Panasonic DMP-BDT500

[ahblaza]

Hello to all
I just picked up a new Panny BDT500 BD player, it was a hard decision when comparing it to the Oppo 103, after considerable debate I decided on the Panny. I know most BD players today all offer some pretty good video and audio via HDMI (Panny has duals). My main reason for going with the 500 was it's supposedly good analog stage consisting of four Burr Brown
192/kHz/32-bit DACS. I have no SACDs or DVAs hence the decision to go with the 500. Also figured into the equation was the Amazon points accumulated which brought the 500 down to $230 delivered. I plan on using the analog stereo outs for CD playback, does any one have any thoughts on the SQ of the Burr-Brown DACS mentioned. I don't know what DACS are in my Onkyo 809, but I would think the BBs in the Panny would do a better job SQ wise on it's own rather than using a coaxial output from 500 to 809 and using the 500 as a transport. Any thoughts on this would really help, I know I could just try both and compare, but that's too easy Every review I read was positive using the Panny's analog outs over the HDMI for music (CD) playback. Thanks.
Cheers Jeff

 

[j_garcia]

Can't really say just on the fact that they are Burr-Brown how good it will be, since they have a ton of DACs out there. I don't think Burr-Brown quite means the same thing it did before TI bought them, but they are still well regarded for sure. Since you will presumably be running HDMI to the receiver, I'd just use that as opposed to coaxial for transport. The only ay to know for sure will be to try it both ways - transport and analog and see which you prefer.

Even the standard Oppo's DACs are going to be good. My 2900 had some very nice B/B DACs back then and my 83 sounded as good if not a bit better even before the SE upgrade.

I know you've seen me mention it before too, but I don't really mind the sound from my BD-65 via analog either.

 

[Swerd]

I just picked up a new Panny BDT500 BD player… I plan on using the analog stereo outs for CD playback, does any one have any thoughts on the SQ of the Burr-Brown DACS mentioned.

I have the BDT500, and for CD playback, it seems fine. I could hear no noticeable difference in CD's I have known for a long time. Previously I relied on a DVD player as a transport and the DAC in my receiver.

Because I was curious, I recently hooked up a coax digital line from the 500 to my receiver so I can switch back and forth between DACs while playing a CD. I can hear no significant difference in sound quality. Although I cannot say for certain that I hear absolutely no difference at all, I believe that is probably true.

I didn't really expect to hear major differences, I only wanted to make sure that the 500 did not disappoint. It doesn't .

 

[cpp]

I think when it comes down to DAC chips, it all depends on the engineering and the implementation of that chip in the device and then it depends on the dac chip being used as all chips are created equally.

 

[ahblaza]

Can't really say just on the fact that they are Burr-Brown how good it will be, since they have a ton of DACs out there. I don't think Burr-Brown quite means the same thing it did before TI bought them, but they are still well regarded for sure. Since you will presumably be running HDMI to the receiver, I'd just use that as opposed to coaxial for transport. The only ay to know for sure will be to try it both ways - transport and analog and see which you prefer.

Even the standard Oppo's DACs are going to be good. My 2900 had some very nice B/B DACs back then and my 83 sounded as good if not a bit better even before the SE upgrade.

I know you've seen me mention it before too, but I don't really mind the sound from my BD-65 via analog either.

John I have seen you mention you liked the SQ from your BD-65 via analog, the 500 will be replacing the BD-85, I never tried using the analog outs for CD playback, I'm sure it would also sound good. I may put it up for sale for cheap to someone looking for a BD player with 7.1 analog outputs.

 

[ahblaza]

I have the BDT500, and for CD playback, it seems fine. I could hear no noticeable difference in CD's I have known for a long time. Previously I relied on a DVD player as a transport and the DAC in my receiver.

Because I was curious, I recently hooked up a coax digital line from the 500 to my receiver so I can switch back and forth between DACs while playing a CD. I can hear no significant difference in sound quality. Although I cannot say for certain that I hear absolutely no difference at all, I believe that is probably true.

I didn't really expect to hear major differences, I only wanted to make sure that the 500 did not disappoint. It doesn't .

Thanks Rich, that's good to know, as I'm about to hook it up now. Thanks again