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Any thoughts on the inexpensive Magnavox and Insignia BDP?

#1
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8/11/09 at 10:12pm
  • Joined: February 2000
  • Post Count: 417
I am looking for an inexpensive BDP. The model #s are Magnavox NB530MGX and the Insignia is NS-BDLIVE01. I believe they are clones of one another. Whichever is available at the low low price of $99 will be my choice. Unless you convince me otherwise.

I will be using it in my small bedroom where i watch a 32' LCD 1080i tv. Sadly, stereo only in my bedroom. I'm only interested in play back of blue ray movies. (Not really interested in other features such as wireless connectivity, etc. etc.)

Any info you can share would be greatly appreciated. I would also appreciate your thoughts if you know I would be happier spending an additional $150 on another player for my basic needs.

Thanks!
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#2
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8/11/09 at 10:37pm
  • Joined: April 1999
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Don't think they are clones.  Insignia is BD-live capable, Magnavox not.  (though BD-live nothing to write home about at this point).

If you don't care about fancy network streaming features, for < $100, they are perfectly fine IMO, especially for a smaller set.
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#3
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8/13/09 at 8:52pm
  • Joined: February 2000
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Thanks Stephen! I picked up the Insignia since I was more comfortable with the remote. Plus the off chance I might use BD Live one day. I also found four titles that I didn't mind owning AGAIN: The Dark Knight, The Princess Bride, The Fifth Element, and The Usual Suspects. The result is now I can't wait to buy a new TV! (Some sick hobby we have sometimes.) Those 240hz displays produce incredible images with Blue Ray. (I can't wait for my Netflix BR titles to come in the mail.)

I loved watching bits and pieces of everyone of these titles. (I'm still getting used to The Dark Knight switching ARs though, but I can see why it was done and accept it. lol)  I popped in few regular DVDs and they look fantastic upscaled to 1080i.

In a way I'm glad I waited to buy a BR player and saved a little scratch, but I'm also upset with my self that I waited so long to get a Blue Ray player. If you're reading this and you're on a budget, sitting on the fence regarding the switch to Blue Ray, you won't regret hopping over with either player. The switch from 480p to 1080i alone is worth every penny.
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#4
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8/13/09 at 9:20pm
  • Joined: April 1999
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Quote:
I popped in few regular DVDs and they look fantastic upscaled to 1080i.

BTW you should try the 480p/720p settings for DVD, and 720p for Blu-ray to see if they are better to you than 1080i out.  Your LCD is probably a "768p" set (no LCDs are really "1080i", that's what they *accept* not what they *display*; only CRTs actually *display* 1080i), so at 1080i you are scaling +interlacing, then the TV has to deinterlace & scale it back down.  It's probably better to just send 720p to begin with and avoid the extra interlacing/deinterlacing which is often suboptimal.

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