Panasonic to Bring New Blu-ray Player Models for Holiday Season
Posted in BD Live, Players on August 8th, 2008 by Dave
It is somewhat of a surprise to me to read of new Panasonic Blu-ray players planned for the holiday season.
It is a surprise since Panasonic is one of the few, if not the only player manufacturer to have both a Bonus View and a BD Live Blu-ray player in their line up already.
The new players, the DMP-BD35 and the DMP-BD55, both incorporate the new UniPhier processor and also incorporate a high capacity SD card slot for easy AVCHD Video and JPEG image viewing.
In addition, both models have the capability to connect to BD-Live, giving users the ability to network and download additional website content onto an SD memory card for additional entertainment enjoyment.
The DMPBD55 focuses additional attention to audio performance with the addition of 7.1 analogue outputs, audio grade components and isolation feet to reduce the effects of vibration.
That last paragraph is welcome for me, since I shunned the DMP-BD50 due to the lack of 7.1 analogue outputs - a feature my DMP-BD10 has and one that I am not planning to give up.
August 9th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
While it’s commendable that Panasonic is attempting to remain at the leading edge of Blu-ray with these new players, there’s two things that concern me: first, if I had recently bought the BD30 or the even-newer BD50, I’d be pretty upset that their manufacturer has already deemed that they should be replaced. Second, reviews of the BD50 have shown weaknesses in it’s DVD playback. I was going to update to a BD50 until I saw this. Customers who still have substantial DVD collections awaiting release on Blu-ray don’t want these discs looking worse on their new BD player, and, also, what do these video resolution issues say about the player’s over-all quality? I, for one, am waiting for Sony’s new BDP-S550, due in October.
August 9th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I am also very interested in the BDP-S550.
I do really like the BD10 though and will certainly be waiting to see what the S550 is capable of, compared to this new Panasonic player - as well as price comparisons.
It is possible that I will wait for a nice sale in the pre or post holiday season…
As noted in the post I am surprised that the BD30 and BD50 are getting replaced so soon also. Maybe there is an underlying issue in the current UniPhier chip… note that this is pure speculation!
August 12th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I had heard from a Magnolia rep that the reason no brick & mortar stores had the BD50 in stock yet, was because Panny found some problem and are trying to fix it. PERHAPS then, it is actually because the BD35 and BD55 are comming soon, and might not want to piss off too many recent buyers of the BD50.
Now as I have an Onkyo 805, I don’t need internal decoders, nor do I need 7.1 analog outputs. So what is now EXTREMELY important to me, is both BD and DVD PQ! Over on the Blu-ray.com forums, a fellow there talked about how the new Sony S350 (and the older S300) has a poor quality picture compared to the slightly older S500. And if things go the same way, then the S550 should be better than the S350 (we hope?). So, it would thus come down to which has the better PQ - the BD35 or the S550. Does anyone know what video hardware engine will be used? As mentioned above, Panny will be using the UniPhier processor once again, and if it is not improved over the problems that Glen above mentioned, then the S550 might be the better buy . . . .
August 16th, 2008 at 11:16 am
This comment is dead wrong and that Magnolia rep should be shot!
There’s never been enough BD50 to satisfy the appetite of chain B & M stores.
The BD35/55 transition is simply to keep Panasonic competitive with features and price (namely BD Live).
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I had heard from a Magnolia rep that the reason no brick & mortar stores had the BD50 in stock yet, was because Panny found some problem and are trying to fix it. PERHAPS then, it is actually because the BD35 and BD55 are comming soon, and might not want to piss off too many recent buyers of the BD50.
August 22nd, 2008 at 8:23 am
Bought the BD50. Advance info led me to believe it would have 7.1 analog outputs. I called Panasonic Blu-Ray Techs, who did not have manuals yet. They told me the 2 ch out completed the 7.1 out. I called back two weeks later and was told the previous information was incorrect. Fortunately I never hooked up the BD50 and ‘am returning it.
August 22nd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Leaving the BD50 with no 7.1 analogs was one of the strangest things.
It certainly took it out of the running for me.