HDTV Guide
HDTV Screens
HDTV DVD
HDTV Technology
Pioneer BDP-LX70 Review |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reviewed: 13 August 2007
Design
Immediately apparent is the peerless build quality of the BDP-LX70. Manufacturers like Pioneer and Sony have cottoned on to the fact that consumers who are paying premium prices are now expecting product build quality to match. The BDP-LX70 certainly doesn't disappoint with glossy black looks and a minimalist style to grace any living area.
Features
The Pioneer offers good connectivity with HDMI, Component Video output, S-video output along with two digital audio outputs. Additionally, a 5.1 channel audio line-out offers Dolby TrueHD with a suitable Av receiver. Disappointingly, the HDMi is v1.2 rather than v1.3, the significance being that the BDP-LX70 cannot distribute digital HD audio.
Video Upsacaling: 720p, 1080i, 1080p Playable Disc Formats: BD-ROM DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) DVD -RW (Re-Recordable) DVD-R (Recordable) MP3 (MPEG-3) CD (Compact Disc) Sockets: Component Video Output, HDMI Input, HDMI Output, Optical Digital Output, S-Video Output, LAN(10/100).
Neither is the BDP-LX70 compatible with the BD Profile 1.1 standard which is to become mandatory on all Blu-ray players from this October onwards. The BD profile offers additional functionality (available now for some time on HD DVD) such as picture in picture directors commentary and movie related video games embedded on the disc.
It is worth noting that unlike some of its rivals, the Pioneer BDP-LX70 plays audio CD's and upscales normal DVD up to a Full 1080p.
The current must have feature for High Definition (HD) kit is 1080p/24 frames per second (24p) support and the BDP-LX70 doesn't disappoint. Movies have traditionally been filmed at a frame rate of 24fps (frames per second) and the 1080p/24 feature allows films to be shown in their original format.
The media centre looks of the Pioneer BDP-LX70 hints at more functionality than Blu-ray playback. This functionality comes in the shape of media streaming. Alomgside Windows Media Player 11 you can stream music and video from a networked PC to the BDP-LX70.
The BDP-LX70 is equipped with the CEC standard HDMI control (Consumer Electronics Control), which enables it, along with other compatible devices (a Pioneer flat screen TV, for example), to be operated by a single remote control.
Performance
The High Definition performance of the BDP-LX70 is impressive, with pictures that match any Blu-ray player for detail and sharpness. Hook the BDP-LX70 up to a flat panel Pioneer screen however and you have a picture quality that is truly awesome. The purity of the high definition source through the compatible pieces of kit is retained to a degree which produces the finest HD pictures we have seen.
Colours, with or without the benefit of a Pioneer plasma are never anything less than vivid, and with incredibly deep black levels we are beginning to appreciate the powerful ability of the BDP-LX70.
We are coming to the inevitable conclusion however, with a price approaching £1000, that the BDP-LX70 is going to become quite a specialized piece of kit, of interest in the main to pioneer plasma owners who are looking for the ultimate HD experience.
The feeling that the BDP-LX70 will not have widespread appeal is re-enforced by the standard DVD performance of this unit. The picture from normal upscaled DVD's is good, but does not come close to the level where we would want to buy a BDP-LX70 for this reason alone. Slight blocking was immediately apparent on most DVD's we tried along with varying degrees of video noise.
A huge bonus of BDP-LX70 ownership will come in the form of excellent CD playback which is enough to trouble some mid range dedicated CD players.
Conclusion
Combined with one of Pioneer's plasma flat panel offerings, the BDP-LX70 is a compelling option, and possibly the finest HD picture you will achieve. The BDB-LX70 is a good player in any context, but at around £1000 it is just too expensive.
