Hi
I have a pretty serious AV set-up (Samsung 8000-series Smart TV & Onkyo TX-NR809). The extract from this Pioneer BDP review sums up my dilemma and view exactly:
??The way the Blu-ray player market has changed over the years is really quite remarkable. Essentially, the high-end has all but disappeared. Where once manufacturers could release hulking flagship players with price tags rivalling those of AVRs, today's buyer is pretty much left with a plethora of slimline, affordable offerings (with a few audiophile exceptions, such as Primare's BD32, to entice the ultra-rich).
This puts brands like Pioneer in a slightly awkward situation. It's never been a true mass-market brand, but at the same time obviously doesn't see any commercial reason to issue a successor to its ?2,000 BDP-LX91. Hence it's now focusing on the mid-range ? the BDP-LX55 tested here wants to grab a slice of the action below the ?500 Oppos and Denons of the world, but above the impulse-buy spinners from many of its Japanese countrymen.
It may well succeed in this endeavour. You see, there are still many consumers, myself included, who cherish build quality and design. People who want their home cinema components to be covetable objects, rather than just slapdash lightweight constructions of plastic and perspex. The BDP-LX55 will certainly find favour with them. It's a gloriously solid-feeling deck with a serious, mature design ? including chunky feet and a brushed front panel ? that will look reassuring on any shelf or in a rack?.?
Review: Marc Craven ? Home Cinema Choice
I do not want something that looks like a toy in my system, but I also do not want to spend as much as I did for my AVR (new in box) ? if that makes any sense? There is an obvious gap in the market that no product provider seems bothered to fill.
I am weighing up my options at the moment, and would appreciate any advice and/or recommendations.
Regards
I have a pretty serious AV set-up (Samsung 8000-series Smart TV & Onkyo TX-NR809). The extract from this Pioneer BDP review sums up my dilemma and view exactly:
??The way the Blu-ray player market has changed over the years is really quite remarkable. Essentially, the high-end has all but disappeared. Where once manufacturers could release hulking flagship players with price tags rivalling those of AVRs, today's buyer is pretty much left with a plethora of slimline, affordable offerings (with a few audiophile exceptions, such as Primare's BD32, to entice the ultra-rich).
This puts brands like Pioneer in a slightly awkward situation. It's never been a true mass-market brand, but at the same time obviously doesn't see any commercial reason to issue a successor to its ?2,000 BDP-LX91. Hence it's now focusing on the mid-range ? the BDP-LX55 tested here wants to grab a slice of the action below the ?500 Oppos and Denons of the world, but above the impulse-buy spinners from many of its Japanese countrymen.
It may well succeed in this endeavour. You see, there are still many consumers, myself included, who cherish build quality and design. People who want their home cinema components to be covetable objects, rather than just slapdash lightweight constructions of plastic and perspex. The BDP-LX55 will certainly find favour with them. It's a gloriously solid-feeling deck with a serious, mature design ? including chunky feet and a brushed front panel ? that will look reassuring on any shelf or in a rack?.?
Review: Marc Craven ? Home Cinema Choice
I do not want something that looks like a toy in my system, but I also do not want to spend as much as I did for my AVR (new in box) ? if that makes any sense? There is an obvious gap in the market that no product provider seems bothered to fill.
I am weighing up my options at the moment, and would appreciate any advice and/or recommendations.
Regards
