New Sony Blu Ray Players

[georgev]

Anyone got the new S350 or the S550 player?
Thoughts?

[Kevin D]

Put several of the new S350's in, the 550 has been pushed back until October.

The 350 is more compact then the old models, but still surprisingly weighs a lot. It's super fast though! You will get some type of video signal within 10 seconds. You can start going through the DVD system menu (PS3 style) in about 20-30 seconds. Time to recognise disc and start playing is probably less then a minute.

It's cheaper and much less disappointing to a customer.

Kevin D.

[georgev]

Does it do on board decoding of the new HD sound formats that can then be fed via analog to the processor?

[George Bellefontaine]

Does it do on board decoding of the new HD sound formats that can then be fed via analog to the processor?

It does internally decode TrueHD but not DTS-MA. However, it only has 2 channel analog outs. I believe the S550 does it all with 7.1 analog outs.

[maseline_98]

It does internally decode TrueHD but not DTS-MA. However, it only has 2 channel analog outs. I believe the S550 does it all with 7.1 analog outs.

......and the wait continues....didn't sony and the other blu-ray makers get the memo....transformers is out on blu-ray...

[Hdale85]

Well it will still output PCM over HDMI unless you don't have HDMI and then yes you have to wait

[wettou]

It does internally decode TrueHD but not DTS-MA. However, it only has 2 channel analog outs. I believe the S550 does it all with 7.1 analog outs.

As well as with HDMi 1.3 I like the fact that they lowered the price :T

The question is will it be faster than the PS3?

[georgev]

I read somehwre that it is quite fast. I'll try to find the link.
I will have to wait for the 550.

[Chris D]

Well, the main part of CEDIA doesn't even start until tomorrow, and already the literature here is showing several new BD players, including Denon and Sherwood.

[maseline_98]

Well it will still output PCM over HDMI unless you don't have HDMI and then yes you have to wait

Nope...no HDMI...what I do have is a $50 coupon from amazon(for my 360 hd-dvd add-on, which I sold about 10 months ago) burning a whole in my emailing asking to be used on a worthy blu-ray player! I think I'm going to get the s550 when it comes out though(will bring the price to $350)...and though thats not exactly the price point I'm looking for...it's not too, too bad....

[Hdale85]

I would say for a full featured BD player 350 is pretty darn good.

[Chris D]

FWIW, I thought you guys might be interested to hear that LG just announced a new BD player here at CEDIA that also streams Netflix movies from your instant queue. Streaming is only 480p, though.

[Hdale85]

I saw elsewhere about a 400 disc Sony BD changer as well.

[maseline_98]

Well.....sony style has the s550 for preorder for $499....I was hoping for a $399 price tag...

[wettou]

Average Price of Blu-ray Players Drops

Well.....sony style has the s550 for preorder for $499....I was hoping for a $399 price tag...

Priced cheaper than Panasonic BD50 $699

Also check this out: Average Price of Blu-ray Players Drops, Shows Product Index Blu-ray index decreased just 12 percent over all of Q3 2008. Price decrease may be bad sign for format.?

http://www.cepro.com/article/average_price_of_blu_ray_players_drops_shows_product_index/K5

As far as I am concern it's good for consumers who want to buy and upgrade their blu ray players, too bad the retailers are not making as much money

Interesting Blu-ray Disc Association Says Prices Won’t Drop Soon? Reminds me of Chiken Little:roll:

http://www.cepro.com/article/blu_ray_disc_association_says_prices_wont_drop_soon/

[maseline_98]

Priced cheaper than Panasonic BD50 $699

Also check this out: Average Price of Blu-ray Players Drops, Shows Product Index Blu-ray index decreased just 12 percent over all of Q3 2008. Price decrease may be bad sign for format.?

http://www.cepro.com/article/average_price_of_blu_ray_players_drops_shows_product_index/K5

As far as I am concern it's good for consumers who want to buy and upgrade their blu ray players, too bad the retailers are not making as much money

Interesting Blu-ray Disc Association Says Prices Won’t Drop Soon? Reminds me of Chiken Little:roll:

http://www.cepro.com/article/blu_ray...ont_drop_soon/

There are 2 problems with the format selling slow(1. price-->who wants to spend $700 on a disc player, only to have it be obsolete in a few months(like all of those BD 1.1). (2. The average joe doesn't understand it-->"So I have to buy an HDTV and then go out and buy this other blu-ray thing and they I have to go out and buy a new receiver to get this new audio thing???? You mean my kenwood pro logic surround sound that I picked up at my neighbors garage sales won't work???"--->go back to problem 1...

I seriously have a coworker that doesn't even own a dvd player and buys vhs tapes on ebay at $4/tape and thinks she's getting a good deal. People don't want to upgrade their equipment until they have to and she obviously doesn't think she has to...

I honestly just don't know why the industry doesn't just force feed us blu-ray. If they stop producing DVDs and online content and only produce blu-ray, people will start to buy...why let the consumer's make the decision(kinda sounds like the scenario that went down with HD-DVD huh?)

[wettou]

I seriously have a coworker that doesn't even own a dvd player and buys vhs tapes on ebay at $4/tape and thinks she's getting a good deal. People don't want to upgrade their equipment until they have to and she obviously doesn't think she has to...

I hear you my parents are the same except no ebay!!!

I honestly just don't know why the industry doesn't just force feed us blu-ray. If they stop producing DVDs and online content and only produce blu-ray, people will start to buy...why let the consumer's make the decision(kinda sounds like the scenario that went down with HD-DVD huh?)

Free country lots of choices DVD sales are over several billions of dollars they are not going to throught that away too much profits.

On the other hand if Blu Ray doesn't get it's act together soon downloading might take them off sooner than anticipated. But of course hear again who can download HD 1080p content movies?

[Dean McManis]

I finally just bit the bullet on buying a couple month old PS3 for $300.
I knew that this would be the way that I was going to get into Blu-Ray, mostly because I also love playing games in addition to watching movies.
The picture and sound quality of the Blu-Ray is quite impressive, but HD-DVD and HD-DSS also looks excellent as well.
Happily Amazon gave me a $50 coupon because HD-DVD went bust, so I bought a few Blu-Ray DVDs to try out on the PS3.

I do agree that if Sony doesn't quickly drop the prices of both Blu-Ray players and especially the DVD media then HD-DSS and HD movie downloads will soon take over the market.

[wettou]

the old models, but still surprisingly weighs a lot. It's super fast though! You will get some type of video signal within 10 seconds. You can start going through the DVD system menu (PS3 style) in about 20-30 seconds.

Which model are you talking about? Video signal in 10 seconds?

[Kevin P]

FYI - limon was a sneaky spammer so his posts were removed.

[maseline_98]

I wonder how the panasonic bd-55 compares to the s550. I think the bd55 has a msrp of $499(for some reason, they have no mention of it on their website).

[George Bellefontaine]

I wonder how the panasonic bd-55 compares to the s550. I think the bd55 has a msrp of $499(for some reason, they have no mention of it on their website).

You won't see them on their website until after the release date, which to my knowledge, hasn't been officially announced.

[impala454]

Saw this the other day and meant to post it:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/09/24/panasonics-profile-2-0-dmp-bd55-blu-ray-player-gets-priced-39/

BD55 = $399

I seem to recall seeing another story putting the BD35 at $299, but can't find it.

[maseline_98]

Saw this the other day and meant to post it:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/09/24/panasonics-profile-2-0-dmp-bd55-blu-ray-player-gets-priced-39/

BD55 = $399

I seem to recall seeing another story putting the BD35 at $299, but can't find it.

Actually just saw the lower msrp today(they have it on amazon already), but which player is going to better(bd55 or s550)? I need the 7.1 analog outputs.

[impala454]

I'd say they're pretty evenly matched as far as features and performance. I guess it just boils down to brand preference and a Benjamin. Personally I'd take the Panny over the Sony in a heartbeat.

[George Bellefontaine]

Actually just saw the lower msrp today(they have it on amazon already), but which player is going to better(bd55 or s550)? I need the 7.1 analog outputs.

I believe they both have 7.1 analog outputs.

As Chuck said, they're both pretty much matched so it just may be a matter of which manufacturer you want to go with.

[wettou]

I believe they both have 7.1 analog outputs.

As Chuck said, they're both pretty much matched so it just may be a matter of which manufacturer you want to go with.

Which one loads faster?

[Hdale85]

Should probably be about equal in load times.

[impala454]

I believe they both have 7.1 analog outputs.

As Chuck said, they're both pretty much matched so it just may be a matter of which manufacturer you want to go with.

And $100 difference :T

[littlesaint]

Amazon has posted the ship dates of the Panasonic players.

The BD35 at $299 ships 10/25 and the BD55 at $399 ships 10/28. The only difference I can see between the two is the BD55 adds 7.1 analog outputs and a digital coax output. They both decode and bitstream all formats, and support BD-Live.

[Kevin D]

Customer's Sony S350 just to a download to add BD-Live Profile 2.0 support. Still need a USB memory stick to use it, but it's there.

Kevin D.

[Race Car Driver]

The 550 adds a 1GB Flash for BD Live local memory where as the 350 requires an adapter.

550 also does DTS-HD internal, 350 does not. 550 adds 7.1 analog, 350 does not, and 550 has a better remote.

Thats all I got.

[impala454]

Here is a review of the DMP-BD55:

http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/panasonic-dmp-bd55/4505-6463_7-33248633.html?tag=mncol;txt

something interesting I saw:

We were happy to see the DMP-BD55 handled nonanamorphic wide-screen DVDs correctly. While there's no manual setting, we popped in an older version of Carlito's Way and the DMP-BD55 automatically detected the aspect ratio and properly displayed the movie. This is particularly useful on some HDTVs that lack aspect-ratio control for HD sources.

I also noticed the SD card slot is now SDHC... nice

[maseline_98]

Here is a review of the DMP-BD55:

http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/panasonic-dmp-bd55/4505-6463_7-33248633.html?tag=mncol;txt

something interesting I saw:


I also noticed the SD card slot is now SDHC... nice

what is the benefit of having an SD card slot? You mean for running divx movies and stuff?

[impala454]

right. pictures, movies, etc. The older panny players have them as well, but are not SDHC. I haven't even used mine yet, but now that you mention it I think I'll give it a shot just for giggles

[maseline_98]

I was also wondering how the Bass Management is handled via the analog inputs? If I'm correct in thinking, the player itself must handle this because the receiver is essentially by-passed.

Furthermore, I'm assuming the players(both sony and panny) will have an option for a 5.1 configuration. Will it matrix the other 2 channels? How does that work?

More and more I'm thinking about saving the $100 and going with the BD-35 and put it towards a new HDMI processor....

[georgev]

Just been told that we should be getting the sony's later this month. Hope that is true.
Panasonic still don't know. In fact they were still talking about the 30, when I phoned to enquire.

[whoaru99]

I was also wondering how the Bass Management is handled via the analog inputs? If I'm correct in thinking, the player itself must handle this because the receiver is essentially by-passed.

Yes, the player will have bass management.

However, (not sure about receivers) but some processors allow bass managment on the analog inputs. If so, generally the audio goes through another round of ADC and DAC though.

Even so, if the bass management in the processor is better, it may be worth the additional conversions.

[impala454]

I couldn't find that old thread about blu-ray player prices so I'll post this here:
http://gizmodo.com/5062492/dealzmodo...n-black-friday
Rumor that the Samsung BDP1500 will drop to $149 for black friday

[maseline_98]

so s550 supposedly comes out tomorrow.....who's getting one? and can you guys give a review who does...

[Hdale85]

Well I'm holding out for BD player right now. probably get the older 300 or whatever it is for like 200 bucks to hold me over for the time being. There is talk of an Emotiva BD player so holding out for that

[maseline_98]

Well I'm holding out for BD player right now. probably get the older 300 or whatever it is for like 200 bucks to hold me over for the time being. There is talk of an Emotiva BD player so holding out for that

It's getting harder for me to resist....I was deciding on the the bd55, but I just saw that the s550 was going for 329.00. I have $150 in amazon coupons, which brings it to $180....maybe panny will counter with a price drop as well...


EDIT: I was just on sony's webpage to check out the manual for the s550, sadly enough you cannot choose a frequency to cross-over(it's only set to Large or Small). My receiver will not allow bass management when running through the 7.1 inputs....

[impala454]

i think you'd be crazy to buy a BD player right now... wait for the black friday sales guys...

[Hdale85]

Agreed, I'll probably grab one of the Samsungs for 149 that I saw. Can't beat that price.

[Blindamood]

Another option is to apply online for the Sony credit card...you get $150 credit when you make your first purchase. So, a new BD-S550 (which is now out), would be $250 with free shipping. I'm getting real close to doing this...