Product Face-Offs
Pioneer BDP-320
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| Digitech Electronics | 269.90 | |
| Superfi | 269.95 | |
| Hiwayhifi.com | 279.99 | |
| Electric Shop | 339.99 | |
| E-buyer | 347.62 | |
| Compare prices | ||
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| Compatible formats (write) | - | ||
| Compatible formats (read) | DVD, Blu-ray, DiVX, JPEG, MP3, WMA | ||
| Built-in decoders | DD, DD Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS, DTS-HD, DTS-HD MA | ||
| Internal hard drive | - | ||
| Connectivity | HDMI 1.3, composite, YUV, stereo, optical, USB, network | ||
 See all specifications | |||
| Dimensions (W x L x D) | 420 x 75 x 287 mm |
| Weight | 3.5 Kg |
 Hide specifications | |
Vincent Lheur
Test date: July 30, 2009
Test date: July 30, 2009
The remote
The remote is a little confusing when you first look at it. All the buttons look alike and you’ll need some time to get used to where they’re positioned. This doesn’t facilitate use in the dark, especially as the remote isn’t backlit. It does nevertheless handle nicely and is well designed.
The Pioneer BDP-320 has been on sale since June 2009. It stands out thanks to DiVX compatability and a sober, elegant design… the Pioneer stamp.
Design & Build
Although the BDP-320 is positioned as a mid-range player, we were disappointed to see that it is not as well equipped as it could be. Connectivity is limited to an HDMI 1.3 socket, YUV outs, composite, stereo and optical outs and Ethernet and USB. Moreover you can’t use the USB to read multimedia files as it has only been designed for BD-Live functionality. You have to plug in a USB that is at least 1 GB in size if you want to use BD-Live. You can’t use the Ethernet socket, that functions with BD-Live, to access files stocked on the local network (computer, server etc). It is important to underline this as some descriptions or tests on the internet are misleading on this point.
We would have liked to see twice the digital audio optical/coaxial connectivity, as well as analogue 7.1 audio outs.
The menus are easy to use and the design is in keeping with current trends. As with many TVs and Blu-ray players, there is a certain delay in comparison with the graphics interfaces of products that are truly adapted to current software potential. This isn’t particularly serious as time spent in the menus is of course a lot less than the time spent using the player itself.
You can use the BDP-320 to view JPEGs, play mp3s, WMAs and DiVXs. DiVXs are however limited to SD (720x576) format. You’ll notice straight away that the player is quite slow to start up. Turning it on, putting the disk in, closing the drawer and display of the first image all takes a bit more than a minute. This is long!
Image quality
The wait is worthwhile however! HD quality is quite simply perfect. For those who want to adjust the image according to taste or the screen, Pioneer has designed a whole array of settings (continuous movement, Pure Cinema, 3 sound reduction filters, sharpness, white levels, black levels, gamma, tones and saturation).
DVD upscaling is great and playing source of this type (interlaced images) activates new functions in the video settings menu. Once again, the user will be able to adjust the settings as they like.
Audio formats
All audio formats are supported and interally decoded: Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD and DTS-HD MA. You can feed them via the HDMI socket as a bitstream – a single flow that is decoded by the amplifier – or PCM – 8 decoded channels that can simply be amplified. Of course you need the HDMI socket for HD signals, otherwise you have to make do with Dolby Digital or DTS via the optical out. Once again, we have to say that the absence of analogue 7.1 outs is a shame.
Note also the PQLS feature that improves the restitution of stereo audio sources and eliminates any jitter. However you need to be using the HDMI out for this to work.
Design & Build
Although the BDP-320 is positioned as a mid-range player, we were disappointed to see that it is not as well equipped as it could be. Connectivity is limited to an HDMI 1.3 socket, YUV outs, composite, stereo and optical outs and Ethernet and USB. Moreover you can’t use the USB to read multimedia files as it has only been designed for BD-Live functionality. You have to plug in a USB that is at least 1 GB in size if you want to use BD-Live. You can’t use the Ethernet socket, that functions with BD-Live, to access files stocked on the local network (computer, server etc). It is important to underline this as some descriptions or tests on the internet are misleading on this point.
We would have liked to see twice the digital audio optical/coaxial connectivity, as well as analogue 7.1 audio outs.
The menus are easy to use and the design is in keeping with current trends. As with many TVs and Blu-ray players, there is a certain delay in comparison with the graphics interfaces of products that are truly adapted to current software potential. This isn’t particularly serious as time spent in the menus is of course a lot less than the time spent using the player itself.
You can use the BDP-320 to view JPEGs, play mp3s, WMAs and DiVXs. DiVXs are however limited to SD (720x576) format. You’ll notice straight away that the player is quite slow to start up. Turning it on, putting the disk in, closing the drawer and display of the first image all takes a bit more than a minute. This is long!
Image quality
The wait is worthwhile however! HD quality is quite simply perfect. For those who want to adjust the image according to taste or the screen, Pioneer has designed a whole array of settings (continuous movement, Pure Cinema, 3 sound reduction filters, sharpness, white levels, black levels, gamma, tones and saturation).DVD upscaling is great and playing source of this type (interlaced images) activates new functions in the video settings menu. Once again, the user will be able to adjust the settings as they like.
Audio formats
All audio formats are supported and interally decoded: Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD and DTS-HD MA. You can feed them via the HDMI socket as a bitstream – a single flow that is decoded by the amplifier – or PCM – 8 decoded channels that can simply be amplified. Of course you need the HDMI socket for HD signals, otherwise you have to make do with Dolby Digital or DTS via the optical out. Once again, we have to say that the absence of analogue 7.1 outs is a shame.Note also the PQLS feature that improves the restitution of stereo audio sources and eliminates any jitter. However you need to be using the HDMI out for this to work.
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Image quality
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DivX compatible (in SD only)
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Numerous settings
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No analogue 7.1 audio outs
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Slow start-up
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No adjustment of subtitle synchronisation
The BDP-320 is quite simply one of the best Blu-ray players on the market. Well equipped home cinema enthusiasts will have to check that the audio connections fit in with their system (no analogue 7.1 outs).
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