Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater To blu-ray or not???

Make sure he has a high-speed Internet connection as it is possible you will need a firmware upgrade to start.

OR, if that is the case, you can pro-actively download the latest firmware from the manufacturer's website and burn it on a CD or a USB stick to save time.

This could avoid you some frustration on xmas!

I would generally think that if you already think you want Blu-Ray, you'll probably be pretty happy with it. However, I don't have any impressions on "other" players as I use my PS3s to run BRD and upscaled DVD content. (and also DVD audio)

Assuming you've got a good sound system (which is probably redundant posting here), here's some good starter suggestions for your Blu-Ray library (imho).

- Disney is the king of Blu-Ray. The Pixar films especially have such great PQ and sound, I can't wait to rebuy all their stuff I already had on DVD. The Pirates movies, Nightmare Before Christmas, even short bursts within Enchanted.. all fantastic demo discs to properly answer to why you bought all this stuff.

- Live Free and Die Hard (aka Die Hard 4): Also has some really outstanding demo sections that go back and forth between low level conversations and roaring explosions and gun battles. (there's a gun fight near the beginning in the kid's apartment that made me turn a netflix rental into having to have the disc.)

- Kung Fu Panda. Another pair of demo quality PQ and audio. (really fun movie too) Some great LFE shockwaves to boot.

104????? Holy shitski's

What did that set you back, around $12k???

The new Audio Formats/Codecs are far superior to the old formats(dvd). It is like night and day. The audio quality of the new codecs sent via HDMI sound awesome.

As far as the best blu-ray player. I have PS3 and it works great. I have also heard many good things about the Sony BD350 and BD550. In order to get the new codecs sent for optimal sound, you should get a receiver that can transfer via HDMI.

I don't know why you'd rule out the PS3? You said "except the PS3 (upconverting is important to me!)" well for your information the PS3 is an excellent upconverting DVD player, I've been using it quite happily for the past year.

It's still considered one of the best bluray players, and it also has some decent games too

- D

Daphoid: Thanks but I've bought the Panasonic for 2 reasons 1) I only play games on my PC 2) I need to use the 7.1 analog inputs as my receiver does not have the new audio formats ,which is why I'm getting the Panasonic 55(I have to wait a until the 19th to get it ##@%#). But thanks to all of you in giving me your opinions here it helped a great deal.

Makes sense - lack of analog outs seems to be the #1 one reason to favor something other than the PS3. Not that there aren't others, but this one is pretty definitive.

Jason

No analog outs was the #1 reason for me not to get the PS3. I went with the Sony S550 for that reason, and I was able to get it for almost $100 less than the Panasonic BD55 with a new SonyStyle.com credit card "refund". Otherwise I would have bought the Panasonic just because deep down I hate Sony for killing off HD-DVD with their marketing lies (but that is a whole other story).

Enjoy the Panny 55! Just be glad that you aren't like me, and I know many have heard this dozens of times, and that is just so you can feel my pain, and have to wait until Christmas to get the Blu-Ray player that you not only ordered about 6 weeks ago, but have had in your possession for over 5 weeks!

You're almost there Nick!