Panasonic BD30. How Does It Perform??

[Gazuk]

Has anyone got the new Panasonic BD30? and how does it perform and how easy is it to use.In some reviews ive read that it dosn't play sd dvds very well!

Anyone!

 

[Anonymous]

in the latest magazine, it won the test between the latest blu-ray players.. beating Sony, Pioneer, Samsung and Sharp.. mind you everything beat Sharp ^_^

i would say it is easy to use to an extent, as with all blu-ray players

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Gazuk"]
Has anyone got the new Panasonic BD30? and how does it perform and how easy is it to use.In some reviews ive read that it dosn't play sd dvds very well!

Anyone!
[/quote]

Fast, easy to use, as good as my Toshiba HD-DVD for up-scaling. Excellent.

 

[Minigill]

I have spent most of the days reading another forum on this player (all 29 pages..), and alot of reviews are saying this is not a good player for standard DVD. As standard is what I will be using say 80%, with Blue Ray for the other 20%, it is putting me off the player. I'll hold off rushing I think, until someone convinces me it worth taking a chance ! Plus, getting hold of one is a tad difficult !

 

[Anonymous]

Looks the best one I've seen so far bar the pioneer - better than sonys PS3 and their BDPS3000 and Sharp's offering. Pop down to your nearest panasonic shop, as they probably have it on demo.

 

[Anonymous]

yeh was wonderin about exactly the same thing. Im keen to know if its as good as the the flagship tosh hd-dvd players at scaling sd pics.

 

[Clare Newsome]

No, not as good as the flagship Toshiba HD DVD players at upscaling DVD - but then would you expect a player that costs £299/£349 (at launch) to match those that cost much more (at launch)

Let's look at it this way. In last years' Awards, in the DVD/HD player category, we gave Awards to all-rounders at each price point. The PlayStation3 got a nod at (at the time) £425, with our Product of the Year being the Marantz DV7001 at £650.

The Panasonic BD30 is better for Blu-ray and DVDs than the PlayStation, but still can't reach the upscaling heights of the pricier players like the Marantz or the high-end Tosh HD DVD players (but then neither of those are much good at Blu-ray, are they?)

If you want a cheap entry into the HD world and don't want games, the Panasonic is an excellent budget alternative to the PS3. If you're looking for more of an all-rounder, you either plump for the still-impressive but looking-pricey Pioneer Blu-ray player, or hold your fire until the new generation of BD players are released (Denon; Marantz; new Pioneers; high-end Panasonic; new Sonys...)

 

[Minigill]

Hi Clare, Thanks very much for the very imformative reply ! Its made my mind up for now..... hold fire !!!

Thanks. Gill

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Minigill"]I have spent most of the days reading another forum on this player (all 29 pages..), and alot of reviews are saying this is not a good player for standard DVD. As standard is what I will be using say 80%, with Blue Ray for the other 20%, it is putting me off the player. I'll hold off rushing I think, until someone convinces me it worth taking a chance ! Plus, getting hold of one is a tad difficult ![/quote]

I also read that forum before buying, but wasn't concerned because I was already happy with my EP35 for DVD.

After getting the BD30 I frankly haven't got a clue what they are talking about. They can go and spent £1000 on a Reon chip up-scaler if they want, but the BD30 is cheap and excellent on SD material IMO, easily on par with my EP35, I saw NO difference.

I think you are worrying over nothing, but it's your money

I strongly recommend you go to a Panny dealer with your favourite DVD for a demo, I bet you'll buy it.

 

[Anonymous]

Fine answer Clare. And you too Eddiewood. I think I will wait it out a while then and see what other trumps are lying in wait around the corner.

cheers

 

[Gazuk]

Thanks for all your replies guys! Well i decided to get the Panny BD30 and picked it up for a good price of £299 from empire direct!! Was easy to set up and the sound and picture quality in HD is excellent on my 42" Panasonic hd ready plasma and ive got to say sd dvd looks just as good as my Tosh hd-e1 all in 720p!

C,mon Mr Spielberg Lets have your films in HD!!

 

[Anonymous]

I own the Sharp BD player in question and believe me it`s much better than you may think and for 300 quid I paid I`m well happy,but my HD-EP30 does upscale better but I think most people think HDDVD players generally do.Don`t dis the Sharp,it`s an excellent machine.

 

[PJ1200]

[quote user="Eddiewood"][quote user="Minigill"]I have spent most of the days reading another forum on this player (all 29 pages..), and alot of reviews are saying this is not a good player for standard DVD. As standard is what I will be using say 80%, with Blue Ray for the other 20%, it is putting me off the player. I'll hold off rushing I think, until someone convinces me it worth taking a chance ! Plus, getting hold of one is a tad difficult ![/quote]

I also read that forum before buying, but wasn't concerned because I was already happy with my EP35 for DVD.

After getting the BD30 I frankly haven't got a clue what they are talking about. They can go and spent £1000 on a Reon chip up-scaler if they want, but the BD30 is cheap and excellent on SD material IMO, easily on par with my EP35, I saw NO difference.

I think you are worrying over nothing, but it's your money

I strongly recommend you go to a Panny dealer with your favourite DVD for a demo, I bet you'll buy it.[/quote]
A good voice of reason there! To be fair Minigill, if you can be bothered to read 29 pages of a forum then why don't you go to a Panasonic shop and demo the player and make up your own mind?
For my own 2pence worth, I have the player and I'm very impressed with it. It loads quickly, it plays BD excellent, with standard DVD looking also excellent. I don't have HD sound (as my amp doesn't cater for it - but will upgrade soon) and I'm even inpressed with normal surround sound - esp DTS. I've had it for about 3 weeks and got it quite cheap, so even more of a bargin for me!
Without a doubt new players will come out this year that will be better, but that is what happens in every aspect of this industry. You'd never buy anything if you were worried about it being beaten in 6-12 months time!

 

[Minigill]

Hi PJ1200, Everywhere I phoned local to me was out of stock last week, also couldn't get to a shop till the weekend, so with nothing better to do, I read the forums ! .... I normally like to try and find out how a machine performs before viewing as its easy to get sucked in to a HD picture and buy on impluse. Reading an excellent review seems to be one thing, but actually owning it and finding its plus points and bad ones is much more helfpul. Forums are most informative (they can have the negative effect and you purchase a different model)! Then there is the question of trying to find one which is connected to your make of TV. I was also looking at the EP35 as is was £120, but now that deal has sold out.

I will pop down and have a view the Panny, I too would not be able to take full advantage of the sound presently.
Having changed most of my system this year, that will be next years purchase !

I purchased my first HDTV when Sky HD first came out so I paid a huge premium on the price, but I had 1.1/2 years of HD viewing, so no complaints, except the TV wasn't big enough !

Thanks Gill

 

[PJ1200]

Fair points Gill. Just remember, forums are secondary sources for info though. I include my own opinions in that statement of course!! Sounds like you need to wait until Panasonic pull their fingers out and arrange a demo. Check out the machine with both BD and SD content, and make your mind up then.Good luck!

 

[timwileman]

dont know where any lives but lakes in marlow had 5 in stock and 1 on display saturday just gone...

 

[Minigill]

[quote user="PJ1200"]Fair points Gill. Just remember, forums are secondary sources for info though. I include my own opinions in that statement of course!! Sounds like you need to wait until Panasonic pull their fingers out and arrange a demo. Check out the machine with both BD and SD content, and make your mind up then.Good luck![/quote]

Hi, thanks for the comments. Is the player quiet (fan wise)? I have Sky HD which as aeveryone knows can be rather noisy at times if not all the time!

Thanks Gill

 

[PJ1200]

[quote user="Minigill"][quote user="PJ1200"]Fair points Gill. Just remember, forums are secondary sources for info though. I include my own opinions in that statement of course!! Sounds like you need to wait until Panasonic pull their fingers out and arrange a demo. Check out the machine with both BD and SD content, and make your mind up then.Good luck![/quote]

Hi, thanks for the comments. Is the player quiet (fan wise)? I have Sky HD which as aeveryone knows can be rather noisy at times if not all the time!

Thanks Gill[/quote]
In my opinion - it's a pretty quiet machine. When it boots up and loads the disc it can be a tad noisey but once it's playing - pretty quiet! If you can hear it you haven't turned your amp up high enough!

 

[Anonymous]

[quote user="Minigill"][quote user="PJ1200"]Fair points Gill. Just remember, forums are secondary sources for info though. I include my own opinions in that statement of course!! Sounds like you need to wait until Panasonic pull their fingers out and arrange a demo. Check out the machine with both BD and SD content, and make your mind up then.Good luck![/quote]

Hi, thanks for the comments. Is the player quiet (fan wise)? I have Sky HD which as aeveryone knows can be rather noisy at times if not all the time!

Thanks Gill[/quote]

I'm really sensitive to noisy equipment, it really winds me up, which is why I refuse to have a PS3! Sky+ was very annoying too! The BD30 is quiet unless you literally put your ear to it, you have no worries.