Panasonic DMP-BD30 review/impressions

Southpaw · 11-13-2007, 11:44 AM

This is my 2nd BD player. I owned a DMP-BD10 for 9 months. The unit was absolutely flawless. Never had a problem with it. I wanted to upgrade to a 1.3 HDMI unit for HBR capability into my new Pio Elite 92TXH. In addition, early reviews mentioned improved PQ, perhaps the best PQ of all the stand alone BD players.
My display only accepts 1080i but will output 1080p. So I can't comment on 1080/24. Eventually I will get a display that will do it but for now, I have the BD player outputting 1080i
First off, DTS-HD master audio is such a revelation, it is hard to put into words. I have a DTS-HD MA sampler in both BD and HD DVD. I used the HD DVD one to test out MA out of my A35 (mentioned in my review of the A35) and the BD version was just as good. Actually it is better because the BD version also has movies such as FF and Ice Age 2. They are 3-5 minute action scenes that show you how good MA audio is.
Next I popped in Kingdom of Heaven. PQ was just as good as the BD10...didn't really notice any difference but I kind of expected that since I can only output 1080i out of the player. But the MA track is so good, it didn't really matter. I heard things in the movie I hadn't heard before. Background sound effects such as leaves rustling, swords clanging, birds, and a crackling fire I had never heard before. Not to mention the overall sound field just being more expansive and enveloping. It just felt like I was right in the middle of a circle of sound. During the first action scene where Liam Neeson and Orlando Bloom are attacked, arrows zing through the air at such an audible level, it really feels like they were coming through the living room.
Next I tried out Ratatouille...loaded in about half the time of the BD10. Java stuff flowed seamlessly. I did about half of the Cin-explore feature in the BD10 and there was about a 2 second pause in between the movie and the branching features (such as an animation briefing or deleted scene). On the BD30, I did the 2nd half of the movie in Cin-expore mode, it was about a second at the most to go back and forth between the movie and the features. Almost instant. Very nice upgrade. Now on this movie, the PQ did seem a bit sharper than the BD10. I didn't think it could get any better than when I watched the movie for the first time on the BD10, but it just seemed a tad sharper. As opposed to KoH, I did notice a slight upgrade in PQ on the BD30. A good example of this is the scene where Remy reads the will and letters in the chef's office and realizes that Linguini is Gusteau's son. The writing on the letters was just a tad blurry on the BD10. Still readable but just a slight blur. The same scene on the BD30, the words are crystal clear...no blur at all. Again, not much of a difference but when you look for it, it is there.
Next I tried out an SD DVD for upconverting review: Robocop 20th anniversary edition. Picture looked great. I would say right there with the A35. I wouldn't be disappointed playing an SD disc in either player.

So overall, I am very satisified with the upgrade right now. HBR audio is terrific and things like load times and functionality are so much better now. I can't wait to try out a 1.1 disc like Sunshine or War that will be coming out early next year.

**HTF Ads**

ErichH · 11-13-2007, 07:41 PM

Thanks - your report seems in line with the string at AVS.
MA, and the step up in load performance were expected on the 30, but I think the 10 & 10A will hold ground for some time given the limited amount of new Pre/Receivers with new audio processing and owners of the same.
The Panys continue to be a great choice for BD.

Richard Ringenbach · 11-13-2007, 09:03 PM

Jason,
Does the BD30k give you 7.1 channel surround though the HDMI output? The reason I ask is that it only gives you 5 channel analog out.

Thanks!
Richard Ringenbach

Southpaw · 11-14-2007, 09:48 AM

If the disc is encoded with it. I only have a 5.1 setup. But the Panny does support up to 7.1 via HDMI.

Dave H · 11-14-2007, 10:12 AM

I picked up the BD30 over the weekend. Previously, I was using the the PS3. My display and receiver is an ISF'd 60" Sony SXRD A3000 and Pioneer Elite 91.

The 1080/24p output of the BD30 without question exceeds the PS3. The image is slightly sharper, more detailed, and a bit better contrast. I'm not saying this difference is day and night, but is worthwhile in my opinion - so much so that I'm selling my PS3.

Michael Boyd · 11-14-2007, 08:07 PM

I am going purple with this player.

Felix Martinez · 11-15-2007, 06:50 AM

I'm happy with the player, but was quite frustrated with the default settings. I mean: the component outs were set to 480i! On a Blu-ray player! Then the "secondary audio" was set to ON, and I was wondering why I wasn't getting DTS showing up in my receiver for CE3K. I was damn near pulling my hair out until I turned that option OFF.

And CE3K still took some time to load - longer than any HD-DVD title on my measly $98 A2. Can't imagine the load time on a non-1.1 player...

Southpaw · 11-15-2007, 07:45 AM

Yeah, that secondary audio setting has frustrated many of the ones that want to bitstream their audio.
What will also be frustrating is having to go into this setting when we want to hear the PiP commentary on a 1.1 disc. It is my understanding that we won't be able to hear this "secondary audio" unless this is turned back on.

Sam Davatchi · 04-24-2008, 05:19 AM

I'm very close to get a BD30. However one thing is very important to me. To see the remaining time on TV. Could you please tell me if you can do this and if yes on pressing what buttons and how many times?

Chuck King · 04-24-2008, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Davatchi

I'm very close to get a BD30. However one thing is very important to me. To see the remaining time on TV. Could you please tell me if you can do this and if yes on pressing what buttons and how many times?

I believe the button on the remote is labeled "STATUS". You push it twice to see the remaining time.

Sam Davatchi · 04-24-2008, 01:11 PM

Thanks. I'm one step away from getting this. What's the talk about bad upconvertion? Is it really bad? How does it play DVDs in 1080i? What is the best upconverting BD player for DVDs?

TonyTone · 04-24-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck King

I believe the button on the remote is labeled "STATUS". You push it twice to see the remaining time.

Are you sure it shows "remaining" time? When I press Status twice to see the time, it displays a bar along with current/elapsed time and total time...but no remaining time figure. Then again I could be wrong about the elapsed time part...

TonyTone · 04-24-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Davatchi

Thanks. I'm one step away from getting this. What's the talk about bad upconvertion? Is it really bad? How does it play DVDs in 1080i? What is the best upconverting BD player for DVDs?

It's not that it's bad at upconverting SD DVDs...it's just that--depending on who you talk to--it's not as good when compared to say, an Oppo SD DVD player.

FWIW--I have a BD30 and a Toshiba XA2 (HD