Which hi end Blu Ray player to go for

[rajeeboy]

Now with the review of the latest Sony Blu Ray player (BDP S5000ES) I would love to know which hi end player (starting from around £600 to £1500 gives the best picture and sound. I would be delivering the sound through a Yahama DSP A1 amplified via the player's pre-outs. I am tempted by the Denon, the Sony and Pioneer efforts but it seems to be that Sony's player has the most up to date spec and it got five stars. Furthermore, on this subject, is the sound quality going to be compromised when compared to a current AV Amp with on board decoding etc.

I have a feeling that the What Hi Fi team might tell me to be patient and wait for a supertest!!

many thanks for any reply

 

[Anonymous]

Well I think the 1st thing you have to decide on is whether you want one of the latest AV Amps to do the decoding via Bitstream from the player. (the latest crop do full Bitstreaming HDMI)
Or the Player itself.

If you are going to use the Amp you don't need to spend as much money on the player.

Otherwise this Sony BDP S5000ES looks a cracking piece of kit!

 

[Anonymous]

Conclusion reached elsewhere was that the Sony was a world class product but for picture and sound alone, it was pipped by the Denon 3800 and Pioneer 91. But only just. We're talking audio and videophiles taking a half of one percent difference. For the money, and the Sony can be had for £899 from HiFi Confidential, I'd say the Sony is unbeatable. But the very best right now, irrespective of VFM is between the Denon and Pioneer. As to which is better. Everyone is arguing like crazy. Which basically means no-one knows or no-one can agree. LOL.

 

[Andrew Everard]

NAD, Marantz and Pioneer 91 all in the Blu-ray supplement free with the April issue, out early March...

 

[Clare Newsome]

...and Group Test planned in for the issue after that! (though you should get a very good steer on the top-runners from the first tests....)

 

[Anonymous]

As the Marantz is meant to be based on the Denon 3800 it'll be interesting to see how differently the Marantz tune is to the Denon. Great to have a big high end roundup though.

Is NAD bringing out a high end machine? Any news on Cyrus, Arcam, Cambridge Audio?

 

[Anonymous]

I think that my next Blu-ray Disc Player/Transport purchase will definitely be based on the next couple of issues of What Hi Fi!

I am assuming that the NAD unit that is reviewed is the new T587 model. I would be most interested in hearing what its performance is like.

Pricing of it in Australia is only AUD$100.00 cheaper than the soon-to-be-released-in-Australia Denon DVD2500BT, and it decidedly looks very plain (typical of NAD products bar the Masters Series). However, having a NAD M25 Power Amplifier, and eagerly awaiting the NAD M15HD Surround Processor/Pre-Amplifier, I would not mind having a NAD Blu-ray Disc Player.

Dan.