Panasonic DMP-BD85

The Panasonic DMP-BD85 is one of four new blu-ray players unveiled by Panasonic at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at Las Vegas. It is currently the highly specified model in the range (until the 3D-capable DMP-BDT350 comes out later this year). As we have come to expect from Panasonic, the  DMP-BD85 delivers high quality images and improved sound processing. It comes with enhanced networking functions including VIERA CAST’s improved and expanded Internet functionality.

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Panasonic DMP-BD85 Blu-ray Player

Design

Panasonic made no attempt to improve on the aesthetics of the DMP-BD85 with a slim but rather dull looking fascia similar to previous Panasonic players. In keeping with Panasonic’s pledge to reduce the planet’s carbon footprint, the BD85 has been designed to reduce power consumption. With Power Save Mode switched on, the player automatically turns off when you just want to watch TV programs. This can be achieved through the VIERA Link menu and works when you have a Panasonic HDTV.

In addition, the development of the UniPhier® single chip LSI makes it possible to pack an entire video signal processing circuit onto a single chip. This helps lower power consumption, reduces the number of parts needed and allows for a more compact design. Continuing its corporate commitment to conserve the environment, Panasonic has reduced the players’ depth by 18%, resulting in a 15% reduction in the carton’s volume.

Connectivity

On the rear panel you get a complete set of video, audio and networking connections. For video there are HDMI, component and composite outputs. For audio there are analogue stereo, coaxial/optical digital audio outputs and gold-plated 7.1-channel analogue outs. The latter is useful for channeling hi-res audio to an AV receiver without HDMI inputs. For connection to your home network you can do so via the LAN or USB ports provided.

Connectivity Options on the Rear Panel

On the front panel there is another USB port and SD card slot (which accepts SDHC and SDXC cards) that enables you to play your media files. Supported formats via USB include DivX HD, MP3 and JPEG, while AVCHD and JPEG can be played from SD cards. But the card slot’s more important function is to provide the 1GB of memory needed for BD Live downloads as Panasonic hasn’t integrated it into the player itself.

Features

Being the most advanced (and most expensive) player in the line-up, the BD85 is equipped with an arsenal of cutting-edge features. On the video front the Panasonic DMP-BD85 employs PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus image processing. Developed in collaboration with Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory, this high image processing technology reproduces clear and vibrant colors that are faithful to the original film.

Panasonic has made this model as an audiophile model of sorts. In addition to decoding the latest formats like Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, the BD85 also features HDMI Jitter Purifier. This sounds like a mouthful. What it does is to reduce timing errors in the digital audio and video data stream resulting in audio reproduction that sounds more like the original recording. But that’s not all. Panasonic also introduced a Digital Tube Sound Simulator in the BD85 to produce the warm, intimate sounds of a tube amplifier.  To top it all off, the BD85 comes with a 24 bit/92kHz D/A converter that will truly benefit its audio playback quality not only for movies, but for audio CDs as well. Any serious audiophile player worth its salt would come with gold plated terminals, like the BD85.

Complimenting the HD audio codecs, the BD85 comes with 96kHz surround re-master, a function that enhances the sound quality of multi-channel audio data on blu-ray discs and DVDs.

USB Wi-fi Adapter

The DMP-BD85 is a fully networked player. There is Wi-Fi support, which lets you connect to the web or stream content from your home network. But Wi-Fi isn’t built in. Instead, Panasonic provides a 802.11a/b/g/n wireless USB adapter which plugs into a USB port on the back of the player. There is also an extension cable supplied in case there are any wi-fi blind spots at the back of the player. Built-in Wi-Fi available on Sony and LG players is probably the neater option, but we have no issues with it as once installed you’ll forget it’s even there. The setup menu and the Network Easy Setting runs you through each step of the network connection process which is a no-brainer. It normally takes a few minutes to find the router but once locked on, the BD85 provides a steady connection.

VIERA CAST technology featured in Panasonic’s 2009 blu-ray models continues to be available in this player. The Internet-enabled technology provides access to selected sites without the need of a PC to enjoy the entertainment provided by Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube, Picasa Web Album, Bloomberg and a Weather Channel. Netflix, Pandora, Twitter and Fox Sports have been added to the VIERA CAST functionality, providing you with two premium movie sites, a music service and a sports site to enhance the entertainment quotient. It also comes with an SD Memory card, making it easy for you to view and share both digital photos and high definition video. You can also access music or photos stored on a thumb drive through the front USB port. The BD85 is DLNA compliant, which means you can connect to PCs and NAS servers on your home network and access music and photos stored on them. (Update: According to Panasonic, the DLNA feature is not available for North America market.)

The BD85 will up-convert your collection of DVDs to 1080p. It also gives you 1080/24p output, reproducing cinema images from a blu-ray disc in their original 24p form with no need for conversion. This enables you to enjoy film-like images in the same format used in cinemas if you have a 1080/24p-compatible TV or projector.

Performance

On paper, Panasonic claims to have improved start-up and disc-loading times. These issues have plagued older blu-ray players. In reality, disc loading times although improved, still leave much to be desired. The Dark Knight, a fully loaded blu-ray disc with BD-Live, took one minute 15 seconds to load while Spider-Man 3 took about 48 seconds. The setup menu offers some nice touches like the ‘Onscreen banner’ which offers all the picture presets and manual adjustments.

Pictures are simply stunning with lots of details and natural colors. The black levels are solid as ink throughout, which is what you would expect from a ‘dark’ film like “The Dark Knight“. The color palette is extremely vibrant throughout and helps deliver that almost comic book style visual presentation. Flesh tones are accurate and the amount of detail present here is remarkable in close-up shots. There is no over-sharpening or noise, no jaggies or judder, just a crisp, film-like picture from start to finish. It also did a good job with DVDs, delivering sharp and artifact-free upscaled images.

Vacuum tubes like this are used in audiophile components

The most innovative enhancements of the BD85 comes in the audio department. It features an HDMI Jitter Purifier, which, according to Panasonic, “affords clear, robust bass sounds faithful to the original.” There are also selections for audio enhancement modes like Re-Master, Dialog Enhancer and Digital Tube Sound. The DMP-BD85 uses a Digital Tube Sound Simulator to produce the warm sound quality associated with vacuum tube amplifiers! Not that the BD85 will have any vacuum tubes glowing within its tiny chassis, the Digital Tube Sound Simulator is strictly a digital effect. You can select between the “sound” of three different tube effects over the HDMI and 7.1-channel analog audio outputs.  And you can definitely hear what Panasonic is trying to do with Digital Tube Sound, which does indeed increase the warmth and richness of the music, albeit losing some low level details and nuances. This mode is ideal for late night CD listening at moderate volume levels. You can also turn off the effect and hear unprocessed sound. Switching to ‘Re-Master mode’ on The Dark Knight disc, it packs a mighty “punch”. The film’s soundtrack is delivered marvelously through the 5.1 surround effect and puts you in the midst of the action. Bass and rear channel presence are equally well resolved and distinct. The dialogue is delivered very clearly throughout, never missing a beat. The sound effects are simply jaw-dropping during gunfire, explosions or crunching metal during the car chase scene.

Conclusion

The DMP-BD85 demonstrates why Panasonic is one of the top brands in blu-ray. It is a superb all round blu-ray player. Video quality is excellent. Panasonic has also for the first time distinguished itself from the rest of the crowd by delivering a player with an audio quality that is nothing short of stunning for a mass consumer product. The VIERA CAST interface for online content is easy to set up and a joy to use. At street prices below $250, this is going to be the player that is going to be hard to beat in terms of value for money.

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