Blu-Ray Players look no more

Levi · « **on:** 6 Jul 2009, 02:06 pm »

If you are in the market for top-end Blu-Ray players, look no more. AVSForums' joerod has seen them all!

joerod Blu ray Player Comparison Ratings Summer 2009

My assumption, Joe thinks that the Pioneer 09FD ($2200 retail) is the better player against the Denon top dog DVD-A1 ($4500 retail) video wise. He is keeping the 09FD. Don't forget he is a videophile. My audiophile experience with my new Pioneer BDP-09FD is that the analog out is great! However, it will not replace your Lector, Reimyo, Esoteric, MC500, Ayre, red book cd players.

Reference Player Ratings:

Denon DVD-A1......-98
Pioneer 09FD .......-97
Sony S5000ES......-95
Denon 3800..........-94
Oppo BDP-83........-93

zybar · « **Reply #1 on:** 6 Jul 2009, 03:50 pm »

Looks like the Oppo is damn close at a fraction of the price!

I am sure glad I bought one.

I should have it later this week or early next week.

George

Levi · « **Reply #2 on:** 6 Jul 2009, 05:34 pm »

Yes. Oppo is up there with the big boys!

ctviggen · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 12:25 pm »

Quote from: zybar on 6 Jul 2009, 03:50 pm

Looks like the Oppo is damn close at a fraction of the price!

You have that right. It's about 1/4 the cost of the Pioneer.

Levi · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 03:01 pm »

The Pioneer 09FD is not that expensive. Do Not kid yourself, it is excellent in every aspect.

I used to have the Denon 3800BDCi and there is no comparison to the Pioneer. Then again, to each of its' own.

Here are the internals.

Quote from: ctviggen on 18 Jul 2009, 12:25 pm

You have that right. It's about 1/4 the cost of the Pioneer.

zybar · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 04:18 pm »

Levi,

Looking at the insides makes for some nice eye candy, but at the end of the day I could care less on what is inside. I care about what is produces "outside" and what it costs.

From the early reviews and feedback, it appears that most people feel that the Oppo is basically the equal to the Pioneer.

I received my Oppo last week but haven't yet had a chance to play with it due to the fact that I am repainting my HT and visiting Ted_b this weekend.

I am having a GTG next weekend and I can show people an A/B between the Panny and Samsung Blu-ray players and the Oppo. Unfortunately, I don't know anybody local who has the Pioneer.

George

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 04:25 pm »

Is there really a difference in picture quality between a Blu-Ray and a good DVD player? I've heard yes and no. I've never seen a Blu-Ray so I wouldn't have a clue.

Cheers
Charlie

Phil A · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 04:29 pm »

Quote from: Charles Calkins on 18 Jul 2009, 04:25 pm

Is there really a difference in picture quality between a Blu-Ray and a good DVD player? I've heard yes and no. I've never seen a Blu-Ray so I wouldn't have a clue.

Cheers
Charlie

There's a nice difference but it is also relative to the size/quality of the display and other factors such as the size of the screen and how far you sit from it. I have 3 systems with a Blu-Ray player in each.

zybar · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 04:31 pm »

Quote from: Charles Calkins on 18 Jul 2009, 04:25 pm

Is there really a difference in picture quality between a Blu-Ray and a good DVD player? I've heard yes and no. I've never seen a Blu-Ray so I wouldn't have a clue.

Cheers
Charlie

YES!!

Of course, you need to have a display that can show the differences. I am not talking about a SOTA projector or monitor, just something decent.

Equally important to me is the audio quality.

Hearing Blu-ray movies or concerts in the various lossless formats is quite the experience and a major step up from a standard DVD.

George

Kevin Haskins · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 04:35 pm »

Quote from: Charles Calkins on 18 Jul 2009, 04:25 pm

Is there really a difference in picture quality between a Blu-Ray and a good DVD player? I've heard yes and no. I've never seen a Blu-Ray so I wouldn't have a clue.

Cheers
Charlie

Yea... a lot assuming you have the right TV and the right disc. Like a lot of things, it depends on how important those small differences are.

I highly dislike rating systems like this for any evaluation. I cannot imagine having a loudspeaker judged by such a rating. It may be simple for potential customers to refer to, but it is likely meaningless data.

I'm with George, buy it based upon price, features you need, and perceived sound quality. Leave the internals to the designer.

zybar · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 04:42 pm »

Below are some tests results from hometheaterhifi.com for the new Oppo

George

zybar · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 04:44 pm »

Below are the same test results for the Pioneer.

George

Phil A · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 05:08 pm »

I've learned with expensive video and digital equipment in the past. You can pay huge premiums for very little extra performance with technology that rapidly changes.

Levi · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 05:09 pm »

Hi George,
I have lots of SD DVDs and upconvertion to 1080p is clean and it looks natural in Pioneer. It is used purely for the analog dts-HD/Dolby-HD 5.1 output. No video swiching used. This is the reason I ditched the Denon. It scored excellent in video upcovertion and NR mosquito test.

I would like to bring you the Pioneer. You just have to give me a really good reason to travel up there.

I look forward to your findings. The internal layout won't mean much as far as performance. The most important is your satisfaction regarless of others' review.

zybar · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 05:17 pm »

Quote from: Levi on 18 Jul 2009, 05:09 pm

Hi George,
I have lots of SD DVDs and upconvertion to 1080p is clean and it looks natural in Pioneer. It is used purely for the analog dts-HD/Dolby-HD 5.1 output. No video swiching used. This is the reason I ditched the Denon.

I would like to bring you the Pioneer. You just have to give me a really good reason to travel up there.

I look forward to your findings. The internal layout won't mean much as far as performance. The most important is your satisfaction regarless of others' review.

Levi,

You are always welcome to come visit.

Your reason is to hear kick ass 2 channel and HT setups.

George

TF1216 · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 05:19 pm »

Any interest in adding a PS3 into the Blu-ray showdown?

Levi · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 05:22 pm »

I agree and disagree with you. Nothing is perfect.

The 09FD proves to have excellent value to performance ratio. The most important aspect is that I am satisfied!

Quote from: Phil A on 18 Jul 2009, 05:08 pm

I've learned with expensive video and digital equipment in the past. You can pay huge premiums for very little extra performance with technology that rapidly changes.

Levi · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 05:28 pm »

Sounds good George. I'll send you email shortly.

--Levi

Kevin Haskins · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Jul 2009, 06:44 pm »

I like the analog outs. I hate most HT processors. To me, the true simplest system, with analog outputs from the source run through a simple multichannel analog volume control would be the most appealing approach.

You can use the HDMI to pass the video. You may need HDMI switching to deal with multiple sources but other than that, the simpler the better.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Jul 2009, 05:10 am »

Quote from: tf121682 on 18 Jul 2009, 05:19 pm

Any interest in adding a PS3 into the Blu-ray showdown?

Would be interesting to say the least. aa