Panasonic DMP-BD65EB-K Blu-Ray Disc Player

This is the 2010 model, an improved version of the earlier BD60, which in itself was a benchmark leader. Coupled with a Panasonic home theatre and full HD plasma, this blu-ray absolutely excels. This was purchased to replace a Sony BDP360, which was to be fair, also pretty good.
Some reviewers have complained of slow start up times. Well, there is a solution. Connect to the web using ethernet cable and allow the unit to perform a firmware upgrade (if it is needed). You can also make use of the webcast functions whilst you are connected. So start up time is now quick, even with the "Quick Start" disabled.
Colour, sound and picture quality top notch. Set up can be fully auto or if you feel clever, there is an amazing set up menu if you prefer to do it manually. Check out some of the reviews from professional film buffs, you'll find that there are currently two hot contenders for the top spot for this kind of money........this model and one from LG.

Once again Panasonic have produced another great blu ray player. The quality of the blu ray picture is 1st class and the quality of upscaled dvd is pretty good too. Faster loading times of blu ray discs than other machines I've owned, but still not perfect, but then again there is a large amount of data on a blu ray disc. The mechanism is very quiet too when playing a disc.
Extra features include wireless networking, but has to be fitted with Panasonic's own wireless dongle at £80 a shot, stick to the ethernet connection for your fixes of bd live material and the viera cast facility. An sd card slot which will play your camcorder footage, stills and other material you may put on your card and a usb socket next to the sd card slot neatly hidden under a flap on the front of the machine.
On the rear of the machine are a single hdmi socket for connection to your tv or av amp, essential to view hd content on your tv, an ethernet port, and a digital audio output to carry your sound to your surround sound amp.
Region 2 dvd playback and region B blu ray playback out of the box but the machine can be hacked to play dvds from all regions(using a learning remote and codes published on the web) but not multi region blu ray playback.
To summarise, great picture and sound, good connections and extra features such as sd card playback and usb socket, wireless capability, quality brand and a price that I haven't seen lower. See www.panasonic.co.uk for further information.

I bought this player on the recommendation of a few friends of mine who work in Richer Sounds. They said they thought it was the best player in the shop (picture wise), and start up wise it was very quick.

It came with a quick start sticker on it saying 0.5 secs - I'm not sure this is true, but so far when I've used it I've put the disc in first, switched on the TV and by the time the TV is on the right channel the Blu Ray menu is up and the film is waiting to play.

The dvd upscaling is a little dissapointing - to be honest I felt they looked better on my old DVD player, but Blu Rays do look good. Not as incredible as I'd hoped, but pretty good. Can I see a marked improvement over DVD? Yes but not a huge difference. Also sometimes it looks a little pixelated and digital for my tastes, but that might be the new 50'' TV I have too, which has yet to be broken in properly.

That makes it kind of hard for me to give a decent, honest review I suppose as I can't compare picture quality to what I had before, as my whole set-ups new. But all in all, I don't have any major grumbles about this player - I just was expecting Blu Ray to be a bit more stunning. Is it worth the extra money for Blu Ray disks? I don't know - They aint cheap and I'm not sure what I've seen convinces me they're worth the extra money when DVDs are so cheap nowdays.

I'd do some more research before buying this player, there might be something better out there. LG for instance are meant to be excellent, and I should have perhaps gone for one of them wich was my second choice and my friends joint 1st recommendation - but this player's OK.

*** UP DATE***

I have since had a bit more time to watch a few more Blu Rays on my machine and I would say that now I notice the difference between Blu Ray and DVD much more. I still feel the DVD upscaling is a bit disappointing, but I think the Blu Ray picture is pretty good and much better than I perhaps gave it credit for... my score is edging towards 4 stars overall now I think, but what I wrote before still stands - I'd still do just that little more research. Then you can be sure that if you do buy this machine, you bought the best choice for you. Overall - I'm still happy with it - it's not 'knock me off my feet' great, but I'm beginning to enjoy it more and more with each film I think.

You might also be interested to know that I looked into getting my player chipped or adapted so that it plays Multi-region disks, but was informed by the shop that this model is turning out to be particularly difficult to hack. That was when the machine was new out though, and if you check out the comments for this review, someone has left a link for a place that will do it.

*** UP DATE ON THE UP DATE***

I've had the player about a month now. My New TV has broken in which has helped too I think, and I've also had a chance to watch more Blu Rays and a few old favourite DVDs - so I can now tell properly if the DVD upscaling makes that much difference.
I have to say that now I think it does. Having watched a few DVDs I know back to front, I can safely say that they do look better played on this machine. Sharper. Crisper. Brighter. Better.
I'm now thoroughly enjoying the Blu Ray experience too now, as I know the type of film to pick and enjoy to make the most of the Blu Ray experience. I have to say that with this format it really is essential, and in some way quite refreshing, because you almost now enjoy films that you once thought mediocre, because now they just look so fantastic.
Did I just say fantastic? I guess I did? Well that can mean only one thing...
I've now changed my rating from my original 3 stars to 4 stars, as I'm now firmly in the 4 star 'like it a lot' camp, as apposed to the 3 star 'it's OK' gang. I'd still say look into it further - it can't hurt - but I can now safely say you won't be disappointed if you buy this player.

If this has helped at all give it a thumbs up.