Just got a Pioneer BDP-51FD player a few hours ago. Going to give it a spin tonight with The Dark Knight.

For the moment I will have to be content with 1080i and DD5.1 because my TV is an 8 year old CRT with no HDMI, just component, which according to the player docs will only go as high as 1080i, not "p".. And my pre-pro does not have HDMI either, so until I get a set of analog cables, I will have to "settle" for regular DD5.1 sound..But, there is a very high likelyhood that I will pick up a 52" Samsung LCD tv in a few weeks so that will resolve my " video " issue :-) ..

Looking forward to it.. never had any HD in the house before..

I will post my impressions of the player once I get intimate with it :-)

Stephane

You have a 1080i capable 8 year old CRT TV? I did't think that was possible.

Without an HD TV or the ability to use the new sound formats there is absolutely no advantage to have a bluray player... other than maybe a few extra bonus scenes.

Hope you get your HD TV soon or else there wont be any difference between a bluray and a dvd!

I have a 34" Sony XBR that is capable of 1080i.. having watched DVD at 480p for the last 8 years, I'm pretty sure BD will make a difference even if I don't have the new sound formats or 1080p yet.

But I agree that the full blown experience will come with the 52" inch LCD (HDMI) and once I connect the player to my pre-pro using the 7.1 analog channels.

My set is a 7 year old Toshiba RP CRT 1080i set. Your new Blu-Ray player WILL pass 1080i video in to the television thru component connections so you will see a noticeable upgrade over 480p although, theoretically, not quite as advantageous as a pure HDMI digital connection. You just have to configure the player accordingly. Where you lose out is in the new surround sound audio formats(Dolby Tru-HD, DTS Master audio etc.) that only will pass thru via HDMI connection into a compatible up-to-date receiver OR thru analog connections(if capable)from the player itself into a multiple connection input into the receiver. The latter will work if the player has internal decoding along with bitstream of the new formats. Not all BD players are created equal, so check this out before your buy.

I am waiting for my new pre-pro(Outlaw) so until then I have an older Yamaha receiver in which I have strictly a digital(coax) connection from my Panny BD 55 and component in to the monitor. Amazingly enough, I had a chance to compare a standard DVD of Ironman on my set to the Blu-ray and even though, as I mentioned previously, only have a coax input for surround sound, the down converted Dolby-Tru Hd soundtrack in to the receiver was SUPERIOR(to my ears anyway) to the standard DVD version of the same movie!
So don't worry, until you want to do an upgrade of either electronics, monitor or both, it is still a substantial upgrade even with legacy equipment.

wow, shows what I know. You guys must have been the first HD adopters... I don't think you will miss much from only being on 1080i. Enjoy your new bluray player!

Actually I consider myself a late adopter given that it's been available for years now but better late than never :-)

I will be upgrading my TV..most likely in a few weeks..but not my PrePro. Althought it does not have HDMI, it does have 7.1 analog in and the player will decode the latest formats via the analog out. I made sure of that first before buying. I just can't afford to replace my Anthem AVM-20 at this time..damm thing cost me 5K when I got..the new models are the same or higher in price..so it's going to be a LONG time before I switch that one out.. Doesn't matter, as long as I can enjoy the new audio formats in their full glory..I'm happy.

TV definitively needs an upgrade .. looking at the Samsung 7 series (touch of colour) .. I recently purchased a 24" Samsung monitor (TOC series) and I have to say I am very impressed.. was looking at their 52" tv today and wow.. for $2500 CA it is very tempting..

Cheers,
Steph

Congrats on your new BluRay Riker, enjoy the Dark Knight.

Congrats, Riker! Do you know what model Sony XBR you have? I used to have a KD-XBR960 and it still is my favorite TV. I loved the picture on it. The only reason I got rid of it was because I moved and didn't want to lug the behemoth up another flight of stairs. So, I sold it to my parents.

Yeah.

Make THEM carry it.

Hi St_PatGuy,

Mine is a 32XBR450.. so a bit older than yours I would gather. The picture quality is quite phenomenal on that set I must say.. but.. times are changing..and given that it's a 32" 4:3 ratio and maxes out at 1080i.. it's time to move it upstairs to replace my 27" Sony XBR and get into the game..

I'm seriously looking at the Samsung LN52A750 set.. 52" LCD. My friend as the 46" version and it's stunning I must say..

Sure I would love a Pio Kuro Elite..but I don't have 5K lying around for a 50" tv.. the samsung goes for $2600..that's more reasonable.

As for the Dark Night..I watched it last night on my new player.. yes, the picture is very crisp and nice etc.. but, maybe I'm the only one here who thinks that way..the movie kind of sucked.. I was bored.. it was way to long and did not feel "comic hero" enough..not that I want it to be all fun and games etc..serious is good but I don't know.. maybe I just don't like Christian Bale.. Honestly, I am sad that I purchased it.. should have been a rental..

If only CRTs weren't giant and weighty, they'd still be tops in picture quality, IMO. It's good to know, though, that when I move again I'll be able to pick up my 42" LCD myself.

Sorry to hear you didn't like the Dark Knight. We hyped it up quite a bit. No worries. Everyone has different tastes in movies. I never much cared for Christian Bale until I saw "3:10 to Yuma." Now I enjoy his work. Go fig.

I still haven't seen 3:10 to Yuma. I'll have to check it out (Russell Crowe notwithstanding), as I have also had trouble getting into Christian Bale. Despite my not really feeling him as Batman, I enjoyed Batman Begins enough on the first viewing (though less on subsequent viewings), and I enjoyed The Dark Knight a lot more thanks to the Joker being made an interesting character. I can certainly see why Christopher Nolan's style would be seen as boring. I wouldn't rank him among my favorite directors, but I thought things came together in The Dark Knight enough to justify the purchase. I just wish I'd gone for the regular edition instead of the limited edition.

Batpod sucker!

Stephane, keep in mind that as far as resolution goes, 1080i already has the max of 1080. The interlaced vs progressive scan is a different matter, but 1080p has the same resolution as a format as does 1080i.

sorry to hijack, but can you believe Eddie Murphy is going to be the Riddler in the next installment?

Where did that come from?

Forget the Riddler... Ryan Reynolds is DEADPOOL in the Wolverine film. (the silver screen needs WAY more Deadpool)

What????????? That can't be true!

Eddie Murphy in a movie that might be worth watching? That's unpossible!

Skinner: Wiggum, Ralph.
Ralph: I won! I won!
Skinner: No, sit down Ralph, you're failing English.
Ralph: Me fail English? That's unpossible!

Oh good, I was trying to figure out where I got that. That's the episode where Lisa tutors him, right?

Wow, Michael. . . .thanks.

Can anyone remember the last time Eddie Murphy was funny?

Yep... That last picture.

Very true.

I posted that in jest. I don't think it is true. The original image and story came from the british tabloid mag, The Sun.

MSNBC says the story is false. Whew!

That's a big relief, the story being untrue.

Did not really care for Batman Begins either..must be that I simply don't like Christian Bale..although, he was pretty good in American Psycho..

Watched WALL-E tonight with my daughter.. good movie, sounded great and picture was awsome..Pixar rules IMO..some of the best animated movies are Pixar..

Still to watch is the latest " The Mummy " ..

Yeah, I think any rumors about potential casting for the next Batman movie are a little premature, considering Christopher Nolan doesn't have anything concrete regarding the story. At least, last I heard.