Panasonic DMPBD85 Blu-Ray Player
The Panasonic DMP-BD85 Blu-ray Disc Player packs a lot of features into a small affordable package that's just a bit more than two inches tall. It conforms to BD-ROM Profile 2, which opens up a whole host of features which are accessed via your broadband Internet connection. You can plug in a cable from your router to the BD85's RJ45 jack or plug the included wireless Wi-Fi dongle into one of the unit's USB 2.0 slots. You'll also need to place a memory card with at least 1 GB of available space into the SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.
Once you're all set up the fun really begins. Just like DVDs have their extras like commentary tracks, "the making of" shorts, coming attractions and other material, so can Blu-ray discs. But in addition to being included on the disc, Blu-ray disc extras can be on the Internet and your BD85 can fetch them using your broadband Internet connection. Because the content is on the Net it can be richer and change and grow--so a compatible Blu-ray disc you watch today may have added content when you watch it again next year.
But Panasonic goes further with Viera Cast. With it you can access Netflix movies (paid unlimited membership required), Amazon Video on Demand, YouTube videos and Picasa photo albums. You'll find content galore and it's growing every day. There's free content, paid content and subscription-based services.
Don't forget about your BD85's great audio and video capabilities--its HDMI 1.4 output means the player's picture and sound will stay in pure digital form on its way to your HDTV with an HDMI input. You can use the component output as an alternative.
To make movies look their best your BD85 performs 3:2 pulldown. We won't bore you with the technical details. All you need really need to know is that it makes movies look more like they did in the movie theater.
Another feature that will make your movies more movie-like is the Dolby and DTS surround sound processors built in to your BD85. Most theatrical movies released on Blu-ray disc have audio tracks encoded in one or both brands of these audio enhancers. No matter which one you select you'll enjoy a rich, immersive sound field whether you have a full 7.1 channel surround sound setup or just two stereo speakers. If you do have a 7.1 A/V receiver you'll be happy to know that all ten of your BD85's RCA jacks are gold-plated. (There's a separate pair for use with component or composite video out.
You probably already have a collection of DVDs. They'll look better than you've seen them on any conventional DVD player. Your BD85 automatically upconverts the video signal from standard definition (480i) to enhanced definition (480p). A discerning eye can tell the difference between 480p and true high definition but it'll be fun to see how many of your friends can tell the difference.
Even before DVDs and Blu-ray discs, audiophiles were blown away by the clarity of CD Audio. After the novelty wore off, however, many voiced complaints that digitally reproduced sound (now also used in DVDs and Blu-ray discs) lacked the "warmth" of old-fashioned analog reproduction, which used vacuum tubes. The debate rages on but Panasonic's solution is to add a selectable Digital Tube Sound Simulator mode, "to produce the warm, realistic sounds associated with a tube amplifier," as Panasonic describes it. It's there if you like it and you can turn if off if you don't—it's your choice.
The Panasonic DMP-BD85 Blu-ray Disc Player is a high-end player at a low-end price.
Key Features
PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus
PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus is a high quality image-processing technology developed to precisely process each pixel of the Blu-ray disc video signal in the vertical direction. It reproduces color data with twice the accuracy of conventional systems to keep colors faithful and sharp.
Experience The Original Movie Quality With High Precision 4:4:4
Panasonic's high-precision 4:4:4 signal technology processes each pixel of the Blu-ray video signal in the horizontal direction, to complement PHL's vertical direction processing. When viewed on a VIERA HDTV that features 4:4:4 signal compatibility, it creates images that look more like the original film.
Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD (P4HD)
To get the best HD images from a Blu-ray disc, you need a player that renders high-quality progressive images, expresses motion smoothly, and draws sharp diagonal lines. The BD85's P4HD processes more than 15 billion pixels per second and applies the optimum processing to every pixel in the video data on the disc. Its subsystems include Precise Pixel Generation, 16-Level Motion Detection With Pixel-Based motion Adaptive and Diagonal Processing. The result is images with exceptional resolution.
Precise Pixel Generation
The Blu-ray standard supports a number of formats. For example, the highest-quality format, 1920 x 1080 pixels at 1080P, can be recorded at any of four different frame rates-59.94i, 50i, 23.976p and 24p-and the compression format can be MPEG2, MPEG4 AVC or VC-1. The Blu-ray player must detect these instantly and perform progressive conversion where necessary. Both for the de-interlacing and scaling, the BD85'S super-high-speed P4HD generates each pixel correctly according to information obtained from up to 60 surrounding pixels. Applying progressive processing to huge amounts of data, it delivers images of striking beauty.
16-Level Motion Detection With Pixel-Based Motion Adaptive
For optimum progressive conversion, the processing must suit the motion of the image. The super-high-speed P4HD categorizes the image motion of each pixel into one of 16 levels, from stationary to super fast. For areas with stationary images, it applies the progressive processing best suited to still images. In other areas it applies processing that matches the degree of motion. The results are stunningly beautiful progressive images with a minimum of conversion errors.
Diagonal Processing
The ability to create smooth, sharp diagonal lines is a key in progressive conversion. The P4HD quickly detects diagonals and applies correction to the pixels accordingly. In reproducing the kinds of geometric patterns often seen in architecture, for example, the BD85 provides exceptionally smooth, sharp diagonal lines whether the image is still or moving.
3:2 Pull-Down Progressive Processing
Because motion pictures are filmed at 24 frames per second (fps) and video is recorded at 30 fps translating film to video has always been problematic. The solution better players use is 3:2 pulldown. Without boring you with technobabble let's just say it's one of the more elegant solutions developed. Another one of the BD85's advanced features is progressive scan, which makes DVDs look more like Blu-ray discs.
Ultra Fast 0.5 Second Quick Start
Your BD85 can start from Standby Quick Start mode to power on in half a second. It's like sitting down in a theater just as the movie starts.
Wired and Wireless Network Ready
You can access a whole new world of features when you connect your BD85 to the Internet. You can use the built-in RJ45 jack for a wired connection or plug the included DY-WL10 Wireless Module into the USB terminal and forget about wires. You'll need to plug in an SD card (available separately) with at least 1 GB of free space for local temporary storage when accessing the Internet.
BD Live Enhances Your Entertainment Experience
Once you connect your BD85 to the Internet you can access BD Live content. BD Live is sort of like the extras that many DVDs contain except that much BD-Live content is stored on the Internet. That means it can be more complex and it can even be expandable. For example, when you watch a Blu-ray disc you purchase this year and then watch it again next year, you may find new content is available that you can choose to watch, like additional commentary, trailers for new movies and so on.
VIERA Cast Brings Online Content to The Big Screen
VIERA Cast is powered up with Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand which allow you to stream your favorite shows and movies. You can also access YouTube, Picasa, and other Internet sites from the special VIERA Cast screen. (Using Netflix requires paid unlimited membership.) And there's more content becoming available all the time.
HDMI Jitter Purifier
Due to the way HDMI cables carry audio signals they can introduce very brief timing errors called "jitter." Never mind that some say that although it's definitely there, most people can't hear it. Just be grateful that those fanatical engineers at Panasonic pretty much got rid of it for you.
VIERA Link Eco Function Means Smart Energy Saving
In Standby mode your BD85 draws just one tenth of a watt. In Quick Start Standby mode it draws just 8.4 watts. Even in full operation it draws only about 26 watts. Your BD85 is affordable to buy and affordable to operate.
What's Included:
- Panasonic DMP-BD85 Blu-ray Disc Player
- Remote Control With Batteries (AA x 2)
- Power Cord
- Wireless LAN Adapter
- USB Extension Cable