Blu-ray with 7.1 analog out and Denon 3805

[cutter]

oppo, where art thou oppo?

Ok, so I've been thinking-- I'm going to upgrade my receiver. I really want a blu ray player now, but I'm going to try and hold off until OPPO releases their blu ray. Good info on the sony 550-- I was thinking of the Panny 55, but now maybe the 35 if I get an HDMI enabled receiver. Which, I can get the Denon preamp AVP (refurb) on Dakmart for under 5 grand. Seem like a good deal? The refurb 5308 is almost the same price- odd, since MSRP on the AVP is like 2 grand higher. I have a parasound 5250 amp, so don't need built in ones. Would have to use old receiver to drive rear surrounds, or sell and get a 2 channel amp to do the job. hmmmm. this forum is oh so good, but oh so bad for my checkbook!

 

[allargon]

On another note, i've had the Sony BDP-S550 since Thursday and just fedex'd it back today. As you can see in my signature, i'm still clinging to my old non-hdmi equipped receiver and was using my Panasonic blu-ray player via the 7.1 multi channel outputs and things were good. Hooked up the Sony and could never match the sound quality of the Panasonic. Didn't matter what I did. Bass was anemic no matter how I set the speakers in the Sony's menu. Anyway, I might try the new Panasonic at some point since I'm still very happy with my current one.

I'm surprised you even bothered. The Panny DMP-BD55 (now at Fry's for the whopping low *cough* MSRP price of $399 --ripping on Fry's not Panny) screams pair me with your legacy receivers and pre/pro's unless you need the stellar PQ/upconversion/Wolfson DAC's of the $2k Pioneer.

Josten, (supposedly) Mariah's Carey's "The Adventures of Mimi" is one disc with only multichannel PCM. (Of course, two channel PCM will still transmit just fine. However, if people want surround sound, then.) All the Opus Arte Blu-Ray's are PCM only as well. Granted, none of these are action movies where surround sound is truly critical. However, this is Audioholics. I've noticed folks here tend to want surround for the most part not two channel.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1025695
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=849571

 

[zumbo]

Ok, so I've been thinking-- I'm going to upgrade my receiver. I really want a blu ray player now, but I'm going to try and hold off until OPPO releases their blu ray. Good info on the sony 550-- I was thinking of the Panny 55, but now maybe the 35 if I get an HDMI enabled receiver. Which, I can get the Denon preamp AVP (refurb) on Dakmart for under 5 grand. Seem like a good deal? The refurb 5308 is almost the same price- odd, since MSRP on the AVP is like 2 grand higher. I have a parasound 5250 amp, so don't need built in ones. Would have to use old receiver to drive rear surrounds, or sell and get a 2 channel amp to do the job. hmmmm. this forum is oh so good, but oh so bad for my checkbook!

I would recommend getting a high-end AV receiver for a pre-amp. This way, the receiver could power the rear surrounds. This would save a lot of coin.

Take that extra coin and get the flagship Denon BD player.

 

[Emusica]

On another note, i've had the Sony BDP-S550 since Thursday and just fedex'd it back today. As you can see in my signature, i'm still clinging to my old non-hdmi equipped receiver and was using my Panasonic blu-ray player via the 7.1 multi channel outputs and things were good. Hooked up the Sony and could never match the sound quality of the Panasonic. Didn't matter what I did. Bass was anemic no matter how I set the speakers in the Sony's menu. Anyway, I might try the new Panasonic at some point since I'm still very happy with my current one.

I was going to compare the Sony S550 with the new Panasonic BD-55 that I have now. Sounds like there is no comparison, but I feel I need to at least give it a shot, plus the Sony is $70 cheaper (at this point in time). Maybe the Sony has a nicer control menu, but I like how the Viera link works/integrates with my lovely Panny 58" TH-PZ800U.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

i'm still clinging to my old non-hdmi equipped receiver and was using my Panasonic blu-ray player via the 7.1 multi channel outputs and things were good.

I had the Panasonic DMP-10A and used the Multi-Channel Analog Output as well. The sound was awesome. PQ was awesome too.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

The refurb 5308 is almost the same price

I can get a brand new 5308CI @ J&R for $3900 w/Free Shipping. Forget Dakmart on this one.

 

[cutter]

I can get a brand new 5308CI @ J&R for $3900 w/Free Shipping. Forget Dakmart on this one.

Awesome! Sign me up! PM sent.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Awesome! Sign me up! PM sent.

Sent reply.

Yeah, I could have gotten a brand new one for that amount 3 months ago. I'm stilling thinking about getting one around April or May.

 

[cutter]

I just bought the 5308CI, so now I have a few (thousand) other questions:

1. has anyone used the AVIA or DVE bluray calibration disc? Is there one that is better? I seem to struggle with both of the SD DVD versions-- I can do some things, but not others. Lack of knowledge, not effort!

2. With the video processor being so good in the 5308, then any blu-ray player that can bitstream the HD audio codecs should do the job, right?

3. Should I set the output on my 3910 DVD player to 480i and let the 5308 do all the upscaling? that's kinda the point, right?

Forgive the uber-ignoramus in me, all you valuable experts out there!

 

[jostenmeat]

I just bought the 5308CI, so now I have a few (thousand) other questions:

1. has anyone used the AVIA or DVE bluray calibration disc? Is there one that is better? I seem to struggle with both of the SD DVD versions-- I can do some things, but not others. Lack of knowledge, not effort!

Well, there's the AVIA Pro... at a whopping $300. The Avia II is still better than DVE, afaik, because even if the Avia is not perfect, its still more accurate with video than DVE. Also, I don't think DVE may have LFE test tones/sweeps, but better check on that.

2. With the video processor being so good in the 5308, then any blu-ray player that can bitstream the HD audio codecs should do the job, right?

I doubt its that simple. Id still get a very decent player seeing as one will only cost you about $100 more from the cheapest versions available. IOW, Panasonic (if you are talking about $ perspective).

3. Should I set the output on my 3910 DVD player to 480i and let the 5308 do all the upscaling? that's kinda the point, right?

No idea.

 

[PENG]

3. Should I set the output on my 3910 DVD player to 480i and let the 5308 do all the upscaling? that's kinda the point, right?

Sounds logical to me, but I doubt you could see much improvements. You can try setting the 3910 to 480p as well. To be objective, ask someone else who is not bias (someone who doesn't know much about the 3910/5308), to tell you if they can tell which way looks better.

 

[dobyblue]

I just bought the 5308CI, so now I have a few (thousand) other questions:

1. has anyone used the AVIA or DVE bluray calibration disc? Is there one that is better? I seem to struggle with both of the SD DVD versions-- I can do some things, but not others. Lack of knowledge, not effort!

2. With the video processor being so good in the 5308, then any blu-ray player that can bitstream the HD audio codecs should do the job, right?

3. Should I set the output on my 3910 DVD player to 480i and let the 5308 do all the upscaling? that's kinda the point, right?

Forgive the uber-ignoramus in me, all you valuable experts out there!

1. Most people I've read suggest the Avia does a more thorough job, but the DVE is more user friendly.

2. Yes - go with the DMP-BD35 if you don't need analog outs.

3. I'd at least set it to 480p.