At CEDIA 2008, Panasonic showed off two new Blu-ray players, the DMP-BD35 ($300) and the step-up DMP-BD55 ($400). Both players are Profile 2.0, which means they support BonusView/picture-in-picture content and BD-Live Web functionality, and both sport a new aesthetic and slimmer design than their predecessor, the DMP-BD50. The two players are very similar in features and performance, but the DMP-BD35 lacks a few higher-end audio options found in its more-expensive sibling, which we will detail below.
In terms of video connections, the DMP-BD35 offers HDMI, component video, and composite video outputs. For HDMI, the output-resolution options are Auto, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p/60, and 1080p/24. The setup menu includes an option to enable 1080p/24 output if your TV accepts this signal type; once you enable the feature, the player will always output 1080p/24 when it is available on Blu-ray discs. For component video, the output-resolution options are 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i. The display interface provides access to some picture adjustments, like noise reduction, gamma control, and basic parameters like color, brightness, contrast, and sharpness.
In the audio realm, the DMP-BD35 offers HDMI, optical digital audio (but no coaxial), and 2-channel analog audio outputs. It lacks the 7.1-channel analog audio outputs found in the DMP-BD55 and is therefore not an ideal solution if you own an older, non-HDMI A/V receiver. The DMP-BD35 has onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, and it also passes these high-resolution audio formats in their native bitstream form over HDMI, for your A/V receiver to decode. It can pass 7.1-channel PCM audio over HDMI.
The DMP-BD35's disc drive supports BD, DVD, CD audio, MP3, JPEG, and Divx playback. Given the player's Profile 2.0 designation, the inclusion of an Ethernet port is a given. This port allows you to connect to the Internet to access BD-Live Web features on Blu-day discs and to perform firmware updates. An SD card slot allows you to add the needed storage for BD-Live Web content; you can also view JPEGs and AVCHD high-def video stored on SD cards. The DMP-BD35 has no internal memory, so an SD card is necessary for most BD-Live applications; Panasonic does not include a card in the package. This player also lacks advanced control ports, such as RS-232 or IR.
Read The High Points, The Low Points and The Conclusion
Highs Points
- The DMP-BD35 offers excellent Blu-ray image quality and better performance with standard DVDs than previous Panasonic models.
- The player has internal Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and can pass these formats in bitstream form over HDMI.
- It supports BD-Live Web content and can play picture-in-picture bonus content.
- This player has quick start-up, load times, and navigation.
- The SD card slot allows for easy viewing of digital movies and photos.
Low Points
- The DMP-BD35 lacks 7.1-channel analog audio outputs, so it's not the best choice for someone who owns an older, non-HDMI A/V receiver.
- Panasonic does not supply an SD card for storage of downloadable BD-Live content.
- Accessing and navigating BD-Live content isn't quite as quick and intuitive on this player as we've seen elsewhere.
Conclusion
The DMP-BD35 offers excellent performance and most of the features you need in a Blu-ray player: BD-Live, BonusView, 1080p/24 playback, and bitstream output and onboard decoding of both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. If you own an older, non-HDMI receiver, you should step up to the DMP-BD55, which has multichannel analog audio outputs. But, if you already have a newer receiver that supports uncompressed audio over HDMI, then the DMP-BD35 has everything you need at a great price.
