After all the battle between the Blu-ray players, all their forth coming releases have raised a lot of expectations. Now let us have a look at the design, features and performance of Pioneer’s BDP-LX70 Blu-ray disc player which has also created some expectation.
Beautiful Design:
Pioneer BDP-LX70 Blu-ray DVD player is attractively built and has a gorgeous look. The player’s double layered chassis gives an incredible mechanical stability. It has a minimalist design with its princely and racy finish makes you feel a promising product in front of you. This player does not have any fancy neon lights as the other DVD players. Its remote control is a little heavy comparatively.
Features:
Good connectivity:
Pioneer BDP-LX70 Blu-ray disc player also has a good connectivity. For video, it has the component and HDMI video outputs. Pioneer also provides the optical and coaxial audio outputs, a 5.1-channel audio line out which delivers Dolby TrueHD to an AV receiver, a LAN jack and IR-out jacks and control-in in order to have system integration. Hence providing a wide range of audio and picture formats from a computer that is connected and Home Media Gallery Software of pioneer provides total assurance.
Major set-backs:
BDP-LX70 player uses the HDMI version1.2 and not the latest upgraded version1.3. This drawback was unexpected as Pioneer’s latest plasmas had HDMI version1.3 inputs. With the absence of this version, automatic lip syncing, ‘Deep Colour’ extended colour palette and digital distribution of HD audio formats is not possible. Another disappointing news is that LX70 does not support any way of outputting ‘next gen’ HD audio formats. It can not take CD-R/CD –RW as input and another disgusting fact is that, it is incompatible to BD Profile1.1. Hence BDP-LX70 will have to face serious set backs as it will not be able to try out the extra features in the latest disks.
Some consolation:
The provided HDMI is compatible with the company’s CEC standard which allows controlling the multiple HDMI-connected CEC devices with a single remote. This format also supports 1080 / 24p HD picture format in which most of the films are encoded while being mastered for Blu-ray devices. This makes the player produce pictures that are very effective. The player has a long list of picture tweaks for you unceasing fiddlers, which includes chrome level, white level, black level and hue adjustments. Pioneer’s BDP-LX70 Blu-ray disc player can upscale SD discs up to 1080p and can play CDs too. Upscaling is a process by which the output of the DVD signal is being matched to the physical pixel count on a HDTV which is typically, 1280 x 720 (720p) or 1920 x 1080 (1080i).
This Pioneer BDP-LX70 video player plays DVD-R/R DL, DVD-RW, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, Blu-ray disk DVD-video, streamed digital video’s, photos and compressed audio files from your PC. It also has its support for BDP-LX70 audio system. BDP-LX70 also sports a built in Dolby decoder of 5.1 channel, built in Dolby decoder of 5.1 channel, dynamic range control and bass management.
Performance:
Long waits:
Pioneer BDP-LX70’s onscreen menus are gorgeously designed and logically organised and is supported by the CEC’s system that complements it well. The player takes around 35 seconds to start playing once the disc is inserted. This gives you an inevitable long-wait feel. The player takes more than a minute while turning on the player from the stand-by mode.
Spectacular picture quality:
Once the video starts playing, you will be dumb-struck by its mind blowing picture quality and is nothing less than spectacular. The player produces terrifically vivid colours and perfect black levels. The picture look very sharp and the details are presented in a very fine way. The image is remarkably free of noise and the movements are smooth and natural. You can hardly hear any loading noise. It uses the HD digital film direct technology that ensures you, what you see is exactly at the same speed as it uses 24 frames per second, the similar speed in which the film was shot and screened. All these quality performances can be enjoyed to its fullest when the player is connected to a pioneer television. Pioneer BDP-LX70’s audio is also immensely clear.
Verdict:
Pioneer’s BDP-LX70 Blu-ray DVD player is a very stylish player with a commendable build quality and no cheap bits being attached to it. BDP LX 70 is well worth the cost you have to pay for it. But its incompatibility with the 1.1 specification will make your dreams of Java-based picture-in-picture video playback and future enhancements questionable.
Technical Features & Specification Details of Pioneer BDP-LX70 Blu-Ray Player
| Manufacturer | Pioneer |
| Model Name | BDP-LX70 |
| Product Type | Blu-Ray Discs Player |
| Dimensions ( H x W x D) |
103 x 420 x 353 mm |
| Form factor | Table top |
| Number of disc trays | One |
| Weight | 6.5 kg |
| Playable disc types | DVD-video, DVD-R/R DL,DVD-RW, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW |
| Playable file formats | MP3, MPEG 2 Audio, WMA, WMAPro and WMV9 |
| Media compatibility | BD-ROM, CD, CD-R, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-R and DVD-RW |
| Internal hard drive capacity | No |
| Remote control | Yes |
| Audio features | Built-in Dolby Digital Decoder (5.1 channel) Dolby Digital Plus Dolby TrueHD Built-in DTS Decoder DTS CD Capability Dynamic Range Control Bass Management |
| MP3 compatible | Yes |
| Surround Sound | Yes |
| Built in Decoders | Yes |
| Video features | PureCinema Progressive Scan: PAL/NTSC I/P Simultaneous Output Video(adjust+) Pixel scanner |
| Photo display option | Yes |
| S-video | Yes |
| Progressive scan | Yes ( NTSC/PAL) |
| Input terminals | 1 x LAN |
| Output terminals | 1 x HDMI 1 x digital audio (coaxial / optical) 1 x component video 1 x s-video 1 x video 1 x 2 channel analogue audio 1 x 5.1 analogue audio |
| Warranty | One Year |
