eZGear announces Blu-ray/SACD player

[allargon]

Yes, I got this off Engadget. Okay...another expensive profile 1.1 player. Seriously? In 2009? I know profile 2.0 isn't everyone's cup of tea, but a $400 player should at least have the option. It looks like it decodes everything--that's a plus. I have no idea what kind of video processing it does. It also supports SACD (but not DVD-A?). Every Blu-Ray player that internally decodes Dolby TrueHD should be able to decode DVD-A with a small license due to the fact that Dolby TrueHD is based on MLP. Off my soapbox...

So sub $600 with 7.1 multichannel analog outs, we have

Oppo Blu-Ray player (SACD, nonpareil upscaling, DVD-A?, DivX?)
EzGear EZ3000 (SACD + all internal formats decoding but profile 1.1 only)
Sony BD-PS550 (less than superb upscaling)
Panasonic DMP-BD55 (good DVD performance, DivX)
Samsung BD-P25xx (no DTS-HD MA internal decoding + Reon upscaling + Netflix/Pandorra streaming)

For more than $600, the traditional five (HK not yet joined the party) plus the higher end brands like Cambridge Audio
Onkyo
Pioneer
Denon
Yamaha
Marantz

Things are getting interesting in the Blu-Ray hardware space.

BluCobra Blu-ray Disc Player

The EZ3000 is the first in the new BluCobra line of products from ezGear. BluCobra Blu-ray players include a full host of features you get with higher end models at an affordable price.

Formats
The BluCobra EZ3000 is a multi-format player that supports DVD, SACD and Blu-ray with full 1080p/24Hz output. For TVs that support lower resolutions, the player will also provide output in 1080i, 720P, and 480i. Composite video is also supported. The EZ3000 supports BD Profile 1.1 (Bonus View) and BD-ROM as well.

Video Outputs
The EZ3000 provides a full range of outputs so you can connect the player to the most popular TVs and audio systems. Output connections include HDMI 1.3 output, Component Video output, composite video and S-Video outputs.

Audio Formats and Output
Multiple audio formats are supported by the EZ3000, including Digital Dolby. MPEG-2 Audio, Dolby TrueHD (lossless) and DTS-HD Master Audio. The EZ3000 can be connected to virtually any audio device. Two (2) channel downmix audio is provided to connect directly to your stereo TV or stereo hi-fi system. Analog 7.1 audio is supported for stereo Hi-Fi with analog inputs. You can also get a state of the art audio experience with full 7.1 Digital audio connections. Both Optical and Coaxial digital audio is supported.

The EZ3000 will begin shipping in March 2008.

 

[jamie2112]

I am waiting for the oppo bluray......I hope its worth it....