[clockworks999]

I'm currently using a PS3 for playing BDs, but I want to move it to another room for playing games, so I'm looking for a standalone BDP.

Getting really confused by all the talk about different profiles, firmware upgrades, etc.
What do I really need to consider when buying?
I'll be using it with a Panny '81B, Arcam AVR350 and Quad L-ites.

The PS3 is currently using optical, but I suppose that the facility to use 7.1 analogue outputs might be useful in the future, as my amp doesn't do HD audio over HDMI.

Looking to spend up to £200 (street price).

[jtanunleashed]

I would recommend either the Sony BDP-S350 or Panasonic BD35, both around £175, supporting Profile 2.0, and very highly rated in all the reviews I've read (consumers and professional reviewers alike)

[tomconti]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockworks999

I'm currently using a PS3 for playing BDs, but I want to move it to another room for playing games, so I'm looking for a standalone BDP.

Getting really confused by all the talk about different profiles, firmware upgrades, etc.
What do I really need to consider when buying?
I'll be using it with a Panny '81B, Arcam AVR350 and Quad L-ites.

The PS3 is currently using optical, but I suppose that the facility to use 7.1 analogue outputs might be useful in the future, as my amp doesn't do HD audio over HDMI.

Looking to spend up to £200 (street price).

Shame you cant stretch to an extra £70 and get yourself a multiregion Panasonic player so you can forget about region coding on Bluray and also give you a device to upscale your R1 discs.

Unlikely the PS3 will ever be MR.

If MR is not a concern then go for that Panny BD35

[clockworks999]

Thanks for the replies. A couple of questions:

Does the Panny BD35 definitely do 7.1 (with bass management) through analogue outputs, as my amp only has "direct" 7.1 analogue inputs?

What's the deal with profile 1.1 and 2?

I've only got UK disks, so I don't need MR. Heard on the radio the other day that HMRC are tightening up on disk imports soon.

[tomconti]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockworks999

Thanks for the replies. A couple of questions:

Does the Panny BD35 definitely do 7.1 (with bass management) through analogue outputs, as my amp only has "direct" 7.1 analogue inputs?

What's the deal with profile 1.1 and 2?

I've only got UK disks, so I don't need MR. Heard on the radio the other day that HMRC are tightening up on disk imports soon.

HMRC can do sod all about imports as they are completely legal.

If anything the rules have been relaxed as import duty that used to be due on items over £18 is now only due on items in excess of a figure I dont recall but its more than £100.

VAT is still due but as long as the dvd is not obscene then HMRC would be breaking the law to try and stop them.

Profile 1.1 allows for Picture In Picture extras that some BD's have.

Profile 2.0 simply means the player is able to connect to BD Live to download material like trailers.

But I believe BD Live will be as significant to Bluray as multiangle was for dvd.

The players mentioned earlier are Profile 2.0 so you may aswell get one.

Profile 1.0 players do seem to have some playback problems on some discs although they are not supposed to so avoid those.

If you dont have any R1 dvd's then forget multiregion although there are some titles available in better releases than the UK and some titles that are not out in the UK at all.
From what the Panasonic website says it looks like the player can decode 7.1 but can only send it to an amp via HDMI.

Do you actually have a room that can take 8 speakers?

I have 6.1 and the rear centre is not ideally placed and I definitely dont have the design for another rear centre.

[Chris Frost]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockworks999

Thanks for the replies. A couple of questions:

Does the Panny BD35 definitely do 7.1 (with bass management) through analogue outputs, as my amp only has "direct" 7.1 analogue inputs?

What's the deal with profile 1.1 and 2?

I've only got UK disks, so I don't need MR. Heard on the radio the other day that HMRC are tightening up on disk imports soon.

The Arcam is a nice amp (I use them regularly on my installs) but, as you have realised, it has no support for HD Audio. The 7.1 input is definitely the way to go. Neither the Sony 350 or the Pana 35 are going to suit your needs though.

What you need is a BD player with a 7.1 output and that has internal decoders for Dolby True HD and DTS Master Audio. You'll make two sets of audio connections between the player and the amp. The first will be the 7.1 to 7.1, the second will be optical or digital coax depending on what the player has. A lot of folk reading this might be tempted to post "It can all be done via the 7.1." They're right, but it misses a trick or two.
[LIST][*]You'll be able to level match between BR on 7.1 and DVD on the digital input[*]The ARCAM has very good DD & DTS decoders.[*]DVD audio formats will still be automatically recognised, so fewer button presses to play DVD movies[*]If you need to play around with the channel balance for BR you can do so without screwing up the settings for DVD[*]It keeps the system simple for anyone else in the house to use. "Press DVD to hear sound from the DVD" - easy [/LIST]
Until recently there was a Panasonic machine that fit the bill perfectly, the DMP-55. It had everything you need including decoding DTS-MA (which I believe the Sony BDP-550 still can't do?). Keep your fingers crossed for a replacement soon.


Regards

Chris

[Chris Green]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockworks999

Does the Panny BD35 definitely do 7.1 (with bass management) through analogue outputs, as my amp only has "direct" 7.1 analogue inputs?

I've only got UK disks, so I don't need MR. Heard on the radio the other day that HMRC are tightening up on disk imports soon.

I've just bought a BD 35 and in general I'm very pleased with it but, no, it doesn't have a built in 7-channel decoder and no discrete 7 x phonos on the back. You have to shell out for the BD 55 to get that.

Like you, I'm not intending buying Region A Blu Ray disks, but I spent 8 quid on a 'pre-programmed' remote off e-bay to make it multi-region for ordinary DVDs as I've a good many US ones.

[clockworks999]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomconti

HMRC can do sod all about imports as they are completely legal.

If anything the rules have been relaxed as import duty that used to be due on items over £18 is now only due on items in excess of a figure I dont recall but its more than £100.

VAT is still due but as long as the dvd is not obscene then HMRC would be breaking the law to try and stop them.

Profile 1.1 allows for Picture In Picture extras that some BD's have.

Profile 2.0 simply means the player is able to connect to BD Live to download material like trailers.

But I believe BD Live will be as significant to Bluray as multiangle was for dvd.

The players mentioned earlier are Profile 2.0 so you may aswell get one.

Profile 1.0 players do seem to have some playback problems on some discs although they are not supposed to so avoid those.

If you dont have any R1 dvd's then forget multiregion although there are some titles available in better releases than the UK and some titles that are not out in the UK at all.
From what the Panasonic website says it looks like the player can decode 7.1 but can only send it to an amp via HDMI.

Do you actually have a room that can take 8 speakers?

I have 6.1 and the rear centre is not ideally placed and I definitely dont have the design for another rear centre.

The radio piece was about DVDs imported via the Channel Islands - they were talking about closing the VAT loophole. It's possible that they'll reduce the £18 limit for non-EU DVDs - there's a lot of pressure from UK retailers to do this.
The real killer would be the handling charge, collected by the courier/Post office.

I'm using 5.1 at the moment, but might go for 7.1 when I get around to converting the dining room into an AV room.

[clockworks999]

After reading the replies here, it seems like I'll have to spend a bit more to get 7.1 analogue outputs, and I don't really have a setup that can take full advantage yet.

I've decided to just buy a cheapie BDP (Samsung) for now, and get something better when I've got the AV room rebuilt - might be a couple of years, so there'll probably be something better or cheaper by then.

[paulr2006]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Frost

The Arcam is a nice amp (I use them regularly on my installs) but, as you have realised, it has no support for HD Audio. The 7.1 input is definitely the way to go. Neither the Sony 350 or the Pana 35 are going to suit your needs though.

What you need is a BD player with a 7.1 output and that has internal decoders for Dolby True HD and DTS Master Audio. You'll make two sets of audio connections between the player and the amp. The first will be the 7.1 to 7.1, the second will be optical or digital coax depending on what the player has. A lot of folk reading this might be tempted to post "It can all be done via the 7.1." They're right, but it misses a trick or two.
[LIST][*]You'll be able to level match between BR on 7.1 and DVD on the digital input[*]The ARCAM has very good DD & DTS decoders.[*]DVD audio formats will still be automatically recognised, so fewer button presses to play DVD movies[*]If you need to play around with the channel balance for BR you can do so without screwing up the settings for DVD[*]It keeps the system simple for anyone else in the house to use. "Press DVD to hear sound from the DVD" - easy [/LIST]
Until recently there was a Panasonic machine that fit the bill perfectly, the DMP-55. It had everything you need including decoding DTS-MA (which I believe the Sony BDP-550 still can't do?). Keep your fingers crossed for a replacement soon.


Regards

Chris

The Sony S550 always has done decoding of DTS -HD MA out of the box, The S350 does not.

[tomconti]

Quote:

Originally Posted by clockworks999

The radio piece was about DVDs imported via the Channel Islands - they were talking about closing the VAT loophole. It's possible that they'll reduce the £18 limit for non-EU DVDs - there's a lot of pressure from UK retailers to do this.
The real killer would be the handling charge, collected by the courier/Post office.

I'm using 5.1 at the moment, but might go for 7.1 when I get around to converting the dining room into an AV room.

As PLAY and others do not send the R1 imports from Jersey the point is moot.
PLAY's R1 discs are sent from within the EU but duty is applicable on anything over £18

They only send R2 from Jersey so can hardly be termed as imports

If they did try to price out imports then retailers would simply add duty to the price so the extortionate PO charge would not be needed as duty would be pre-paid - this is already possible when ordering from Amazon.com