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Panasonic DMP-BD50 Blu-ray Player

Author	Riyad Emeran
Published	24th Jul 2008
Manufacturer	Panasonic
Supplier	HomeCinemaTV
Price	£320.84 (Exc VAT)
as reviewed	£376.99 (Inc VAT)
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Things are no less impressive at the rear, with a full complement of gold plated analogue AV connectors. There's component video out, S-Video, composite, left and right analogue audio, and a full set of 6-channel surround sound outputs. You also get both coaxial and optical digital audio connectors for outputting digital bit streams to an external amplifier or decoder. It's the final two connectors that are the most interesting though. There's an HDMI 1.3 port, which will obviously be the connection option of choice, providing digital audio and video, for the best possible experience. You'll also be able to make use of Deep Color software, if any of the studios ever release any. Finally there's an Ethernet port, one of the major omissions from early Blu-ray players and the key to getting online with the BD50.

When it comes to audio the BD50 covers pretty much all the bases. There's lossless compression formats in the shape of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, along with Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio. All those codecs can be mixed into a 5.1-channel PCM output.

It's the six-channel analogue audio outputs that will be a real bonus to anyone that doesn't want to upgrade their surround sound amplifier. Since the BD50 can process these codecs internally, anyone with an amplifier/receiver that has six-channel analogue audio inputs, will be able to sample the delights of the latest lossless formats.

You can, of course, also output uncompressed PCM audio in up to 7.1-channels - this type of audio is quite common on Blu-ray movies, and the results can be incredibly good. In order to playback these codecs and 7.1-channel PCM audio, you'll have to connect the BD50 to your amp/processor using HDMI.

The aforementioned SD Card slot brings potentially extensive persistent storage to the party. It's SDHC compatible, which means that you could plug a 32GB card in there, if you had enough spare cash to buy one. But considering that you can buy a 16GB card for under £30 these days, you're going to be able to download a lot of extra content over BD Live - or at least you will be able to when more discs support the service.

Talking of BD Live, disc support is pretty thin on the ground at the moment, but there is a lot of content scheduled for release in the coming months. In fact, Disney will be launching some of its classics on Blu-ray, complete with BD Live features soon, how many of these features you'll want to use is debatable though. Stuff like blogging to a website for the disc or instant messaging friends while watching a film have limited appeal if you ask me, not least because you'll be writing said text using the remote control!

The other great thing about the SD Card slot, is that it works beautifully with the latest generation of SD based AVCHD high definition camcorders. So, if you happen to be shooting with something like the Panasonic HDC-SD9, you could simply eject your SD card, slap it into the BD50 and watch your home movies in glorious Full HD.

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Riyad said on 24th July 2008

All valid comments, which is why I said that you're going to have to be serious about your AV kit to consider this player. That said, if you're planning on investing in a... more

Pbryanw said on 25th July 2008

Actually, thinking about it, I bought my first DVD player in 2001. It was a Samsung - a great, big thing it was too. I was in my first job earning a minimum wage and I spent three... more

niftynigel said on 7th August 2008

Riyad, you can't really be serious to suggest that HD DVD was better than Blu-ray *just* because HD DVD had internet connection from day one? The picture in picture feature has been incorporated into Blu-ray Discs and works successfully without a Profile 1.1 player! With 50GB to play with, the studios have a lot more flexibility with the Blu-ray system!

If so, you're on pretty thin ground! At best, internet interactivity is a gimmick, a sideshow from the real important issues of picture and sound quality. I wouldn't suggest all Blu-ray discs so far have been excellent quality, far from it, but I have seen many HD DVD discs that we nothing more than upscaled DVDs. Thankfully, the main culprit, Universal appears to *respect* Blu-ray better and is making a fine job in it's Blu-ray productions. Long may it continue.

All the Blu-ray players from approx late 2007, when prices also came down, have been excellent machines in terms of image and sound quality, although start up times have been an issue.

Both the DMP-BD30 and DMP-BD50 Blu-ray players have redefined the market. As their availability increases their prices will come down further. Sony is also releasing it's direct competition, so the market is hotting up!

On the issue over internet interactivity, I think as well as a gimmick, it's actually a bad thing on a number of counts.

Firstly, it won't be too long, when the studios realise that they can charge for the *extra* content. How long will it be before extras that we take for granted (on our special or standard editions) start to be available through download only? For a fee obviously!

Secondly, there is the issue over the studios prying eyes on our viewing habits! Frankly, I view that as an invasion of privacy - just like spyware on our PCs!

There is also the issue over security. Blu-ray (and HD DVD) players probably have no security. It is possible that players connected to home networks could pick up viruses which by-pass security systems!

As you can gather, my family and I will not be connecting any Blu-ray player to the 'net for the above reasons (and more - I've said enough already)!!

Riyad, you can't really be serious to suggest that HD DVD was better than Blu-ray *just* because HD DVD had internet connection from day one? The picture in picture feature h... more

sqwonk said on 17th September 2008

Power on to visible GUI...PS3 10s
BD50 25s

From disc inserted to video on display...PS3 35s
... more

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