Panasonic DMP-BDT500 Blu-ray player
Things have changed since Bluray arrived on the scene. Introduction players from the bigger electronics companies were fairly full-featured, with significant build quality. Now it appears that most mass- in regards to price and assemble consumer players have been in a race to the bottom. In 2013, Panasonic obviously feels the exact same manner. The DMP-BDT500, a higher-end player than their typical fare, concentrates a little more on audio quality than their lower-price versions have done, plus it comes with a build quality I 'ven't seen from the business since the launch of the format.
Sound Ground
The DMP-BDT500 is considerably bigger than all the other Panasonic Blu-ray players I Have reviewed. Nothing feels not outwardly expensive, and that I enjoyed the recessed, touch-sensitive buttons.
There is a simple screen sideways, along with the SD card slot along with a USB port for external drives. The rear panel is nicely carried by the standards of today. You will not get any support but there are double HDMI outputs while running a direct audio connection to an A/V receiver or processor for working video to your screen. In addition, you have a 7.1-channel analog output signal coupled to four stereo Burr Brown 192-kilohertz/32-bit digital-to-analog converters. The player features complete bass management and time alignment for all these output signals, and Panasonic also says that it uses mechanical dampening and better analog parts to cut back chassis vibrations. The 7.1 output signal can be used for a 7.1 system or schism for a committed stereo output signal and a 5.1 output signal. Coaxial and TosLink digital audio outputs may also be included.
In add-on to the leading USB port, there is one to the rear panel at the same time. The connection that is leading is for hard drives or flash drives with sound/video files; the input signal that is rear is for the elective Skype camera system which can be utilized together with the player. An Ethernet interface can also be included for wired network connections, or you also may use the built in Wifi.
The remote is distinctive from the Panasonic remotes I Have used. Instead of offering the typical menu-key layout we have become used to for Bluray players, the firm has chosen to get a touchpad interface. I do not understand how much of an improvement it makes on the general interface with the player while the touchpad did work pretty nicely after I learned the shortcuts. This almost appears like a case of new for the interest of new, as opposed to an effort to repair something that wanted it. But it functioned nicely.
The DMP-BDT500 is around as well equipped as you can wish for when it comes to Blu ray playback and streaming. It supports 2 3 and D D playback for Bluray and supplies just about every streaming-video offering I really could consider. Vudu, Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, CinemaNow, YouTube, Hulu they are all here. It does not support 4K upscaling, despite Panasonic having some lower-priced versions that do.
In Use
Usually when we see players that tout improved sound functionality with higher-quality DACs, we additionally see support for high resolution, audio-only sources. For at least one such format, DVD Audio, Panasonic has included support before, but it does not do so this time around. Nor does it support playback or SACD of DSD files. Granted, neither of those formats is actually a mainstay in the marketplace now, but there is still a slate of DVD-Audio, and quite a few SACD releases on a monthly basis has not gone away entirely either.
Having said that, the Oppo surpasses the Panasonic in virtually every other means, including develop analog sound performance, quality, and audio format support.
The video playback in the Panasonic was everything I anticipated it to be. I have examined every generation of the Bluray players because the beginning of the format, and I Have seldom been disappointed. The DMP-BDT500 uses Panasonic's top of the line colour processing, also it passed all of our High Definition tests with flying colours. DVD playback was also fairly good, though not quite on perfect level with that of the top players out there now (a little small ring would creep in on our test patterns and sometimes with DVD playback stuff).
Panasonic supplies a slew of different video and sound improvement characteristics, and the majority of these left me cold. The chroma upsampling of Panasonic is one feature I continue to support, and continues to do an excellent job with chroma detail, nevertheless.
Analog sound playback was not fairly bad with this price point. I utilized the player using various stuff, including regular Blu-rays concert discs, and a variety of high-rez FLAC files. Setup was simple using the outstanding interface of Panasonic.
I'll confess that it is tough to ascertain when utilizing the station analog connection instead of HDMI, just how much of an edge this player would offer with an A/V receiver in exactly the same budget range. In the latter instance, you are relying on the digital-to-analog converters in the receiver as opposed to in the player. I do not have any receivers in my theatre room, so the only choice I had for making this decision was my Anthem Statement D2v 3D A/V chip, which sells for almost $10,000. However, the DMP-BDT500 seemed rather good with both Blu ray and CD playback through the station analog output signals as well as the player's onboard D/A converters. It'd likely more than meet most users, even of the breed that is audiophile. Low level detail was not quite up to snuff but I was surprised how nicely the Panasonic held up. The soundstage was incredibly natural, as well as the midrange was smooth as silk. Feature films seemed good, whether they were over the top summer hits or plays that were nuanced. Finally, there was a lot to enjoy here. But without a similar A/V receiver to conflict against, I am not convinced that using the analog output signals of the Panasonic could not be worse than using an HDMI connection in a pretty competent receiver, of.
I've a mixed view of the Panasonic DMP-BDT500. It does a magnificent job using its video functionality, and its own price point makes it an easy recommendation for that. Considering that the Panasonic also lacks support for DVD Audio, SACD, and DSD the audiophile formats that are most desired I'd urge that budding audiophiles spend somewhat more if they are in pursuit of sound playback that is amazing. On the flip side, if you are buying budget choice to supplement a heritage receiver that lacks decoding Bluray audio signals, or you simply do not care about those high-rez audio formats, this Panasonic is a fantastic option you will not repent.
