Panasonic BDP BD60/80 or Pioneer BDP 51FD - I could use some advice

[admin_exported]

Hello,

I've been reading a lot of posts on these forums trying to find the solution to my
inability to make a decision.

I want a Blu Ray player which is multi-region for both DVD and Blu Ray. I have found a website
which supplies all the above players with this requirement. The Panasonic BD60
is priced at £400, BD80 at £500 and Pioneer 51FD at £580.

I know the basics of the BD60 and BD80 being almost identical apart from the analogue
audio outputs, which I don't need. The BD80 has a feature called High Clarity
Audio which shuts off the analogue video circuitry when not in use to give less
interference in the audio output over HDMI.

The Pioneer on the other hand doesn't have Profile 2.0, which doesn't faze me; however, I
have read lots and lots of complaints with regards to discs not playing and picture/sound
breaking up with this player - even those with newer firmware. The lack of
DTS-HD MA decoding isn't a factor either as my receiver is capable of this.

I really need some help to decide, considering the higher cost of these players
for the multi-region mod. I want the absolute best picture and sound without
sacrificing reliability and a disc lottery.

Basically is there a notable difference in picture and sound quality between these players?
I'm using a U.S PS3 at the moment - all my Blu Ray discs are Region A. My equipment is in my sig.

Any input would be massively appreciated!

 

[d4v3pum4]

Multi-region Bluray? Where?

 

[Anonymous]

Here: www.mrmdvd.com

If I am not permitted to post this, please let me know so I can remove the link.

 

[Anonymous]

Have you not noticed that all of these players are grossly over-priced?

 

[Anonymous]

CarlP:

www.mrmdvd.com

They have been advertising them for a while. I got my Pana DMP-BD55 from them. I went for multiregion DVD, but not Blu Ray, it was too much more expensive and I didn't have the same issue as you with a stock of Region A disks. They were advertising the multiregion Blu Ray version of mine before Christmas. I ordered my player and it arrived the next day all set up for multiregion DVD no problem.

You pay extra for the Blu Ray multi region as I believe it involves a hardware mod. Not sure where you would stand from a warranty perspective either.

 

[Anonymous]

I have considered the cost. That's why I really need your help to make the right decision.

I'm willing to pay the extra for the multi-region mod purely for the convenience of being able to play everything on one box. I have approx 30 Region A discs and selling them all and re-buying them again on Region B would probably cost more and be more hassle.

I'm using my Xbox 360 as a DVD player for Region 2 and my PS3 for Region 1 DVD and Region A Blu Ray - it's just a load of hassle, and not to mention, not exactly the best way to view discs on a quality and noise basis.

I want to be able to get some discs before UK release and also want to be able to pick up cheap UK Blu Ray bargains as I'm paying £18 on average for all my Blu Ray discs from PlayUSA.

 

[D.J.KRIME]

I would like to change my Denon DV3930 and PS3 to a one box solution but as of yet I have not seen a BD/DVD multiregion machine that is as good as my Denon with DVD.

The cost of the multi-region mod for BD is also very expensive making most players almost double the price of a region B machine. AFAIK the way they make it multi-region for BD is that they place another mother board inside for region A and the machine then choses which to use, hence the high prices.

 

[d4v3pum4]

I bought my last multi-region DVD player from there. I will take a look.

 

[bigboss]

The warranty certainly becomes void if a hardware modification is done to play multiregion blu-ray discs. Even their website have clearly stated this.

Mulitregion DVD is fine. Do you really need multi-region blu-ray player for blu-ray discs? Most of the blu-ray discs out there are not locked to one region. There's a website where they have mentioned which blu-ray discs are locked and which are not (can't remember the website, though).

For that kind of premium, it may actually be cheaper to buy the same discs (UK version) again, or even buy a 2nd blu-ray player from the US.

 

[Anonymous]

I am taking all these points on board and I'm now considering buying a Region B machine.

I've looked through my Blu Ray collection, and I would only need to replace about 13 films. So cost-wise, after putting my Region A's on a certain auction site, would make better sense.

The questions still stands though - Which of the two players for the best picture and sound? It would have to be a notable difference for the £100 in cost between the BD60 and Pio 51FD, seeing as the BD60 and 80 are moreless the same.

Any thoughts or hands on experience would be great!

Any What HiFi staffers able to offer any input?

 

[Andy Madden]

Hi CarlP,

the '51FD is a better all-round machine than the BD60, and in our eyes worth the extra. We haven't had a 'BD80 in for review yet so we can't really comment. We've also had two '51FDs from Pioneer and haven't had any issues with disc-loading as yet. I hope this helps.

Ta,

Andy

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Andy,

Thank you for your advice, it is very much appreciated.

 

[lee37]

i had some compatability issues with the panasonic bd35 ( which is basically the same machine as the bd 60)

certain discs would not play especially some bd-r discs.

i changed to a sony s350 and noticed virtually no difference in picture quality. sound quality on the sony seemed better.

but all my discs played fine with quicker loading times.the s350 and s360 are also very similar no diference if you bitstream your audio.

the panasonic players read divx files where the sony doesnt.

so you could get last years model at a highly reduced price now they are clearing stock for the identical new models

also read this post currently on page 2

Panasonic DMP BD35 or DMP BD60

 

[D.J.KRIME]

Depends on how you personally aproach your investment when buying a new disc, but for me a Multi-region deck for BD (as it was for DVD before) means that you are free to buy the best avalible version of the movie no mater where in the world that may originate from as not all releases of the movie are equal, if it be differing cuts of the movie or even a perticular movie has suffered at the hands of the BBFC for its UK release.

Personally I think it is nonsense that after the whole region locking of DVD failed so badly that they would bother implementing it on BD as there was no regional coding on HD-DVD, but then again what do you expect from a product developed buy the company that wants to take over the world!

 

[Alec]

D.J.KRIME:

Depends on how you personally aproach your investment when buying a new disc, but for me a Multi-region deck for BD (as it was for DVD before) means that you are free to buy the best avalible version of the movie no mater where in the world that may originate from as not all releases of the movie are equal, if it be differing cuts of the movie or even a perticular movie has suffered at the hands of the BBFC for its UK release.

Personally I think it is nonsense that after the whole region locking of DVD failed so badly that they would bother implementing it on BD as there was no regional coding on HD-DVD, but then again what do you expect from a product developed buy the company that wants to take over the world!

did it really fail that badly?

 

[Anonymous]

I took the plunge a picked up a Pioneer BDP 51FD from SevenOaks yesterday. Thanks for the advice on this thread guys.

Just waiting for my new HDMI cables now.