Best blu ray player under £1000 using analogue outs?

[gregvet]

I haven't watched a blu ray for a couple of months (goes in fits and starts!), and when I went to put one on last night, it looks like my pioneer blu ray player has bitten the dust

|(

So, whats the best sounding player on the market right now, over analogue outs (as its feeding an arcam av9 which doesn't accept audio over hdmi).

Needs to cost less than £1000, ad it's primarily blu ray audio I am worried about, specifically using the analogue outs. If it can okay SACDs/DVDA too all the better

I'm thinking one of the marantz universal players, what would you go for?

 

[John Duncan]

Well there's mine or the cheaper 651, or their Oppo equivalents or the Marantzes. There's bound to be a Denon. There are some rather cheap Samsungs and Panasonics with a full set of analogue outs but I'd have to dig for the model numbers.

 

[gregvet]

I know there are lots of models with analogue outs John. I want to know which ones sound the best when using them :doh:

The reason I am asking is because I bought the pioneer because I hoped it would be good for analogue out, however in my experience it is very fiddly to set up properly when using it via analogue outs, and the quality is not that good. Theoretically it should/could sound better using the analogue outs when decoding Dolby true hd/ dts hs internally, than feeding my arcam av9 the standard Dolby/dts audio via optical lead, but in fact there is very little in it. This was dissapointing, and so I would like to avoid being disappointed a second time.

Demoing multiple blu ray players via analogue out isn't that simple, as they need to be setup manually and most places that allow demos aren't to keen on setting them up like this, in my opinion. Very few places have multiple models with analogue outs anyway, so I am likely to end up buying blind.

Does anyone have a player that they use the analogue outs with, and are happy with the performance?

 

[John Duncan]

Well I have moved from six channel analogue out back to stereo for expedience' sake (ie to stop Mrs JD killing me), but I had it set up for a while as a 4.0 into a Yamaha receiver, and it sounded very good indeed. Is that more helpful?

 

[pioneer7]

Hi gregvet

This is a really excellent player as you can see JD has one, and this is going to be my choice brilliant Blu-ray but it is with music it really shines Ritcher sounds are the dealer that sells this model.

Here is a link to the review

http://www.whathifi.com/review/cambridge-audio-azur-751bd

 

[gregvet]

Well I have moved from six channel analogue out back to stereo for expedience' sake (ie to stop Mrs JD killing me), but I had it set up for a while as a 4.0 into a Yamaha receiver, and it sounded very good indeed. Is that more helpful?

Yes John it is. Thanks, and sorry if I sounded ungrateful

 

[Clare Newsome]

Another vote for the Cambridge Audio 751BD here..... I recently moved from an older Pioneer (LX52) to the 751BD and it was a real step up in performance. Not to mention that it's the fastest Blu-ray disc-loader in town!

 

[pioneer7]

Well Hello Clare..

How are things with you all well I hope.....

 

[Clare Newsome]

Very well indeed, thank you - insanely busy

 

[pioneer7]

Gegvet

If you can try to audition the players you have stated, the Denon is very good as is the Marantz, Picture wise there is not much between all three if anything However the Cambridge Audio with music just sealed it for me it sounded very organic[if you know what i mean] by that I mean natural not processed, clean, dynamic and pin sharp with each note, a really nice sounding bit of kit I ran the Pink Floyd Wish you were here SACD and goodness me I was gobsmacked how on earth this old album has been remixed to sound like this does, so as I say if you can try an audition on the 3 you have short listed if you can not you can buy the C/A with confidence.

Good luck

 

[v1c]

If you can wait just a bit longer i would wait and see if Arcam have learnt from the BDP100 debarcale with the launch of the New BDP300 (mid June ish) i'm thinking if they get it right this time ie NO BUGS it will be awesome. For some reason i'm desperate for them to deliver the goods this time..... if it works and is bug free i'll have the upgrade bug again :doh:

 

[michael hoy]

Another option is the OPPO 95, very well built with excellent support from dealers and manufacturer.

Excellent picture quality and sound for BD.

Tested multichannel analogue and sounds superb, although I am just running 2 channel analogue at the moment until I purchase the interconnects.

Streams flac files from my NAS with no problems, wireless streaming is solid as well.

 

[gregvet]

If you can wait just a bit longer i would wait and see if Arcam have learnt from the BDP100 debarcale with the launch of the New BDP300 (mid June ish)

Is this confirmed? Haven't read anything about it. Will it have analogue outs, and will it be a universal player?

 

[gregvet]

Another vote for the Cambridge Audio 751BD here..... I recently moved from an older Pioneer (LX52) to the 751BD and it was a real step up in performance. Not to mention that it's the fastest Blu-ray disc-loader in town!

Sounds like the Cambridge audio could be a popular choice! Will have a look at it.

 

[Dan Turner]

Another vote for the CA 751BD here!

 

[v1c]

If you can wait just a bit longer i would wait and see if Arcam have learnt from the BDP100 debarcale with the launch of the New BDP300 (mid June ish)

Is this confirmed? Haven't read anything about it. Will it have analogue outs, and will it be a universal player?

Have a look for yourself here

 

[gregvet]

If you can wait just a bit longer i would wait and see if Arcam have learnt from the BDP100 debarcale with the launch of the New BDP300 (mid June ish)

Is this confirmed? Haven't read anything about it. Will it have analogue outs, and will it be a universal player?

Have a look for yourself here

Doesnt have multichannel analogue outs, so no good to me sorry

 

[v1c]

Yeah i see that now think i just got bit carried away with seeing it and didn't really pay much attention to detail sorry.

 

[sta99y]

Had a samsung with multi-c outs, horrendous sound, crossover in BD didnt work so speakers rattled to bits, moved to CA650BD and never looked back!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bigboss]

I have demoed the Oppo 95 & it is a brilliant player. It does carry some very strong reputation.

 

[gregvet]

I have demoed the Oppo 95 & it is a brilliant player. It does carry some very strong reputation.

Yes it does look good. What have you compared it it to?

 

[psurquhart]

Dont forget the new Panasonic dmp-bdt500.

That ticks all your boxes and its considerably cheaper than all the others mentioned above.

Seriously nice bit of kit and a bargain imo - can be had for just above the £250 if you hunt around.

JUST WISH WHAT HI FI WOULD DO A REVIEW.

 

[Clare Newsome]

I've reviewed the Panasonic DMP-BDT500 and think it's an excellent machine - great picture, upscaling, sound and file support. But I also tested it side by side with the Cambridge Audio 751BD, and the latter is a performance step up again - as it should be at that price!

The Panasonic offers awesome value for money, but if you want better performance - and universal disc support - the CA and others do offer it, at a premium...

 

[Andy Clough]

As luck would have it, full review of the Panasonic DMP-BDT500 in the July issue, on sale this Friday

 

[bigboss]

I have demoed the Oppo 95 & it is a brilliant player. It does carry some very strong reputation.

Yes it does look good. What have you compared it it to?

I haven't done a side by side comparison, but I was left impressed by its audio capabilities.