My pal ARMZ: BD is tough to crack, the format is still on its sophomore lifestage hence very few techheads is taking the trouble to literally DEMOLISH the Regional barrier. Hence napilitan ako na gumamit ng separate units for Region A and B. For A's, my savings were almost wiped out getting the Panasonic BD35, then the LG 570 (from Anya here), then the Samsung 6900 (from an auction site, a refurbished model thats slightly used). For B's, a Momitsu 799 and Sherwood 5004(both from Anya too). The last two models are certifiably switchable to Regions A & B, but setting it at B and then reverting to A or vice-versa - is not that child's-play easy to do. Thats why I made them as permanent B player.
I'll share for you my terse Picture evaluation for each - both for BD and DVD resolution - which still greatly matters to me. To my standard the Samsung gives the most cinematic picture due to its creamy-smooth resolution and well-saturated colors - but buyers beware, its playback is not 100% reliable. It gives to an irritating extent some weird, unpredictable behavior. However, DVD performance is very good, a rarity for 99% of BD players to be found in the Philippine market, where DVD Scaling are all stinkers. I'd rate it with the grade of 85 with the HQV Realta/DVDO-equipped Denon 5910 as the pinnacle 98%.
Next from Samsung is the LG 570, this is the best unit for me in terms of playback reliability, overall Picture Resolution and for its Shadow Detail. Its like one could make out more details and nuances from the LG, and retaining the cinematic "grain" of the film at hand. DVD is inferior, unsatisfying.
The Panasonic BD35 has outgrown its prestige which is crowned on it way back in 2008. It still gives a satisfying Picture mainly for the eyes of first-time users, but when compared side by side with the current Samsungs or LGs, the BD35 could not extract as much detail and color-saturation, and it is choosy (will show the Menu for an all-Regioner BD from, say Australia or Germany, but will not present the contents - thats the crazed symptom of this model). DVD playback is inferior, more of an afterthought.
For a universal BD unit, nothing would beat the Momitsu, it'll accept anything as long as you could revert back and forth the various Regions with a hack code. But the Picture has a too-high Contrast texture, its razor-sharp indeed and glowingly so, but I find that quality as LCD-oriented, meaning highly digital-looking. DVD "competitively" performs, I'll give it a grade of 79. Gives a satisfying picture that only the most demanding Video perfectionist would complain about.
The Sherwood has a dull color palette, has a "harsh" Picture texture, and is the most quirky amongst our units. It will waste your time for as much as 30 minutes trying to play Region B's, for it has inferior cognition of Region B's. Unit is very flimsy, is not made for through-thick & thin durability. Its Navigation system is uncannily similar to that of the photos posted here for the CD-R King BD player (chances are both models were subcontracted from the same Chinese manufacturer, using a Mediatek-based BD assembly). DVD is inferior through & through.
