Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blu-ray Disc Player | 
 enlarge | Brand: Panasonic
Category: CE
List Price: $399.95
Buy New: $399.88
You Save: $0.07
New (3) from $399.88
Avg. Customer Rating:  39 reviews
Sales Rank: 466
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries: 2
Batteries Included: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 5.7
Dimensions (in): 16.9 x 9.8 x 1.7
MPN: DMP-BD55K
Model: DMP-BD55K
UPC: 037988257171
EAN: 0037988257171
ASIN: B001GAOYCI
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Blu-ray Player | | • | BD Live / 7.1 Lossless Decode and Analog Output | | • | VIERA Link: Operate with your VIERA Remote Control | | • | SD Card Slot |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
Panasonic's two new slim, BD-Live compatible, feature-filled Blu-ray players, the DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55, offer cutting edge technologies focused on producing the ultimate movie-viewing experience.
 The BD35 and BD55 both feature an HD Audio Decoder (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTSTM-HD Master Audio Essential), delivering 7.1-channel surround sound through a 7.1-channel receiver equipped with an HDMI terminal. The DMP-BD55 features high-end audio components and can also output analog signals for 7.1-channel sound, so even receivers that are not compatible with HDMI can produce the newest 7.1-channel surround sound.
Both models are equipped with an SD Memory Card slot that makes it easy to transfer images from an HD camcorder or digital still camera that uses SD Memory Cards and are compatible with Panasonic’s VIERA Link function so they can be operated by the VIERA HDTV remote control.
The combination of a Panasonic Blu-ray player, Home Theater audio system and a VIERA HDTV converts the home entertainment experience into a true-to-life cinematic experience. Consumers can now view and enjoy movies the way the film maker intended -- in stunning High Definition video and audio – right from the comfort of their own home.
Learn More
True-To-Life Colors The PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus video processor was developed after more than 15 years of collaboration between Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory and professional cinema studios in Hollywood. With PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus, users viewing content on Blu-ray Discs enjoy crisp, vivid colors that are extremely close to the original. A high-precision 4:4:4 function creates video signals in which each pixel of the signal from the Blu-ray Disc is color-compensated, so when the player is connected to a Panasonic VIERA HDTV, the colors are even sharper and more vivid.
UniPhier System UniPhier is a Panasonic-created system LSI developed by applying 45-nanometer processing to a consumer product – a world’s first. This single-chip integration technology also contributes greatly to the BD35’s world's slimmest height of 49mm.
Blu-ray Video Features More Picture |  See Everything Your HDTV Can Show You with Full HD.
6 Times the Picture Data on DVDs
See everything your HDTV can show you. Blu-ray Disc's Full HD 1080p resolution produces over 2 million pixels per frame to produce a razor-sharp picture with unmatched depth and clarity that takes full advantage of the capabilities of today's 1080p HDTVs. That's six times the picture data contained on DVDs, which are encoded at only 480p. 24p True Cinema Video Output
Most of all Hollywood movies are shot at 24 frames per second, and Blu-ray Disc movies are mastered at 24 frame per second. Blu-ray Disc Players can output films at 1080/24p for a true film-like experience at home, as well as 1080/60p for more traditional HDTV sets on the market.
Backwards compatible and Upscaling
All existing Blu-ray Disc players will play your standard DVD collection without a problem. And with built-in 1080p video upscaling, they'll look even better. |
More Space | Blu-ray Disc has 5x more storage capacity than DVD, which allows more content to fit on the disc. The extra storage capacity also means more room for special features like inline navigation, Bonus View, interactive games, deleted scenes, director commentary and more | Navigate to special features, other scenes, or settings without leaving the content you are watching.
| Bonus View lets you watch special features and commentary inline without leaving the movie.
| More Bits  In the digital world, picture quality is not just about resolution, but also about bit rates. The higher the bit rate, the more data that is processed, typically resulting in higher video quality. DVDs have a maximum video bit rate of about 10 megabits per second (Mbps). In comparison, Blu-ray Disc is capable of video bitrates up to an incredible 40 Mbps. The bottom line, higher bit rates allow for the least amount of data compression for HD video that looks closest to the original video source.
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BD-Live  Both the BD35 and BD55 feature BD-Live compatibility which enables users to connect to the Internet to download images, subtitles and other data, and take part in interactive activities and multi-player games linked to bonus cinema content found on Blu-ray Discs.
BD-Live is a Blu-ray feature that enables you to access special content via an internet-connected Blu-ray player. Because it's not coded into the disc, BD-Live content is always updated, always fresh. With BD-Live, your Blu-ray disc is different every time you view it.
Check out the latest previews, download special scenes, exclusive features and ringtones, and participate in online communities or games.
As BD-Live continues to grow and expand, even more features will become available, customizing features and content to your location or preferences.
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Life-Like Surround Sound The BD35 and BD55 both feature an HD Audio Decoder (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTSTM-HD Master Audio Essential), which supports the 7.1-channel surround sound newly adopted in Blu-ray Discs. Users can enjoy 7.1-channel surround even with systems that do not support HD Audio -- as long as the DMP-BD35/55 is connected to a 7.1-channel receiver equipped with an HDMI terminal. The DMP-BD55 can also output analog signals for 7.1-channel sound, so even receivers that are not compatible with HDMI can produce the newest 7.1-channel surround sound by simply connecting to the DMP-BD55.
Dolby TrueHD, Dolby’s next-generation lossless technology developed for high-definition disc-based media, delivers tantalizing sound that is bit-for-bit identical to the studio master.
- Delivers enthralling studio-master-quality sound that unlocks the true high-definition entertainment experience on next-generation discs.
- Offers more discrete channels than ever before for impeccable surround sound.
- Compatible with the A/V receivers and home-theaters-in-a-box (HTIBs) of today and tomorrow.
- Dialogue normalization maintains the same volume level when you change to other Dolby Digital and Dolby TrueHD programming.
- Dynamic range control (Night mode) enables you to customize audio playback to reduce peak volume levels (no loud surprises) while experiencing all the details in the soundtrack, enabling late-night viewing of high-energy surround sound without disturbing others.
The Panasonic BD55 goes a step further with a high-end audio design and components. Thanks to a 192kHz 24bit audio digital-analog converter and high quality insulators, electrolytic capacitors, copper-foil film capacitors and ultra-low-impedance electrolytic capacitors, the DMP-BD55 delivers the same kind of exciting surround effect and lifelike ambience as today's finest cinemas. The DMP-BD55 can also output analog signals for 7.1-channel sound, so even receivers that are not compatible with HDMI can produce the newest 7.1-channel surround sound by simply connecting to the DMP-BD55.
HDMI Features x.v Color 
RGB Color Range
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xvYCC Color Range
| Standard RGB color space allows the display of a portion of the colors that are viewable to the human eye. The next generation "xvYCC" color space (Extended YCC Colorimetry for Video Applications), or "x.v. color" for shortactually offers an available range of colors that exceeds what human eyes can recognize. - Next-generation "xvYCC" color space supports 1.8 times as many colors as existing HDTV signals
- Lets HDTVs display colors more accurately
- Enables displays with more natural and vivid colors
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Deep Color  | So, where x.v. color expands the available range of colors your HDTV can display, Deep Color increases the number of colors your HDTV can display within that range, for smoother transitions from color to color.
- Lets HDTVs and other displays go from millions of colors to billions of colors
- Eliminates on-screen color banding, for smooth tonal transitions and subtle gradations between colors
- Enables increased contrast ratio
- Can represent many times more shades of gray between black and white
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Connectivity Both models are equipped with an SD Memory Card slot that makes it easy to transfer images from an HD camcorder or digital still camera that uses SD Memory Cards. Simply insert the SD card into the DMP-BD35/55 and it plays AVCHD-format video images or JPEG stills in full 1920 x 1080 resolution on your flat panel HDTV. The DMP-BD35/55 can also play slide shows, complete with background music.
The DMP-BD35/55 models are also compatible with Panasonic’s VIERA Link function so they can be operated by the VIERA HDTV remote control.
Inputs/Outputs - HDMI
- Component Video Out (Y, PB, PR)
- Video Out
- 7.1 ch Audio Out analog
- Digital Audio Out: 1 optical, 1 coaxial
- SD Memory Card Slot
- Ethernet for Network
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Specifications VIDEO PHL Reference Chroma Processor Yes
P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD) Yes
Precise Pixel Generation: Yes
16-Level Motion Detection w/ Pixel-Based Motion Adaptive Yes
Diagonal Processing Yes
3:2/2:2 Pull-Down Progressive Processing Yes
i/p Conversion for 1080p 4 Playback Yes
Up-conversion to 1080p 5 Playback Yes
Video D/A Converter 148.5MHz/12bit
Progressive Scan Yes
Digital Noise Reduction 3D-NR/Integrated NR
1080/24p Playback Yes
Deep Color Yes
x.v.Color Yes
Picture Mode Yes (Normal/Soft/Fine/Cinema/User)
Picture Adjustment Yes (Brightness, Color, Contrast, Sharpness, Gamma Correction)
AUDIO Audio D/A Converter 192kHz/24bit
Dolby Digital/Dolby Digital Plus Decoder Decode and Bitstream output
Dolby True HD Decoder Decode and Bitstream output
DTS/DTS-HD High Resolution Audio Decoder Decode and Bitstream output
96kHz Surround Re-Master (for all formats)
Advanced Surround (V.S.S.) Yes
Night Surround Mode Yes
Dialogue Enhancer Yes
Dynamic Range Compression Yes
Audio S/N 115dB
Dynamic Range 100dB CONVENIENCE Super Hi Speed Scan Yes
Audio/JPEG Navigation Menu Yes
VIERA Link (HDAVI Control 3) Yes INPUT/OUTPUT HDMI: Support features: Deep Color, x.v.Color, High Bit Rate Audio
Component Video Out (Y, PB, PR) Yes
Video Out Yes
7.1ch Audio Out analog
2ch Audio Out No
Digital Audio Out 1 optical, 1 coaxial
SD Memory Card Slot Yes
Ethernet for Network Yes FORMAT BD-ROM Playback BD-Live
BD-RE / BD-RE DL BD-MV (BD-RE version3), BDAV (SESF), JPEG (HD)
BD-R/BD-R DL BD-MV (BD-R version2), BDAV (SESF)
DVD Playback DVD-Video
DVD-RAM Playback DVD-VR, JPEG (HD), AVCHD
DVD-R/-RW/-R(DL) 1 Playback DVD Video, DVD-VR, AVCHD, DivX (DVD-R/-R DL only)
+R/+R(DL)/+RW Playback DVD-VR, AVCHD
CD, CD-R/-RW 2 Playback CD-DA, DivX (CD-R/-RW only), MP3 3 (CD-R/-RW only), JPEG (HD) (CD-R/-RW only)
SD Memory Card AVCHD, JPEG (HD)
POWER Power Source AC 120V, 60Hz
Power Consumption21W (approx)
DIMENSIONS (H x W x D) 23/16 inches x 1615/16 inches x 913/16 inches
Weight 5.7 lbs
Product Description
PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus is a high quality image-processing technology developed by Panasonic to precisely process each pixel of the Blu-ray Disc video signal in the vertical direction. It reproduces color data with twice the accuracy of conventional systems to keep colors faithful and sharp. P4HD processes more than 15 billion pixels per second and applies the optimal processing to every pixel. So that it can render progressive images superbly, expresses motion smoothly, and draws crisp diagonal lines.The DMP-BD55 can decode HD Audio (Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD) and output 7.1ch digital audio signal. The resulting audio is studio master quality sound. This signal can be connected to an HDMI compatible receiver that does not support HD Audio Codec. Besides, the 7.1-channel analog signal converted by 192kHz D/A converter is transmitted in high quality. This signal can be connected to a receiver that does not support HDMI. BD-Live lets users access to the Internet to download data such as images and subtitles, and to join in quizzes and multi-player interactive games that are linked to bonus movie content contained on Blu-ray disc.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 34 more reviews...
 Awesome BluRay January 7, 2009
Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blu-ray Disc Player
I was looking for a BD player, considered the Elite.. too large and expensive and lacked certain functions for future use. Since my AVR is Elite, figured a match.. like my other set up. Did not know if Samsung or Sony would be a problem, I have owned their products and liked them, but I also had a few things that only Panasonic could satisfy. Size... small form factor allows more air circulation was one. Another it plays everything.... not just BD.
After looking at all the sites and doing research.... I took the Panasonic. Hooked it up.. put on Wall E and immediately knew this was the one. The 7.1 sound, the color, well everything. It fit every need I had. It BTW replaced an Elite DVD player that cost me 4 times as much. 100% satisfied. Panasonic also had 5 stars on BD forums.... Denon and other high priced units use the same chipset..... Get the 55... it looks great with the Elite AVR. Since the new AVR and BD players by Panasonic are so big, tall, heavy and costly.... unless you are in a closet rack mount, you do need to calculate for air movement and heat. Superb unit by any standard.
An Excelent Player for the Money! January 5, 2009
The first Blu-ray DVD I watched was The Dark Knight and I was absolutely blown away! The reason? The audio is superb!
My Denon 3910 DVD player was having problems reading some regular DVDs and it seemed the right time to upgrade. I use a Yamaha LPX-510 projector that only displays up to 1080i video resolution, not 1080p. I use component video cables for the 75-foot run, not HDMI. I am projecting to a 92-inch screen, so video quality (good or bad) from a DVD or player shows up quickly. Although the Denon 3910 was $1300 when I purchased it a few years ago, the Panasonic DMP-BD55K is a much better player.
Up-conversion of regular DVDs on the Panasonic is almost as good as a Blu-ray DVD (remember, my maximum video quality is 1080i). Color is richer and detail is much clearer. That means that I won't need to replace my current DVD collection with Blu-ray discs.
The biggest benefit for me was the improved overall sound quality. For comparison, I played 'The Eagles - Hell Freezes Over' and 'Bee Gees - One Night Only' on both players using their DTS sound tracks. An amazing difference! Individual instruments were more distinctive and the total audio experience was measurably better, as was the video. I also compared 'The Fifth Element Superbit' DVD and got the same results. Video and sound differences comparing "Super Speedway' (filmed in IMAX format) did not show noticeable differences.
Another major difference was in viewing homemade DVDs. Video is much better on the Panasonic.
I went through all of the setup options twice. The manual that comes with the product is great if you are an audio engineer but leaves a lot of unanswered questions. For example, the 5.1 vs 7.1 detail is somewhat lacking. When I first connected the Panasonic to my pre-amp, I used a cheap coax wire (I couldn't find my extra fiber optic cable). The resulting sound was highly distorted. Later, I did find and connect the fiber optic cable and WOW! There is nothing mentioned in the manual about the number of audio channels supported when using fiber optics/coax instead of HDMI cables. Trust me, it works great on a 5.1 configuration.
I played NCIS Season 1, disc 4 and the faces of the actors were bright pink! No help in any of the video adjustments and all of my other discs seemed to have none of this problem. I hooked the BD55K to the Internet and downloaded an update to the firmware. This took about 5 minutes for the complete update process. I went from firmware version 1.4 to 1.6 and the pink faces now displayed in normal skin tones.
You won't be disappointed with the Panasonic DMP-BD55K Blue-ray Disc Player. It's a great product for the money.
As a reference, here is my home theater configuration: Video: Yamaha LPX-510 projector; Screen: Sterling SNDQ092H 92-inch; Pre-amp: B&K Reference 50 Series 2; Power amp: McIntosh MC207; Speakers: M&K S-150THX (front/center), M&K SS-150THX Tripole surrounds, M&K MX-350THX powered subwoofer.
 Great, but divx support somewhat limited January 3, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Bluray and DVD disks play great. The divx support is limited to DVD-R, DVD-R DL and SD cards. My luck most of my divx was on DVD+Rs. Not a big problem though. A bigger problem is that even the documented support for divx may be a little "iffy". I have one large certified Divx file (2.77G) that is burned to a DVD-R. When I try to load this the BD55 says, "Unsupported Disk" which of course is an incorrect error message. It may be there is a file size limit for the BD55, but none is documented and the disk plays fine on my computer and on my old standard DVD with Divx support. If it's a bug, hopefully they will fix it with a firmware upgrade. Even so, it's quite a nice player.
flawless January 3, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This player has been flawless. Picture is pristine on blu-ray and very good on standard DVD. Some DVD's are so good I forget I am wathcing a DVD and think it is a blu-ray. Sound is excellent. The player is also fast, easy to use overall. I have no complaints.
Great BR player January 3, 2009
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The Panny BD55K is one of my wiser purchases and overall I am very happy with the unit.
PRO's:
Unit is fast to start up compared to my other HD player (Tosh HD-A35) and both the picture and sound quality is brilliant. Range of audio outputs is excellent and was the main reason behind my choice of this unit. It was a close call but I chose this unit over a Sony BDP-S550 after careful reviews due to the better audio output support.
CON's:
Had the player about 2 months now and not found one 'CON'. I guess if I was being picky, I'd like the start-up time to be even quicker (from power-on to playing a DB disk).
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