jaggies tests were more disappointing--while it did a decent job with a rotating white line, it performed rather poorly on three pivoting white lines. The DMP-BD30 also struggled on the relatively easy scrolling titles test, with words exhibiting comb-like tearing as they moved horizontally across the screen."

If you haven't had a progressive scan DVD I'd suggest that be your next upgrade. The difference is noticeable. Maybe by X-mas Toshiba will have bowed their new cell based upconverter.

 

[teachsac]

Do you have this on copy and paste? Noone has recommended the 30 for him.

S~

 

[mitsufan]

This http://www.tivo.com/assets/popups/popup_wirelessadapter.html is what I was thinking regarding wireless, I apologize I didn't word it correctly. I could run another cable as I installed a wall pass through for the Tivo, but this would be so much smoother if it'd work.

 

[teachsac]

I don't think that device will work with anything but the TIVO.

S~

 

[mitsufan]

I figured it wouldn't but the concept would be cool to use.

Anyone know how well the BD-50 does on upscaling, granted I know since I'm not using HDMI at this point, but when I upgrade how does this player stackup?