Help! Faulty Pioneer BDP-320? SOLVED!

[6th.replicant]

Please advise!

Bought a Pioneer BDP-320 last Fri &, having re-read WHFS&V?'s recent review, I think my BDP-320 might be faulty...

BD playback: compared to my PS3, the 320 doesn't seem that much of an advance - colours are a wee bit richer; slightly more detail in clothing; slight improvement in contrast/blacks. However, there seems to be several instances of pic distortion. For example, slow, long panning shots & zooms are slightly jerky (ie opening shot of Dark Knight, which also shows up distinct motion blur/'ripple' in the pale-toned buildings + Morgan Freeman's spotted-ties 'flare'). During Monsters Inc, in close-up, several strands of Sulley's fur (horizontal) on shoulders intermittently 'zig-zag' & whenever he & Mike walk towards the HQ's entrance, the (horizontal) gaps in the paving stones 'flare'.

DVD playback (upscaled 1080p): 320's edges are soft, colours are muted & image seems generally flat. Compared to my old Denon 1920's upscaled 720p picture, the Pio 320's 1080p picture is poor; compared to my PS3's upscaled 1080p, the 320's 1080p is shockingly bad.

The 320 is connected to the AV amp using QED 'New Performance' HDMI-P (1.3); PS3 is connected using QED Qunex HDMI (1.2). I've done a HDMI swap - no change, apart from PS3's slightly improved pic when using QED HDMI-P.

What do you folks think - any of the above suggest a specific fault(s)? Any other Pioneer 320 owners have similar problems?

Thanks.

 

[margetti]

I haven't had the time to do any extensive AB testing, but in a nutshell my early impressions are the exact opposite of yours ie picture looks dull/flat on the PS3 compared to the 320 (on BD, haven't tried DVD yet).

Certainly sounds like something's amiss, but unsure what to suggest - others will I'm sure!

 

[Anonymous]

You have probably just not configured it properly.

 

[6th.replicant]

ValianTX:You have probably just not configured it properly.

Can you please be more specific?

Thus far, I've set the BDP-320's 'output video resolution' to 'Auto' (resolution preferred by TV) & the 'Video Adjust' is set to 'PDP' ('select this when connected to a plasma TV of another brand' [ie non-Pioneer]).

 

[margetti]

Hi, have you checked that your AV amp is outputing at 1080p (or "through")? Does the TV say it's getting a 1080p input (assuming you have the tv set to auto detect)?

Reading the description of the problem again, it does sound like the picture scaling is possibly going wrong somewhere in the chain (ie BDP-AV Amp-TV).

If you swap the PS3 and 320 over (so that the 320 is now using the HDMI input on the AV amp that the PS3 was using), does that change things at all?

 

[6th.replicant]

margetti:
Hi, have you checked that your AV amp is outputing at 1080p (or "through")? Does the TV say it's getting a 1080p input (assuming you have the tv set to auto detect)?

Reading the description of the problem again, it does sound like the picture scaling is possibly going wrong somewhere in the chain (ie BDP-AV Amp-TV).

If you swap the PS3 and 320 over (so that the 320 is now using the HDMI input on the AV amp that the PS3 was using), does that change things at all?

Thanks for reply.

TV confirms 1080p input, whether BD or DVD. Just tried swapping PS3 & 320's HDMI 1/HDMI 2 inputs to AV amp - no change.

 

[Sorreltiger]

The obvious issue which you might explore is that although your TV can handle a 1080p signal, but can only output a 768p picture. I have a Pioneer HD ready TV and send blu-ray to it at full resolution for the best picture, even though the TV downscales the image. However, I play DVDs at their native resolution (576p) and just let the TV upscale, rather than making the blu-ray player upscale only for the TV to reverse the process.

I hope you find a happy solution to your problem.

 

[6th.replicant]

Sorreltiger:
The obvious issue which you might explore is that although your TV can handle a 1080p signal, but can only output a 768p picture. I have a Pioneer HD ready TV and send blu-ray to it at full resolution for the best picture, even though the TV downscales the image. However, I play DVDs at their native resolution (576p) and just let the TV upscale, rather than making the blu-ray player upscale only for the TV to reverse the process.

I hope you find a happy solution to your problem.

Thanks for advice.

Tried as you suggested, but BDP-320's DVD picture is even worse at 576p - similar to watching TV with poor reception. BTW, when my PS3 outputs DVD at 1080p the picture is excellent (not far off PS3's BD-type quality).

 

[margetti]

I'm a bit stumped - hopefully somebody else will step in. I know it's no help to you, but I can say that I've found the 320 to be superior to the PS3 on all counts (with blu-ray), and as you have the better tv than I then I would have thought you'd have seen even more improvement.

Only other thought is to check all the various "picture improvement" settings (noise reduction et al) on the 320, av amp, and tv - I have them all switched off or on minimum as applicable. But I'm clutching at straws a bit to be honest...

There is also a firmware update (mine went from 3.3 to 3.25) but I can't say I noticed any difference to PQ as a result. If you get no further joy here it may be worth a call to the retailer for advice.

 

[6th.replicant]

Indeed, I too was hoping to find the "the 320 to be superior to the PS3 on all counts (with blu-ray)"!

My "picture improvement" settings are also set to min' or off.

Seem to recall reading on this forum that someone else also had problems with a BDP-320 - freezing + a very noisy fan? - & had to exchange.

Maybe Pioneer have some quality-control issues..?

 

[margetti]

6th.replicant: Maybe Pioneer have some quality-control issues..?

They wouldn't be the first! Although it has been said that Pioneer are positioning themselves as a "premium manufacturer", so any such issues would be imminently disappointing. I spent money on my 320 that I really shouldn't have, so I would be completely gutted if I'd had the disappointment you are having. As it is, I'm more than happy with spending what to me is a very substantial amount of money for the improvement the 320 provides me over the PS3.

Sounds like you're pretty happy you've got everything setup correctly, so back to the retailer I'd have to say... if you bought it from a local store all sorts of options to test it instore etc, if bought online, not so many such options...

 

[6th.replicant]

margetti:
6th.replicant: Maybe Pioneer have some quality-control issues..?

... I spent money on my 320 that I really shouldn't have, so I would be completely gutted if I'd had the disappointment you are having. As it is, I'm more than happy with spending what to me is a very substantial amount of money for the improvement the 320 provides me over the PS3 ...

"I spent money on my 320 that I really shouldn't have" - ditto!

Returning/exchanging unit on Fri, although retailer initially tried to cite my TV as the problem, as it's not a 1080p Full HD - cobblers!

Still, at least I can take solace in the fact that, when functioning correctly, the BDP-320 is a noticeable Blu-ray upgrade compared to a PS3. 🙂

 

[margetti]

6th.replicant:

cobblers!

Quite right! As you can see I only have a 32" hd-ready pana and I'm seeing a noticeable improvement (although not the degree of improvement I saw when comparing the 320 and PS3 on a 60" Kuro it must be said. Funny that).

But you're saying it's worse, and that just doesn't seem right. If you'd said "I see an improvement, but I don't see what the fuss is about", then I'd understand - what one person see's as a worthwhile improvement, is another person's "so what". The joys of subjectivity...

 

[margetti]

Oh, btw, the other half see's an improvement too, so if that's not scientific proof...

 

[Anonymous]

have you tried connecting the player to the tv directly? Maybe its an issue between player and amp?

 

[6th.replicant]

margetti:
6th.replicant:

cobblers!

... But you're saying it's worse, and that just doesn't seem right. If you'd said "I see an improvement, but I don't see what the fuss is about", then I'd understand - what one person see's as a worthwhile improvement, is another person's "so what". The joys of subjectivity...

It's the 1080p DVD playback that's worse, whereas BD playback shows a very, very, very slight improvement. And believe me, I've tried very hard to find significant evidence of BD-playback upgrade cos' I really WANT to see it - if I do any more PS3 vs 320 back-to-back BD & DVD comparisons ('Bourne 1' DVD; 'Matrix' BD; 'Monsters Inc' BD; 'Shoot 'Em Up' BD; 'Alien' DVD; '36' DVD; 'The Duellists' DVD) my Harmony remote will explode. (Obsessed, moi?)

margetti:
Oh, btw, the other half see's an improvement too, so if that's not scientific proof...

Well that confirms it - the ultimate seal of approval. ('Er Indoors can't see any difference 'tween 320 & PS3.)

 

[6th.replicant]

hmtb:
have you tried connecting the player to the tv directly? Maybe its an issue between player and amp?

Thanks for advice.

No, haven't tried connecting the player to the tv directly - will do. Then again, the PS3 & a Denon 1920 seem to work fine with the amp...

 

[margetti]

Changing subject slightly, and not to detract from the disappointing PQ you're experiencing, what about the sound? For me, the 320 completely, utterly, unequivicably, blows the PS3 out of the water when it comes to the audio (again, I'm talking blu-ray HD audio formats).

 

[Sliced Bread]

6th.replicant:
Seem to recall reading on this forum that someone else also had problems with a BDP-320 - freezing + a very noisy fan? - & had to exchange.

Maybe Pioneer have some quality-control issues..?

Hey 6th.replicant, that was me. Fortunately after exchanging it I now have a fully functioning unit. I don't think our problems are the same though as I find the blu ray pictures from the 320 fantastic. However it must be said that I am still of a divided opinion regarding the up scaled picture of DVDs. I'm comming from almost the same DVD player as you (Denon 1930), and with DVD's the Denon produces an excellent picture. At first I thought the 320 had a superior picture, as I put in Batman Begins which had some scenes that through the Denon / Samsung Plasma were almost unwatchable due to high levels of noise (such as when Bruce Wane is talking to some guy when he is in prison). I think now that this was simply because the Denon picked up more detail in the darker scenes which my screen struggled to cope with. The 320 didn't uncover these details and therefore the problem didn't exist to the same extent. Other films I have watched seem to have (very marginally) better colour and a (very slightly) cleaner image from the Denon, although it seems to change from film to film.
That said I have never experienced the issues you were having with Blu-ray. The picture has been so good, that I'm actually surprised my screen could display such a good image.
Maybe if you set the output resolution on the 320 to auto, then it will pick up the preferred resolution of your monitor and see if that helps.
If not, I only have two thoughts.
1) The player has been over hyped and your disapointed with the picture (although that doesn't fully explain the problems you've had with blu-ray pictures).
...or...
2) The unit is faulty.
If I was you I'd swap it out for another one, and if that disappoints take it back and get a refund.
just my opinion, for what it's worth.

 

[Anonymous]

Have you checked that it is outputting at 1080p? I know it's on auto but just check using the output resolution buttons on the remote and set it to 1080p.

 

[6th.replicant]

Tried connecting 320 direct to TV, bypassing AV amp, & no change/improvement.

The 320 is outputting at 1080p at all times, regardless of whether it's set to Auto or Manual 1080p.

Yes, have noticed improved sound. For example, the 320 has 'woken up' the previously moribund soundtrack from the Dr No BD.

Interestingly, while sampling my 'test discs', I have noticed some inconsistencies re playback quality. For example, during Dark Knight's (BD) opening shot, the 'flare'/'ripple' on the pale-toned buildings is sometimes not as pronounced, albeit always present. Also, during the opening titles of Alien - Director's Cut (remastered DVD), as the camera pans right over the Saturn-like planet, the planet's blacks have grey-toned rippling & block-like distortions (macro-blocking?); then, sometimes the blacks are solid.

I wonder, do these inconsistencies indicate a laser-tracking problem?

BTW, any chance of some input & advice from the WHF? team, please?

 

[6th.replicant]

Hmm, considering that this thread has notched up 536, & counting, 'views' quite swiftly & the BDP-320's 5-star review currently has pride of place on this site's homepage, am I alone in finding it curious that the WHFS&V? folks seem to be ignoring this thread?

 

[Anonymous]

I'm afraid I have no idea what else it could be. It is possible that the what hi fi team have seen the thread and don't know either, hence the lack of response. Your best option would be call pioneer to see what they suggest, and if they offer no solution, return it to the shop where you bought it. (and hope your next one works properly)

good luck with it. I know it's annoying things don't work as they should.

 

[Clare Newsome]

Not ignoring (or ignorant), just v,busy, with lots of team on holidays (whatever they are....), so we're concentrating on threads that've had fewer responses - you've had a lot of good advice here already!

I'm wondering whether the issue is with your TV and lack of true 24fps support. With the '70-series Panasonics, we found the PS3 bizarrely well-suited to the Pana's 3:2 pulldown, whereas other - more sophisticated - players led to judder etc. (Maybe because they're delivering more picture info than the PS3?)

Other than that, if you've exhausted every menu settiing - checking nothing's been greyed out by mistake etc - i'd ask for a second unit from your retailer, to rule out you having a duffer on the video-processing side.

 

[margetti]

I've done my first real direct comparison tests tonight at home (as opposed to an earlier in-store demo that wasn't with my tv or amp etc), using 2001: A Space Odyssey on blu-ray and DVD (the only film I have on both formats).

PQ on the 320 with blu-ray was faultless.Like wow! faultless. Makes me want to buy a bigger tv or projector to really take full advantage of the Pioneer.

Blu-ray on the PS3 was pretty good, but lost was the vibrancy and colour depth. Detail was still good and couldn't complain about the sharpness either without comparing it directly to the 320.

DVD was certainly a closer run thing, and not much in it really. But my final conclusion was the 320 was the better upsclaer, followed by the Onkyo amp and then the PS3.

That's how I saw it for what it's worth - not a very scientific test and very subjective as these things are...