Need help with Blu-ray decision

[Chappy]

I need some help selecting a Bluray player. I have narrowed it down to the Panny DMP-BD35k and the Samsung BD-P1500. I would probably go for the Panny in a heart beat if they were the same price, but the Panny is currently $220.00 and the Samsung is $189.00. SQ is of utmost importance here. The only reason I'm swithcing to Bluray over SD is the sound quality on the new SD DVD's is flat and does my system no justice. I also have a Onkyo HT-SR800 and it does have HDMI inputs, but they do not support audio input via HDMI only video. Will my fiber optic inputs from either of these players produce the sound I want? Any help at all would be great.

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

My Samsung BDP1400 was a piece of crap and quit after less than a year of very light use. I'd spend the extra $31 on a player that is better quality.

You will not get lossless audio over optical/coax. You need to either have a receiver that decodes them through HDMI from the player, or have the player decode and send out to the receiver through multi-channel analog (I don't believe either of those players have that option).

Unless you plan on using the lossless, I don't think it will sound any different than your DVDs. Mine didn't seem to.

I'd be interested to know if you can tell when sounds are changing speakers when they pan across your front speakers. The Betas and the Polks have a significantly different sound, so I'm surprised you put them together.

 

[allargon]

I need some help selecting a Bluray player. I have narrowed it down to the Panny DMP-BD35k and the Samsung BD-P1500. I would probably go for the Panny in a heart beat if they were the same price, but the Panny is currently $220.00 and the Samsung is $189.00. SQ is of utmost importance here. The only reason I'm swithcing to Bluray over SD is the sound quality on the new SD DVD's is flat and does my system no justice. I also have a Onkyo HT-SR800 and it does have HDMI inputs, but they do not support audio input via HDMI only video. Will my fiber optic inputs from either of these players produce the sound I want? Any help at all would be great.

That Onkyo HT-SR800 comes with a 5xx series Onkyo receiver. You will HAVE to use the multichannel analog inputs to hear high res (not just lossless) audio. Skip both the players you listed. Get the Panny DMP-BD50, DMP-BD55, Sammy BD-P25xx or a Sony BDP-S550. My vote is for the Panny DMP-BD55. The DMP-BD50 will internally decodes DTS-HD HR/MA, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD out of the box and send it out of its 5.1 multichannel analog outputs. The DMP-BD55 will do the same and has 7.1 analog outputs.

My Samsung BDP1400 was a piece of crap and quit after less than a year of very light use. I'd spend the extra $31 on a player that is better quality.

You will not get lossless audio over optical/coax. You need to either have a receiver that decodes them through HDMI from the player, or have the player decode and send out to the receiver through multi-channel analog (I don't believe either of those players have that option).

Unless you plan on using the lossless, I don't think it will sound any different than your DVDs. Mine didn't seem to.

Those 1200/1400 units had issues. However, a lot of people are praising the new 25xx series.

 

[davidtwotrees]

Those 1200/1400 units had issues. However, a lot of people are praising the new 25xx series.

Raises hand. My 2550 sammy has worked flawlessy. Decent load times, no freezing up issues or any other things that people complain about with bluray. And it streams Netflix, and Pandora radio which is just amazing on my HT for background music. The sq is fine, and no commercials, and it only plays music I like while introducing me to new music at the same time.

But I paid $340 for my unit.....not sure if that is in your budget.

 

[zumbo]

I would probably go for the Panny in a heart beat if they were the same price, but the Panny is currently $220.00 and the Samsung is $189.00.

All this fuss over $31.

 

[Loudz34]

I have the samsung 1500 and its been ok so far, should of went sony or pioneer but out of my range at the moment...

 

[Chappy]

I'd be interested to know if you can tell when sounds are changing speakers when they pan across your front speakers. The Betas and the Polks have a significantly different sound, so I'm surprised you put them together.

I really do not notice a big difference. I have had the same setup for about 8 months and no complaints. I was a little sceptical about using the Polk at first, but it has all worked out.

 

[Chappy]

Thanks to all for the input. I do not plan on running a 7.1 system at this time. My guess is that I should get very good 5.1 audio from the Samsung 1500 or the Panny 35k. I plan on upgrading my reciever to a Onkyo tx-SR806 in the next year, so if I decide to go 7.1 I should be fine right.

Thanks again,
Chappy

 

[allargon]

Thanks to all for the input. I do not plan on running a 7.1 system at this time. My guess is that I should get very good 5.1 audio from the Samsung 1500 or the Panny 35k. I plan on upgrading my reciever to a Onkyo tx-SR806 in the next year, so if I decide to go 7.1 I should be fine right.

Err..no.. You supposedly have an Onkyo HT-SR800 (a 7.1 setup) which includes a TX-SR5xx receiver. It has multichannel analog inputs. You can do lossless audio now without a receiver upgrade if you just buy the right Blu-Ray player. Now, if you are determined to get an Onkyo TX-SR806 in the future, that is fine. However, my advice is that you should be smart and buy a Blu-Ray player with multichannel analog outputs that also internally decodes Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. This way you will be ready now. Yes, you will still be able to bitstream to a TX-SR806 in the future if you obtain one.


http://reviews.cnet.com/home-theater-systems/onkyo-ht-sr800-black/4505-6740_7-32421727.html

If you absolutely must ignore my advice and want either the Sammy BD-1.5k or the Panny DMP-BD35, go with the Panny. There are fewer complaints about the Panny on AVS.

 

[Chappy]

Allargon,
I am not trying to upset you by any means. I was just saying that I was running a 5.1 system with my current reciever. I do know that it is a 7.1 reciever, but it does have a setting to make it a 5.1 and to not use the side speakers. Which I did, due to the fact that until recently there were not any movies that would output 7.1 audio. I am going to take your advice on picking up the Panny BD-55k. Thank you for the advice again.

Thanks,
Chappy

 

[j_garcia]

There have been 7.1 movies for a few years (6.1 technically) with DTS-ES and Dolby Digital-EX, so I am not sure what you are talking about? All receivers with 6.1 and 7.1 capability can process a 5.1 signal (and in most cases also a stereo signal) into 6.1 or 7.1 as well.

I think the 55 is the way to go right now. I was looking for a good deal on it on Black Friday and didn't find much. It is on Amazon right now for $321 with 4 "free" movies ($75 credit when you purchase the discs). If I don't find a better deal, I will probably go with that.

 

[jostenmeat]

Unless Reon was more important than everything else combined, and I do mean everything else, get the Pana. If $31 is that huge to you over such an enormous difference between these players and the support behind them, you really shouldn't even jump into BD yet. Too much money for you.

Otherwise, the other side of the coin, in regards to allargon's post: if you are very sure that you will upgrade the receiver in the near future, you can take +$100 savings by not having m-ch analog outs, and apply that to the receiver purchase.

Just use SPDIF in the meanwhile. Less hassle than m-ch analogs, possibly, especially when considering bass mgmt. This is exactly what I did for several months before upgrading my receiver.

 

[Chappy]

I bought the Panny BDP-BD55K. I should get it from Amazon on Thursday. I can't wait to hook it up and find out what BD is all about. I would like to thank all of you who gave me advice.

Thanks again,
Chappy

 

[dobyblue]

An excellent choice, now you can keep your current receiver and still get lossless.

 

[GZA]

I have the samsung 1500 and its been ok so far, should of went sony or pioneer but out of my range at the moment...

i also got the samsung. so far i have had no problems except i bought American gangster brand new and it skipped a few times. also im not sure how up converting works but i dont know if mines doing that great of a job at it. i picked the samsung because i had a samsung tv. im now thinking i should have gone with a sony

 

[rnatalli]

Between those two, I'd go with the Panny myself. You could also look at the Sony BDP-S350. I picked one up for $179 at Sears; K-Mart also has it for $179. I believe Target and Best Buy have it for $199.