Panasonic DMP-BD30 (Profile 1.1, Blu-ray player )

[pchin]

Hardware Review: Panasonic DMP-BD30

Is the first Profile 1.1 Blu-ray player worth your high-def dollar? High-Def Digest reviewer Joshua Zyber puts Panasonic's DMP-BD30 player through its paces.

Hitting store shelves at an MSRP of $499.95, Panasonic's new DMP-BD30 is one of the more affordable Blu-ray players currently on the market, as well as the first to be compliant with the format's Profile 1.1 specification (more on this below). That makes for a pretty winning combination, but does it live up to its potential as a category killer?

The Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?
Each potential buyer will judge the importance of Blu-ray Profile 1.1 based on their own personal priorities. Previous Blu-ray models will continue to play all discs and traditional bonus features, so if you don't find support for interactive content all that important, this feature may not necessarily be a deal-breaker.

In any case, for the first Profile 1.1 compliant Blu-ray player, the Panasonic DMP-BD30 is a well-priced deal that offers excellent video quality on Blu-ray discs and the capability to bitstream advanced audio codecs to a compatible receiver (still a rare feature in Blu-ray players). On the other hand, it lacks the ability to decode those audio codecs internally as prior Panasonic models could, and has very poor deinterlacing and DVD upconversion quality. The BD30 isn't quite a perfect Blu-ray player, but it performs strongly in core areas and rates a worthy recommendation.

FULL REVIEW

[mr_bnw]

everything that has been said in Engadget and all the reviews about this player is true.  It really sends DTS-HD Master signals unlike the toshiba hd dvd players that only sends the core signal.  It's also a Dolby TrueHD player and damn that picture quality is top-notch i've seen.

Though there's no ethernet port like the toshiba hd dvd players, i've upgraded the firmware via DVD discs with a firmware update file on it.  It also has a 1080p via 24 frames per second, the way the film maker intended it to be shown.  Downside though, your display must be up to the challenge of receiving 1080p at 24 fps.

In short, this player is superb!

[Marl☆1]

Wow, an excellent first-hand testimonial.  Very compelling indeed - thanks mr_bnw! 

[Munskie]

judged by most as the best stand alone BD player so far........

[alvinthx2]

Now that the PS3 is profile 1.1, which is the best Blu-ray player?

[Munskie]

Now that the PS3 is profile 1.1, which is the best Blu-ray player?

hehehe, thats why I was careful not to exclude the word "stand alone".....

[Mouldingo]

Got this little toy from Amazon 






My End of the year Acquisitions...


Finally able to enjoy "Hairspray" in full 7.1 DTS HD 96 khz Master Audio 

Sidenote: This thing is not a Upconverting SD DVD player...

[streetsmart]

Finally able to enjoy "Hairspray" in full 7.1 DTS HD 96 khz Master Audio 

Are you sure you are getting a 7.1 input? That's not what the picture says. It says 5.1 input (6 bars on the left) and 7.1 output (8 bars on the right). Seems like the additional 2 channels are matrixed, not discrete.

I've never tried this myself and I understand there are very few titles with 7.1.

[Mouldingo]

Not only is 'Hairspray' New Line's first-ever high-def title, but it has also provided me with a couple of thrilling personal home theater firsts. Not only have I finally upgraded my rig to support true DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio decoding, but New Line has produced a DTS-MA track for 'Hairspray' that's a full 7.1 channels to boot. As such, I was really ready to rev up my system and take it for a kick-ass ride, and even if 'Hairspray' is not a big action flick like 'Transformers,' it delivers its own brand of musical thrills that make excellent use of the full capabilities of multichannel high-res audio.

I guess it is 7.1 since it is also written on the packaging. I cannot answer why the input is only 5.1

[Munskie]

Got this little toy from Amazon 






My End of the year Acquisitions...


Finally able to enjoy "Hairspray" in full 7.1 DTS HD 96 khz Master Audio 

Sidenote: This thing is not a Upconverting SD DVD player...

nice!!!   

[nerveblocker]

Does this have an onboard DTS-HD decoder which can be outputted thru an HDMI connection or thru 5.1 analogue connection?

[Munskie]

Does this have an onboard DTS-HD decoder which can be outputted thru an HDMI connection or thru 5.1 analogue connection?

Hi sir, it can only decode internally  DTS (up to 1.5mbps) and dolby digital.   DTS-HD and dolby trueHD outputs thru bitstream to a compatible 1.3 receiver. 

[streetsmart]

I bought this for 400 dollars in December last year. Today, the featured Amazon seller has priced it at 750 dollars and availability in a few weeks! The cheapest price in Amazon is 479. 

There used to be maybe 8 or so sellers of this. Now there are only 3.

I wonder why. 

[darkwing]

waahhh its $499 in Bestbuy @_@

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8532974&st=bd30&lp=1&type=product&cp=1&id=1186008217564

[Munskie]

simple law of economics....huge surge in demand, higher prices   maybe Toshiba can pitch in so there would be no shortage in supply in BD players......

Envisioned this kaya I got one right after the Warner announcement, got mine at $420.

[darkwing]

hmmm cheapest 1080p BD player i've seen in Amazon is the Sharp Aquos one, $348, pero highly rated talaga ang BD30 @_@ well Toshiba was subsidizing its players hoping to capture the market, and they already said they won't get into HD players na @_@

[Moks007]

This player hit 749 dollars ata in amazon this morning when I check, It could be a misprice.

[darkwing]

that's because it wasn't Amazon direct, just an affiliate, wala yata stock na sa Amazon, i think its Panny is preparing for a new price coz dadating na rin ang DMP-BD50 which is a real monster!

[Mouldingo]

Mayroon sa Listening Room sa MegaMall at mayroon din silang Sony BDP-S300. Puwede pa comparison. Superior PQ at talagang highly rated ang DMP-BD30 even compared sa PS3. Kaya parang hotcakes siya ngayon sa States. Got mine at a low US$ 406 from 6th Avenue c/o Amazon

[darkwing]

yeah its the best BD standalone player for now talaga, kaya palagi daw out of stock

[nerveblocker]

I am contemplating in buying this player.  My dilemma though is the aftersales repair considering that I am going to order this from the States and have it shipped here.  What I've read is that it is easy now to have a PS3 repaired and the lens replaced if it wears out due to heavy use. If ever this Panny Blu ray player conks out or maybe have a lens problem, where can I have this fixed?

[streetsmart]

It's cheaper today at Amazon. Only $698! 

Pero meron ding $549.

At these prices, mura na mga BD-30 ni Jeff sa Theaterworks.

[darkwing]

It's cheaper today at Amazon. Only $698! 

Pero meron ding $549.

At these prices, mura na mga BD-30 ni Jeff sa Theaterworks.

actually walang stock ang Amazon direct, its from 6ave, an Amazon seller

[Mouldingo]

Very odd price from a retailer I just bought from last year at US $ 406.98. AFAIK the retail price is US $499. Maybe the predictions of prices for BD going up after they have won the war are true...

[darkwing]

nah its still $499 in best buy, some sellers are just trying to milk it yata coz its the best selling standalone BD, and i daresay the best standalone BD player so far, beating even Sony's

[Munskie]

just updated my unit to the latest firmware 1.6, very noticeable improvement of LFE on PCM 5.1 soundtracks.....

[streetsmart]

just updated my unit to the latest firmware 1.6, very noticeable improvement of LFE on PCM 5.1 soundtracks.....

Ahh ... I did my update a month ago! With thist latest firmware, this unit is currently the top-rated dedicated BD player. Problem is that the price is skyrocketing!

[Moks007]

Bad trip nga.. waiting for this player to come down in the price level of 199 to 299. I guess thats wishful thinking at the moment.

[streetsmart]

Bad trip nga.. waiting for this player to come down in the price level of 199 to 299. I guess thats wishful thinking at the moment.

Siguro pag pumiti ang uwak! 

But I think they just have problems catching up with demand. Once manufacturing catches up, bababa rin ang presyo to maybe 400. Wait na lang a few months. Patience!   

[Munskie]

the moment Warner left HD DVD...I purchased one from Amazon......law of economics eh....