I was recently flipping through the channels on my television trying to find something to watch when I stopped momentarily on a device that caught my eye on a technology channel. They were demonstrating Blu-ray technology and the high definition format which is what caught my attention. As I watched the program further the demonstration included a Panasonic Blu-ray disc player which had an unbelievable picture. As I continued to watch the program it turned out to be the Panasonic DMP BD60 Blu-ray disc player so I immediately started doing my homework.
I currently have a DVD player but the Blu-ray technology was so outstanding I started reading reviews, going to my local electronics retail outlet, and surfing the Internet to learn more about this incredible unit and here are some of the great things I discovered:
Feature Highlights of the Panasonic DMP BD60
The Panasonic DMP BD60 Blu-ray Disc Player has so many innovative features so I will focus on the features that I think are quite impressive and contribute to the ultimate home entertainment experience.
- Profile 2.0: Profile is a Blu-ray specification that refers to different hardware requirements for a Blu-ray disc player. For example Profile 1.0 is the original hardware requirements for Blu-ray players which meet the basic minimum requirements for playback of Blu-ray discs. Profile 1.1 which is also referred to as BonusView or Final Standard Profile adds the picture-in-picture feature which allows you to view two programs simultaneously on the same screen.
Profile 2.0 is also referred to as BD-Live and has all of the features of the previous profiles except that it requires the Panasonic DMP BD60 Blu-ray disc player to accommodate an Ethernet connection to establish Internet connectivity. Where other Blu-ray players have a USB port or SD card slot, Profile 2.0 requires Ethernet connectivity to store downloadable content. This is a great feature because you can access the Internet through the Blu-ray player and access movies on demand. When you access content through the Ethernet connection you can access online news, YouTube, and updates through VIERA Cast which is Panasonic’s online streaming service.
- Panasonic DMP BD60 Dolby TrueHD: The audio quality of the DMP BD60 is unmatched with the decoding capability of Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS HD audio formats. These audio formats particularly the Dolby TrueHD format, provide exceptional delivery of pure, lossless, multichannel audio which allows content creators more control over the audio playback process. This feature ensures exclusive performance in all types of listening environments. It also delivers studio-master sound just as it was recorded without any distortions.
- Picture Quality: The picture quality of the Panasonic DMP BD60 Blu-ray disc player is exceptionally sharp with no distractions such as jagged edges or modifications. If you view YouTube videos they will be somewhat improved through Blu-ray however this technology has a little way to go for viewing videos on the Internet. Other than that, the picture quality is unmatched when compared to other Blu-ray disc players on the market.
- Panasonic DMP BD60 Firmware Update: The firmware update feature contains a nifty setup wizard that appears as soon as you turn on the Panasonic DMP BD60 Blu-ray disc player so you can easily establish an Ethernet connection and HDMI connectivity. Once you are all set you simply activate the Automatic Update Check which will notify you when the newest release becomes available. Once you update with the new release the process is very simple to execute.
Panasonic DMP BD60 Blu-ray Disc Player Design
The design of the DMP BD60 is about the same as its previous model the DMP BD35. It has a sleek design with a middle section that supports the disc tray with the LCD located on the right hand side of the unit. There is also a flip down tray which contains the functions for playback, SD card slot, and USB port. If you look at the back of the unit it sports a component video connection, HDMI, digital audio ports, stereo analog output, and the Ethernet port for Internet connectivity.
Video Upscaling
I like the video upscaling capability of the DMP BD60 which upscales DVDs in 720p, 1080i, or 1080p format to help to meet the needs of HDTVs. Upscaling basically means that you are taking a standard DVD signal and upgrading it to match the high resolution capability which is included in an HDTV. Although you can connect your conventional DVD player to your HDTV the picture quality will be nowhere near as sharp as it is using a Blu-ray disc player. Upscaling will convert one picture size to a different size by using the proper technical adjustments which are accomplished through upscaling.
For the money that you are paying for this unit you are getting a lot of technology packed into the Panasonic DMP BD60 Blu-ray disc player along with great performance. I liked the versatility of this Blu-ray player with its capability to be compatible with standard DVDs, a nice variety of DVD formats, and CDs, with the upscaling feature to enjoy extreme high definition viewing with your HDTV. Overall this is good value for the money with the unit retailing at approximately $200. If you are on a strict budget you can purchase the Panasonic DMP BD60 Blu-ray disc player for a lot less by clicking here