Hi Manta -
you are getting solid info from our most knowledgeable poster - let me try and clarify a bit by taking it from a newbie perspective
Usually people look for a BluRay player that can decode the new formats because they want to run a set of analog ICs to a non-HDMI capable AVR - in other words they want to add BluRay to their existing installation
IMHO, with an HDMI capable receiver like the one you have purchased, you will be very happy to when you realize that you only need one cable for both audio and video instead of a witches brew of audio and video cables between a BD and an AVR
Net this means that you can buy a BluRay player that doesn't decode locally so long as it is HDMI 1.3 which is required to carry that type of signal. In fact just don't buy anything but a HDMI 1.3 standard unit
I have an "older" Panasonic BD-30 which I am very pleased with. Newer BD players support the BluRay 2.0 standard which means they can be connected to the Internet and used for interactive content that the studios are expected to provide. I am not aware of anything compelling at the moment. If you have kids or are a devote added content person you might.
A couple of other considerations. One significant difference between various models and brands of players is how quickly they load the menus on each disc. The difference is measure in (a few) minutes not nano-seconds. Bugs some folks and not others.
Second many BD players have a bad reputation for the way that they handle DVDs. Based on this, and the fact that all this gear is very inexpensive, I purchased a dedicated Oppo to go with the Panasonic.
If I were doing it today I would purchase the Oppo BDP-83 and use it for everything. And too, as Kal points out it is a universal player if you are into the high end audio formats.
you are getting solid info from our most knowledgeable poster - let me try and clarify a bit by taking it from a newbie perspective
Usually people look for a BluRay player that can decode the new formats because they want to run a set of analog ICs to a non-HDMI capable AVR - in other words they want to add BluRay to their existing installation
IMHO, with an HDMI capable receiver like the one you have purchased, you will be very happy to when you realize that you only need one cable for both audio and video instead of a witches brew of audio and video cables between a BD and an AVR
Net this means that you can buy a BluRay player that doesn't decode locally so long as it is HDMI 1.3 which is required to carry that type of signal. In fact just don't buy anything but a HDMI 1.3 standard unit
I have an "older" Panasonic BD-30 which I am very pleased with. Newer BD players support the BluRay 2.0 standard which means they can be connected to the Internet and used for interactive content that the studios are expected to provide. I am not aware of anything compelling at the moment. If you have kids or are a devote added content person you might.
A couple of other considerations. One significant difference between various models and brands of players is how quickly they load the menus on each disc. The difference is measure in (a few) minutes not nano-seconds. Bugs some folks and not others.
Second many BD players have a bad reputation for the way that they handle DVDs. Based on this, and the fact that all this gear is very inexpensive, I purchased a dedicated Oppo to go with the Panasonic.
If I were doing it today I would purchase the Oppo BDP-83 and use it for everything. And too, as Kal points out it is a universal player if you are into the high end audio formats.
