DMP-BD55
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Panasonic's DMP-BD35 / DMP-BD55 now available in Canada
Just in time for Boxing Day, Panasonic has launched its DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55 in the Great North. Both units promise Profile 2.0 compatibility, and better still, the pair is selling for far less than the MSRPs that were announced at CEDIA. According to locals, the decks are being sold for $300 and $400, respectively, and should make every dream you've ever had come true.
BD-Live-capable Blu-ray players get offered in multi-region form
If you held back from snapping up a multi-region Blu-ray player the last time you had a chance, today's your lucky day. BlurayMods has finally returned to the scene, and it brought along with it some fancy new toys. The ICOS HD mod converts your current BD deck into a multi-region bundle of fun, and if you believe the seller, it's totally easy to install and operate. For those not willing to hand over €69 ($88) for the mod chip -- which functions with Sony's BDP-S350 / BDP-S550, Panasonic's DMP-BD35 / DMP-BD55 and Denon's DVD-2500 -- you can buy a pre-rigged player for quite a bit more. We'd say the euro-to-dollar conversion really rules these out for most Americans, but if things get much crazier, you may find yourself looking at a steal.
Panasonic's DMP-BD55 Blu-ray player gets reviewed
For you slugabeds who missed out on seeing the DMP-BD55 get priced and dated, it's probably a bit backwards to start at the review first. Nevertheless, those mildly interested in making this their next standalone BD deck should certainly give CNET's review a glance. Put simply, this unit was deemed "a perfect example [of a solid Profile 2.0 player], hitting almost all the essential features we look for and pairing it up with pristine image quality." That being said, critics still couldn't wholeheartedly recommend it. Why? It's little sibling, the DMP-BD35. The $299 BD35 features all of the same niceties save for 7.1 analog outputs and analog audio enhancements, yet it costs a full $100 less than the BD55. Sure, if you're an analog output junkie, the extra cost will be completely justified, but it seems most everyone else should just snag the BD35 and burn the excess on a few flicks.
Panasonic's DMP-BD35 / DMP-BD55 get late October ship dates
Amazon already delivered the pricing information we've been waiting on so patiently, and now the e-tailer has divulged the ship dates. Panasonic's DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55 Profile 2.0 Blu-ray players will evidently begin shipping on October 25th and 28th, respectively, and pre-orders are being accepted as we speak. 'Tis a shame there aren't any free Blu-ray Disc promotions, but it's not too late to add any in -- you listening, Amazon?[Thanks, J.D.]Read - DMP-BD35Read - DMP-BD55
Panasonic's Profile 2.0 DMP-BD55 Blu-ray player gets priced: $399
We've seen it announced -- heck, we even saw it in person at CEDIA -- but until today, we've still had no idea what kind of sticker would eventually be laid upon Panasonic's Profile 2.0 DMP-BD55 Blu-ray player. Thanks to a few sharp eyes and a pre-order page at Amazon, we now know that this puppy will be launching for a respectable $399.95. Granted, this is twice as much as some of the aged units we've seen recently, but the inclusion of BD-Live support could be a strong selling point for some. Yeah, we hear you -- the PS3 is still the better bargain, but at least the days of $699 - $999 starting points seem to be coming to an end.[Via Big Picture Big Sound]
Panasonic's DMP-BD35 / DMP-BD55 Blu-ray players hands-on
Sharp wasn't the only company showcasing a new duo of Blu-ray players at CEDIA, as Panasonic decided to whip up a couple as well just for kicks. The DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55 were made official during IFA, but not until now has Panny shown them off to the wide-eyed public. As with the aforementioned Sharp duo, this pair is also hard to distinguish from one another at first glance. Unfortunately, neither are really worth sweating, but you can have a look over at Engadget HD if you just refuse to believe that.
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-30740%
Panasonic DMP-BD35 & DMP-BD55 Blu-ray players officially official, still unpriced
Say hello to the successors of the short-lived Panasonic DMP-BD50, the new DMP-BD35 (above) and DMP-BD55 (after the break) check off every feature we can think of for a new Blu-ray player, complete with a slim profile (49mm high on the BD35) and hopefully low, low price thanks to a 45nm 3rd-generation UniPhier processor. Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD MA audio support, with internal decoding or bitstreamed output in full 7.1 (plus 7.1 analog audio outs on the DMP-BD55) on top of fully BD-Live / Profile 2.0 compatible hardware finally promise no-compromise hardware for Blu-ray buyers. Release dates and pricing information? Your guess is as good as ours, for now.
Panasonic prepping DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55 Blu-ray players?
This one sounds like little more than pure speculation, but word on the street has it that Panasonic will be following its recently released DMP-BD50 with two new players at CEDIA 2008. The DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55 will purportedly feature a revamped UniPhier video processor and an Ethernet port for BD-Live compatibility. As for the latter, it'll also boast 8-channel analog audio outputs and isolation feet to reduce the effects of vibration. Obviously, no pricing details have been announced, but let's hope Panny shocks the world with a couple somewhat respectable stickers in just a few weeks.[Via CNET]
Panasonic Blu-ray players, LCD projector jumpstart your holiday gift list
Panasonic is putting a little holiday cheer into our summer with the release of its Canadian gift guide, and wouldn't you know it, there's some HD goodies in the works. Based on the product mix in the guide, we assume this stuff will make it to other regions in time for the winter holidays as well. Details on the gear are thin, but there's definitely some good stuff coming from Panasonic before the year is done. First up, we see the PT-AE3000 1080p LCD projector, a CAD $3,500 follow-up to the well-respected PT-AE2000U. Also on tap are a couple of Blu-ray players, named the DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55. Both of those decks come with BD-Live functionality, but we're psyched about the 7.1-channel analogue outputs on the DMP-BD55 along with "audio grade components" (we assume that means "audiophile grade components"). No pricing on these Blu-ray players, but that can't stop you from starting up the not-so-subtle gift hint-dropping campaign, right? Hit the link for the full release.[Via FormatWarCentral]
