Pioneer introduces Elite BDP-05FD / BDP-51FD Blu-ray players

Lee Stewart · 05-07-2008, 08:44 AM

Pioneer introduces Elite BDP-05FD / BDP-51FD Blu-ray players

Quote:

by Ben Drawbaugh, posted May 7th 2008 at 9:00AM

While most consumer electronics companies choose to unveil new products at CES, Pioneer prefers to buck the trend and pick a day that it can keep all to itself. The other trend Pioneer isn't following with these new players is BD-Live, as neither the new Elite Blu-ray player nor the outfit's first non-Elite player features the latest interactive features. Instead, it's choosing to focus on picture and sound quality, as both Summer-bound decks will internally decode every next-gen multi-channel lossless codec (DTS-HD with firmware update) or bitstream any of them to your AVR. The other new focus is speed, as Pioneer seems confident that both players will be some of the fastest in the industry, boasting 15-second eject from off times and 22-second disc load times. The BDP-51FD will set you back $599 -- almost half as much as Pioneer's previous model -- while the Elite BDP-05FD will demand $799. The latter will net you a longer warranty, gold connectors, a superior video decoder, nicer fit / finish and an upgraded front face plate complete with capacitance touch keys. If you're the type that prefers quality and could care less about interactive features.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/07/p...u-ray-players/

tvine2000 · 05-07-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

Pioneer introduces Elite BDP-05FD / BDP-51FD Blu-ray players

http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/07/p...u-ray-players/

interesting as always lee.
seems to me some ce's are seeing 2.0 isn't a big deal.maybe they see 1.1 is more important.
just reading some posts here seems to echo the same thing.
thats not shocking since we know more then they do anyways[lol]

anythingwt · 05-07-2008, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvine2000

interesting as always lee.
seems to me some ce's are seeing 2.0 isn't a big deal.maybe they see 1.1 is more important.
just reading some posts here seems to echo the same thing.
thats not shocking since we know more then they do anyways[lol]

They are seeing that 2.0 isn't a big deal, because it isn't a big deal. They need to make sure all players are 2.0 eventually, but what they say here is whats most important:

Quote:

Instead, it's choosing to focus on picture and sound quality, as both Summer-bound decks will internally decode every next-gen multi-channel lossless codec (DTS-HD with firmware update) or bitstream any of them to your AVR.

dsskid · 05-07-2008, 11:39 AM

Thank you Pioneer. Someone is finally getting it right. I wish the other CE's would follow Pioneer's lead and stop trying to make standalones into gaming consoles. I could care less about the interactive features. I bought a 1080P plasma for superior picture, and I'd like to get superior picture and sound from my media player.

Finally, a reason to upgrade my BD10A!

tvine2000 · 05-07-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anythingwt

They are seeing that 2.0 isn't a big deal, because it isn't a big deal. They need to make sure all players are 2.0 eventually, but what they say here is whats most important:

on yeh i agree with you,that pioneer looks like a great player.
something panasonic should have done.
and it looks like the price is fair,and what you get for it

hatt · 05-07-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvine2000

on yeh i agree with you,that pioneer looks like a great player.
something panasonic should have done.
and it looks like the price is fair,and what you get for it

What should Panasonic have done? I'm not aware of anything that the BD50 does not do or were you refering to the BD30?

tvine2000 · 05-07-2008, 11:56 AM

[quote=hatt;600906]What should Panasonic have done? I'm not aware of anything that the BD50 does not do or were you refering to the BD30?[/QUOTe
the price of the bd50 is way out of line,and i hope they chock on them.
if i bought a panny,yeh its the bd 30.
what i read here its a dam good player.

hatt · 05-07-2008, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvine2000

the price of the bd50 is way out of line,and i hope they chock on them.
if i bought a panny,yeh its the bd 30.
what i read here its a dam good player.

I'm not getting how the BD50 is "way out of line" at $699 if you compare it to $599 and $799 1.1 players.

Chris Gerhard · 05-07-2008, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatt

I'm not getting how the BD50 is "way out of line" at $699 if you compare it to $599 and $799 1.1 players.

I don't get it either Panasonic and Pioneer prices are in line with each other, but the prices are all higher than I expected, but Pioneer and Panasonic make great Blu-ray players. Apparently we will have to leave it to Funai, Samsung, Sony and Philips for less expensive standalone players.

Chris

Stew4HD · 05-07-2008, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatt

I'm not getting how the BD50 is "way out of line" at $699 if you compare it to $599 and $799 1.1 players.

And none of us is surprised that you don't get it.. SOP.

What is Pioneer offering for $799? Lots of goodies, fast and upgraded features, sans 2.0. There should be very little in the way of cost to make the player 2.0 vs. 1.1. Panny and Pioneer are not in the same league.

Pray tell what about the BD50 besides being 2.0 would make if worth $100 less than the top Pioneer Elite?

Kudos to Pioneer for at least giving us a much better price for the Elite than the previous $1500 model !

Chris Gerhard · 05-07-2008, 04:25 PM

This site indicates the BDP-51FD will be Profile 2.0 so there are some inconsistencies online. This one will be fixed if it is wrong, I think several of us rely on it.

http://www.idoblu.co.uk/page2%20Blu-ray%20Players.html

Chris

tvine2000 · 05-07-2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hatt

I'm not getting how the BD50 is "way out of line" at $699 if you compare it to $599 and $799 1.1 players.

and why is it they are charging 100.00 more for a ethernet connection,come on their milking us dry.
how is it out of line?...cause my ass is sore..that's why.
hey if panasonic wants to pretend to be high end ,so be it.
all i'm saying is during the war what we heard from the bda was how they want to be the next generation hd format and replace dvd.
oh yeh... these prices are going to do it.
you know what here comes china and they will most likely make a low end bd player or maybe they won't,but if they can make a player without losing money,they will under cut all these other guys,and sell alot more units then the other guys.and thats whats needed to get bd mass adoption.we talked about this before...price is whats going to make bd go.the problem is they want mass adoption and profit at the same time.to me the ce that can make a bd player as soon as possible[maybe by next year] with 1.1,2.0 is gonna sell a lot of players,at 300.00. i mean some one got to throw a bone to get the prices down so bd gets mass adoption the bda talks about.

hatt · 05-07-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew4HD

And none of us is surprised that you don't get it.. SOP.

What is Pioneer offering for $799? Lots of goodies, fast and upgraded features, sans 2.0. There should be very little in the way of cost to make the player 2.0 vs. 1.1. Panny and Pioneer are not in the same league.

Pray tell what about the BD50 besides being 2.0 would make if worth $100 less than the top Pioneer Elite?

Kudos to Pioneer for at least giving us a much better price for the Elite than the previous $1500 model !

This is great news then Stew. Since these Elite models are priced so well for what you get are you going to preorder one?

hatt · 05-07-2008, 11:19 PM

Well Stew, it does appear these Pioneer players have an impressive set of features. Wolfson DACs are a nice bonus for this price point as well although I have never had the pleasure of owning anything with them, the best I have done was Burr Brown. It would be hard for me to drop $800 when you know the next gen will be 2.0 and this is a player that should last me for years.

Quote:

Elevating the high definition experience in home theaters, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announces the Elite® BDP-05FD and Pioneer® BDP-51FD BonusView Blu-ray Disc® players that exceed the capabilities of current players in the market with support of next generation high resolution audio and video formats that fulfill the emotional experience of high end entertainment. Featuring picture-in-picture interactivity and a redesigned platform that significantly improves overall performance, the new players work in tandem with Pioneer’s KURO displays and A/V receivers to provide film enthusiasts the most true-to-life reproduction of HD feature films.

“Our new Blu-ray Disc players continue to demonstrate Pioneer’s unwavering commitment to delivering an immersive seeing and hearing experience for those who want the absolute best in form and function,” said Chris Walker, senior manager of marketing and product planning for Blu-ray Disc at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “In offering a full line of players, we are solidifying Pioneer’s reputation as a brand that is continually meeting the needs of consumers who are designing or upgrading their home theaters.”

Cinematic Picture Quality

Taking advantage of HDMI® 1.3a technology, Pioneer brings film aficionados to the frontier of next generation entertainment with the most cutting edge video processing available. Both players support 12-bit video digital-to-analog converter (DAC) providing exceptional analog video performance. 12-Bit Deep Color is implemented on both models to deliver an unprecedented range of hues and shades resulting in pristine, realistic imagery that was not possible with previous generations. For early technology adopters, both players are a great investment that will continually meet the advancements of HD home entertainment technology.

With Pioneer’s 1080p / True 24 frames per second (fps) video output, the two models offer smooth performance of film based Blu-ray Disc movies that greatly reduce image judder. By preserving the feature film scene cadence in which Blu-ray Disc titles are authored and feature films are captured, viewers gain a natural, high quality movie viewing experience just as they would in the theater.

Pioneer has continued to enhance high performance DVD playback in the new players with the inclusion of the proprietary and advanced PureCinema Deinterlacer, which essentially eliminates lines that can negatively affect the viewing experience. DVDs can be scaled to a 1080p resolution for improved picture quality and compatibility with HDTVs.

Dynamic Audio Enhances Emotional Experience

Pioneer recognizes the vital importance that sound plays in creating an emotional home entertainment experience and for film aficionados who want to gain the full impact of high resolution movie soundtracks.

The new players are two of the industry’s first to support all advanced audio formats, with the ability to decode Dolby® TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus, DTS® HD* and DTS HD Master* high resolution audio formats, which also enables advanced connectivity that makes compatibility a minimal concern. Consumers will hear the subtle nuances and deep bass in their favorite films to bring an unprecedented listening experience that transcends what was previously thought possible in home theater.

Typically utilized by high end audio manufacturers and professional audio equipment, Pioneer selected the professional quality Wolfson Digital Audio Converters (DACs) in the new players to ensure the highest level audio performance that sound engineers intended audiences to experience.

Robust Build Quality

Pioneer’s two BonusView Blu-ray Disc players feature a supreme build construction and attention to detail to ensure unrivaled content performance. The BDP-05FD and BDP-51FD define premium performance with high quality parts, a center loading tray which helps reduce vibration as well as dedicated audio and video boards for smooth operation and uninterrupted playback of discs.

The Elite BDP-05FD features gold-plated connection ports, capacitance touch key buttons and an aluminum front panel that will have audiophiles and videophiles eager to use and display within their high end home theater décor.

Pioneer Home Theater Synergy

Performing in concert with KURO displays and the upcoming Elite A/V receivers (SC-05 or SC-07), the new Blu-ray Disc players complete the home entertainment experience, allowing consumers to immerse themselves in stunning HD content.

Pioneer engineers developed unique performance settings in both players to ensure subtle details, vivid colors and deep shadows are accurately reproduced when shown on KURO displays. When selecting the “Pioneer PDP” in the video adjust mode, the new players will output the appropriate signal to a connected KURO and deliver the best possible image possible for viewers.

In line with the premium movie experience its products provide, Pioneer sought to create jitter-free playback and dynamic sound quality for music CDs. When connected to a new Elite receiver (SC-05 or SC-07) via HDMI, the BDP-05FD enhances CD playback with the proprietary Precision Quartz Lock System (PQLS). This advanced feature synchronizes music data coming from the Blu-ray Disc player to the receiver giving music fanatics a revolutionary high resolution listening experience far exceeding traditional methods.

Consumer Convenience

Due to the exclusive chip set design and build quality Pioneer is now utilizing, significant strides in speed performance have been made with the new players to now rival the rapid playback rate consumers have come to experience when using their DVD players. This platform greatly improves disc load, power on, power off and disc eject times.

With a continued focus on unifying the appearance and enhancing the operation of its home theater products, Pioneer has integrated the same graphic user interface found on its KURO displays and new Elite receivers. Through the player, users can customize their viewing experience via the A/V Selection menu, which provides a series of image modifications (LCD, PDP, Pioneer PDP, projector and professional) to optimize the picture displayed on a connected HDTV. Pioneer takes image quality a step further with the exclusive Picture Control Suite, which is comprised of an additional 13 video adjustments that allow viewers to fine tune small picture details of a film and deliver an experience that best suits a user’s viewing preferences.

The Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD and BDP-51FD BonusView Blu-ray Disc players will begin shipping this summer for suggested prices of $799 and $599, respectively.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com

Chris Gerhard · 05-08-2008, 10:30 AM

The Pioneer Blu-ray players are really good, but this Panasonic player is going to perform as well as far as Blu-ray playback. Denon didn't choose to use the Panasonic Uniphier in their expensive players because it was cheap, they chose to use it because the performance is first rate. Since the Panasonic DMP-BD50 is Profile 2.0, if the Pioneer players aren't, I am going to recommend the Panasonic player over Pioneer, at least for the same money.

Chris

05-07-2008, 11:39 AM	#4
dsskid ISF Calibrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Age: 45 Posts: 1,947	Thank you Pioneer. Someone is finally getting it right. I wish the other CE's would follow Pioneer's lead and stop trying to make standalones into gaming consoles. I could care less about the interactive features. I bought a 1080P plasma for superior picture, and I'd like to get superior picture and sound from my media player. Finally, a reason to upgrade my BD10A! __________________ If being a satisfied customer makes me a fan-boy in someone else's eyes, so be it. I'm not here to impress anyone. Panasonic TH58PZ700U Panasonic DMP-BD55AK Panasonic DMP-BD10AK Sony STRDE875 Last edited by dsskid; 05-07-2008 at 11:42 AM.

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05-07-2008, 11:56 AM	#7
tvine2000 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: vermont Posts: 903	[quote=hatt;600906]What should Panasonic have done? I'm not aware of anything that the BD50 does not do or were you refering to the BD30?[/QUOTe the price of the bd50 is way out of line,and i hope they chock on them. if i bought a panny,yeh its the bd 30. what i read here its a dam good player.

05-07-2008, 04:25 PM	#11
Chris Gerhard High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8,209	This site indicates the BDP-51FD will be Profile 2.0 so there are some inconsistencies online. This one will be fixed if it is wrong, I think several of us rely on it. http://www.idoblu.co.uk/page2%20Blu-ray%20Players.html Chris

05-08-2008, 10:30 AM	#15
Chris Gerhard High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8,209	The Pioneer Blu-ray players are really good, but this Panasonic player is going to perform as well as far as Blu-ray playback. Denon didn't choose to use the Panasonic Uniphier in their expensive players because it was cheap, they chose to use it because the performance is first rate. Since the Panasonic DMP-BD50 is Profile 2.0, if the Pioneer players aren't, I am going to recommend the Panasonic player over Pioneer, at least for the same money. Chris