Wanted: Blueray player that boots fast and AVCHD via SDHC cards

Here's three very nice blu-ray players in no particular order:

* Oppo BDP-83 ($499 USA, no deal, it's already an amazing deal). :5stars: --> This one also plays SACD, DVD Audio & HDCD discs. The VP (Video Processor) is by Anchor Bay, the ABT2010, excellent Video Processor chip (same video processing solution that's in DVDO's Edge processor that cost $700). The Audio Dacs are By Cirrus Logic; a single 8-Channel Dac for the multichannel analog output (CS4382A), and a dual channel Dac for the 2-Channel Stereo output (CS4398). It also has two USB ports (one in the front, and one in the rear). The BDP-83 can play a wide range of media files from the USB drive, including AVCHD and MKV files recorded onto discs or USB media. Oppo does offer a wireless system that you can purchase separately for $80. It's preconfigured for the player and creates a wireless bridge with your home router if you'd rather forgo the hard-wired Ethernet route. The player comes with the "Spears & Munsil High Definition Benchmark" Blu-ray Disc (included for free).
It has a Source Direct mode, that bypasses all the player's video processing, if you so wish. It is quick to load & navigate. It is a very reliable player, and is fully supported by the excellent customer service from Oppo (firmware updates, etc.).'The BDP-83 is a reference video and audio transport regardless of the format you throw at it.'
'And it's truly the most complete package of a Blu-ray player.'
* http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-83/blu-ray-BDP-83-Review.aspx

* Panasonic DMP-BD80 (good street price, below $249 USA). :5stars: --> This one has an SD card slot for AVCHD and JPEG Images. The new Uniphier Processor combines Digital Audio & Video processing. And with P4HD (for Pixel Precision Progressive Processing). Also has the new PHL Reference Chroma Processor (Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory). And new AVCHD playback on SD and DVD media. And you can even have Transitions and Music with your Slide Show. The Audio Dac is by Texas Instruments; the Burr-Brown, B-B PCM-1681, a single 8-Channel D/A Convertor (DAC). It also utilises good quality capacitors by Enna & Rubycon. Good loading time & navigation.

* Samsung BD-P2550 (good street price, below $199 USA). :5stars: --> This one has Pandora personalized Internet radio. It has the great HQV Reon-VX SXVX-50 Silicon Optix VP (Video Processor). The Audio Dac is the ESS Sabre32 Premier, a single 8-Channel Dac (ESS9006), great Dac. It also has Netflix HD movie streaming. And it plays AVCHD discs. Loads quite fast too.

))) Anyone of these three would do you good in your particular situation. :T But the Panny DMP-BD80 scores more in your favor, for its capability to play AVCHD through its SD card slot.
And they have all decoders for the new high res. audio codecs, that can be output through the multichannel analog audio outputs. And they all have a good analog section with good Dacs, for a great multichannel audio sound.

---> Just check in their respective web site for specs & features, and Google them for rave reviews.

Cheers,
Bob

Blktre said:

I think you can add the LG BD390 into the fray.

Profile 2, it adds Wifi (Ive read about connection issues using Wifi, but the LAN would be fine) Netflix, excellent picture quality, and fast load times. Under $300.00.

What i don't know is what chip it uses....Lord may be able to figure this out.....

Click to expand...

Lol, you're right, I could have add the LG BD390. Nice looking player, lots of streaming stuff, great picture, etc...

* But I wanted to stick with only three that I consider the best performing and best value overall. :bigsmile:
(And they are all Profile 2.0, of course.)

** As for the Dacs in the 390, dunno, is that really important? :bigsmile: But I can find out if you really insist. :bigsmile:

P.S. I did some research, and I cannot even find out what is the video processor (VP) in it!
The audio Dac, not sure, but I think it's an ESS Sabre32 Premier Dac (a single 8-channel Dac).
~ But the LD BD390 has Wi-Fi Connectivity (wireless), NetCast Entertainment, Streaming of CinemaNow, Netflix and YouTube.
It has a USB port on front. It is very fast in response.
Audioholics has a review on it, and the video score is 86 (out of a possible 130).
Also, PC Mag has a review on it, with so so video score (BD & DVD).

--> Now, LG seems to be very secretive about it's Video Processor and Audio Dac(s). Wonder why?
But, this player is all about features; Wireless (Wi-Fi) & Streaming various sources. Plus it looks nice.

patchesj said:

How do the players mentioned handle downconversion of lossless surround formats to DD? In my case I'm running with no HDMI (keeping video direct to 1080p projector) and no 5.1 or 7.1 direct inputs on the pre/pro (for now). So I'm going to be listening to everything in DD 5.1 anyway... I would like to have a player with excellent 2 channel playback as this will also be my primary music disc player.

Sorry if this is a hijack... I'm not familiar with your receiver figure you might be in the same boat as me..

Thanks

Click to expand...

Hi,

It is quite sad that your Pre/Pro does not even include Multichanel analog inputs, it must be quite old... (1996 or before era).

All the players mentioned above handle the lossless audio resolutions by downconverting them just fine into DD or DTS. You can even choose one of these appropriate audio soundtracks from the disc audio menu, depending if it's DD or DTS that is offered on the particular disc title.
Just set the player to 'Bitstream' from its digital Audio Menu Setup, that's all.

Now, you don't need any of these players, because they all include Multichannel analog outputs, which you cannot make good use at this present moment. And besides, HDMI Version 1.3 is all you really need in your next Pre/Pro.
* Hint: check Onkyo offerings. They are the very best value in Pre/Pros.

So, in your case, as of now and also for the future, I recommend the Panasonic DMP-BD60, which will cost you about $100 by Christmas time. I think that now it is approximatively $125, with perhaps a free Blu-ray disc ('UP') included in the package deal (check at Amazon). Last weekend, it was $135, with three free Blu-ray titles: 'Cars', 'Monsters Inc.', and 'UP'. A simply amazing deal!
And the Panasonic DMP-BD60 would do just fine in your actual setup at outputting DD or DTS from it's digital Optical output in 5.1-channel surround sound. And also from this digital Optical output connection to your actual Pre/Pro, you'll be able to enjoy 2-channel Stereo sound. The Dacs in your Pre/Pro will take care of the sound quality.

And eventually, when you upgrade your Pre/Pro to one that has HDMI (v.1.3), with internal decoders for the newer high resolution audio codecs (DD TrueHD & DTS HD MA), you'll be able to enjoy the full benefit of these newer audio codecs from the Panny BD60's HDMI output, in all their glorious glory.
* I highly recommmend that you upgrade your actual Pre/Pro with a newer one or a newer Receiver with HDMI version 1.3, that includes all the newest audio decoders.

Hope this helps, Cheers,
Bob

I learned that merely changing the file suffix from .mts to .mkv allows the LG BD390 to play these video files. A very helpful and savvy owner/user from another forum sent the solution along, and it worked! There is no need even to convert the files and they played back very nicely on the BD 390 via my flash drive. Mkv (or Matroska) is a container or envelope that plays back AVCHD/H.264 and other file formats, and apparently is very high quality. The play back on my BD390 was virtually jitter free -- unlike the noticeably jumpy files I had been viewing on DVDs after pricey programs such as Roxio Creator 9 down-converted the .mts files to much smalller mpg files.

LG's consumer help desk did not know about this. After passing this along to LG as a courtesy to other owners and potential purchasers of the BD 390, I received an email back reporting that LG's engineers did know this, but was still testing this fix and so had not told the help desk staff (Not sure why further testing is needed.)

The LG BD390 is a terrific and affordable Blu-ray player. The USB/flash drive play back of .mts files was my only challenge, and now that appears to have an easy solution.