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Panasonic DMP-BD50 Blu-ray Player Review

Author	Riyad Emeran
Published	24th Jul 2008
Manufacturer	Panasonic
Supplier	HomeCinemaTV
Price	£327.82 (Exc VAT)
as reviewed	£376.99 (Inc VAT)
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If you happen to be using the BD50 in conjunction with a Panasonic TV, you'll be able to make use of the Viera Link functionality. This will allow you to control both devices from a single remote, and turn all devices on/off simultaneously. Of course Viera Link incorporates the CEC specification, so it should work with non-Panasonic CEC equipped products, but like many other manufacturers, Panasonic maintains that Viera Link potentially offers more functionality than basic CEC.

For a long while I've been advising people considering a Blu-ray player to go for a PlayStation 3. The reason for this is that up until recently, the PS3 was the most advanced and feature rich Blu-ray player on the market, while also being something of a bargain compared to stand alone players. But with the BD50, Panasonic has finally created a player that not only matches the PS3 for Blu-ray features, but beats it in the image quality stakes.

The key to the superb pictures produced by the BD50 is Panasonic's UniPhier chip. Last October I found myself at the CEATEC show in Tokyo, where Panasonic launched its UniPhier chip, and it was clear even then that this tiny piece of silicon was a landmark in the company's R&D. Based on a 45nm manufacturing process, the UniPhier is pretty advanced, even by CPU standards. The result is that the video processing in the BD50 is noticeably better than other Blu-ray players I've used, including the PlayStation 3.

It's not just the UniPhier chip itself that's special though, it's also the software that Panasonic is running on it. Through Panasonic's extensive experience in mastering home video at the Panasonic Hollywood Labs, the company is able to develop software that will get the very best results from the UniPhier. So, even though Panasonic sells the UniPhier chip to other manufacturers, it doesn't mean that those vendors will get the same results from it.

To really put the DMP-BD50 through its paces, I hooked it up to my Pioneer PDP-LX5090 - this screen uses Pioneer's 9th generation plasma technology, and represents the second generation of its Kuro brand (there will be a full review very soon). Watching Blood Diamond, the BD50 just created a more immersive picture than my PS3 - everything is just that bit sharper, while the image itself has more depth and realism to it. Casino Royale looked equally impressive, with the fast moving free running scene showing no signs of processing artefacts - even the panning shots of the cranes failed to throw up unwanted jaggies. Obviously I was outputting the movie as a 1080p 24Hz signal, and had the TV set to 1:1 pixel mapping.

And that's the key to a player like this. If you want to get the very best out of it, you also need to invest in a very good screen. I'm not saying that the BD50 won't look great on a cheaper TV, because it still produces stunning pictures on Panasonic's more reasonably priced TH-46PZ80 46in plasma. However, the difference between this player and a lesser model is that bit more stark when it's hooked up to a truly great screen.

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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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