3D blu ray player & surround sound amps.

[admin_exported]

I'm sorry if I'm covering old ground, but I'm looking to buy a new Blu-ray player to go with my new Tv. I've ordered a Sony 46HX903 and I am looking for the best picture and sound on a budget. The one problem I've got is my amp. Its a Denon 1909 connected to a set of Q Acoustics QAV speakers. Both of which I still like. This uses HDMI 1.3 switching, so no 3D pass through. Although I'm not totally sold on 3D, I'm looking to future proof myself as much as possible so I was looking at a 3D Blu-ray player.

Question 1. Is the new Panasonic BDT300 Blu-ray the only player with a second HDMI output, so enablling me to get HD audio with switching to analog?

Question 2. If this is the only one with two outputs, would it work OK with the Sony 3D TV?

Question 3. Is there any other options I should consider? I only have a small budget of around £500 for the moment.

The retailer who's sold me my TV is also offering me a Sony 570 Blu-ray player with 3D transmitter and four pairs of glasses for £579. Is this the best deal I'm likely to get?

 

[Anonymous]

In regards to the Panasonic BDT300, i think this is the only one on the market with twin HDMI and also it would be no problem to pair up to your Sony 3D TV if you did buy it.

 

[Anonymous]

Do any other of the big manufacturers have any plans to bring out a twin HDMI player in the near future? I'd rather not go down the analogue route. There dosen't seem to be much support for early adopters.

I'm not against mix & match, but I'd like to keep to one manufacturer just for looks.

 

[pba_target]

Jase,

Don't quote me on this, and certainly don't spend money on this basis, but it's worth having a look as to whether your receiver will throughput a 3d picture. Effectively all HDMI 1.4 adds with respect to 3d is recognition of the "3d mode signal" to tell your tv it's receiving a 3d signal. All the 3d tv's have a button to do this on the remote anyhow. I've heard various folk say that they have no problem putting the actual picture through a 1.3 setup. However, I've not tried it myself so your mileage may vary. Worth a stab if you can get hold of someone else's gear/buy with a good returns policy as it will let you have wider choice of blu ray player.

It's only rumour and gossip however, if you do try it out let us know how you get on!

John

 

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

I've read a few forums state side that followed the same idea you mentioned. Mostly relating to Denon equipment but also others. I'm not sure exactly what the difference's are between 1.3 & 1.4, but there seems to be some indication that the 1.4 speck as a much higher bandwidth that 1.3. I'm not sure how 3D is transmitted. Is it one picture with alternate frames, or two full HD streams? If it is the second, then that would follow the higher bandwidth Idea. There is also the audio return, but I don't think that necessary for 3D to work.

Thanks for the input though. I guess it just a case of suck it and see!

 

[pba_target]

Jase,

3D is transmitted afaik in exactly the same way as a normal picture, the challenge is at the far end (i.e. tv end) processing it in such a way that the 3d picture comes together. Passive 3d does side by side on simultaneous frames, which leads to a drop in quality as each frame can effectively only be half the full resolution of the set. Active 3d works by alternating frames and active shutter glasses which block a frame from one eye or the other frame by frame. That's why they require a "syncing" transmitter that communicates with the tv. The increased bandwith in hdmi 1.4 is for the next model of HD, 4k. Edit to add wikipedia (font of all knowledge) suggests that hdmi 1.3 equipment will support 3d up to 1080i, but without "3d mode" signalling to the tv