Will I notice difference with an HD ready tv??

[Pistol Pete1]

ok, I've read the latest issue of 'What hifi?', and to me it sounds like there isn't much between the Sony BDP-S350 and Panasonic DMP-BD35 blu ray players as both were given 5 stars for picture and sound.

As I have a Panasonic TH-42PX80 HD READY tv, onkyo 606 and Q Acoustics 1010i 5.1 speaker package, would I be better off buying the Sony (seen it for £208 delivered) and buy some blu ray discs with the cash I save from the price tag of the Panasonic BD35 (£300, once released next month), knowing that my set up will probably not show much difference between the two BD players?

Reason I ask is that I expect the tests for the magazine are probably done with much more expensive equipment, and no doubt a FULL HD tv. So will I really notice a difference between them on my more 'budget' set up?

Clare, Andrew, anyone ...............?

 

[Andy Clough]

You'll be more than happy with the Sony - it's an excellent player, especially at that price. It will work a treat with your set-up, and as you say, you can use the money saved over the Pana to buy some Blu-ray discs. Yes, the Pana has the slight edge over the Sony for picture quality, but then the Sony fights back with better sound with Blu-ray and CD playback.

 

[Anonymous]

the answer buy the sony or even better the ps3 games console also has build in blu ray i have also tried so many hdmi cables from 9.99 to 99.99 and i could not tell the diffrence in picture or sound quality so i bought 9.99 hdmi from argos i also have hd 1080i or 760p tv and full hd plasma in living room and cant tell much in picture between the two when playing blu ray on ps3 and samsung blu ray player or even freesat for bbc or itv hd content ----- belive me there is not much difference between full hd and hd ready plasma or lcd tv

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Thanks Andy.....I was hoping you would say that, as I've been waiting for a while to buy a player and I (and the wife!!) are keen to buy one.

I assume by your response that, in your opinion, the difference in picture quality is not worth the extra £90 price tag? Does that opinion apply to the use of hd ready tv's and/or full hd with it?

Last question, Andy. I currently run a marantz CD63 KI cd player through my onkyo 606. Sound is obviously good, especially since adding a Tacima CS 929 mains conditioner. Question is:

Is that cd player being wasted in that system? (I tend to use the cd playback in a 2.1 set up)

Would I notice the difference between the Marantz cd player and Sony Blu ray player in this particular system?

Obviously I realise I would in a dedicated hi fi system, like I used to have (Marantz PM6010 KI amp, Tannoy DC 2000 speakers) - but the wife decided it had to go!!

Andy, its over to you.........

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Andy,

One last question:

You mention that the Sony has superior sound quality over the pana for blu ray and cd playback.

I assume not for dvd playback then?

If my assumption is correct, isn't that a bit strange? If a player has better sound quality, surely it must be for all forms of playback.

What could make this player have a lesser quality of sound in just one of the three types of playback?

Reason I ask this is because I will be using this player with dvd's a lot.