So what blu ray players are out there at the moment, that fit the following criteria:

- Great picture

- Great Analogue Audio (It goes to a good stereo amp only)

- HDMI 1.4 for future amp upgrades

- Good CD playback (Better than a £200 CD player of yester year)

- Not stupid money.

- Ideally 3D support.

Thoughts please.

Current players I've considered are:

- Panasonic BRT220

- Panasonic BRT500

- Pioneer LX55

- I even considered a dennon/marrantz, but think they're a bit too much cash.

Thoughts please.

any BDT panasonic is good and great vfm

The 220 and 500 are taking my attention at the moment to be fair, but the 320 is just ugly, with that nasty case.

I'm wondering if there is any serious analogue audio difference between the 500 and 220 for playing CD's back other than the marketing gumph about gold plated connectors (who cares).

I bought a Sony Blu-ray player not long ago and it is brilliant and when i read the reviews on the blu-ray players they said Sony and Panasonic are the best.

I'm guessing that they're the best and that it's going to be cheaper to buy a proper CD player and a lower end BD player, that's still good enough.

Time to try and get myself a view of a BDT220 then I think.

Panasonic for me but went for the 3D Blu Ray player surround sound thingy

I've had a bit more of a look around and I think there are the following options now:

- Panasonic BDT220

- Panasonic BDT320 - but I'm not sure about the look of it

- Sony 780 - Can be had fairly cheapl;y now

- Pioneer LX55

The sound has dropped slightly lower, as in sound is important for films, but for a CD player, I can get a very good stand alone for not much.

Has anyone owned any of these and if so what do you think?

Edited 10 April, 201214 yr by cheezemonkhai

I have the DMP-BDT110 from last years line up which is a lower model than you are looking at.

To my eyes and ears it works great, but I am no audiophile. I have it running via optical to a Sony surround sound system.

We bought a Panasonic blu-ray 5.1, BTT370 I think. Excellent reviews for sound and picture quality. We're really pleased with it. It's just had a software update and now has iplayer including HD. For just a stand alone player, the Sony was getting good reviews and had better 'smart' functions

I think I've now narrowed it down to just the panasonics, however I still have a bit of a Hmm moment:

These two are about the same price:

- 310

- 220

or spend another £50 and go for a 320.

Hmmm etc

Well I did indeed with a panasonic player, at a good price.

Good news is that you seem to be able to region free the new 220/320 with universal remote control

What are bluray players like for speed these days?.. when i got mine (3ish years ago) - Panasonic BD35 - loading performance was an issue.

Its not uncommon for a good 3-5 minutes loading between putting the disk in and getting to the menu screen on mine :(

What are bluray players like for speed these days?.. when i got mine (3ish years ago) - Panasonic BD35 - loading performance was an issue.

Its not uncommon for a good 3-5 minutes loading between putting the disk in and getting to the menu screen on mine :(

Hi Col,

Not noticeably slower than a DVD player for a blu-ray.

I was asked language in well under 30 seconds from putting the disk in and while it may have been 3 minutes to get the the film menu that was purely down to the anti-piracy advert that wouldn't go away.

I'd say that the newer ones are a big improvement.

If you do decide to get one, let me know and I can either point you at a place that will do an RC remote to DVD region free it, or if you're ever around my way do it for you.

Hi Col,

Not noticeably slower than a DVD player for a blu-ray.

I was asked language in well under 30 seconds from putting the disk in and while it may have been 3 minutes to get the the film menu that was purely down to the anti-piracy advert that wouldn't go away.

I'd say that the newer ones are a big improvement.

If you do decide to get one, let me know and I can either point you at a place that will do an RC remote to DVD region free it, or if you're ever around my way do it for you.

Cheers.. ill let you know. - im torn at the moment, have a hankering for a new telly (one of the new 2012 panny 3d pasmas) but that doesnt gel well with attempting to save a house deposit lol.

Which of the 2012 models are you looking at as I've seen a couple of them (GT50 and ST50).

I'm of the opinion that the panasonic plasma are on par with my old CRT for picture movement and a lack of stuttering and far superior to the LCD's that I've seen in terms of colour, especially the darker scenes.

I guess it's up to how much you want the extras. I'd say if you can find one, you can get a GT30 for about £700, so compared to £1500 for a GT50, which is only marginally better that seems a better buy.

I have the 46gt30 and the quality is excellent. You don't quite get the same vibrant picture as led, however, the motion is superb. I compared it to the top of the range Sony and it was far superior. Downside is not as good in a bright room, buzzing with a white screen (you'll hear if no sound) and higher power consumption.

Can't comment on 3d as I can't see it.

Well id probably go for a GT50 then ill have a fully THX certified setup lol..

Was originally tempted to get a GT30, however the reason they are cheap is the "green blob" problem that starts to appear after a few hundred hours usage.

At the moment ive got a 3yr old 32in Sony V5500 which is too small for the viewing distance IMHO - when im playing xbox i usually move the coffee table out the way and stick a chair right infront of the telly.

JL are doing the 50GT50 with 2 pairs of glasses and 5yr warranty for 1399 at the moment. - i can get it cheaper from a franchised Panny store, but may have issues with the warranty if i needed to invoke it.

http://www.whathifi....-plasma-problem

Might tempt you to save the cash.

From what I've heard, it's the larger ones where the issue was more common and that the issue started to subdue after a few hundred hours.

I have to say, I'm finding the recent TV's a bit of a worry from all brands, with various issues and can't say I'd be sure that the 2012 models won't have their own gremlins too :(

Edited 15 April, 201214 yr by cheezemonkhai

Well i may require the info on unlocking the BDT220 soon as i may be an owner as of tonight lol.

(As well as a Panny 50GT50 lol)

I wasnt going to pull the trigger, but have been offered a very good deal

http://www.whathifi....-plasma-problem

Might tempt you to save the cash.

From what I've heard, it's the larger ones where the issue was more common and that the issue started to subdue after a few hundred hours.

I have to say, I'm finding the recent TV's a bit of a worry from all brands, with various issues and can't say I'd be sure that the 2012 models won't have their own gremlins too :(

This is the reason i didnt get a GT30 model...

Well i may require the info on unlocking the BDT220 soon as i may be an owner as of tonight lol.

(As well as a Panny 50GT50 lol)

I wasnt going to pull the trigger, but have been offered a very good deal

I couldn't justify the GT50 cost, but will say that the GT30 screens look great, so I'd think the 50 will too.

42" is the limit on size for me, hence the looking at GT30's and other screens.

Drop me a PM when you've got it and installed and if you've a programmable remote I'll get back to you with instructions, otherwise I'm happy to do or point out the remotes to unlock.

I'll also be interested to see what you think of the sound on the 220, as it's missing the HQ sound form the 210/320, but is pretty much the same in most other ways.

Edited 16 April, 201214 yr by cheezemonkhai

I couldn't justify the GT50 cost, but will say that the GT30 screens look great, so I'd think the 50 will too.

42" is the limit on size for me, hence the looking at GT30's and other screens.

Drop me a PM when you've got it and installed and if you've a programmable remote I'll get back to you with instructions, otherwise I'm happy to do or point out the remotes to unlock.

I'll also be interested to see what you think of the sound on the 220, as it's missing the HQ sound form the 210/320, but is pretty much the same in most other ways.

Ive got a logitec harmony so "should" be able to program that to do whats required.. is the unlock for DVD or blu? - the store offered to do the DVD for free but its 80quid for the blu.

I was in a similar boat on screen size.. technically 42-46 is the sweet spot for me.. but i knew id regret if i didnt get the 50 - ill just move the sofa another foot back.. at this rate ill be sat in the kitchen.

Sound wont be an issue for me, as ill only be playing blu/dvds and the audio will be bitstreamed to the amp.. sounds like HQ sound is a gimmick anyway.

I went down to the shop last night and had a good play with the telly, and its great. The smart-tv features are very fancy.. the web browser even has flash!

The thing that sealed the deal for me, is the particular set im getting has been professionally calibrated. The image was noticeably softer and "nicer" than the uncalibrated one that was opposite.

Sounds like a good deal.

The unlock is DVD only, but from my reading, it appears that only a few Blu-Ray producers bother to enforce the regions.

There are places out there that will do a region free chip for blu-ray, but I can't say it's something I've been looking at.

As for getting the larger TV, I'd have to knock the wall through into the kitchen, so it's certainly the limit for me.

I think when I finally get a larger place, I might just stick with what I've got for day to day and a projector for films.