Product Description

The DMP-BD30 from Panasonic renders images that are so real you?ll feel like they're jumping out from the screen at you! The DMP-BD30 comes with an HDMI socket for smoother, finer-quality graphics, so you can watch films the way they were meant to be seen. The DMP-BD30 is also compatible with a number of different supports such as DVD-R and dual-layer discs, and even has a removable front panel, revealing a slot for SD and SDHC cards that allows you to enjoy digital images directly on your TV or share photos with others around you.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12726 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Panasonic
• Model: DMP-BD30EG-K
• Released on: 2008-02-11
• Dimensions: 7.28 pounds

Manufacturer's Description

PHL Reference Chroma Processor The unique PHL Reference Chroma Processor reproduces the fine details and nuances of Blu-ray video streams that have been recorded with a high quality image compression system. It generates images with all the clarity and depth that BD-Video movies have to offer.

P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing) P4HD processes more than 15 billion pixels per second and applies the optimal processing to every pixel. It can render progressive images superbly, expresses motion smoothly, and draws crisp diagonal lines.

BONUSVIEW (FSP) The BONUSVIEW (FSP) – an advanced function added to BD-ROM Profile 1 Ver.1.1 - creates a range of exciting new entertainment possibilities. It introduces new functions such as Picture-in-Picture (which displays a second image in a sub-window) and Audio Mixing (enabling you to switch the sound between the main and sub-windows). The BONUSVIEW will allow new kinds of bonus movie content.

	Picture-in-Picture With Picture-in-Picture, a small sub-window is displayed over the main image thus opening a world of additional opportunities.
	Audio-Mixing The Audio-Mixing function lets you choose which soundtrack you would like to listen to: the one from the content playing in the main window, the one from the sub-window, or both at the same time.
	Future Functions The future is expected to bring a host of imaginative new features. For example, you may be able to purchase and download additional content from the website onto an SD card, and play the BD movie and the content on the SD card at the same time, for new entertainment possibilities.
	Stunning 7.1 Surround Sound in Studio Quality Besides the picture quality revolution that Blu-ray provides, BD30 now presents a totally new level of audio experience due to huge additional disc capacity. The DMP-BD30 supports HDMI™ V.1.3 specifi cations, so it can output high bit rate audio signals (Dolby® TrueHD, DTS™-HD) encoded on Blu-ray Discs in bitstream. If used with a compatible AV Receiver, the resulting audio is studio master quality sound.
	HD Networking The DMP-BD30 comes equipped with a slot for SD cards. Just take the SD card from your digital still camera or HD camcorder, and you‘re ready to view HD photos and motion images on your TV. Linking with an HD Camcorder The DMP-BD30 can play back AVCHD-format images shot with an HD camcorder, such as the Panasonic HDC-SD9. Images recorded onto the camcorder SD card are output directly from the DMP-BD30 HDMI terminal in their original, high-quality 1920 x 1080 resolution. The DMP-BD30 also provides an AVCHD Direct Navigator function that makes it easy to search for particular scenes.
	Linking with a Digital Camera The DMP-BD30 can play back JPEG still images from an SD card, such as those recorded with a Lumix DMC-FX35 digital camera. The DMP-BD30 can output the images to 1920 x 1080 resolution – ideal for a Full-HD TV – and output them via the HDMI terminal.* Using the Slide show playback feature, you can play a music CD at the same time you‘re showing the photos, so viewers enjoy both beautiful images and their favourite music. * JPEG and other still image sources converted to 1920 x 1080 resolution, while of high quality, will exhibit somewhat lower subjective image resolution than true, native 1080p full-HD sources.

Multi-Format Playback Panasonic Blu-ray Players can play back a big variety of different formats from different types of media. Enjoy all different kinds of media and content in brilliant quality. Media: BD-ROM, BD-RE (Dual Layer), BD-R (Dual Layer), DVD, DVD-RAM, DVD-R (DL), DVD-RW, +R (DL), +RW, CD, CD-R/-RW, SD Memory Card. Examples of formats*: AVCHD, JPEG, DivX, MP3

Box Contents

• Blu-ray Disc player
• Remote control
• 2x batteries for remote control
• Full User manual
• Audio/Video cable
• Guarantee card

Customer Reviews

Panasonic DMP-BD30
This is my first Blu-ray player and will go alongside a Toshiba EP35 HD-DVD player on a Samsung LE46F86 telly and Onkyo 705 AV receiver.

It is one of the first Profile 1.1 players to be available in the UK, which is why I waited for it. Profile 1.1 means that it will play the Picture-In-Picture commentary that some may be interested in.

The HD picture is excellent, easily on-par with HD-DVD. Cars looked stunning. Spiderman 3 is very good indeed. SD DVDs up-scaled very well, I could not see any difference between an up-scaled DVD played on either the BD30 or the EP35, which is quite an achievement.

TrueHD was available on the discs and sounded fantastic. Note that there is no on-board decoding of the newer codecs (TrueHD, DD+, DTS-HD) so you will need to bitstream to a suitable AV receiver that can decode them.

The BD30 is fast to turn on and fast to load. Put your ear to it and you can hear the faint fan, but you have to have your head against it! There was no detectable noise from the disc mechanism either.

If you are waiting for Profile 2.0 (to connect it to the Internet) or have an older AV receiver and need on-board decoding, then the Panasonic DMP-BD50 may be worth waiting for. But the BD30 is excellent and easily recommended.

07/11/08 *Note that the BD30 is being replaced by the BD35 which does do Profile 2.0 and does have Ethernet.

A good value Blu-ray player for the masses? Yes !
This player is, on the whole, good value for money, and a good introduction to the world of blu-ray. The picture quality, when given a good source disc and hooked up to a decent tv is very good. Most commentators who have undertaken an A v B comparison of the BD-30 versus the PS3 feel that this Panasonic model manages to bring out just a bit more detail and its pictures look a bit more vibrant than the PS3, and I have to agree. It is one of the smallest Blu-ray players on the market, by the way, being somewhat slimmer (in height and depth) than most other models, especially the `chunky' Sony ones. Sound-wise, it delivers - if you have the kit to process HD surround sound then you are in for a treat - 7.1 HD quality sound is noticeably crisper with greater dynamic range than `old-fashioned' 5.1 DD or DTS. . If you don't have a 7.1 HD compatible surround processor, don't panic, you can output sound via the optical out to a 5.1 surround processor and it will `downscale' the 7.1 HD soundtrack to 5.1 DD or DTS without a problem (shame the manual isn't very clear on what menu options to set for this to work though). Note that, unlike its more expensive sibling the BD-50, the BD-30 does not perform on-board 7.1 HD decoding, so to get the latest and greatest in HD sound you need a suitable HD-compliant amplifier and speaker set (note also some reported glitches with Onkyo surround amps that may have been fixed in BD-30 firmware 1.7, subject to confirmation).

What about up-scaling of standard def DVD material? Honestly, I have heard complaints about this, but I have found it to do a reasonable job to be honest. If you already have a very good up-scaling DVD player though, hang on to it, and do an A v B comparison between it and the BD-30 before ditching it. But honestly, it's not as bad at up-scaling as some people using test discs and patterns have made it out to be.

Is it worth getting a blu-ray player if your HD-ready TV is only 720p/1080i compatible, as opposed to being capable of `full' 1080p HD? Absolutely - my 32 inch Pannie is only capable of 1080i but you still notice the difference between HD and standard definition.

So, summing up:-
PROS: Great picture and sound quality; frequent firmware updates from Panasonic; 1.1 compliant; small form factor; good value
CONS: Remote design is clunky; no on-board decoding of 7.1/HD sound; build quality feels a little flimsy (sorry, "Made in Slovakia" doesn't instil great confidence - no offence to Slovaks, but I still like "Made in Japan" where possible, even if its old-fashioned)

Good demo discs? Casino Royale, I am Legend, Planet Earth box-set (I know, it's not all shot in HD, but the HD scenes do look amazing, and are presented full-screen, unlike most movies).

Pure Panasonic Pleasure!
Just taken receipt of my Panasonic DMP-BD30, which is a total breeze to setup, connected to my 37" Samsung LE37R88BD LCD TV & my Onkyo TX-SR605 HDMI Amplifier. Everything works perfectly & communicates, each with the other in perfect harmony. You may have read reviews that state this BD player is not compatible with Samsung tvs....this is absolutely not the case. Some have even reported audio glitches with the Onkyo 605...this again is not based in any evidence that I have. Not watched a movie all the way through yet, but was not aware of any sound problems. If its going to happen, it will happen. It will not be random or intermittant, such is the nature of 'digital'.

This is the first BD disc-spinner that can send the raw audio in Bitstream format to a suitably equipped Amp for decoding. My PS3 was my former BD player and could send DolbyTrueHD & DTS-MA in PCM. Now, for the first time my Onkyo displays DTS HD Master Audio & DolbyTrueHD in its display window!!!

Picture quality is on a par, if not much more detailed than the PS3 with excellent black levels & colour reproduction. Sound quality through my Onkyo is also excellent with superb sound placement & LFE levels. So far I am pleased with my purchase. This has, after all, won 5 major awards. Even though the DMP-BD50 is on its way complete with Ethernet connection, I don't personally see the point. This machine does everything that a competant BD player should do, what else do you need? Highly Recommended!