Recommendation for a decent BD player.

[Yamaheart]

Any recommendation for a current BD player? I have a Yamaha RX-v3800 to up-scaling/up-converting the Video quality. Thanks.

 

[jostenmeat]

Any recommendation for a current BD player? I have a Yamaha RX-v3800 to up-scaling/up-converting the Video quality. Thanks.

Best value, better PQ than the competition, excellent reliability, even better FW support, the answer hasn't changed during the last few years: Panasonic. They also own the majority of bluray patents. Try the BD-60 for about $159.

If you need a gaming machine, get a PS3 for about $140 more.

If you demand either SACD or DVDA, get an Oppo for $340 more.

I expect both the PS3 and Oppo to load faster than the Pana. However, Pana does load a bit faster than its price point competition, and furthermore, I wouldn't get excited about load time with any bdp you get.

Otherwise, the only (valid) reason I have ever seen people choose other brands within the price point competition (even if slightly more expensive, for slightly less in BD PQ), is so that the user can force 480i output for DVDs, so that they can choose to have the deinterlacing occur elsewhere, such as in your Yamaha receiver, or your display for example. If Pana hasn't changed this, and I doubt they have, it can only go as "low" as 480p. IMHO, however, once you watch BD, I'm not sure you'll really care about that. I sure don't. And my PJ deinterlaces very well.

 

[HDPCsound]

A Sony BDP-S350 1080p is a good choice, as it has the BD-Live compatibility, and you can take full advantage of the Bonus View feature of select Blu-ray movies as well as acquire the features and updates as they become available.

 

[jostenmeat]

The BD60 is superior to the Sony 350. In fact, even the superceded BD35 superior. In fact, even the twice superceded BD30 is superior. And you pay less for the BD60. (Yes, Sony is still on the same model). Again, the only reason to get the 350 is if one desires forced 480i output of DVD playback.

 

[lsiberian]

The BD60 is superior to the Sony 350. In fact, even the superceded BD35 superior. In fact, even the twice superceded BD30 is superior. And you pay less for the BD60. (Yes, Sony is still on the same model). Again, the only reason to get the 350 is if one desires forced 480i output of DVD playback.

The 480i seems unreasonable for most people. Panasonic makes more reliable electronics in many cases too. Of course Sony had the best CRTs but those days are over.

 

[j_garcia]

You didn't specify a price range, so my choices would be one of the Pannys in the $300 and under range and the Oppo BDP-83 in the $500 and up range.

 

[Yamaheart]

Again, the only reason to get the 350 is if one desires forced 480i output of DVD playback.

What is "Forced 480i output of DVD playback?"

Thanks

 

[Seth=L]

Most DVD players and Blu-ray players won't allow 480i output over HDMI. Since the Sony can do this it ensures that de-interlacing can occur somewhere other than inside the Blu-ray player. This would be only suggested if you watch a lot of DVDs on your Blu-ray player and if your scaler/de-interlacer is vastly superior to that of the Blu-ray player's onboard de-interlacer. The Yamaha RX-V3800 scaling performance is not a standard setter, and it's likely the scaling and de-interlacing in pretty much all Blu-ray players will be above that of the Yamaha's.

The newer Sharp Aquos Blu-ray player is only sale at H.H. Gregg for $129, it seems like a pretty nice Blu-ray player for the price.

 

[Yamaheart]

How about recomendation for an excellent BD player?

Any recommendation for an excellent BD player? Thanks.

 

[Seth=L]

That's easy, Oppo BDP-83. It's probably the only excellent Blu-ray player that's worth it's price tag. Anything more than that is probably of disproportionate cost/benefit.

I think all the recommendations other than the Sony have been excellent so far. If you want to spend less than the Oppo then go with the Panasonic BD60, if you can spend at least as much as the Oppo, then get the Oppo. If you want to match components you can drop the coin for the Yamaha Blu-ray player (not sure of model). The Yamaha definitely won't give you the best bang for buck, but I'm sure it's a solid player.

 

[Yamaheart]

I did it.

Just bought the Panasonic BD60...

 

[lsiberian]

What about netflix capabilities?

I'm thinking it would be easier to just get a roku and a BD-60 though the BD-80 isn't much more.