Pioneer Fleshes Out Blu-ray Range: Pretty But Not Cheap

[SetoTK]

With HD DVD out of the way, you’d think Blu-ray players would be flooding the marketplace but it hasn’t been the case. Pioneer though is hoping its two latest offerings will generate some consumer interest but don’t expect them to be easily affordable.

The Elite BDP-05FD and BDP-51FD BonusView Blu-ray Disc players are serious-looking players, supporting the latest version of HDMI, 1.3a, as well as 1080p/True 24 frames per second (fps) video output, Picture-in-Picture (PiP), 12-bit colour support and a 12-bit digital-to-analog converters. The players can upscale DVDs to near HD and use PureCinema Deinterlacer technology for removing annoying lines in playback.

Pioneer has included professional Wolfson Digital Audio Converters (DACs) in both players for superior audio playback and all the major sound formats are supported. These include Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS HD and DTS HD Master high resolution audio formats.

The more expensive BDP-05FD comes with a 297Mhz video processor (compared to a 108MHz one), gold-plated connection ports, capacitance touch key buttons and an aluminium front panel.

The Elite BDP-05FD and BDP-51FD BonusView players are priced at around £400 and £300 [US pricing] and scheduled for a summer release . Expect those prices to mysteriously rise to at least £500 and £400 by the time they get here.

It’s high time someone released a new, solid standalone Blu-ray player in the £150-200 price range. After all, Blu-ray player sales have dropped alarmingly in recent months - hardly the best start for the future of HD movies, now is it?

To all Blu-ray player makers: cut the crap and cut the cost. The cheapest one I've seen this week is the well-received Samsung BD-P1400 from last year, for a penny under £200 here.-Martin Lynch



Source :: Gizmodo UK rss fee

[froggyboy604]

I like the style, but the price is kind of high.

Is the picture quality way better then a up converting DVD player that upconverts DVDs to a higher resolution?

[SetoTK]

aye better resolution,

upscaling dvd's can cause pixelation, blue ray are already at that def, so don't need to alter

[Liddo Annie]

I'm waiting out XD

I mean BD is still pretty new, and I rather not convince my dad to get one until DVDs die...and my t.v. looks old

[froggyboy604]

Blu-Ray movies usually cost more, too by 10 dollers or more at futureshop.