Not even a year after launching the DMP-BD30 and only a few months since the DMP-BD50 began to trickle out, Panasonic is already gearing up to replace both models in their Blu-ray player line with two, all new players. The DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55 both sport a host of features that should please audiophiles and videophiles alike.
At a press event in New York this week, Panasonic representatives showed off their latest players with a series of test patterns and Blu-ray demo clips that highlighted the new players' strengths. In a deinterlacing test, the BD35 bested the entry-level Sony BDP-S350 and Samsung BD-P1500 players easily. Using Panasonic's proprietary UniPhier integrated video circuitry, the BD35 deinterlaced 1080i material and passed a full resolution 1080p signal without error, where both the Sony and Samsung players failed. Panasonic's newly enhanced PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus technology helped the new Panasonic player to decode a colorburst test pattern with much finer detail than the Sony or Samsung players as well.
The new Panasonics also looked amazingly detailed and clear while playing back clips from The Golden Compass and Celine Dion: Live in Las Vegas -- A New Day. And the demo didn't sound half bad either thanks to Panasonic's new SA-BX500 receiver and SB-TP1000 home theater speaker system. The new UniPhier processor also consumes less energy, helping both models to require 20% less wattage than the models they replace making for "greener," more environmentally friendly products.
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| The Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blu-ray Player |
Both models offer full BonusView (Profile 1.1) and BD-Live (Profile 2.0) capabilities right out of the box (with the addition of an optional SD memory card for BD-Live support) and decode as well as bitstream all of the advanced audio codecs (i.e. Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution & Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus). The BD55 goes one step further by offering optimized audio components such as gold plated analogue 7.1 multichannel outputs and vibration isolating feet for superior audio performance when using the player's analog outputs and internal decoding. The BD35's analog output is two-channel only, but DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD can be internally decoded to multi-channel PCM output and transported via HDMI to a compatible A/V receiver.
Other features on both models include an SD Memory Card slot for BD-Live functionality, HDMI 1.3a, Ethernet (for BD-Live and firmware updates), full 1080/24p capability on both Blu-ray Discs and DVDs, DeepColor and x.v.color compatibility.
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| The DMP-BD55 features 7.1-channel analog audio outputs for hook-up to receivers or processors which lack HDMI inputs or on-board surround sound decoders. |
The players are currently slated to ship in October, but pricing has yet to be determined for either model.
Update: The DB55 can now be pre-ordered from Amazon.com for $399.95 including shipping (look in the right margin for "more buying choices" to see the Amazon price of $399.95):
The BD-35 is also available for pre-order for $299.95
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