Specs from Panasonic's new DMP-BD50

Panasonic just introduced their new Blu-ray player, the DMP-BD50. Like we heard at the press conference, BD-Live is getting rolled out across the lineup and this unit has all the other goodies you'd expect in the latest from Panasonic: Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, PIP functionality and the Viera-link functionality for control of multiple components through a single remote. Video processing goes through the Unipher processor, a combination of chroma and deinterlacing developed by Panasonic Hollywood Laboratories. Last but not least, this player gets treated to playback of SD-based media.

[ztruempy @ Jan 6th 2008 3:32PM]

Pricing and dates? Come on Panasonic...already can't wait!

[Gavin @ Jan 6th 2008 3:45PM]

I'm thinking $799? Anyone else?

[ztruempy @ Jan 6th 2008 3:49PM]

I'm hoping for $599 or less. With the 80GB PS3 topping out @ $499, it's going to get harder and harder to justify much higher premiums for movie-only blu-ray players.

[Sam Winter @ Jan 12th 2008 9:38PM]

ztruempy:
Is there any reason to get the 80GB vs the 40GB? I just got the 40 and with a $50 gift card I paid 349.99. What a deal for such an incredible machine!

[Anton @ Jan 6th 2008 3:50PM]

Hot.

[Jesse S @ Jan 7th 2008 6:54PM]

RIP...

On topic, I want this.

[zargon @ Jan 6th 2008 3:51PM]

In the wake of the 11th hour swing of Warner going Blu-ray... looks like maybe I just have found my new Blu-ray player. Was looking to snag the DMP-BD30K soon, but with ethernet and near profile 2.0 (close enough to being a final spec), I can wait.

[cirby @ Jan 6th 2008 3:57PM]

Of course, except for the Web hookup, the 50 is pretty much identical to the BD30... all of those neat little buzzwords (Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, PIP, Viera-link, and SD playback) are all right there in my week-old DMP-BD30 (yes, I got it on sale, so I'm not too bitter).

[Sean @ Jan 6th 2008 4:10PM]

Does it decode TrueHD and DTS-HD internally or output as bitstream only? Anybody have details?

[Podaman @ Jan 6th 2008 4:31PM]

"integrated decoders for the lossless Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats"

Press release:
http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=215165&modelNo=Content01052008065621607&surfModel=Content01052008065621607

[Yampan @ Jan 6th 2008 4:33PM]

Quote-(Unconfirmed)
"Beyond all the dreamy 1080p goodness, audiophiles will rejoice at the integrated decoders for the lossless Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats."

Link:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=968914&highlight=ces+2008&page=2

[shawnmos @ Jan 7th 2008 4:35AM]

This is the first Blu-ray player I am excited about. Too bad I probably won't be able to afford it, just like everything else Blu-ray.

[severian00 @ Jan 12th 2008 4:37PM]

yeah except for the movies. It pays to get a blu-ray player soon so that you can take advantage of all the BOGO sales going on. I got the Pan 30 too and it is nice. Just got Pirates 2 and 3 for 24.99 at Toyrus. If you wait till you can afford it you'll be paying regular price for movies.

[Sam Winter @ Jan 12th 2008 9:47PM]

severian00

I'd tell people to start buying up BOGO movies even before they get a player if they are waiting for some specific model to come down in price.

[nathan @ Jan 13th 2008 1:33AM]

Wouldn't it be cool if they fixed the LFE is 10db too low issue with their existing Blu Ray players before releasing a new generation?

[Cozmo @ Jan 13th 2008 1:20PM]

This is the player I'm looking forward to most. I'm holding out for a 2.0 profile player before I stick my hand in the blu.

[Cozmo @ Jan 13th 2008 1:21PM]

I'm in the exact same boat. I'm thinking sometime around christmas this year it'll be time to pull the trigger.

[James @ Jan 13th 2008 9:46PM]

It takes 3 generations of players to become full-featured? What about all of the people that bought the 1st gen or 2nd gen players? Blu-ray specs should have been finalized from the very beginning that should allow players to be upgradeable. This is why PS3 was probably the most futureproof choice to play Blu-ray movies from the very beginning.

[George @ Jan 15th 2008 10:09AM]

"Last but not least, this player gets treated to playback of SD-based media."

What a Joke.
Blu-Balls prices are a Joke, except for the PS 3.
The prices of HD movies are a Joke.