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ecrabb
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:06 pm Post subject: New Marantz BD players announced today... |
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OK, so I've been annoyed with the BD player selection for a long time. I want to migrate from the PS3 eventually for BD playback, but there just hasn't been anything that tripped my trigger. It seems for the last couple of years, we've had a choice between that cheap, plasticy players from LG, Samsung and Sony with nice networking and streaming features, or the more expensive players like the Denon with good design and build quality, but with little or no streaming or other capabilities. The Oppo seems awesome from the reviews, but it's not exactly cheap at nearly $300, and it just seems kinda plasticy and well, Oppo. What am I to do?
Looks like the less-expensive of the two new models Marantz just announced might be right up my alley... I'll have to wait and see what the reviews say about PQ compared to say, the Oppo, but I'll cross my fingers...
3D, SACD, DVD-A, YouTube and Netflix streaming, and DLNA support all in something with some decent industrial design and materials!
Marantz introduces 3D-ready BD Players
| Quote: | With a history of building some of the best gear in consumer electronics, Marantz America is entering a new product category with the announcement of its new 3D-ready Blu-ray players.
The newly introduced UD5005 and UD7005 will replace the existing BD5004 and BD7004 disc players and they will be available in August and September for $500 and $900 respectively.
Marantz says the players offer universal compatibility with the ability to play CDs, DVDs, DVD-Audio (DVD-A), Super Audio CD (SACDs) and Blu-ray discs.
The network friendly Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) 1.5-certified universal disc players are also labeled "future-ready" by the company because their upgradeability, which is highlighted by its support of 3D Blu-ray disc playback.
Kevin Zarow, vice president of sales and marketing for Marantz America, says the players offer home theater enthusiasts the ability to tie together today's variety of media through the use of a single component.
"Our new UD7005 and UD5005 Universal Media Players are literally ‘game changers’ in
the source component marketplace," says Zarow.
"Both units are much more than simply advanced Blu-ray players. They are 100 percent future-ready media players that offer today’s discriminating consumers an affordable way to take advantage of all today’s most advanced high-performance content sources. In addition to supporting HDMI 1.4 and 3D capability, they will play virtually any 12cm digital audio or digital video disc ever created, and provide maximum audio and video enjoyment.”
Technically, the players support its media playback through the use of 24- and 32-bit digital-to-analog (DACs) converters, HDMI 1.4a digital outputs and legacy electronics support with multichannel analog outputs.
In addition to these features, the players also offer Netflix and Youtube streaming, and industrial designs developed in-house by the company. |
If retail is $499, then maybe $400 or so might be doable for the UD5005. I'll be watching these to see how they review!
SC
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emdawgz1
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Posts: 7949
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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buy the danged thing and you review it.
dont you have an av shop that will let you return if you dont like it?
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 10270
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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Apple is coming out with a BD drive, you know. Might I suggest holding off until September, SC?
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ecrabb
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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Wait, what? I hear pretty much most (if not all) of the Apple rumors, and I haven't heard a damn thing about BD on Mac... It's a major thorn in my side, too. The last official word from Apple was from Jobs a few years ago, that Sony licensing from BD was a "bag of hurt", that the DRM was too draconian, and that disc-based media wasn't where things were going. Yeah, thanks Steve... Give me my effin' Blu-ray playback on OS X.
Where did you read about that, Wan?
SC
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greg_mitch
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 5320
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 1:28 am Post subject: |
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He is just poking fun at you SC...come on...you should be able to pick up on that.
I have seen that the Sony MegaChangers are running less than $450 now! I would be tempted to try that...if I knew the browsing interface was at least half way attractive (a la Media Browser, etc.).
I don't see what is so bad about the Oppo BDP-80...sure it is plastic...but come on...that doesn't make one damn bit of difference.
If you want to waste some money on an aluminum face and a few more codecs or features 90% of people don't regularly use, just get the 83 or 83SE!
If I ever go CIH...I will be getting the BDP-80 for the caption relocation features.
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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I had to iPoke him.
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ecrabb
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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You guys are HILARIOUS. Or not.
Greg, I have no interest in a changer. It makes no sense to me... Who watches the same sh*t over and over? I have time to watch one or two movies a week... That's like 50 movies/year max... Why would I want to have 400 movies loaded up? I don't know... I guess it would be good if you had kids so they weren't handling the discs, and they like to watch the same discs over and over and over... For me, nah. You might be interested, though... The UI probably uses the newer "XMB" like their TVs and similar to the PS3. It's probably pretty decent (in stark contrast to the DVD changers of yesteryear). I haven't seen one, though.
Sorry, I just don't like the Oppo. I know the performance is excellent, but it's cheap Korean crap. Crap remote, crap materials and crap build quality. I know it doesn't matter once you turn the lights off, but still... It's like if Kia built a car that actually performed pretty well... I still wouldn't be interested in because, well... It's a Kia. And yes, if I were going to buy an Oppo, it would be the BDP-80... I don't need any of that other stuff... And slapping an aluminum faceplate with the ugly Oppo logo silkscreened onto the 83 (but otherwise identical in build quality) doesn't quite do it for me.
The thing is, the BDP-80 is $289 on Amazon. If this new Marantz offered comparable performance for <$150 or so more, that would be well worth it me for a piece of gear I'd probably have in the theater for 2-3 years. I actually want and will use a lot of those features in the Marantz none of the Oppos have: Netflix, YouTube, DVD-A, SACD, and DLNA. So, there's no comparing the two for what I want.
SC
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greg_mitch
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 5320
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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| ecrabb wrote: | You guys are HILARIOUS. Or not.
Greg, I have no interest in a changer. It makes no sense to me... Who watches the same sh*t over and over? I have time to watch one or two movies a week... That's like 50 movies/year max... Why would I want to have 400 movies loaded up? I don't know... I guess it would be good if you had kids so they weren't handling the discs, and they like to watch the same discs over and over and over... For me, nah. You might be interested, though... The UI probably uses the newer "XMB" like their TVs and similar to the PS3. It's probably pretty decent (in stark contrast to the DVD changers of yesteryear). I haven't seen one, though.
Sorry, I just don't like the Oppo. I know the performance is excellent, but it's cheap Korean crap. Crap remote, crap materials and crap build quality. I know it doesn't matter once you turn the lights off, but still... It's like if Kia built a car that actually performed pretty well... I still wouldn't be interested in because, well... It's a Kia. And yes, if I were going to buy an Oppo, it would be the BDP-80... I don't need any of that other stuff... And slapping an aluminum faceplate with the ugly Oppo logo silkscreened onto the 83 (but otherwise identical in build quality) doesn't quite do it for me.
The thing is, the BDP-80 is $289 on Amazon. If this new Marantz offered comparable performance for <$150 or so more, that would be well worth it me for a piece of gear I'd probably have in the theater for 2-3 years. I actually want and will use a lot of those features in the Marantz none of the Oppos have: Netflix, YouTube, DVD-A, SACD, and DLNA. So, there's no comparing the two for what I want.
SC |
Some of the best most reliable electronics are coming out of Korea...I don't get why you hate them...and I don't see how they are any better than Japanese designed, China manufactured products.
I have the Sammy 3600 and it has all of the doohicky features that are really cool but in practice I have only ever used Pandora when working on the theater, never used youtube and used Netflix for my daughter only a handful of times.
I have used the ability to play MKV's from a USB drive but I would imagine the Oppo could do that.
Hyundai and Kia are the fastest growing car companies right now...it probably pains you...but value wins.
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Nashou66
Joined: 12 Jan 2007
Posts: 16171
Location: West Seneca NY
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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For once i actually agree with greg !! WOW!!
I have the Oppo 83 and it is not a piece of cheap crap. very nice build quality. Higher end PCB's compared to a sony BD player my friend has and better power transformer and other components. And the remote isn't the worse I have seen and shouldn't matter if your using iRule, right?
Athanasios
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emdawgz1
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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| greg_mitch wrote: | [
Some of the best most reliable electronics are coming out of Korea...I don't get why you hate them...and I don't see how they are any better than Japanese designed, China manufactured products.
I have the Sammy 3600 and it has all of the doohicky features that are really cool but in practice I have only ever used Pandora when working on the theater, never used youtube and used Netflix for my daughter only a handful of times.
I have used the ability to play MKV's from a USB drive but I would imagine the Oppo could do that.
Hyundai and Kia are the fastest growing car companies right now...it probably pains you...but value wins. |
Actually the success of KIA and Hyundai are not Value winning but PRICE winning. They are cheap. And people are buying cheap... no matter the value.
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ecrabb
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| greg_mitch wrote: | | Some of the best most reliable electronics are coming out of Korea...I don't get why you hate them...and I don't see how they are any better than Japanese designed, China manufactured products. |
You used the word... Designed. They're actually designed. I don't hate them... I just don't find the products that desirable. None of the products have any "wow" factor... Sorry.
| greg_mitch wrote: | | I have the Sammy 3600 and it has all of the doohicky features that are really cool but in practice I have only ever used Pandora when working on the theater, never used youtube and used Netflix for my daughter only a handful of times. |
I can see how you don't use those things, and that's fine. I do and will use those things. We're thinking about dropping Blockbuster in favor of Netflix, and I can see how I'll use it quite a bit then.
| greg_mitch wrote: | | Hyundai and Kia are the fastest growing car companies right now...it probably pains you...but value wins. |
Of course they're the fastest growing - they're small companies compared to the rest and they're in growth mode! Duh! Besides, it's not value - it's price. John nailed it...
| emdawgz1 wrote: | | Actually the success of KIA and Hyundai are not Value winning but PRICE winning. They are cheap. And people are buying cheap... no matter the value. |
Yep. Exactly. It's all about the price. What's the cheapest, what's the lowest monthly payment, what's the least I can spend. Who cares if it's going to be a rusted out piece of crap in 6 years - it'll be paid off anyway. I'll just get another one. That's the direction we're headed. Kia is the Dell of automobiles. Dell computers are just like the Kia cars - Disposable throwaway junk. The 10 year/100,000 mile warranty sounds great until you realize the car will be such an unmitigated piece of crap by then, it won't matter.
Now, I'm not really comparing a Kia to the Oppo. It actually looks pretty nice under the skin, and I'll have to consider it. I'd just like to get something that works like the Oppo, but looks like the Marantz... I don't think that's too much to ask, and eventually somebody will do it, which is why I'm still waiting.
SC
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greg_mitch
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 5320
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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| emdawgz1 wrote: | | greg_mitch wrote: | [
Some of the best most reliable electronics are coming out of Korea...I don't get why you hate them...and I don't see how they are any better than Japanese designed, China manufactured products.
I have the Sammy 3600 and it has all of the doohicky features that are really cool but in practice I have only ever used Pandora when working on the theater, never used youtube and used Netflix for my daughter only a handful of times.
I have used the ability to play MKV's from a USB drive but I would imagine the Oppo could do that.
Hyundai and Kia are the fastest growing car companies right now...it probably pains you...but value wins. |
Actually the success of KIA and Hyundai are not Value winning but PRICE winning. They are cheap. And people are buying cheap... no matter the value. |
Ok...we will have to agree to disagree on that one...there are certainly far cheaper alternatives than the Hyundai Sonata.
Go have a look again...they provide an amazing value...people are not buying Hyundai just because they are cheap....but they ARE cheap...no doubt about that.
Here is a review of the Sonata from cars.com
| Quote: | | Pros: "Standout" styling moved Newman, while Robinson liked its "very modern styling" and Healey enjoyed its "upscale look and feel." But it's more than just a pretty face, as Thomas said: "Value, value, value. $22,745 for navigation and all the other goodies in such an attractive wrapper. None of the competitors came close." |
SC's Apple financials should be proof that not all people are buying based on cheap price.
Now you guys did say Kia also and maybe you do or don't lump them together but Kia is rebranding itself as well and focusing more on quality/features as well.
I wouldn't compare the Kia/Daewoos of old to the new stuff.
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jask
Joined: 17 Mar 2006
Posts: 10187
Location: kamloops BC
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| Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 4:15 am Post subject: |
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networking, SD slot, 24bit Burr-Brown audio....Hmmm sexy!
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AFryia
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
Posts: 965
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| Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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Back on topic!
Hey SC you buy, you like??
Seriously the Marantz got my attention so I'm looking for first hand reviews/impressions.
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ecrabb
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| Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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They were just announced last week when I posted, so nobody even has them yet. They're all listed for full-tilt retail and marked "pre-order" or "coming soon".
No matter since I'm in no hurry... The PS3 continues to work well for me (I'll probably regret saying that), and I'm blowing a bunch of my summer toy money on airfare and lodging to go to CEDIA. Ooohhh, I can check them out there!
They do look good, though... I'll be really curious to read the reviews once people get them in their hands. From the reading over at AVS I was doing, it seems several other players are getting very, very close to the Oppo - and that was overall, I believe. If the PQ is identical or even comparable, and I can get it in an overall nicer package, with more features I want, then I'm definitely interested.
SC
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Ron W
Joined: 07 Aug 2009
Posts: 860
Location: Mississauga
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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| ecrabb wrote: | You guys are HILARIOUS. Or not.
Greg, I have no interest in a changer. It makes no sense to me... Who watches the same sh*t over and over? I have time to watch one or two movies a week... That's like 50 movies/year max... Why would I want to have 400 movies loaded up? I don't know... I guess it would be good if you had kids so they weren't handling the discs, and they like to watch the same discs over and over and over... For me, nah. You might be interested, though... The UI probably uses the newer "XMB" like their TVs and similar to the PS3. It's probably pretty decent (in stark contrast to the DVD changers of yesteryear). I haven't seen one, though.
Sorry, I just don't like the Oppo. I know the performance is excellent, but it's cheap Korean crap. Crap remote, crap materials and crap build quality. I know it doesn't matter once you turn the lights off, but still... It's like if Kia built a car that actually performed pretty well... I still wouldn't be interested in because, well... It's a Kia. And yes, if I were going to buy an Oppo, it would be the BDP-80... I don't need any of that other stuff... And slapping an aluminum faceplate with the ugly Oppo logo silkscreened onto the 83 (but otherwise identical in build quality) doesn't quite do it for me.
The thing is, the BDP-80 is $289 on Amazon. If this new Marantz offered comparable performance for <$150 or so more, that would be well worth it me for a piece of gear I'd probably have in the theater for 2-3 years. I actually want and will use a lot of those features in the Marantz none of the Oppos have: Netflix, YouTube, DVD-A, SACD, and DLNA. So, there's no comparing the two for what I want.
SC |
That's funny. It seems back a few months ago Lexicon didn't think the Oppo was a cheap piece of crap when their new Blu-Ray player(at a cost of $3500)was essentially a repackaged BDP83! The fact of the matter is, I have purchased three Oppo players in the past few years including the BDP83 and no company comes even close to their after market service and firmware updates(when required) to deal with any issues from various discs.
No sooner do mainstream companies(like Marantz) introduce a product like this is soon they are looking to the next generation to sell and six months from now the new player you bought is an afterthought and if something goes wrong, just try to get it serviced. I have been through it.
For the record, along with previous models of their standard DVD players, the current Oppo BR players play both DVD-A and SACD. Like these new Marantz units(how do you think they are selling these so cheap!) the Oppos are "Made In China". NOT Korea.
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ecrabb
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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Well, to be fair... If history is a guide, Oppo will probably be selling the same model for 3+ years, so of course it's going to be well-supported. Most of the big manufacturers are trapped in the "what's in this year's model" race to continue supporting the older players with constant updating. I agree - that's annoying. Although, I have to say it probably says more about how pathetic the Blu-ray standards are than anything else... I mean, why SHOULD all these companies have to keep updating their damn firmware (and we should we have to keep doing it?!!?!) every time a new title is released? What a bunch of crap!
So, OK - Fine... Oppo is a great company. The player is wonderful. The Oppo players are the best thing since sliced bread. I still don't want one.
I can't put my finger on it - they just hold zero desirability for me. None. Nada. Zip. I've looked at the Oppo web site, the players themselves, and it all says, "meh". I've tried and tried, and there's just nothing about them that makes me want one. I can't find a shred of good design anywhere - from the case, to the web site, to the company logo - so I guess it's hard for me to relate to. It's like a Porsche Boxter performance-wise, but then it's all wrapped up in a Kia body, with Kia brand image, etc. It could be the best-supported in the world, but I just can't connect with it.
I don't know what else to say. I guess I'll try looking at them at CEDIA and see if I can change my mind.
SC
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Ron W
Joined: 07 Aug 2009
Posts: 860
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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| ecrabb wrote: | Well, to be fair... If history is a guide, Oppo will probably be selling the same model for 3+ years, so of course it's going to be well-supported. Most of the big manufacturers are trapped in the "what's in this year's model" race to continue supporting the older players with constant updating. I agree - that's annoying. Although, I have to say it probably says more about how pathetic the Blu-ray standards are than anything else... I mean, why SHOULD all these companies have to keep updating their damn firmware (and we should we have to keep doing it?!!?!) every time a new title is released? What a bunch of crap!
So, OK - Fine... Oppo is a great company. The player is wonderful. The Oppo players are the best thing since sliced bread. I still don't want one.
I can't put my finger on it - they just hold zero desirability for me. None. Nada. Zip. I've looked at the Oppo web site, the players themselves, and it all says, "meh". I've tried and tried, and there's just nothing about them that makes me want one. I can't find a shred of good design anywhere - from the case, to the web site, to the company logo - so I guess it's hard for me to relate to. It's like a Porsche Boxter performance-wise, but then it's all wrapped up in a Kia body, with Kia brand image, etc. It could be the best-supported in the world, but I just can't connect with it.
I don't know what else to say. I guess I'll try looking at them at CEDIA and see if I can change my mind.
SC |
To each his own, however, realistically as one for a number of years now who spends a part of my time putting together A/V systems, I tend now to concentrate pretty much on value/performance, not aesthetics. Make no mistake about it, Marantz make excellent products, I own one of their AVRs. The problem with this announcement that always bugs me with this and other mainstream product introductions I have seen, is often it is the old saying,"things are not always as they seem". When I dug a little deeper, the Youtube and Netflix features they tout will only be available(here we go again) through "future" firmware updates and won't be readily available when the player comes to market. I see this all too often with advertising in that you only find this out when you go in to the company's website and wade through all the hype. I guess that is another reason why I gravitated to the Oppo product.
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ecrabb
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| Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Ron W wrote: | | To each his own, however, realistically as one for a number of years now who spends a part of my time putting together A/V systems, I tend now to concentrate pretty much on value/performance, not aesthetics. |
Well, me too really... Value and performance are both very important to me - but so are aesthetics. I'm a designer myself, so I know and fully acknowledge that my tastes and sensitivities are not at all representative of most people's. I guess I'm not willing to compromise either one for the other is what it amounts to for me. Why should I have to put up with a slightly cheesy looking piece of gear to get the best performance? I shouldn't... So, I've waited and I'm still waiting. It's only a matter of time until somebody else builds a player that's as good as the Oppo, and puts it in a nicely-designed wrapper. Based on the AVS thread I was reading, it sounds like several other companies' products are very nearly there.
| Ron W wrote: | | Make no mistake about it, Marantz make excellent products, I own one of their AVRs. The problem with this announcement that always bugs me with this and other mainstream product introductions I have seen, is often it is the old saying,"things are not always as they seem". When I dug a little deeper, the Youtube and Netflix features they tout will only be available(here we go again) through "future" firmware updates and won't be readily available when the player comes to market. I see this all too often with advertising in that you only find this out when you go in to the company's website and wade through all the hype. I guess that is another reason why I gravitated to the Oppo product. |
Totally agree... Which is why I never buy anything based on future functionality, and why I typically wait several months after a new release to see if there are any major bugs that need ironing out. I definitely wouldn't buy a spanky new BD player - from any CE manufacturer - without seeing reviews and waiting for full (as promised) functionality.
I had a Marantz AVR, too BTW - SR7500. Very nice piece of gear, IMHO.
SC
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