What are the differences between the cheaper and more expensive 3D blue ray player? Panasonic entry level BDT110 is the cheapest on the market so far. Is there anything I need to be concern about entry level? I don't care about playback format as I will rely on my TV to do that. I plan to get a mid-range audio receiver in the near future to handle the audio aspect.
I am doing some research and the PS3 blog http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/08/09/ps3-system-software-update-v3-70/#utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=update_080911 said that PS3 now supports DTS-HD, DTS-HR encoding.
So does that mean PS3 is back being the preferred choice for a 3D BD player?
The PS3 is slow, really needs the separate remote control and is expensive to buy... But I chose it as it is also a gaming console (I don't use it as a media server though, there are better out there). Sure it clips the blacks slightly, but... meh. No other BluRay players let me play GT5!
I personally think that the 2011 BluRay players have become thinner, but junkier around the bottom end of the market. Panasonic / Sony / Samsung / LG are all guilty of chasing low prices, with lower quality performance. In some cases loading times have increased markedly, other players feel like they'll fold in half when you pick them up. There was a nice Denon one I saw a few months ago, but it felt a little 'beta' as the YouTube functionality wasn't working on it yet. Maybe a Yamaha / Marantz etc could be worth a look. And if you're looking to spoil yourself, an Oppo?
What's the deal with the oppo? They are double or triple the price compare to a panasonic/ sony/ samsung/ LG...etc. I heard they do DVD upscaling better with region free. But what else do they offer? They need to offer alot more than that to justify their steep prices. Do they offer better picture when playing BD? if so how much? (noticeable by anyone?), are there any differences in terms of sounds?
With entry level players, the bulk of the price is involved in importing the item into NZ, shipping it from the dock, couriering to the store, marketing etc. With higher end units, the cost-to-market $'s are still the same, leaving more money to go towards the DAC's (for analogue sound output), video processing, quality construction, remote control yadaya.
The Oppo's certainly do produce fantastic pictures, as their ability to take the picture / sound off the disc in the most exacting manner is well renowned. But, here's the thing... can you notice a difference? Is your panel / projector calibrated? How is the lighting in the room / your eyesight etc? In a perfect viewing environment, on a 140" projection screen - you may easily pick the difference. If it's on a 32" LG lcd - set to 'dynamic', you may never see a thing. I have seen a Denon player (can't remember the price) improve a poor quality concert BluRay to the point where its digital noise reduction killed A LOT of the background noise in the blacker parts of the picture. That would be worth it in my book.
What I will say, is that with units like the PS3, they try to do so many things that they often become a jack of all trades, master of none. Without the DVD remote, it's a true dog of a player, with it, it's certainly not bed enough for me to go out and buy another one though.
Well I've just hooked a pretty cheap BDT-110 up to a Panny 46GT30. My only Bluray is the one I got in the Panasonic promotion - Avatar 3D. I'm moderately discriminating and it looked plenty good enough to me, in either number of dimensions.
How much processing does the player have to do if its outputting both digital video and digital audio? My guess, naff all, it's just streaming what's on the disc, isn't it?
PS3 for me. I vaue the 3D gaming far more than the 3D movies though.
(also, I have a Sony TV, so remote controls are a non-issue for me since I can use my Bravia remote to control the PS3, including switching it on and off)
Relative price of a Blu-ray player on the NZ market isn't a good indicator of relative quality with the huge but varying margins being put on many models by retailers. The BDT310 costs less overseas than the BDT110 does here. I would not be concerned about the image quality from the BDT110, just don't expect it to have as many bells and whistles as some of the more expensive models. Panasonic does mail-in promotions with their BD players so check their website.
Oppo are a luxury BD brand for videophiles. If you have to ask, you're unlikely to be their target market. Buying a high end BD player is probably more important if you want to send 1080i/p60 to your display from a 1080p24 source because of potential telecine judder.
Panasonic BD players can be region-freed for DVDs with a remote code. Posters have previously written that Panasonic offers a free service with presentation of receipt to region-free BD players for DVDs but I can't confirm this. Most if not all Sony BD players ship in NZ already region-freed for DVDs.
Region-freeing for BD discs is much more difficult as hardware or firmware hacks are nearly always required. It isn't a big deal for most people unless you plan on importing discs from America or China and don't want to worry about the 1/3rd that are region-locked. The Europe is the same region as us so ordering from there is more straightfoward. Videophiles will be infuriated by the selection of vintage and arthouse movies are are Region A locked with no other release and movies that have only had a proper release in Region A.
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