HOME About Buyers Guide Reviews Archives

High-Definition DVD Player Reviews

Panasonic DMP-BD10 Blu-Ray Disc Player

Panasonic released its initial high-definition DVD player product late in 2006. Some basic information about the player, and about Blu-ray technology, is at the Panasonic website.

According to a product description:

With 15 billion pixel-per second processing and 192kHz/24bit audio for each of eight channels, this Blu-ray Disc Player provides a level of image and sound quality that is truly amazing. At Panasonic, easy operation is important too. The DMP-BD10 comes equipped with HDAVI Control, a function that links operation of an HDAVI Control compatible TV and receiver, so you can control both at the same time with a single button.

Home Theater Forum wrote:

While it is still far too early to declare a winner in this format war, I do believe that quality products like the Panasonic DMP-BD10 do go a long way in showing the high quality and potential of the Blu-ray format. Picture quality is excellent, audio is outstanding and the player has enough room for future updating that it is a formidable product for the long term (assuming Blu-ray survives). If one were to compare this Panasonic player to the offerings in the HD DVD arena from Toshiba, it would be very safe to say that the picture equals the Toshiba player's on material that is available on both formats.

It will probably take dual layer Blu-ray releases with potentially higher bit-rates to really see if the Blu-ray format is capable of producing a better image than HD DVD. Since the current crop of releases that are available on both formats make use of the same transfers, it is going to be impossible to distinguish between the two....I can wholeheartedly recommend the Panasonic DMP-BD10 to those who are willing and ready to make the jump into HD.

Canada HiFi said:

The Panasonic DMP-BD10 Blu-ray player delivered phenomenal picture and sound quality, there is no question about it. This player undeniably proved to me the potential of the Blu-ray format. Spending C$1,500 on this player is questionable given that it's difficult to say right now how the high definition disc format war will pan out. However, by all means if you want to watch the highest quality video available today and have the money, go pick up the Panasonic DMP-BD10 because overall it's a fantastic high definition player.

Also in Canada, the Globe and Mail concluded:

The Good: Excellent picture quality; up-converts standard DVDs to high-definition; remote can potentially be used to control all of your home theatre devices
The Bad: Over priced; doesn't readily distinguish itself from the competition; doesn't come with HDMI or component cables
The Verdict: The picture is great, the price isn't

According to Engadget:

Compared to the Samsung BD-P1000 player, reviewers note a slightly better picture quality and load times, plus excellent audio output. It doesn't support next-gen lossless audio codecs like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD out of the box but, those are promised for a future firmware update. Negatives include a clunky remote and lack of BD-Live connectivity that will be present in the PlayStation 3.

This player appears to do the same 1080p to 1080i to 1080p conversion present in the Samsung, so if 1080p/24 output is a must, it's a pass. Still, with EZ-SYNC HDMI control to matching SA-XR700 receiver and flat panel HDTV, if you must have the best Blu-ray hardware available -- at least until Sony and Pioneer's offerings hit the street -- the DMP-BD10 is ready to give it to you.

CNET concluded:

The Panasonic DMP-BD10 is a very competent first-generation Blu-ray player, but its high price and the comparably affordable PlayStation 3 make it hard to recommend.

Update: In mid-March 2007 Panasonic announced an updated version of the player, the DMP-BD10A. Engadget commented:

Among other things the A revision brings with it advanced CODEC support including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD. We are excited about the support, but wonder if the revision is nothing more than the firmware update that was promised at launch. We certainly hope so at that price and with only a few additions over the non-A version it would be a rip to those who bought the first one otherwise.

HD News said:

There is nothing much to differentiate the new model from the old, and it is a little disappointing that the BD10A BD does not have an Ethernet port.

* Get the Latest Price on the Panasonic DMP-BD10 Blu-Ray Disc Player.

December 1^st, 2006
Updated: March 8th, 2007
Updated: March 19th, 2007