Excellent for your money with a few small, forgivable weaknesses!

I have long wanted to buy a Universal Player and have the market since then (about 2 years now) to the effect also closely watched, but either were my devices (I'm basically not committed to a particular manufacturer) then ultimately too expensive (such as the Oppo 93, I would have taken a hair and certainly a very good universal player) or (were the cheaper ones) according to my expectations / demands all somehow always with any unacceptable for me limitations / shortcomings / deficiencies subject (offered eg no SACD and DVD-Audio support, had no aluminum front panel or one read by many users, they would suffer from disturbing operating noise, which for me is also an absolute knock-out criterion), so I've been buying necessity postponed repeatedly. For an expensive player I decided mainly because my life expectancy but rather questionable and uncertain appears with regard to the question of continual support concerning the firmware update on the now customary, very short product cycles (when in 2 or 3 years of FW support should be set by the manufacturer and then Blurays appear new to the market, which are subject to new, previously unknown copy protection method, with which the players without according nachgepachtes / customized software update is unable to deal with it, then you can get a similar device, if necessary , even if there other un-itself is very good and still works perfectly, virtually throw or is forced again to buy a new player. This little game I did not want to join / risk, since I use electrical devices for a long time and everything else am as an advocate or friend of short-lived and ex- Hopp throwaway mentality and to it also would not get involved! (The planet Earth is already trashed and the energy consumption by the mass production of short-lived disposable products high enough!)

The Pioneer BDP-450, a player has finally appeared on the market, which could be very good or promising reviews from the trade press einheimsen not only immediately, but also seemed to offer in this price range, I wish above all supporting the formats SACD and DVD-Audio, and a real aluminum front panel. Normally, it's not necessarily my style, equipment to buy directly in the market launch (high price, immature software and other sometimes also hardware-related teething problems at the now much too short product cycles) but here I was able to finally just do not resist any longer ...; -)

So much for theory, expectations and anticipation ...

I own the device now has a half weeks and have since been extensively tested it through its paces, but which I would like to point out that a limited number of tested optical media (~ 30-35 so far in my case) is certainly still far from representative can be when it comes around to the very important question of Medienkompatiblität / reliability of the drive. (If you ultimately someday ~ tested 100 discs and more, it looks already different) also can be - as already mentioned above - now too early to say whether Pioneer say to the players in we 3 years still firmware updates the compatibility will release to ensure, if necessary with then newly released Blurays, if it should turn out that make these problems!

Environment or used equipment:

- TV: Philips 46PFL7605H (46 "LCD / LED)
- AV receiver: Denon AVR-3311
- 5.0 speaker setup: Heco Metas XT (701, 301, Center 31)
- Seat pitch for TV: ~ 2.5 m
- Distance from the BDP-450: 1-1.5 m (depending on whether I'm sitting on the sofa or couch!)

Classification of this progress report:

- Connectivity
- Einlesezeiten optical media
- Noise produced by the drive during operation
- Picture quality Bluray or HD (2D only, do not own a 3D TV)
- Image quality DVD or SD (upconversion)
- Sound Quality
- Reliability / Medienkompatiblität
- Processing / material quality / value / haptics
- Setting options / Operation
- Network and Streaming
- Conclusion

Connection options:
==================

2x HDMI (Main, Sub, can be configured via the menu in three modes)
2x USB (one is located right at the front, the other behind the connection terminal)
1x coaxial (can be detailed in the main menu to configure)
1x LAN / Ethernet (10/100)

Analog (RCA) outputs, either for connection to standard Hifiverstärker that even today seltenst have any digital inputs) are in contrast to the predecessor model, the BDP-440 no longer exists (it is now called " Replacement / compensation "apparently the second HDMI output to the 440 in turn is not offered!)

Einlesezeiten optical media:
=======================

Was measured the time from the beginning after the retraction of the drive sled, the charging animation in the top left corner of the screen, until the moment where (depending on the disc) entwedern the logo of the film company, or will the main menu of the film! (In case of doubt, the main menu because the film or series episode of course only be started from this point!)

Bluray:

Coraline = ~ 15 sec.
The island = ~ 15 sec.
The Dark Knight = ~ 15 sec.
The Green Mile = ~ 15 sec.
Rome (HBO miniseries) = ~ 50 sec.
Avatar = ~ 60 sec.

DVD (Video):

All of mine have tested video DVDs need to charge between 10 up to 15 sec. (About 15 video DVDs I've studied!)

It is i.Ü. fortunately no interruption / dropouts to watch the DVD9-layer exchange!

Noise produced by the drive during operation:
====================================

The drive is both when reading, as well as when playing audio CDs, DVD-Audio / SACD, and DVD-Video discs absolutely inaudible as (completely silent, you would have to with the ear to go directly to the drive's disc tray is at all listening to operate) only when reading Blurays and during the first few minutes of the starters playing the movie or the series can be heard a high-frequency whistling or humming, but it is fortunately so quiet - no less than the distance to the player is with me only 1-1.5 m depending on whether I sit or lie - that it is hardly worth mentioning if only because it is already fully covered by silent film sound and in turn becomes inaudible!

I must say that I have never had such a quiet optical drive. Top performance: Especially since you until today, sometimes also hear of much more expensive players always completely different / reads, be it in specialized forums or even in reviews as here at Amazon!

It may be of course that this also comes to serial dispersion, which means that the drives of the devices according to / working quietly within the same model vary, but at least my copy of the BDP-450 behaves exemplary in this discipline, so I here must express a huge praise. Neither the drive is apparently encapsulated proper proceeding, nor is a complex and expensive anti-vibration technology is used, as some in the more expensive players on the market, but more than silently is not natural. I am very curious to see if the player can maintain this vorbildiche behavior over the years and is! (I write this because I sometimes also because stories are already have heard of players certain manufacturers ...)

Image quality Bluray or HD (2D):
========================

The picture impresses in my estimation, by a high degree of naturalness. This applies to the color representation, the strong but authentic fails, the image steadiness, focus, and the 24P-stability (no shocks, the movement display looks absolutely smooth and gleichförming) It may be that I only imagining it, but I have a feeling , by switching to 36-bit color depth in the Pio HDMI menu (there are "Deep Color": From / 30bit / 36-bit) are the colors even better / fine what you etc especially in dark scenes, in artificial light, fog sees.. It is hard to put into words, but I had never seen such a natural and authentic-looking image (which in turn is not to say that the image was previously bad or unnatural ausah. The colors really simply more convincing!)

A word on the black level of sophistication and detail in the presentation in dark scenes, which indeed often a delicate and much-discussed topic because often criticized problem is. One should here, depending on the display device and the selected field select the correct setting for the HDMI color space, which is very important (there is also an option in the HDMI menu) to get the best results! (There are: RGB, YCbCr, YCBCr422, and RGB Full Range) It can be found in the operating instructions to a few helpful hints, but you will also recognize this when experimenting themselves sooner or later in the picture)!

The Bluray or HD image that provides the player is in my opinion absolutely Cinema justice and authentic!

Image quality DVD or SD (upconversion):
===============================

In this Diszplin, I am sorry to say, the Pioneer is weakening my feeling / assessment somewhat. I have with my AV receiver (Denon AVR-3311) already has a home theater component available that offers me an excellent upconversion and of course this also dispose of a comparison scale and the stakes are thus very high. The excellent image quality at the "polishing" of SD material reaches the Denon solely by the very good de-interlacer (Anchor Bay ABT2015) in interaction with the two algorithms "Enhancer" (an image sharper, which can be 12-stage set) and a DNR (Digital denoising) Thus one has a DVD ratios but knack sharp sharpened and not super "clean", clear and detailed image. And the best part:. All this is achieved without any visible artifacts, even if (for 46 "-Grössenverhältnisse) low pitch of just 2.5 m Unfortunately - and I had secretly hoped for - the Pioneer with its Qdeo chip (is the always highly praised and advertised as such) not quite keep up, let alone surpass this result. The image obtained at a short pitch not quite the clarity and sharpness of Denon (it seems almost as if there were a slight blur on the image, which the "HD-Feeling" but is not particularly conducive) and it comes to discreet artifacts formation which is particularly visible in movement. One uses the additional four Entrauschungsfilter (for luminance, chroma, mosquito and block noise) then improved the Picture this does not, at least not in the short seat distance, but it will only restless on the contrary, because new artifacts (Vermatschungs effect etc.). For further distance (have the distance from the sample to 3.5 m increases) it is much better but that's not surprising, and not really the intention!

So I use continue the imaging of Dennon because I very often films and series on DVD watching, if only because it all does not yet exist on Bluray and some never will be a very high probability on Bluray. Thus it is natural in urgent need of the best possible scaler) Schade. Here, I can attest to Pio unfortunately no Topwertung!

Let me emphasize that I really experimented much with the settings (all combinations) but I could not really achieve excellent results with the upconversion of Pioneer. I have the material in some cases specially chosen so that it is up to the limit of endurance, in order to assess how the de-interlacer and scaling deal with / handle! (The Denon won!)

Sound quality:
==========

From a pure source player I had no particular increase in sound quality expected and which was originally not the main reason for buying this appliance. But far from it. To my great surprise is the player in all modes, from simple audio CD sound quality or an improvement selbiger that is simply breathtaking. And I had been really do not feel that the sound of my system would be bad (on the contrary), but what is on offer here .... wow!

The overall sound is in a positive sense significantly softer and more subtle than before. Any hint of sharpness, hardness or aggression is completely disappeared the sound. Strings sound tremendously silky, wind wonderful Krisp, voice still more concise, insightful and charismatic, to hear background noise better. The bass range is powerful, bulky and (if it is necessary, but only then) powerful but without anything would ever seem intrusive or annoying. Everything dissolves better, dizzy from the speakers, which, of course, not least, the surround sound in multi-channel tracks is of great benefit. I wrote already that already sounding audio CDs better than I knew before. In DD 2.0 and 5.1 which goes but almost so far that you believe you could do it with a HD soundtrack (as a euphony I knew previously only really HD material)

I would almost say that the purchase of the BDP-450 alone has therefore paid off for me. I also do not know if we can do better (with more expensive universal players) but offers what the Pio here, makes me satisfied in the highest degree. Just the pure feel-good sound! (Very very pleasant and never tiring even to begin!)

Reliability / Medienkompatiblität:
==========================

As I already mentioned at the top, it's actually impossible to 20-30 tested optical media to say anything about the actual reliability or Medienkompatiblität as an appliance. This requires a lot more disks, but so far the players makes a very good figure. All Blurays, DVDs, audio CDs and a Auido DVD that I've tested so far have been scanned without a murmur on the first try and accurately reproduced and without interference. All with one exception: The (original) video DVD of the film "Frequency", the players play at the first attempt without sound and with (thus probably related) Slow motion jerkiness. After I have the disc removed and re-let read, but he has then normally reproduced (I have seen the film until the end, there were no issues more) I remembered but the fact that to me, with ganau this movie happened years ago in advance on the PC. So it's likely that since the DVD is something not quite kosher! (Comical copy, or whatever!)

I certainly hope that the player will play in the future all his superiors optical media obediently and without interference, but must show the time!

Workmanship / material quality / value / feel:
===========================================

In this discipline, the impressions are mixed. The casing of the player even makes a decent first and angsichts the price range halfway quality impression. The front is in fact made of aluminum (even if the tolls. Not immediately recognize at first, but also because of the fact that it is precisely Pioneer has proven in recent years, as "real" metal imitations of fronts such devices can really look, if they consist only of plastic
To put it this way: It would be an exaggeration, the player with respect to the material quality to be particularly valent or even noble to describe (concerns especially the appearance of the quality of the slide the optical drive) but equally it would be wrong to claim that he as a Plastikbomber looks! (He looks much better!) Overall, it shows an image of simple understated elegance!

The Fernbedinung however, falls in terms of material value from clear: Although it must be said that it purely by design, as is quite well done and the key layout (a bit wider she would have tolls may fail and the keys a little bit bigger, depending on who. to use them!) but the material is revealed at first glance as a cheap plastic and feels exactly the same way on (you know it very well at the D-pad when there pushing the buttons) is cemented this "cheap" impression then nor by the insufficient weight. For comparison, I have both the remotes my aforementioned Denon AVR-3311, as well as from my Media Player (HDI Dune Smart D1) all but both also are plastic both (although made quite different) CLEARLY therefore come valent!

It should also be noted that the remote control is also quite directional / angle sensitive and therefore with respect to the command transmission is prone to failure: You have to already align directly to the player, so that the commands are executed. If this is done, then, however, the reaction is carried out in all cases promptly and without delay. I know that but nothing else from all the other remote control all other devices inside my home theater that make it even better (Only the Universalvernbedinung "Harmony One" Logitech - but of course, also has a high price, thereby excluding competition runs and thus is not comparable - shows here CLEARLY tolerant)!

Settings / Steering:
=======================

Possible settings: There not much to complain because the player has all configuration options from the main menu with a few exceptions. The two HDMI outputs can be divided into the three modes "Dual" (Bid + sound simultaneously on both), "Separate" (image / sound separately on each one) and "Pure Audio" (picture / sound on each one with improved sound quality operate on the sub). In addition, as already mentioned, the color depth can be adjusted as well as can be determined whether the sound via bitstream, PCM, etc. recoding is issued), the coaxial audio output can also be quite independent of very comprehensively configured. Even a mix of two tracks, it is a main audio track and a with comments can be mixed up to a new one!) Dieer coaxial digital output is as far as I understand it also for the special, unique audio connection P course can be adjusted much more what here but now is beyond the scope!

Would Erwähnswert else the display image-related settings, the Pioneer in Sogn. Frames divided. Anyone who owns a LCD / LED selects "LCD" who a plasma or projector uses "PDP" and "Projector". To have access to the video-Eq and use this to improve the image or Treatment may be selected, however, the "Custom" and then in addition to the usual suspects (Brightness, Contrast, Hue, Chroma Level) "Progressive Motion" ( improving the representation of movement in terms of artifacts), "Pure Cinema" (general improvement of progressive image material) and "Detail" (sharpens the image edges) nor the four above already mentioned types of noise filters. What is unfortunately missing are a few presets to certain settings for different types of applications or different material (HD / SD approximately) to be able to quickly retrieve, without always having to make the settings again!

Even on a switch to enable / disable the automatic disc-offs in the optical drive has been designed, which I appreciate very much, because I do not like so much for my part, if, for example, a drive in the remaining after switching off the machine disk when re turn on the player is started unintentionally / played. Very nice: Good thought along, Pioneer!

Operation: For inferior / cheap the material quality of the remote control also fails, it offers purely functional after all everything you need to be able to operate the player kompfortabel. Apart from the typical, essential functions there is no lack of the finer points, such as zoom (there are each 3 stages when zooming in and out is possible), the 3-stage dimmer for the display illumination (the fourth stage is still full off) and also a two-repeat so you can allow, for example, or especially in the music playback entwedern individual tracks or entire albums / collections in the loop run. Similarly, the repetition but a symbol also works with video within collections (there is for the top of the screen that appears, transparent "screen" -Infobar. There are more, such as buttons switch to the secondary audio and video ( which is particularly associated with the mixing of sound channels angsprochen or the PIP (which you can also configure) interest, depending on the material
The display is a special case and here I am afraid to blame again. I want to emphasize that my assessment / evaluation unabhändig the price of the player and unaware fails if another player (which costs more than 2-3 times as much as the BDP-450) do better in this regard, but I am basing myself more like what I'm used to a somewhat more mature man of 10-20 years old (or older) CD players / was: Unfortunately, you have to say that the display information joyfully comes really not too: It shows my knowledge neither CD-Text, nor information on bitrate of MP3 files and displays unfortunately no symbols of aforementioned functions, such as "repeat" etc., so you can see if / that those are currently active. Unfortunately, we learn only the bare necessities of this single-line display (type of medium or source, maturity ...) which naturally restricts quite strong its benefits. If you have switched the display that looks very different, but that's of course when playing pure music disc (audio CDs, DVD-Audio, SACD) not the intention!

Another small point of criticism concerns the somewhat surfaces / limited information when you display on the display key. Although here is the format of the video codec used and the soundtrack, as well as elapsed time, current chapter etc. displayed (a halbtransparete bar is at the top of this eingeblendetet) but what is missing is the display mode (eg 1080p24Hz or 1080i50Hz) and video and Audio Bitrate. The latter two information can, however, about the "function key" after all ads (even if not to reach at first glance, but awkward) In this respect, I am of my Media Player (HDI Dune Smart D1) in direct comparison better used) The display / or Output mode can be important to know as it in certain formats else can possibly lead to a jerky presentation (I had already repeatedly especially in series and concerts on Bluray) and then you need to know how to make the adjustments in the menu Pioneer must make!

I would like to mention that I (right) holding the positioning of Power (left) and eject button at the top of the remote control for quite an accident, because normally it should be reversed. (So ​​it is at least in all the other remote controls my other devices HK) This has often meant that I accidentally turn off the Pio where I wanted but just open the disc tray!

Network and Streaming:
==================

So I have admittedly not so much experimenting, but can convey a few impressions!

The network was immediately recognized automatically by the Pioneer and I was able to access from the beginning to the folder. But first I had trouble files from it also play (was allegedly "format is not supported" although it is definitely supported by the player) until I file in certain shared folders had (although the other folders are unlocked and from other devices on the network also can be accessed), but to play MP3 files is not a problem, as I was able to play a m2ts file with no problems. The quality of the audio-visual representation corresponds to 100% strength those of optical media. There was, however, the format mkv problems. This is indeed a container and apparently the Pioneer is not here so compatible with certain codecs like other real or Media Player. I had a music video and two shuttle test for correct 24P-representation, but all three files were not even recognized by the player and could not therefore be played. On my Media Player (HDI Dune Smart D1), however they were immediately recognized and could be play properly without any restriction. A test on the BDP-450 via USB (Stick) revealed that the same could MKVS from there play just as easily (but not on the network, although the MKV format is very well listed in the compatibility list in the manual!
The player still has two further Internet services, namely Youtube and Picasa photo service. Both work as far as I've seen einfwandfrei. To improve the image quality of Youtube videos and generally low quality video footage, there is a menu called "Stream Smoother" (Auto / Off)

Conclusion:
====

The BDP-450 has convinced me in all my major, essential disciplines in its basic function as a Universal Player and exceeded my expectations (excellent, impeccable image quality with Bluray 2D or generally with HD material, also via USB and network, outstanding good sound quality in all formats, almost perfect peace operation since virtually silently conveyed during playback optical media of any kind) and also has given its price quite wertig seeming, chic housing which simple elegance. (Real aluminum front panel, high quality foot stand, clean processing / small gap sizes, uncluttered front), also two HDMI outputs, and especially support for SACD and DVD-Audio (ie a full-fledged universal player that can play all popular optical formats) as well as the more expensive players and shows not least so far also no problems with regard to the reliability / Medienkompatiblität! (But as I wrote at the top need it for a long time or a lot more optical media to really be able to assess conclusively
I can highly recommend the device of all therefore, which is located on these aspects!

To be honest and realistic, even if the availability of certain features certainly has to be measured by the price range of a device or always should, I still prefer a point from the vote, because of my view and according to my scale and comparison rather somewhat disappointing upconversion of SD material (the view of the trade press, I can at this point not all share, but in all other respects, it has in my opinion no exaggeration) and the other smaller weaknesses (materialtechisch and feel inferior remote control, directory assistance or . Information unfriendly display etc.)

I hope this little (if of course subjective) experience report may contain one or the other on the BDP-450 interested in deciding help for or against the purchase of this device a little or facilitate the!

If there are still specific questions / should be open (unless on matters about which I can not say anything, as something hinischtlich the picture quality in 3D mode or even with regard to the iPhone / iPad control, because I do not use such devices / possess) I answer them very happy in the comment section, provided that I am capable of doing ...