Remember how your curiosity level shot through the roof when Pioneer abruptly
discontinued the BDP-LX70A Blu-ray player in the UK? We're willing to bet this is why. Announced over on Pioneer's European website, we're being treated to three fresh faces -- the Profile 2.0-compliant BDP-LX91, Designer BDP-LX08 and BDP-LX71 -- along with one familiar face (the
BDP-51FD). All of the new units will feature 1080p24 support, HDMI 12-Bit Deep Color support, KURO LINK, DTS-HD Master Audio / Dolby True HD compatibility and professional-quality Wolfson Digital Audio Converters (DACs). As for pricing and availability other than Europe, your guess is as good as ours, but we are told to expect the BDP-LX71 in September, the BDP-51FD / BDP-LX08 in October and the BDP-LX91 "later on in the winter."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Truth Teller @ Jun 25th 2008 4:18PM
F'ugly tank
(surprising they didn't try & pull the 2-tone look to try to disguise it).
The (boxy odd old look) Volvo of the hi-fi world.
It's like decades of electronics miniturisation just never happened.
GenBanks @ Jun 25th 2008 7:13PM
I've got the LX-70A and it's really gorgeous looking in person. The face is glossy and lights up very subtly, the dials are really smooth and solid feeling. It's sexy and solid feeling at the same time. I really like it.
I just wish there was some kind of trade-up program to get the updated version though, the 70A costs a lot (about £800) so I really can't afford to just sell it and buy the new version.
maxpower @ Jun 25th 2008 10:46PM
I think they look quite nice actually. They are a bit on the big side but they look solid and refined, which is what I'd expect from Pioneer gear.
Speaking of f'ugly boxy, here's some set props from the Buck Rogers series:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/voom/CEDIA-2006/Pictures/Toshiba%20HD-A2-XA2.JPG
Truth Teller @ Jun 26th 2008 8:24AM
They're still bulkier than even the old A2.
.....and not a patch on the looks of the 3 series.
Play oldest HD DVD gen(s) v newest Blu-ray gen if you like but it's seriously missing the point.
Truth Teller @ Jun 25th 2008 7:19PM
seriously tho & all matters re the format aside don't people find many of these BD players really big & ugly?
I can't help thinking 'old early top loading video recorder'.
So many steps back from todays sleek SD DVD players.
I know they are a little way off of a true SoC chipset which ought to help slim them down a lot but the HD DVD players managed to get packaged much more attractively & thinly.
Samsung's new BDP1500 seems to be amongst the better ones but even there it's still a thick heavy looking black box.
Truth Teller @ Jun 25th 2008 7:22PM
Whatever floats your boat Gen. ;)
Even the older Volvos had their fans.....and the latest ones are rather swish.
DVD4ME @ Jun 26th 2008 7:19AM
Good to see they've almost caught up to the XA2....almost
Michael @ Jun 28th 2008 8:39AM
Sweet. I'd buy one of these in a NY minute.
TT, even though I'm on your side most of the time (it will be a cold day before I buy another Sony product) I think that Pioneer produces some of the most attractive equipment around and this player is no exception. I absolutely love the looks of this unit and greatly prefer it to the "slimmer" competition. I'm not impressed at all with the looks of most the other boxes out there until you get to the Denon, Marantz or H/K and those are priced out ridiculously silly for most consumers. Even though I'd prefer a $399-$499 price point, I wouldn't buy anyone's product at that price if it looked like crap. (BTW, I love the looks of my A-20 and always thought Toshiba took a giant step backwards on the design of the A-30 but that's just my opinion.)
This player would fit in nicely with my other Elite products and frankly, I prefer a little larger box because it also means a display I can see across the room. Generally (though not always) it also indicates better electronics on the inside too. Pioneer has always used tighter spec'd parts and is usually ahead on design inside their products. That means I get what I pay for and it almost always out performs the competition long term without failing.