Panasonic Blu-Ray Disc Player

Details
Accessories
Reviews
Photos
Q&A

Product Details

Panasonic Blu-Ray Disc Player, Model DMPBD30K

Key Features:

Blu-ray with a Difference
Blu-ray means incredible full-HD images, breathtaking sound and 5x the data capacity of DVDs. Now Blu-ray means something else too: an entirely new movie-viewing experience, made possible by Final Standard Profile, which adds features never seen before, like four Picture-in-Picture modes including Enhanced Commentary (from directors and actors), Backstage Pass, Peek Behind the Animation and Audio Mixing
Images So Real, You Feel Like You're in the Picture
Combining a PHL Reference Chroma Processor with advanced P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing) imaging technology, UniPhier� � the Precise Digital Video processor � reproduces crisp, natural colors that are extremely faithful to the original movie. It does this by up-sampling the color information in decoded video signals, while the super high-speed P4HD up-converts content recorded in 480i/p, 720p or 1080i format to 1080p by correctly generating each pixel according to information drawn from up to 60 surrounding pixels. The image motion of each pixel is then categorized into one of 16 levels, from stationary to super fast. Image quality is further enhanced by Diagonal Processing, which creates smooth, sharp diagonal lines, and 3:2 Pull-Down, which optimizes the processing accordingly for film or video making the images look natural and lifelike. In addition, the DMP-BD30's HDMI output is Deep Color compatible, with 4,096 steps of gradation for even smoother, finer-quality images that meet Hollywood's stringent demands, so you can experience movies just the way they were meant to be experienced
Incredible Sound Completes the Hi-Def Experience
With Precise Digital Audio, Blu-ray's beautiful images are complemented by exceptionally pure, accurate sound thanks to Dolby� TrueHD and DTS-HD�. UniPhier�'s advanced processing capability decodes these audio signals with high precision and outputs them in bitstream form with no degradation. It also brings re-mastering to Blu-ray for the first time, which compensates for data lost during the compression process creating a fuller, richer sound
HD Networking with SD Card
The convenient SD card slot on the DMP-BD30 allows easy viewing of hi-def videos and photos on your HDTV. Videos shot with a Panasonic HD camcorder are output in their original 1920x1080 resolution, while still images taken with a Panasonic Lumix� digital camera are up-converted and output in 1920x1080 resolution
One-Touch Control from Your TV's Remote
With EZ Sync� HDAVI Control, you can control your Blu-ray Disc� player � and all your home theater components � with your TV's remote2. Simply press the EZ Sync� button and select "BD Player" on the menu screen; the BD player's menu will be displayed and you can begin playback

Features:

Format

BD-ROM Playback: BD-Video (Final Standard Profile)
DVD Playback: DVD-Video
DVD-RAM Playback: DVD-VR, JPEG, AVCHD(H.264)
DVD-R/-RW/-R(DL) Playback: DVD-Video, DVD-VR, AVCHD(H.264)
+R/+R(DL)/+RW Playback: Video, AVCHD
CD, CD-R/-RW Playback: CD-DA, MP3(CD-R/-RW only), JPEG(CD-R/ RW only)
SD CARD: AVCHD, JPEG

Video

P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Progressing for HD): Yes
Precise Pixel Generation: Yes
16-Level Motion Detection w/ Pixel-Based Motion Adaptive: Yes
Diagonal Processing: Yes
3:2/2:2 Pull-Down Progressive Processing: Yes(3:2 Pull-Down Only)
i/p Conversion for 1080p 3 Playback: Yes
Up-conversion to 1080p 4 Playback: Yes
Video D/A Converter: 148.5MHz/12bit
HD i/p Conversion: Yes
Progressive Scan: Yes
Digital Noise Reduction: Yes
Picture Mode: Yes (Normal/Soft/Fine/Cinema/User)
Picture Adjustment: Yes (Brightness, Color, Contrast, Sharpness, Gamma Correction)

Audio

Audio D/A Converter: 192kHz/24bit
Dolby Digital/Dolby Digital Plus Decoder: Bitstream output using required HDMI� connection
Dolby True HD Decoder: Bitstream output using required HDMI� connection
DTS/DTS-HD High Resolution/Master Audio Decoder: Bitstream output using required HDMI� connection
Re-Master for DVD/CD: Yes (all formats)
Advanced Surround (V.S.S.): Yes
Dialogue Enhancer: Yes
Dynamic Range Compression: Yes

Convenient

EZ SyncTM (HDAVI Control 2): Yes
Super Hi Speed Scan: Yes(x200)
Audio/JPEG Navigation Menu: Yes

Input / Output

HDMI�
- Support version: HDMI� V1.3 with Deep Color�
- 1080p output: 24p(for BD-ROM only)/60p
Component Video Out (Y, PB, PR): Yes
S-Video Out: Yes
Video Out: Yes
5.1ch Audio Out: Yes
2ch Audio Out: Yes
Digital Audio Out: Yes (1 optical, 1 coaxial)

General

Audio S/N: 115dB
Dynamic Range: 100dB
Power Source: AC 120V, 60Hz
Power Consumption: 25W (approx)

Approximate Dimensions:

Width: 16-15/16"
Height: 2-5/16"
Depth: 12-5/8"

Approximate Weight:

Unit: 7.3 lbs
Shipping: 10 lbs

Warranty Information:

Manufacturer's Warranty (authorized online retailer):
1 year parts and labor

Download Files (.pdf):

Footnotes:

Discs recorded and finalized on DVD video recorders/cameras
Playability may vary depending on the contents, discs and quality of the recording
Availability of 1080p video sources is currently limited to sources such as Panasonic Blu-ray Disc� players. HDMI connection may be required
Availability of 1080p video sources is currently limited to sources such as Panasonic Blu-ray Disc� players. HDMI connection may be required

Reviews

PRODUCT REVIEW SUMMARY

Average Customer Rating:

(based on 13 review)

Customers most agreed on the following attributes:

Pros:	High Quality Picture (13), Easy To Set Up (12), Easy To Use (12), Consistent Performance (10), Durable (7)
Best Uses:	Home (11)
Describe Yourself:	Tech Savvy (8), Gearhead (4), Practical (3), Professional (3)

Already own it? Write a Review

REVIEWED BY 13 CUSTOMERS

« Previous12 Next »

Displaying Reviews 1 - 13 of 13

Very Happy!

By John from Rancho Palos Verdes, CA on 05/6/2008.

How long have you owned it:	A month or less
Pros:	Durable, Easy To Use, Works as advertised, Consistent Performance, High Quality Picture
Best Uses:	Home
Cons:	Manual is confusing
Describe Yourself:	Professional, Tech Savvy, Practical, Gearhead

We use it for watching Blu-Ray movies (and, of course, older movies, as well). It is very capable, and easy to use once set up.

Excellent Blu-Ray Player / MP3 Player

By Pikeman from Connecticut on 04/18/2008.

How long have you owned it:	A month or less
Pros:	Easy To Use, Consistent Performance, Durable, Easy To Set Up, High Quality Picture
Best Uses:	Home
Describe Yourself:	Professional

Excellent picture quality, quiet, easy setup, and looks great. Even my standard definition DVD collection looks better using this Blu-Ray player. Even plays MP3's...just insert your MP3 disc and press play, so you don't need that dedicated CD/MP3 player anymore (nor do you need to turn on your TV to get the MP3 player going). Since this unit does not record, I kept my DVD player/recorder in my home theater so I can continue to record my favorite tv programs. So my 2 shelf unit holds my center speaker and A/V Receiver on the middle shelf, my stacked DVD player/recorder and Blu-Ray DVD player on the bottom shelf, and my satellite receiver on the bottom shelf next to my DVD units. And my XBOX 360 standing next to the stand, and my sony 52" Bravia XB4 LCD on top.

Excellent Product and Price!!!

By D from CT on 04/14/2008.

Pros:	Consistent Performance, Easy To Set Up, High Quality Picture, Easy To Use
Describe Yourself:	Gearhead
Best Uses:	Home
How long have you owned it:	One-to-three months

Excellent quality, so far no problems.

Great Blu-Ray Disc Player - Panasonic

By JakeAir from Irvine, CA on 04/13/2008.

How long have you owned it:	A month or less
Pros:	Consistent Performance, Easy To Set Up, Easy To Use, High Quality Picture
Best Uses:	Home
Describe Yourself:	Practical, Couch Potato, Tech Savvy

The only negative is that it lacks a zoom feature that allows you to magnify the picture and then pan and tilt in the picture area.

Love it!

By Movie Mom from Sacramento, CA on 04/11/2008.

How long have you owned it:	A month or less
Pros:	High Quality Picture, Easy To Use, Easy To Set Up
Describe Yourself:	Professional, Practical

So far I am very pleased with the player. I have a 50" Panasonic 1080p plasma t.v. and watching the Blu-ray movies is amazing. The two integrate seamlessly. We've actually stopped going out to the movies as much as we used to because of the spectacular quality of Blu-ray discs on this player with our t.v. One of the only things I don't like about it is the clunky on-screen "text boxes" that pop up to let you know that a function is disabled, you are in the settings menu, etc. For a "latest technology" product you would think they would use well-designed graphics and not look like they were created with a data processing program circa 1980. The player is also a little slow-reacting and noisy when it opens/closes and starts. Before this unit we were using my son's PS3 and (once booted up) it seemed to work much faster. But all in all, those are minor complaints. The unit works great!

Wow.

By Steven from Boca Raton, FL on 03/24/2008.

How long have you owned it:	A month or less
Cons:	Difficult To Use
Pros:	High Quality Picture, Consistent Performance, Easy To Set Up
Best Uses:	Home
Describe Yourself:	Tech Savvy

Great picture...blu-ray looks better then real life.

SIMPLICITY WINS EVERY TIME

By Richdahoff from Chicago on 02/12/2008.

Best Uses:	Bedroom, Dorm Room, High Volume Usage, Home, Office
Pros:	Consistent Performance, Beautiful to look, Durable, Easy To Set Up, Easy To Use, High Quality Picture
How long have you owned it:	One-to-three months
Describe Yourself:	Tech Savvy

My first HD Player easy to set up and use.Even makes my regular DVD's look better. Quiet operation without a lot of unnessary bells and wistles. Looks great, plays great all I can ask for. Great price, looks and performance. It's a show piece in my home.

performed as exspected

By mabobry from rehoboth beach de on 01/29/2008.

Pros:	Easy To Set Up, Durable, Easy To Use, High Quality Picture, Consistent Performance
Best Uses:	Home
How long have you owned it:	One-to-three months
Describe Yourself:	Tech Savvy

performed as exspected

Fantastic picture and sound

By Muskrat from Florida on 01/17/2008.

How long have you owned it:	A month or less
Pros:	Durable, Consistent Performance, Easy To Use, Easy To Set Up, High Quality Picture
Best Uses:	Home
Describe Yourself:	Tech Savvy

I have a 1080p plasma. The Blueray affords me the 1080p signal. You can see and hear the difference!

When it works it is fabulous

By clokman from houston on 01/9/2008.

How long have you owned it:	A month or less
Describe Yourself:	Gearhead
Pros:	High Quality Picture, Easy To Set Up, Easy To Use
Best Uses:	Home Theatre
Cons:	Inconsistent

The player stumbles on a few titles, namely the Planet Earth series. Panasonic tech support will not reply to my emails. But, when the player works it looks and sounds like a million bucks!

Best Blu Ray Player Currently Available!

By Cory from Los Angeles, CA on 01/2/2008.

How long have you owned it:	A month or less
Pros:	High Quality Picture, Easy To Use, Easy To Set Up, Consistent Performance, Durable
Best Uses:	Home
Describe Yourself:	Tech Savvy

Amazing picture when connected to a 1080p television! I did a lot of research on several blu ray players and found this one to be the best. Highly recommended!

some issues, but mostly very good

By billythec from NJ shore on 12/31/2007.

How long have you owned it:	A month or less
Pros:	Durable, Easy To Use, High Quality Picture, Easy To Set Up
Describe Yourself:	Gearhead
Best Uses:	Home
Cons:	Inconsistent

OK. Still spotty performance on some Blu Ray titles (cut outs). It says version 1.1 and I downloaded version 1.2 off of the web onto a CD-R and it didn't take the upgrade saying it was already upgraded (?). Some cutouts on ratatoille disc. Weird but the tray is on the left and the power button is above it and the tray open is on the right and the play buttons are on the right... very strange. also there are no cursor (left/right/enter) on the unit so you have to use the remote which is strange. and if your player is above eye height you cant read the open/close and power on/off buttons. seems to up-convert ok, wish it were a little better. remote is decent, but can't really control the whole system in a pinch. no codes for Rotel devices.

Best Blu-ray player and an amazing value

By Scubawoman from Southern California on 12/25/2007.

How long have you owned it:	A month or less
Pros:	High Quality Picture, Easy To Set Up, Consistent Performance, Easy To Use
Best Uses:	Home, High Volume Usage
Describe Yourself:	Tech Savvy

I had a Sony BDP-S1 which was generally reliable but will not pass TrueHD or DTS-MA which is a must if you want the full effect of having HD. The BD30 has excellent picture quality for blu-ray and almost as good upconverting of SD DVD as my Toshiba HD-XA2. There are numerous picture controls for adjusting to your particular taste. No issues playing any discs as has been a problem with people who own Samsung players. If you have a new receiver with HDMI 1.3 and DTS, TrueHD capability, this player will bitstream all the audio codecs (the player does not decode them internally). After listening to discs with DTS-MA I don't know if Dolby 5.1 will cut it for me anymore. The sound difference is amazing. A must have unit. Although it doesn't have ethernet capabilities it can still be updated by computer download and writing to cd. It is a simple procedure (there have already been 2 firmware updates, the latest today). People with Mac computers can do the same. I don't really care for other internet capabilities. The build of the unit is not the best but who cares when it delivers everything I want for audio and video. This is a truly amazing player with unbelieveable value. Together with my Onkyo TX-NR905 and Toshiba HD-XA2 I'm set. Who needs a dual format player with problems when you can have the best for the same if not slightly higher price.

« Previous12 Next »

Displaying Reviews 1 - 13 of 13