Panasonic reveals hefty prices, inner secrets of new DMB-BD35 and DMP-BD55 Blu-ray players

A spec sheet is well and good (and trust us, these spec sheets are that), but when we're talking Blu-ray players it's really becoming a question of price: when will they drop? Well, if these Europe prices for the DMB-BD35 and DMB-BD55 from Panasonic are any indication, Panasonic's answer is "not yet." The BD35 is being priced at 399 Euro, while the BD55 will go for 499 Euro. Our guess is the conversion rates ($588 and $735, respectively) won't apply here when these get shipped over to the States, but even at $399 and $499 these well-specced players aren't doing themselves any favors in a Blu-ray market dominated by the PS3. There's really nothing to say about actual "hands-on" impressions of these two, though we would like to say that we scoured Panny's booth for the DMR-BR360V Blu-ray / VHS combo and were sad to come away empty handed, our tattered copy of "Titanic" unwatched.

Gallery: Panasonic reveals hefty prices, inner secrets of new DMB-BD35 and DMP-BD55 Blu-ray players

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[sublimewulf @ Aug 29th 2008 7:29AM]

The ps3 still dominates the bluray world with an iron fist.

[Rob @ Aug 29th 2008 8:06AM]

Thanks to Sony's greed and tight grip, Blu-ray will probably die sooner that it should. Think about MiniDiscs, which I liked, but Sony's greed and tight grip on the technology didn't allow it to have any success outside Japan. Betamax was a whole different story as it had technological disadvantages when compared to VHS. Sony "bribed" its way to make Blu-ray succeed over HD-DVD. That's how the corporate world works, by doing "favors" for each other with a few "incentives." I've always been a great supporter of Blu-ray for its larger storage capacity. But, prices should've gone down by now. However, Sony wants to recoup all its Betamax and MiniDisc's losses by keeping Blu-ray licenses expensive. I already have a PS3, which I bought because of its ability to play a variety of video files, and its games library. I also have about 40 Blu-ray movies. But, if my PS3 was to break, I would not buy another Blu-ray player because of its high price.

[Billy Gun @ Aug 29th 2008 8:25AM]

@Rob,
I agree with you, I think blu-ray should die, if HD DVD won the war.. their players wold be aroud U$ 150 right now (I'm not saying that HD DVD is the best format, but it is at least a good format). Week after week we only see expensive blu-ray players and recorders..

HD DVD please come back!

[zip @ Aug 29th 2008 9:00AM]

"Thanks to Sony's greed and tight grip,"

What are you talking about?

Sony is just one of the 18 board members of Blu-Ray Association. Panasonic is a board member too.

[THizzle7XU @ Aug 29th 2008 12:55PM]

If anything, Sony having the best and most versatile player on the market at the best price (and possibly still losing money on their machine) is the exact opposite of greed. Take your tin foil hat off.

[Dave @ Aug 29th 2008 2:10PM]

Rob & Billy - you hd dvd fanboys never tire... Its not Sony format , get some brains! And the situatin would be the same for any format that is left alone. HD DVD would have been even more expensive if you ask me. Their players were under-priced and yet not much cheper then BD when both existed.

So stop whining already, the people choose Blu-ray and thank god since it at least has better tech specs...

[Billy Gun @ Aug 29th 2008 2:50PM]

@Dave, Where did I mention about Sony? Where? I'm talking about blu-ray.. and not about Sony.

[houls13 @ Aug 29th 2008 7:48AM]

Uhm? Who really cares about the price of the player...if you have a decent rig it will play them!!! What REALLY SUX is that the discs cost $30...and there's NO MOVIE I'd pay THAT to see!!!

[dj496 @ Aug 29th 2008 8:08AM]

Crap, what's wrong with these manufacturers? I thought lowering prices of components means lowering prices of the players.
They really want to do it in baby steps don't they.

[Shan @ Aug 29th 2008 8:58AM]

At those prices - i would rather just buy a PS3. Both are expensive, but at least the PS3 offers more with the gaming in addition to movie watching. The fact that the PS3 can be updated online also makes it seem like a better long term investment.

[GETYOID @ Aug 29th 2008 9:04AM]

Keep it. I have gas, food and a mortgage to pay. Thats far more important AND responsible than this crap. I already have a DVD player and it plays perfectly FINE on my OLD 25 inch tube TV. Crystal clear.

[Dee @ Aug 29th 2008 9:06AM]

Another alternative to getting a PS3 would be a HTPC with Blu-Ray / HD-DVD combo drive for less than $550 (even cheaper if you get the bare minimum for Blu-ray/HD-DVD playback); more options when it comes to upgrading and functionality.

[UtahBuck @ Sep 3rd 2008 5:33PM]

Becareful with the HTPC route. I purchased an HP PC/HT and when I tried to play the Blu-Ray disk on my big screen, the software player stopped playback stating that the disc did not allow play back while connect to the tv via the hdmi output. My guess is that DRM on the Blu-Ray disk forces play back only to the pc monitor.

[konshuss @ Aug 29th 2008 9:20AM]

blu ray is turning into a joke. a video game console still the cheapest and most viable option for what is supposed to be(and basically is, but still...) an industry-shattering, universally pushed format? imagine if when the vhs/betamax war was over you had to buy a colecovision to watch movies?

[Jon @ Aug 29th 2008 9:25AM]

Since my failed attempt at HD-DVD was a disaster, I've been holding out for so long for blu and nothing is happening. I mean 700 bucks for a player? Come on, seriously it's absurd, yes a PS3 is great however I'm not interested in gaming at all and never will be. I'm a home theater geek and the geek in me wants a stackable respectable stand alone, ps3 really isn't getting on the ball with pushing out those 45nm cell cpu's for lower power and noise. I don't want my player to make any noise, virtually silent isn't good enough for me. So you can call me a stand alone fanboy that has no stand alone due to astronomical prices. Put this into perspective, if one were to be making minimum wage and really wanted this player they would have to work 110 hours and thats not including tax. Insane.

*yay.

:jumps off a bridge:

[chuck @ Aug 29th 2008 10:04AM]

Quit worrying about the EU pricing. Everything is more expensive over there. Hell new release blu-rays are still US$50-60 over there. Wait until the official US pricing until you start crying.

[BigFrank @ Aug 29th 2008 10:20AM]

So what if the PS3 can do as much for less money? Its also noisier, completely unstackable, doesn't do IR without klugey add-ons and eats tons of power. I want a good stand-alone player, not a video game machine to play my BRs on.

As for BD 2.0, I've VERY unconvinced. Why the heck do I want to go on-line with my movies? To what advantage? Please someone, give me a compelling reason. BD 1.1 has everything I want and there are plenty of players out there that do it (and they are getting cheaper all the time now that the 2.0 players are out).

[Grayfoxxx @ Aug 29th 2008 10:28AM]

hmm..sony.. looks fishy...
seems thats another way to push the ps3's value back up, as many ppl will find it a good deal to buy a ps3 over other consoles bcoz of its player...

[Mitch @ Aug 29th 2008 10:54AM]

Walmart has blue ray players for under $300.

[Jamieconverge @ Aug 29th 2008 11:20AM]

blu ray players have come down loads in price in the uk. the samsung bdp1500 (which is 1.1 and 2.0 compatable) is £160 which i think is pretty good for the money. Thats about half the price of a ps3. most major sites are doing discs at between £12-£17 which again is much more reasonable than it used to be. yeah discs arent as cheap as we'd all like, but the player prices have certainly come down a fair bit recently. in fact theres a few sub £200 players at the moment, which there wasnt a year ago..

[Techweasel @ Aug 29th 2008 12:27PM]

If your PC already has a decent video card, you can get an internal Blu-Ray/DVD/CD read-only drive for $130-$150, and an HDMI cable for maybe another $50. Hook your PC to your HDTV and you're all set, without having to fit anything new into your entertainment center. I like the PS3, but not enough to buy one.

Even if you need to shell out $150 for a new video card with HDMI-out, it's still a better deal than this player.

[im14pinball @ Aug 29th 2008 1:47PM]

I think Sony sets the price for BlueRay players. They set them so high that people will go out and buy a PS3 instead. Its to boost the sales of the PS3 because they cant sell them.

[tekdemon @ Aug 29th 2008 6:27PM]

WTFOMGBBQ?!?
This blu-ray pricing strategy is insanity...who the hell are the people even buying these players if they cost more than the PS3 (which is compatible with every blu-ray version and easily upgradeable)?!

At this rate Toshiba's nutty upscaling technology might actually win even if it's nowhere close to 1080p.

[DrWatson @ Aug 29th 2008 6:29PM]

I have been hoping that the prices reach the $150 price point for Christmas but I'm starting to think that won't happen. These crooks want to cash in this holiday season before lowering the prices... maybe Xmas 2009 for me.

[LonnieDvD @ Aug 31st 2008 8:39AM]

I am keeping standard DVD until Blu-Ray becomes the only format available. These prices are outrageous, especially in this tight economy. Do they think money grows on trees for all of us!? It is not only the cost of Blu-Ray players, the HDTV's are not exactly cheap. My 20 inch tube TV should last at least three more years, and the cable company says I'm good for the digital switch. I feel no need to pay $600+ for a good HDTV, then pay $400+ for Blu-Ray. When I finally have to get an HDTV, I hope Toshiba's super dvd upconverter is still around!!