Sony BDP-S350 vs Panasonic DMP-BD35

[admin_exported]

I'm just about to take the plunge and buy my first blu ray player - very excited. However, the model I had my eye on, the much acclaimed Panasonic DMP-BD35, as far as I can tell, doesn't boast a coaxial digital output which, for the time being at least, is the best method I have of connecting to my now rather old Yamaha amp. The additional cost of buying a suitable optical cable ( the Chord Optichord at a 2m length - perhaps) means it's going to set me back £350 before I can start watching anything. I can also buy the also much loved Sony BDP-S350 for only £200 which will accept my coaxial, so my question is this:

Is the difference between the Panasonic and the Sony worth spending the extra £100 - £150, or should I spend this money on lots of lovely blu rays?

I want to get this right first time, so please, opinions and reviews would be much appreciated.

Thank you

 

[Andy Clough]

Hi Peter

I think you'll be fine with the Sony. It's still an excellent, five-star player and at £200 or so an absolute steal. If you can live without onboard decoding for DTS-HD Master Audio I'd go for that, and spend the rest of your cash on more Blu-ray discs.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the advice, Andy. With a new blu ray and and a LCD, I've even surprised myself with the amount of money I can lay my hands on to spend on life's 'little essentials'. When, and it may be a long when, I come to replace my amp, if buy one that can handle DTS-HD Master Audio, that should solve that problem. But for the time being, I've always found regular DTS pretty good, so combined with Blu Ray quality images, I'll be a happy bunny for a long time.

Peter

 

[Gerrardasnails]

peter.01:
Thank you for the advice, Andy. With a new blu ray and and a LCD, I've even surprised myself with the amount of money I can lay my hands on to spend on life's 'little essentials'. When, and it may be a long when, I come to replace my amp, if buy one that can handle DTS-HD Master Audio, that should solve that problem. But for the time being, I've always found regular DTS pretty good, so combined with Blu Ray quality images, I'll be a happy bunny for a long time.

Peter

Sorry to add more confusion but you could get the bigger Sony (I'm waiting for mine to be delivered). I'm sure it has multi channel (and onboard decoding of every HD codec bar one?) out so you could connect your older amp to it via analogue cables and get HD audio. Just a thought - Stone Audio £295.