Blue Ray players

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Deonlr

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Blu-Ray players

I've been looking at upgrading to BD for a while and from my research it seems the Sony 550 or Panasonic 55 are the best choices ( I need 8ch analogue out for my older amp). The Panasonic has not been released locally and is already discontinued for the 60 and 80 models announced this year. I am struggling to find stock of the Sony, everyone seems to be on back order and most still at over R5k. Does anyone know of Panasonics' plans to release new models locally? From the reviews they seem to come out on top at the moment. Alternatively, does anyone know where I can find a Sony at a reasonable price? What is the general feeling, when are we going to see a significant drop in prices?

Edit: Corrected tittle :eek: thx Garyvdh
 
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I think you mean "Blu-Ray" :p

I am also waiting as long as I can... but I am not optimistic about pricing drops. Look at Large size HD and Flat-panel TVs... sure they have come down, but they are still in the "expensive" range. I think the same is going to happen with Blu-Ray. They will not come down to the level of current DVD players... not for several years... and by then something else will be on the market.
 
Garyvdh said:
They will not come down to the level of current DVD players... not for several years... and by then something else will be on the market.
Click to expand...

good luck waiting for new tech at next to nothing prices. just buy the damn tv, blu-ray rocks.
 
Why not just get a PS3 ?
There should still be 40gb versions available somewhere for reasonable prices.
 
One of the main reasons I am holding out is, the ps3's blu-ray is region locked and there is no way to get passed it. And to get the best out of your blu-ray player you need one of the latest receivers that can handle all of the sound codecs.

So while blu-ray is still a "new" thing, I think I'll stay with my trusty ol dvd player. Another interesting thing I read was that the blu-ray licensing is extremely expensive, almost to the point that it is just not worth bringing a lot of the old more obscure movies over to blu-ray. Don't know if that is true, but if it is, I'll just stick with dvd for a long long time
 
I do accept that I will pay a premium for the latest technology for a while still, I just don't want to buy one and see a 25% price cut the next month.

My biggest problem is that only the top models have 8ch analogue outputs, and most of them are not available locally. I don't understand why companies like Panasonic who has a huge local presence don't release their better players here.

Does anyone know of a retailer who has Sony 550 in stock?

As for availability and re-release of tittles, there are already enough of my favourite tittles available to make it worth while for me and all new releases are duel. Sure I'm never going to replace my whole dvd collection (not without help from the good people at Lotto), but the difference between dvd and BD on a projector is so big that it really is worthwhile replacing your top tittles imho.
 
I also did the research, and the best and cheapest option worked out to be a PS3. I got a 40gb model, and I'm very happy with it (using HDMI). It is mainly used as the media center, and only rarely as the game console (only have 3 games). I prefer my 360 for gaming.

Oh right. I've just properly read your post and seen the 8ch analogue out requirement.

Why don't you consider upgrading your amp?
 
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Keeper said:
good luck waiting for new tech at next to nothing prices. just buy the damn tv, blu-ray rocks.
Click to expand...

Why can't I buy a HD TV for the same price as what I would buy a CRT TV now?

I don't have 10 grand laying around for a decent TV... and then still have to buy the Blu-ray player as well :(

We are not all that rich :p

I need a new car... and I don't even have the money for that. But that would take precedence.

If the HD TVs are all that grand... and they want them to become the standard... then they need to price them at a sane level.

I know somebody in the industry... LG... and he says the wholesalers are ripping off the retailers and the general public on the prices of HD TVs right now.

They have to come down to a more sane level as CRT TVs start dying out.
 
thisgeek said:
Why don't you consider upgrading your amp?
Click to expand...

I have a great H/K AVR 630 which I am not going to part with just for new audio formats, that is why it has 8ch pre amp inputs :D

I will wait for new sound technology before I change the amp, at the moment it can be easily overcome by the 8ch outputs on decent BD players.
 
Garyvdh said:
Why can't I buy a HD TV for the same price as what I would buy a CRT TV now?
Click to expand...
er... because it costs more to make?


I know somebody in the industry... LG... and he says the wholesalers are ripping off the retailers and the general public on the prices of HD TVs right now.
Click to expand...
Riiiiiight, why would they do that? There is serious competition in flat screen tvs. If any wholesaler pushed his prices up,someone else would cut the price. It's called competition. There are no wholesalers pushing the prices up, all are trying to get the prices down in order to sell more units. Your friend obviously doesn't know what he's talking about.
 
Garyvdh said:
Why can't I buy a HD TV for the same price as what I would buy a CRT TV now?

I don't have 10 grand laying around for a decent TV... and then still have to buy the Blu-ray player as well :(

We are not all that rich :p

I need a new car... and I don't even have the money for that. But that would take precedence.

If the HD TVs are all that grand... and they want them to become the standard... then they need to price them at a sane level.

I know somebody in the industry... LG... and he says the wholesalers are ripping off the retailers and the general public on the prices of HD TVs right now.

They have to come down to a more sane level as CRT TVs start dying out.
Click to expand...

Cry me a river!
 
BD Region locking sucks. Cheapest way to watch BD is to buy a R3000 LG BD Burner, a 24 inch LCD computer screen (R5K) and use AnyDVDHD or Fengtao's software to unlock the regions. Use PowerDVD or WinDVD HD to play the video back. This option allows you to watch BDs from USA and Japan (Region A).
 
arf9999 said:
er... because it costs more to make?
Click to expand...
Link? Can you show me what the base unit prices are?
arf9999 said:
Riiiiiight, why would they do that? There is serious competition in flat screen tvs. If any wholesaler pushed his prices up,someone else would cut the price. It's called competition. There are no wholesalers pushing the prices up, all are trying to get the prices down in order to sell more units. Your friend obviously doesn't know what he's talking about.
Click to expand...
Ja, maybe. I mean he only sold a million Rand worth of stock every month last year for one of the leading Electronic Brands in South Africa. So I guess he is a Moron. :rolleyes: I will tell him to give his Sales Award back to the company. ;)

Wait, no maybe you don't know anything of what you are talking about? Have you ever thought of that possibility? :)
 
Garyvdh said:
Link? Can you show me what the base unit prices are?

Ja, maybe. I mean he only sold a million Rand worth of stock every month last year for one of the leading Electronic Brands in South Africa. So I guess he is a Moron. :rolleyes: I will tell him to give his Sales Award back to the company. ;)
Click to expand...

If he thinks that wholesalers are making huge margins on flat screen TVs then he is a moron. <edit> I don't think that he does tbh, I think you may have misunderstood him.
FYI: A Million rand a month in the consumer electronics market in SA is a junior rep position.
Wait, no maybe you don't know anything of what you are talking about? Have you ever thought of that possibility? :)
Click to expand...
You're right, I only have 17 years of product management experience in the industry - hearsay from your rep buddy is much more credible.:rolleyes:
 
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Now Now boys and girls, I started this post to find out about the availability and price of BD players, no cat fights, lets not test the BD disk's scracthproof couting :-P
 
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