We compare Blu-ray players up to 500 euros. We have tested Denon DBP-1611UD, Onkyo BD-SP809, Pioneer BDP-LX55 and Yamaha BD-A1010. More and more and more affordable universal players are pushing the market, which not only the popular Blu-ray discs, DVDs as well as CDs, but also the almost disappeared from the market disappeared disc types DVD-Audio and SACD understand. This has less to do with a renaissance of the noble audio discs than with the low-cost availability of the right digital processors.
Blu-ray Player: Common Technology
In three of the four medium-to-high-level players in this test, the Denon DBP-1611, the Pioneer BDP-LX55 and the Yamaha BD-A1010, closely related digitalchips take care of the reading and decoding of audio and video information Of the discs. The chips come from the manufacturer MediaTek from Taiwan, which also produces signal processors for smartphones, network devices and optical computer drives in addition to players and TV sets.
Blu-ray Players: Similarities and Differences
4K Blu-ray player in the test
Blu-ray player: own developments
The concept is similar again and again: the chip can do just about everything that is required in the respective device segment, but the manufacturer still has the freedom to design the specific functions of the respective device as well as the hardware peripherals around the central processor
Blu-ray players: details under the magnifying glass
In the Blu-ray sector, Mediatek has earned a good reputation among manufacturers and fans in the last few years, because one can build inexpensive and easy-to-use universal players with the processors of the Taiwanese. The devices start up quickly, read discs properly and provide many network functions.
Above all, however, players with the Mediatek chipset play not only the often-dubbed DVD audio and SACDs but also all current multimedia formats: from DivX HD over MP4 and H.264 to the container formats AVI and MOV with various audio and video formats Video codecs. The platform is fit for 3D playback, HD audio streaming and decoding work anyway.
With the universal platform from Mediatek, for example, the OPPO players available in the United States only semi-officially and now also current models of Denon, Pioneer and Yamaha work. Only the Onkyo BD-SP809 dances in this test something from the series: It brings along a similar user interface, but is not a universal player. It is limited to the main multimedia formats. For this, he brings THX-certified image and sound quality.
Despite this adjustment in the test field, the Onkyo has in principle a similar structure as the other players. For example, in operation: All four devices present their basic functions in a fairly simple main menu.
The function overview differentiates between the areas media, settings and online functions with text or symbols. Under the media selection, the menus refer to the inserted disc, USB media, or network servers with media content.
The latter is another commonality among the four test candidates: All four offer DLNA media streaming of computers and hard disks in the local network.
Another common feature: the Player Quartet plays all multimedia data from media servers, USB sticks and hard drives as well as from CD-R and DVD-R. On the other hand, none of the players plays DivX, JPG, MP3 and other multimedia data from Blu-ray media.
Differences can be found in the outward visible equipment of the four Blu-ray players. For example, the Onkyo and the Pioneer models have two HDMI outputs, but the Denon and the Yamaha unit have only one. The second HDMI out provides flexibility for 3D images and HD-Kinoton when you have an older AV receiver.
These devices, usually equipped with HDMI 1.3 instead of 1.4 connectors, do not become clear with the double-transmitted image signals in 3D operation. Spatial image signals must therefore be sent directly to the 3D TV or beamer. With the second HDMI out, HD-Kinoton can be sent separately to the non-3D-capable AV receiver.
Blu-ray player: Multimedia features
The Yamaha BD-A1010 makes up for the lack of HDMI out for some homecine buttons with a 7.1 analog output. In addition, it gives the best possible HD-Kinoton analogue, if the sound can not be picked off otherwise.
The Denon has neither a 7.1-out nor a second HDMI-jack. It is therefore best for 3D fans together with one of the newer AV receivers with HDMI 1.4 and full 3D compatibility.
Blu-ray player: Speed counts
The Yamaha and Pioneer players have RS-232 interfaces. They can be integrated into a classic home cinema control system.
But the similar digital cores of the devices do not equal everything else. Manufacturers do not have to do all the audio and video decryption functions in the main processor of the player. Pioneer, for example, uses a proprietary video processor to optimize video processing, such as scaling DVD images to HD format.
Onkyo uses a so-called Qdeo processor for image optimization. Denon, on the other hand, uses the image processor in the mediatek chip, but has programmed it with its own image algorithms in such a way that the player, above all, presents film contents optimally.
Conclusion
Tables with measurement data and results
Even further, manufacturers are differentiating themselves in terms of audio processing. Here, the processor supplies only the digital raw data. The developers of each individual manufacturer are responsible for the refinement - and, for example, the digital-to-analog converters that they use. It is no wonder that the differences in the image and, above all, in the sound test, have been particularly noticeable.
Further differences between the players can be found only after prolonged employment with the respective device. For example, the two newcomers from Yamaha and Pioneer can be controlled via the local network via iPhone app. But only the Yamaha BD-A1010 can be switched on and off via the remote control app via network. This raises the economical standby consumption from 0.4 to 10.5 watts, but also accelerates the switch-on from 20 to five seconds.
The Pioneer player also offers a quick-start mode. The app can still be operated only after switching on. The Onkyo device also has a quick-start mode. You can also wake up via the network. However, if you activate the economy standby and the network control at the same time, you will not save: Instead of a minimum of 0.1 watts, the Onkyo sucks 4.2 watts from the socket.
Onkyo and Denon also offer apps for the control of in-house devices, but the command only AV receivers of the manufacturers. Blu-ray control via iPhone or Android phones is not available at this time.
Rather standardized, it is again about multimedia functions too: Denon, Pioneer and Yamaha grant access to the online video service YouTube. All three players display the content of the online community in the new YouTube Leanback application. The focus is on YouTube movies in full-screen mode. Menus and search queries are displayed on request.
The whole thing is a little habituation need: without further inputs one sees only the (often right-handedly) the top clips of the day. You can also browse through popular topics and search for videos.
Pioneer complements the YouTube app with access to the online photo service Picasa, which allows you to bring public and own online albums as well as photos of friends from the Internet to the TV screen. If you're using Google's Picasa service, you may also like the version on the Blu-ray player.
Set Blu-ray player correctly
With the Smart TV offers fully networked player a la Panasonic, Samsung, Sony or LG, the Internet services of these devices can not keep up. In the US these devices are also better networked: Yamaha advertises on the box of the BD-A1010 with Netflix, Blockbuster on Demand and other US online video services. On the other hand, more and more TVs and set-top boxes have been thoroughly tuned to Smart TV - what should the Blu-ray player do with them?
As is often the case in real life, the motto is that the youngest are the fastest. Gradually, even for high-quality players with an audiophile claim, the times passed by, when the Blu-ray disc was first inserted, then the wine decanted and a steak medium fried, before the same time took place with the start of the disc on the sofa Code>
Pioneer and Yamaha, the world's first universalist, are starting up fast and also reading discs smoothly. A CD was usually only after ten seconds, a Blu-ray Disc after less than 20 seconds, as long as the discs were not online updates.
There were significantly more differences in the operation. The new Yamaha and Pioneer models responded most quickly to remote commands. The Denon and Onkyo, on the other hand, showed a not so spontaneous menu control.
Between the tested players there are more differences than one would expect at first glance. But this test does not have a real loser. Pioneer and Yamaha are the latest models to test the test. The slightly older Denon player can hardly be less, but is already well below the list price and therefore a hot buy tip. Onkyo's player comes classic: fanless, with a high-quality case and a THX logo instead of multimedia talents.
Download: Table
Download: Table
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