Bluray player for $199...!

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Bluray player for $199...!

NZRobin

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#57930 1-Mar-2010 13:33

I know its only a Transonic but $199.00 down $300.00 from the Warehouse. Is this the cheapest Bluray player around?

Robin

robjg63

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#303282 1-Mar-2010 13:52

According to pricespy.co.nz it is the cheapest.
But you can get a Philips BDP3000 for $277 from DSE.

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NZRobin

161 posts

Master Geek

#303511 1-Mar-2010 23:20

Yes, cant see it being too long befor some of the other big name players start to really drop in price. I was quite shocked to see just how expensive some of those players are still.
Apart from features and build quality I wonder if the same applies to players as it does to hdmi cables. As in, its digital from one end to the other, it either works correctly or it doesn't! Can you get a 'low' quality digital signal?

gehenna

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#303513 1-Mar-2010 23:27

You can get low quality digital processing for sure. It'll still display the picture but whether it will be a true representation of the original recording is another thing altogether.

richms

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#303520 1-Mar-2010 23:40

robjg63: According to pricespy.co.nz it is the cheapest.
But you can get a Philips BDP3000 for $277 from DSE.

I would trust a transonic more than a philips product...

Richard rich.ms

Kiwipixter

246 posts

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#303548 2-Mar-2010 07:21

> it either works correctly or it doesn't! Can you get a 'low' quality digital signal?

Yes you can, in the form of pixelated, jerkiness, skip frames etc... Like computers players need to decode digital files into resolution, colours, sound, etc..., a cheap player with inadequate hardware will compromise this. Even worse, compatibility problems that can prevent discs being played altogether.

You are unlikely to get the above problems with brand name players like Sony and Panasonic. In addition, these players will have better video and sound processing hardware that will result in a better picture and sound.

As for this Transonic player, i wouldn't pair with a mid-priced Sony Bravia LCD 50" panel. But i'll use as a second player in the bedoom/kids room with 32" LCD or less.

richms

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#303701 2-Mar-2010 15:37

On a PC yeah, you will see low quality stuff all the time, but hardware normally uses all the same chips, so its only the analog circuitry that suffers (a non issue with HDMI output) and the software is normally closer to the reference design than the branded ones so less likly to have stupid decisions made.

Also the off brand ones are usually more happy to have bypasses for region, action and other restrictions available.

I find my panasonic dvd player unusable because it cant skip loads of the crap on discs. My digitor or whatever it is seems to be quite happy to skip.

Richard rich.ms

JimmyH

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#306047 10-Mar-2010 19:30

I may check it out. I had a Transonic 25" telly that I gave away just over a year ago when I finally upgraded (got a good TV in living room, living room TV went to spare room, Transonic TV went from spare room to a colleague with kids who wanted a set for their game playing). It performed OK for over 10 years - not the best performer in town, but worked well given the price saving when I got it.

I might get one of those. I haven't gone with Blu Ray yet because of the regioning nonsense and my desire to be able to buy disks of Amazon etc. I am currently looking at landing a good player from North America as my main player (and running on a 110V transformer). Even if the Transonic box is mediocre, it could compliment it well for the rarer occasions when I want to play NZ-Zone disks. DVD capability is irrelevent as I already have a good upscaling unit.

Dunnersfella

4063 posts

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#306058 10-Mar-2010 20:06

There's a Panasonic unit going for $296 at the moment... I'd spring the extra $97 over the Transonic. And I'd definitely avoid the Philips (as a less than proud owner of a Philips DVD HDD Recorder).

Jaxson

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#306220 11-Mar-2010 11:44

Dunnersfella: There's a Panasonic unit going for $296 at the moment

Where abouts please?

Dunnersfella

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#306418 11-Mar-2010 22:08

Powerstore here in Dunedin. It was in the paper yesterday...
Supposing it'll be the same around their other stores?