I've worked since late fall in upgrading my entertainment room to plasma T.V., HD box, Harmon-Kardon AVR 146, KEF speakers 5.1 setup.
Now my weak link is my Citizen brand DVD player from a few years ago. It does have component cables and and a jack for digital coax which I am using.
It does not however have upscaling or even progressive scan.

My debate is whether to replace it with a better DVD player now, buy a Blu-ray player now, or wait a few months for Blu-ray players and disks to drop in price.

I'm not chomping at the bit to get into Blu-ray but paying even $50-$100 for DVD players at this stage of the game seems like a waste.

I could live with my current DVD player for a few months more if you feel that there is a better (or cheaper) Blu-ray machine coming out by Christmas.

What would you do and feel free to mention Brands and Models if you think I should buy now. I don't care about fancy extra features, just quality picture, sound, and DVD's that will look good too.

Personally I would go with a new Blu-Ray Player.

I had the same question and ended up with a Panasonic BD-35K player that upscales my old DVD's so well that now I have almost no desire to re-buy any of my older DVD movies. So now, just the new releases are Blu-Ray.

i ended up with a ps3 :p

I do no game playing whatsoever so that would not be an option for me.

Well, the PS3 is more than a gaming system.

It is a multimedia hub. It does music, movies, and photos. It even can connect to a printer and print things out, stock..

I don't game either, much anymore...

PS: It is the best BD player money can buy, garanteed. It has a lot of good video output modes, outputting Y/Cr/Cb HDMI, or RGB, things like that.

Does your HK receiver have HDMI and ability to accept 5.1 or 7.1 LPCM and or will internally decode the latest/greatest codecs?

EDIT: Personally, I'd go with a new BD player over a new DVD player, but IMO it will always cost more to do that regardless of any price drops.

As mentioned, the PS3 is a viable option even if you don't currently game. However, there are considerations either way mainly regarding HDMI capabilities of your current setup.

I normally don't endorse buying the latest technology. But in this case, I believe your best best would be to buy a bluray player over a up-converting dvd.

More than likely, at some point in the future your TV will need to replaced. If you replace it with a 1080P tv, you will at that time be tempted to buy a Bluray player. I also highly endorse the PS3, it has many advantages over most standard Bluray players.

I would bite the bullet, and go for Bluray. If you end up doing so, you will catch the beginning of the wave, and get a long ride out of it.



Note: If you can find it in yourself to wait until prices even further drop, that might be your best option.

I can afford a Blu-ray player now. I just can't decide what to buy.
I am hearing lots about Sony BDP - S350, Panasonic DMP-BD35 (55) and Samsung BDP1500. Any of these to avoid, or aim for?

The Panasonic BD55 has been discontinued and the prices have skyrocketed. I have one, and it's a great player, but not worth the prices they command at present. Got mine for $275...they're almost $1,000 on Amazon at present.

Panasonic DMP-BD55K
http://www.pcworld.com/article/160891-8/the_best_bluray_disc_players.html

The Panasonic DMP-BD35/55 is the best atm, but as whoaru said they have been discontinued. I too was lucky and got the 55 when CC went out of business. Of the ones that are left I'd go with the Pioneer (IIRC) BDP-51FD, It has a great audio section (best DACs of all the affordable players), excellent picture quality, and 7.1 analog out. You can pick them up at Costco for $299. Retail was $599. Of the ones you mentioned the Samsung seems to be a little better player. It has the Reon chip (best upscaler on the market) and thus excellent picture quality. The Sony would be 3rd on my list. I would not look twice at any of the other players on the market unless Oppo has finally come out with their player. Just my 2 cents.

The BD55K's are still available, http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMP-BD55K-Blu-ray-Disc-Player/dp/B001GAOYCI, just had a massive price increase.

The PS3 is a great Blu box. I bought my parents a $220-ish Philips for Christmas, it seems like a very nice player. Great picture on their 50-inch DLP.

just got a 35k. looks/sounds great!

I can afford a Blu-ray player now. I just can't decide what to buy.
I am hearing lots about Sony BDP - S350, Panasonic DMP-BD35 (55) and Samsung BDP1500. Any of these to avoid, or aim for?

The Panasonic DMP-BD35 all the way. I own the Panasonic BD-10 and couldn't be happier with it's performance on dvd as well as blu-ray.

I've read the reviews and the BD35 is the winner in the cost to performance ratio.:yes:

The Panasonic BD35 will most likely be my next blu-ray player.:D

After I got my 42 inch Phillips plasma 1080, it was obvious that my early-generation Sony DVD just wasn't going to cut it, even though I was using component video outputs. :sigh:

I bought a Sony upconverting unit at WalMart for less than a Franklin. It connects via a HDMI cable and represents a tremendous improvement in picture quality! :yes:

Well worth what I paid for it! :thmbsp:

There are plenty of Panasonic BD35's on Ebay for under $300. Unless you have an external surround decoder the extra money spent on the BD55 would be a waste.

Since you have a Plasma already I would opt to buy a Blu Ray player instead of a standard upconverting player. All the Blu Ray players I have seen do the upconverting plus you get the addition of the awesome Blu Ray technology.

I have a Panasonic 720P plasma and the picture is just as good as that of 720P and 1080p lcd's I have seen running HD. You don't state what your tv is but even at 720P on your plasma you will be glad you went with a Blu Ray player.

I am using a PS3 but I think a Panasonic BD35 would probably fit the bill if you didn't want the extra features. If you feel like waiting the new Panasonic players will have on demand built in but will require you have a high speed connection. This may be available on your HD cable or SAT already.

My opinion is to get a Blu-Ray player rather than throw money at a DVD player. On the other hand, you might want to check out the local pawn shops and see if they have a good DVD player for cheap. They almost always do.

Well, I finally made the move to Blu-ray. Got a Sony BDP-S360 on Boxing Day for $136 Canadian. Nothing really fancy but I am happy with what it does.

I picked up a Sony BDP-S360 at the end of last week for £80 from Play.com, but notice that they've now hiked the price to £95, albeit that includes a free(!) Blu-ray film....

still, for less than a ton you can get a highly recommended budget blu-ray player that will upscale to 1080p as well as give you the option of going blu if you so choose further down the line....