The Pioneer 450 I have what it looks like, finally found the right device for me. Why, I would like to explain here.
In addition I have to go back a bit further and would like to note also that in my review I am referring primarily to the important criteria for me, these are the 2D image and sound quality (3D I use not), operating noise of the player, playback performance USB media and optics / haptics.
I had the last few years many players home of diverse brands (Panasonic, Sony, LG, Philips, Samsung) and therefore I think quite well that's strenghts and weaknesses and also assess the development of the devices.
Here, the following points are my eyes fall:
1. The image quality with Blu ray discs (for me one of the main points) does not differ extremely in the different devices. Nevertheless, it is equally wrong when people argue that here there are no differences. Ideally, a player has to the 1080p / 24 signal 1: 1 may be adopted by the BD disc and play completely unadulterated. Sounds simple, but in practice this hardly creates a device. So there is very probably (though quite small) differences in the picture quality of Blu Ray movies. I can only recommend that you pay attention to how certain scenes are reproduced in detail (fine structures in the background, for example) and how liquid the 24p-representation (camera pans etc). Colours and contrast have been playing in my opinion usually less a role or are a matter of attitude (again, but there's better and worse equipment).
2. The company Panasonic is the pure image quality actually always right at the front compared to the competition of the same vintage. Therefore, I had first looked at the Pana 234er. The offered a great image, had fleet charging times and was good by the operator forth. But what totally bothered me was the processing, which brings us to the next point:
3. It occurs to me extremely, that the processing (housing, drive, insulation, feel the keys etc) from year to year is lousy and at almost any of the known, major manufacturers. When unpacking the equipment has since 2013 not later than the feeling only to have plastic parts in hand, almost breaking the. The fact that parts are getting smaller and thinner may be nice, but me no good at all not. Thus it is hardly surprising that the issue volume "a huge problem of the current Blu Ray player devices that are processed, can not logically be inaudible only advantage.. The prices of the players are becoming cheaper (is logical because in the is producing saved so great). The majority of the equipment moves between 70 and 130 euros, which was unthinkable some years ago.
Since I already have a black Pioneer AV receiver in my 2-part rack, I got the idea, me time to look at things in Pioneer Blu Ray Player. I wanted a visually appealing player who is better processed as all those cheap plastic Heimer, but on the other hand is not as expensive as the premium player made by Oppo, Denon or Marantz.
When unpacking the Pioneer I had a good feeling. Here you have finally again a real chunk "in his hand with fat legs and not as a fragile, thin plastic board.
Of course, the housing does not reach the quality of the aforementioned 500-1000 Euro player, but I was just important to have something in his hand Higher quality than the mass of 100 Euro player.
I have connected the Pioneer on the two HDMI connections (a cable directly to the TV and the other directly to the receiver) - so should we achieve the maximum quality in picture and sound. Whether this type of connection really brings more than the standard method (Player-> Receiver-> TV), I doubt more (digital is now times digital), but maybe someone here has ever compared and can enlighten me. Important: Only the HDMI port "MAIN" uses the high-level picture-chip! So necessarily always use this connector and the second terminal ("Sub") if then only addition and solely for the sound!
Power and disc tray on!
Even when you extend the disc tray you realize again that this is a player is acting just a little more stable than the cheaper competition.
Then the operating noise test "(Note: The Pana 234er fell through here, because he produced to loud noise during movie playback, an also tested Samsung F6500 is because the way worse)!
When reading the discs, the Pioneer is very noisy. Because initially I was shocked. But then .... as soon as the movie is, I could absolutely hear no more from 4 yards even without sound. Tip - so I imagine that! But I suppose the loud reading gladly accept if during the movie I have for my absolute silence.
In the image quality with Blu Ray movies of Pioneer plays 450s with top.
I had as I said already many players at home. The Pioneer is definitely better than the Philips 7600, better than all the LG players by 2012 (2013er I had not been here) and also better as the Samsung F6500er. Compared to the image technically great Pana 234er he even represents a little more detail, but is by contrast a tad weaker ago I think. Is outstanding, as well as in Pana, the stability of the 24p playback (absolute liquid and bomb fixed image). I would put the Pioneer approximately equal to my old Sony S760er who was also outstanding and at that time cost 450 euros (about this I have also written a review then).
DVDs presents the Pioneer is good, but can not quite keep up with the Panasonic players here (here the 2012 Pana models are still considered to be the best thing there is the Blu Ray Player sector).
I can only say that this probably due to bitstream transmission is not better or worse as with the other players to the sound itself. Part I imagine though that the Pioneer makes more pressure than the other players, but because of the logic of the art, which can hardly be.
But what stands out: Audio CDs sound really very very good, and certainly better than the Pana 234er or other players. Whether here the extremely well together 450 with my Pioneer receiver, may be natural or it is simply the quality of the player itself, which would not surprise me at Pioneer.
To stream I can not say anything because I do not use that. In addition, the Player no wireless, but would only be upgraded for using an accessory.
The playability of USB is very well (Photos eh no problem and my SD and HD videos of digicam he plays).
Note you have here only that the folder must be named according to the USB device, so it works. The video folder should always be named with the file extension (eg Videoaufnahmen_MTS "or Urlaub_TS").
The disc load times of 450s are quick and are roughly on a par with competitors (I even stopped times compared to Pana 234er times - you will hardly notice a difference).
This point for me was not exactly unimportant (my very good Sony S760 I had at that time, for example, sells only because of the long load times).
The cold start (ie enable power strip and wait until the device is ready for operation) is okay, but as with most players still too long (approximately 20 seconds) - after all, leaves the disc tray exit immediately after switching on. This point is Samsung for example very well I have had the experience.
Some criticism deserve the remote control, whose assignment is quite confusing and their tactile nature can not keep up on the housing with the fairly good buttons.
Also I have here written as in some reviews, confirm that you have goals sometimes quite precisely with the FB to send signals to the device.
But since I always use a universal FB, this point falls to me not so bad consequence.
Positive to mention would be that the device display, in several stages dimmable is to (almost) entirely of (only a red dot is still visible) I find that very well, because I usually watch movies in a dark room and then annoying somehow every little light symbol on the devices or distract from the image.
Something does disturb me is the fact that the Information overlays on the current disc (runtime etc film) are little more confusing than the competition. I want to view, for example, with one keystroke immediately how long the entire duration of a film. When Pioneer I have run here several keystrokes.
Overall I am very satisfied with the Pioneer BDP-450, because the device for that price, first provides a picture quality that is better than most competitors, secondly, processing and feel that is unparalleled in this price range (as I said .... a real chunk that looks visually simply much higher quality than the entire thin and fragile competitor) and thirdly, does not cause any disturbing noises in the movie mode (and which is now really no more often the case).
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IMPORTANT ADDENDUM (the end of June 2013):
I am sorry to the players but a star now disconnect.
Reason: My buddy has also gained the BDP450. For him the drive is unfortunately clearly audible during movie operation. A fairly high sound is audible and quite annoying. This leaves progresses season of Blu Ray discs to (normally starting Min. 30 is hardly something to hear), but it shows that even Pioneer is not spared from the series dispersion described above, extreme. Too bad! I Sample the add here yet because it will be important for many - so be sure to try a different device, as long as the player is too loud when playing! One can have good or bad luck.
