what to do

[boomtheroom]

i am getting a panasonic 50" vt30 plasma tomoro..i have a pioneer ax5ai amp and no bluray player.. i can either get a cheap bluray player and upgrade me amp to a lx60 or keep my amp and get a oppo 93 with 7.1 analogue..what do u think is the best option?

[tkr001]

I'd get the Oppo but thats just me.....

[Michael Wong]

Better amp + cheap BDP, then all your sources will sound better.

[boomtheroom]

but is the amp gonna be better sounding than my current one?

[Ernie]

For moving image content it will. The existing amp won't process the high def video or audio. Get a new amp and consumer level BD player. Unless everything else is reference quality don't bother with 7.1 analogue. You're going down a rabbithole otherwise and you won't come back up until you're broke.

Not worth it IMHO.

[boomtheroom]

there reason i wanted 7.1 analogue is bacause my amp wont process bd audio but it has 7.1 inputs...so i thought if i get a high end bd player with 7.1 outputs it might be better than getting a newer amp with sub quality bd player.. but only if the audio with my amp would be the same as a newer amp via the 7.1 analogue.

[Hutch]

Careful here, the AX5i is a stunning amp even though it does not possess some of the latest digital features - I know as I am still using mine. Analogue in and be good to go. Why not look at the new Cambridge - that has analogue out.

Regards

Hutch

[boomtheroom]

model number ?

Careful here, the AX5i is a stunning amp even though it does not possess some of the latest digital features - I know as I am still using mine. Analogue in and be good to go. Why not look at the new Cambridge - that has analogue out.

Regards

Hutch

[Brian Ono]

Try a panasonic bd 85 its at most $299 and has 7.1 analogue out.Ive gone to analogue out as I didnt want to replace myamp(Denon avc a11xv).Seems to be ok although ics can put a dent in the budget.

[Hutch]

Cambridge 751 from memory

[boomtheroom]

yea but want 3d capable :-<

Try a panasonic bd 85 its at most $299 and has 7.1 analogue out.Ive gone to analogue out as I didnt want to replace myamp(Denon avc a11xv).Seems to be ok although ics can put a dent in the budget.

[Dunnersfella]

I agree with Ernie here.
A new amp will allow you to use your panel to its full potential (full HD video and audio - as well as 3D). And let's face it, as time progresses, other HDMI devices will enter your life, and a new amp should work well with them.
Well... until HDMI is replaced at consumer level that is. ;-)

[Thorn]

Until recently there were still one or two of last years Panny BDT300's (not BDT100) lying underneath the new gear at Panasonic outlets at negotiable $300-$350. It was a bloom, has 7.1 output + 3D + 2 X HDMI. You would need to search for one. Start with JB's.

[Dunnersfella]

JB's aren't in Chch... but the OP is.
Try looking though, see what you can turn up.

[gomer]

How sensitive are you to visual quality?...I ask this because although I am highly critical of sound quality, I am much less fussy re VDU...of course this may be due to poor eyesight, but the fact remains that once you hit a certain quality of BDP any more may be a poor investment...