Panasonic DMP-BD35K 1080p Blu-ray Player Review
UPDATE: Since writing this review, I have discovered that when the Blu-Ray player is connected via HDMI, there is apparently a hand-shaking problem issue that causes our LG Plasma TV to repeatedly "power-cycle" (shut down and then come back on). After reading several internet forums, I learned that this is a fairly common problem with HDMI cables and Blu-Ray players). We have gone back to using Monster Z300SV-8M Ultra High Resolution S-Video Cable (8 meters)and this has fixed the problem with no apparent degradation in picture.
My husband is the expert on video components and technology and as a result, he makes most of the decisions about what types of equipment to purchase. When we upgraded to an Mitsubishi LT-46149 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV with Integrated Sound Projector upstairs and a LG 60PS80 60-Inch 1080p Broadband Plasma HDTV downstairs this year, he researched BluRay players and based on the specs, this one was among the best. At first, I wasn't even sure we needed to upgrade our DVD player -- seemed like the old one was pretty clear -- especially with the new TVs.
Then we purchased this and popped in "Cars" -- the only Blu-Ray disk that we had and which was given to us. I was blown away by the difference in color and clarity associated with the Blu-Ray player and disk over our regular DVD player. One of my favorite movies is Seabiscuit which has beautiful cinematography (particularly the scene in upstate NY in the fall where Seabiscuit goes galloping through the woods). While the scene has always been my favorite, it now becomes a work of art in Blu-Ray.
I confess that I also love dance movies and these also come alive like never before on Blu-Ray. Again, I was skeptical about the upgrade but having this player has made me fall in love with my favorite movies all over again... now I just have to go out and spend a small fortune replacing my DVD library to take full-advantage of the picture and technology. Oh well...
Panasonic DMP-BD35K 1080p Blu-ray Player Feature
- Blu-ray Disc Player
- BD Live Enabled
- VIERA Link: Operate with your VIERA Remote Control
- SD Card Slot
Panasonic DMP-BD35K 1080p Blu-ray Player Overview
PRODUCT FEATURES:Blu-ray Disc player with PHL referenceChroma Processor Plus7.1ch lossless decode and analog outputBD-LiveVIERA linkSD card slot
Panasonic DMP-BD35K 1080p Blu-ray Player Specifications
Amazon.com Product Description Panasonic's two new slim, BD-Live compatible, feature-filled Blu-ray players, the DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55, offer cutting edge technologies focused on producing the ultimate movie-viewing experience.
The BD35 and BD55 both feature an HD Audio Decoder (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTSTM-HD Master Audio Essential), delivering 7.1-channel surround sound through a 7.1-channel receiver equipped with an HDMI terminal. The DMP-BD55 features high-end audio components and can also output analog signals for 7.1-channel sound, so even receivers that are not compatible with HDMI can produce the newest 7.1-channel surround sound.
Both models are equipped with an SD Memory Card slot that makes it easy to transfer images from an HD camcorder or digital still camera that uses SD Memory Cards and are compatible with Panasonic’s VIERA Link function so they can be operated by the VIERA HDTV remote control.
The combination of a Panasonic Blu-ray player, Home Theater audio system and a VIERA HDTV converts the home entertainment experience into a true-to-life cinematic experience. Consumers can now view and enjoy movies the way the film maker intended -- in stunning High Definition video and audio – right from the comfort of their own home.
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True-To-Life Colors with PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus
The PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus video processor was developed after more than 15 years of collaboration between Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory and professional cinema studios in Hollywood. With PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus, users viewing content on Blu-ray Discs enjoy crisp, vivid colors that are extremely close to the original. A high-precision 4:4:4 function creates video signals in which each pixel of the signal from the Blu-ray Disc is color-compensated, so when the player is connected to a Panasonic VIERA HDTV, the colors are even sharper and more vivid.
UniPhier System
UniPhier is a Panasonic-created system LSI developed by applying 45-nanometer processing to a consumer product – a world’s first. This single-chip integration technology also contributes greatly to the BD35’s world's slimmest height of 49mm.
Blu-ray Video Features
More Picture
 See Everything Your HDTV Can Show You with Full HD.
6 Times the Picture Data on DVDs
See everything your HDTV can show you. Blu-ray Disc's Full HD 1080p resolution produces over 2 million pixels per frame to produce a razor-sharp picture with unmatched depth and clarity that takes full advantage of the capabilities of today's 1080p HDTVs. That's six times the picture data contained on DVDs, which are encoded at only 480p. 24p True Cinema Video Output
Most of all Hollywood movies are shot at 24 frames per second, and Blu-ray Disc movies are mastered at 24 frame per second. Blu-ray Disc Players can output films at 1080/24p for a true film-like experience at home, as well as 1080/60p for more traditional HDTV sets on the market.
Backwards compatible and Upscaling
All existing Blu-ray Disc players will play your standard DVD collection without a problem. And with built-in 1080p video upscaling, they'll look even better. |
More Space| Blu-ray Disc has 5x more storage capacity than DVD, which allows more content to fit on the disc. The extra storage capacity also means more room for special features like inline navigation, Bonus View, interactive games, deleted scenes, director commentary and more |
Navigate to special features, other scenes, or settings without leaving the content you are watching.
| Bonus View lets you watch special features and commentary inline without leaving the movie.
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More Bits
 In the digital world, picture quality is not just about resolution, but also about bit rates. The higher the bit rate, the more data that is processed, typically resulting in higher video quality. DVDs have a maximum video bit rate of about 10 megabits per second (Mbps). In comparison, Blu-ray Disc is capable of video bitrates up to an incredible 40 Mbps. The bottom line, higher bit rates allow for the least amount of data compression for HD video that looks closest to the original video source.
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BD-Live
 Both the BD35 and BD55 feature BD-Live compatibility which enables users to connect to the Internet to download images, subtitles and other data, and take part in interactive activities and multi-player games linked to bonus cinema content found on Blu-ray Discs.
BD-Live is a Blu-ray feature that enables you to access special content via an internet-connected Blu-ray player. Because it's not coded into the disc, BD-Live content is always updated, always fresh. With BD-Live, your Blu-ray disc is different every time you view it.
Check out the latest previews, download special scenes, exclusive features and ringtones, and participate in online communities or games.
As BD-Live continues to grow and expand, even more features will become available, customizing features and content to your location or preferences.
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Life-Like Surround Sound
The BD35 and BD55 both feature an HD Audio Decoder (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTSTM-HD Master Audio Essential), which supports the 7.1-channel surround sound newly adopted in Blu-ray Discs. Users can enjoy 7.1-channel surround even with systems that do not support HD Audio -- as long as the DMP-BD35/55 is connected to a 7.1-channel receiver equipped with an HDMI terminal. The DMP-BD55 can also output analog signals for 7.1-channel sound, so even receivers that are not compatible with HDMI can produce the newest 7.1-channel surround sound by simply connecting to the DMP-BD55.
Dolby TrueHD, Dolby’s next-generation lossless technology developed for high-definition disc-based media, delivers tantalizing sound that is bit-for-bit identical to the studio master.
- Delivers enthralling studio-master-quality sound that unlocks the true high-definition entertainment experience on next-generation discs.
- Offers more discrete channels than ever before for impeccable surround sound.
- Compatible with the A/V receivers and home-theaters-in-a-box (HTIBs) of today and tomorrow.
- Dialogue normalization maintains the same volume level when you change to other Dolby Digital and Dolby TrueHD programming.
- Dynamic range control (Night mode) enables you to customize audio playback to reduce peak volume levels (no loud surprises) while experiencing all the details in the soundtrack, enabling late-night viewing of high-energy surround sound without disturbing others.
The Panasonic BD55 goes a step further with a high-end audio design and components. Thanks to a 192kHz 24bit audio digital-analog converter and high quality insulators, electrolytic capacitors, copper-foil film capacitors and ultra-low-impedance electrolytic capacitors, the DMP-BD55 delivers the same kind of exciting surround effect and lifelike ambience as today's finest cinemas. The DMP-BD55 can also output analog signals for 7.1-channel sound, so even receivers that are not compatible with HDMI can produce the newest 7.1-channel surround sound by simply connecting to the DMP-BD55.
HDMI Features
x.v Color
RGB Color Range
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xvYCC Color Range
| Standard RGB color space allows the display of a portion of the colors that are viewable to the human eye. The next generation "xvYCC" color space (Extended YCC Colorimetry for Video Applications), or "x.v. color" for shortactually offers an available range of colors that exceeds what human eyes can recognize. - Next-generation "xvYCC" color space supports 1.8 times as many colors as existing HDTV signals
- Lets HDTVs display colors more accurately
- Enables displays with more natural and vivid colors
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Deep Color | So, where x.v. color expands the available range of colors your HDTV can display, Deep Color increases the number of colors your HDTV can display within that range, for smoother transitions from color to color.
- Lets HDTVs and other displays go from millions of colors to billions of colors
- Eliminates on-screen color banding, for smooth tonal transitions and subtle gradations between colors
- Enables increased contrast ratio
- Can represent many times more shades of gray between black and white
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Connectivity
Both models are equipped with an SD Memory Card slot that makes it easy to transfer images from an HD camcorder or digital still camera that uses SD Memory Cards. Simply insert the SD card into the DMP-BD35/55 and it plays AVCHD-format video images or JPEG stills in full 1920 x 1080 resolution on your flat panel HDTV. The DMP-BD35/55 can also play slide shows, complete with background music.
The DMP-BD35/55 models are also compatible with Panasonic’s VIERA Link function so they can be operated by the VIERA HDTV remote control.
Inputs/Outputs
- HDMI
- Component Video Out (Y, PB, PR)
- Video Out
- 2ch Audio Out
- Digital Audio Out : 1 optical
- SD Memory Card Slot
- Ethernet for Network
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Specifications
VIDEO
PHL Reference Chroma Processor : Yes
P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD) : Yes
Precise Pixel Generation : Yes
16-Level Motion Detection w/ Pixel-Based Motion Adaptive : Yes
Diagonal Processing : Yes
3:2/2:2 Pull-Down Progressive Processing : Yes
i/p Conversion for 1080p 3 Playback : Yes
Up-conversion to 1080p 4 Playback : Yes
Video D/A Converter : 148.5MHz/12bit
Progressive Scan : Yes
Digital Noise Reduction : 3D-NR/Integrated NR
1080/24p Playback : Yes
Deep Color : Yes
x.v.Color : Yes
Picture Mode : Yes (Normal/Soft/Fine/Cinema/User)
Picture Adjustment : Yes (Brightness, Color, Contrast, Sharpness, Gamma Correction)
s
Audio D/A Converter : 192kHz/24bit
Dolby Digital/Dolby Digital Plus Decoder : Decode and Bitstream output
Dolby True HD Decoder : Decode and Bitstream output
DTS/DTS-HD High Resolution Audio Decoder : Decode and Bitstream output
96kHz Surround Re-Master : (for all formats)
Advanced Surround (V.S.S.) : Yes
Night Surround Mode : Yes
Dialogue Enhancer : Yes
Dynamic Range Compression : Yes
Audio S/N : 115dB
Dynamic Range : 100dB
CONVENIENT
Super Hi Speed Scan : Yes
Audio/JPEG Navigation Menu : Yes
VIERA Link (HDAVI Control 3) : Yes
INPUT/OUTPUT
HDMI: Support features: Deep Color, x.v.Color, High Bit Rate Audio
Component Video Out (Y, PB, PR) : Yes
Video Out : Yes
7.1ch Audio Out : No
2ch Audio Out : Yes
Digital Audio Out : 1 optical
SD Memory Card Slot : Yes
Ethernet for Network : Yes
FORMAT
BD-ROM Playback : BD-Live
BD-RE / BD-RE DL : BD-MV (BD-RE version3), BDAV (SESF), JPEG (HD)
BD-R/BD-R DL : BD-MV (BD-R version2), BDAV (SESF)
DVD Playback : DVD-Video
DVD-RAM Playback : DVD-VR, JPEG (HD), AVCHD
DVD-R/-RW/-R(DL) 1 Playback : Yes
+R/+R(DL)/+RW Playback : DVD-VR, AVCHD
CD, CD-R/-RW 2 Playback : CD-DA, MP3 (CD-R/-RW only), JPEG (HD) (CD-R/-RW only)
SD Memory Card : AVCHD, JPEG (HD)
POWER
Power Source : AC 120V, 60Hz
Power Consumption : 20W (approx)
DIMENSIONS
Dimensions (H x W x D) : 1 15/16' inches by 16 15/16 inches by 9 13/16 inches
Weight : 5.7 lbs
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Dec 08, 2009 04:59:07
