SRP: $1500
Specs:
Plays BD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW, network files
Power consumption: 39 W
Weight: 13 lb. 15 oz.
Dimensions: 16 9/16″ x 4 5/8″ x 14 3/16″
HDMI output: 19 pin
Component Video output levels:
Y – 1.0Vp-p (75 ohms)
Pb & Pr – 0.7Vp-p (75 ohms)
S-Video output:
Y – 1 Vp-p; C – 286 mVp-p
Audio output (stereo pair, RCA jacks):
Output level: 200 vVrms (1 kHz, -20 dB)
Audio output (multichannel – 6)
Output level: 200 vVrms (1 kHz, -20 dB)
Audio characteristics:
4 Hz to 22 kHz
S/N ratio: 114 dB
Dynamic range: 102.5 dB
THD: 0.001%
Wow & flutter: limit of measurement
Digital outputs: Coaxial RCA & Optical Toslink
Other terminals:
LAN Ethernet jack – 10 BASE-T/100 BASE-TX
Control in & IR in: minijacks (3.5)
Intro
The first player I’ve reviewed for the new video disc format of Blu-ray has made it possible to get into the new high-resolution, higher capacity format and the display the 1080p images with the utmost quality on my 1080p DLP display. At almost 14 pounds it is a more substantially-constructed player than many available today. It should be, considering it is part of Pioneer’s high-end line, Elite. It doesn’t come with either HDMI, component or S-Video patch cables, so one will have to invest in those if you don’t already have them. And it should be kept in mind that only with the HDMI hookup does one realize the highest 1080p picture quality; so if your display is of the pre-HDMI variety, you won’t be seeing the best the HD1 is capable of. I decided to use the HDMI only for the video connection, though it is also capable of handling the stereo PCM through the TV. For the multichannel sources I connected the analog six-channel jacks to my Sunfire Theatre Grand AV preamp, finding that the built-in Dolby Digital and DTS decoders in the player feed the multichannel analog outs. While the coaxial out in my reviewer’s sample failed to work, the optical out did provide the DD & DTS datastreams to an optical input on my Sunfire.
On-Device and Remote Controls
A front hinged cover on the shiny black faceplate swings down to reveal numerous buttons and controls on the player. There are two small buttons above the hinged cover: open/close tray, and dimmer. From the left under the cover we have the usual movement controls of pause/stop and the fast speeds. the fast buttons also advance the chapters or tracks if you just press them once instead of holding. Next is the output resolution button, which cycles from 480i all the way up to 1080p on each pressing. After that is the Home Media Gallery button (explained later). On the right side of the area under the hinged lid is the “joystick” array of the Disc Navigator with the center Enter button and the four buttons around it. All the way on the far right end is a big button with the Play arrow on it.
The remote is lightweight plastic non-backlit model with the joystick set of buttons in the center. Above this is the number pad and four buttons to its right for Display, Dimmer, Output Format and again the Home Media Gallery. Below the joystick area are usual DVD operation controls for play, stop, pause, scanning in forward and reverse and chapter access. There are also buttons for stepping a frame at a time forward or back, and for zooming in on the screen image. The bottom row of buttons is to select Audio format, Subtitles, Angel and Play Mode. There are also six buttons at the very bottom for control of your TV display. A preset code list on page 47 of the manual gives the proper codes to enter in the remote to control your TV with it.
Starting from left of center on the rear panel, there are Control In and Control Out sensors using miniplug to allow controlling the player from the remote of another Pioneer component. Under these are the IR In and IR Receiver Switch for use with an external IR remote control receiver. Next are the HDMI out, Ethernet socket, and both composite and S-Video Out. Continuing towards the right we have the component video out and both digital audio outs – the coaxial and the Toslink optical. The final eight RCA jacks are grouped over at the far right on the rear panel: six marked analog audio outs to go to the six inputs on multichannel receivers or preamps. Plus separate 2-channel audio in and audio out RCA jacks. The detachable AC socket is at the far left of the rear panel.
Operation of the Player
There was a pause of a couple minutes after turning the player on before the tray could be opened to insert a DVD. For much of this time the display remained totally dark, not giving the user a cue as to whether the unit was going to boot up or not. Even most computers don’t do that. After inserting a disc and pressing play things still proceeded at a snail’s pace, but at least there was a display to let one know what was happening.
The other disappointment was to discover that the BDP-HD1 is the first DVD player I have encountered that didn’t play standard audio CDs – even the $39 discount DVD players do that. It also is not compatible with DVD-R or DVD-RW if it uses the newer VR facility. It is also not compatible with DVD-RAM or BD-R/RE, and any uncompressed PCM audio at 96K or 192K sampling will be downsampled to 48K. Nor with the audio side (CD) of DualDisc, though it does play the video side. Here’s what it also does play: BD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW (without VR), computer graphics files in jpeg, gif and png form; movie files in wmv, mg and mpeg form; and audio files in MWA, MP3 and WAV form.
When you have selected either the 720p or either of the 1080 resolution settings – i or p – the aspect ratio will default to 16:9 widescreen, even you have it set to 4:3 full screen. PureCinema is a Pioneer feature which provides the best possible imaging from either of the two types of video signals: 30 frames per second and 24 frames per second – the latter the frame rate for motion pictures. In PureCinema mode everything is converted to 60 frames per second progressive display, and if you select the 24p setting you will get the smoothest visual presentation if you have a 24p-compatible 1080p display.
Image quality
I first tried several standard DVDs and DVD-Rs. The picture quality was almost exactly what I am getting with my Integra DPS-10.5 universal DVD player, at nearly double the price. Adjusting the picture quality in either standard or Blu-ray on the player required going into Memory 1 or Memory 2 settings in Disc Navigator, but I found that the image matched that from my other players without needing any further adjustment.
Blu-ray playback is of course the raison d’etre of this device, and in this effort it performed with flying colors. The Pioneer demo disc that came with the player has some very striking hi-def images of startlingly detailed resolution. One of the demos shows closeups of some medieval texts and every character is perfectly sharp even with a moving camera. While some films offered on Blu-ray benefit only slightly from the increased resolution (for example the stylized visual approach of Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow), others with complex and detailed widescreen images – such as Ghandi and Reds – are a revelation. Details in shadow areas and distant objects become clear and easy to discern. I don’t believe I have ever been so aware of the lighting in films as with some the Blu-ray offerings; I believe this due entirely to the increased resolution of the images.
Other Display Options
It is also a nice feature to now have the disc menu options visible and available for changes while simultaneously viewing the film. One can easily change the audio parameters – switched for example from the commentary track back to the standard soundtrack while watching and listening.
I tried some video and audio files on DVD-R and DVD-RW discs from my iMac. I first made sure the DVDs were burned as “Mac/PC-compatible” and they were. The discs were completely verified after burning. After loading them, what I got on the screen was “no movies found on this disc,” “no photos found on this disc,” and “no music found on this disc.” Since all those files were on the disc, I can only surmise that this sample player was either unable to access them, or this function only works when your have an Ethernet connection to your local area network.
The player can be connected to an Ethernet LAN using the Ethernet port on the rear panel of the unit. It then needs to be set up for network communication using the Initial Setup menu display. In order to use the Home Media Gallery you have to have the player connected via Ethernet to the network and to have made the necessary settings in the software. One of the computers or servers on your home network must then contain movies, photos or music data files. You select whichever one you want and the proper Navigator screen appears, allowing you to browse and play all the files on the network. You use the up and down arrows to move thru the lists of choices on the screen. You can also browse and search movies. The Music Navigator allows you to move thru the lists of selections using the up and down arrows and by clicking on Enter to play any music selection you highlight. In Photo Navigator you are able to display either the thumbnails of each photo or an enlargement of each one. You can also run a photo slideshow while playing music.
Wrap Up
The playback of Blu-ray discs is the primary function of this player, and it does a bang up job of that. If you have other Pioneer gear and are sure you will be staying with the Blu-ray format, the BDP-HD1 would be a natural choice. The ability to access movie, photo and music files on your home LAN will be another welcome bonus for many users. You won’t need a second DVD player with the Elite player on your shelf, and your CD player could then be a CD-only model built to squeeze the best possible sound out of that long-running format. Some of the slight challenges I had with this early sample will undoubtedly be corrected in the production models you are likely to purchase.
– John Sunier
