It has the performance you’ve dreamed of, all the features you’ll ever need. The DMP-BD55 offers unbelievable value for money

Nothing at this money

Panasonic’s new range of Blu-ray players got off to a fine start in the November 2008 issue of What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision when the DMP-BD35 walked away with a group test winner gong. Now it’s time for the company’s step-up model, the DMP-BD55, to go under the spotlight.

The player’s specs are virtually identical to its cheaper cousin and it uses the same high-quality picture processor, Panasonic’s PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus.

It’s also capable of bitstreaming and decoding all high-definition audio formats, including DTS-HD Master Audio. Like the entry-level player, the DMP-BD55 is Blu-ray Profile 2.0, DivX and x.v.Colour compatible.

So why does it cost more? The extra outlay gets you upgraded audio parts including new capacitors and a new 192kHz/24bit DAC. The player has also been further insulated to keep vibrations to a minimum.

The audio upgrades reap instant rewards
Unlike the cheaper model, the DMP-BD55 also has a set of seven-channel analogue outputs. Should you use them, the player’s uncomplicated on-screen menus allow you to alter all relevant settings such as speaker size, levels and distances.

And the changes to the audio side of the player reap instant rewards. There’s a notable increase in low frequency heft and weight.

Action scenes from Street Kings' DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack are delivered with a great sense of scale and authority – during Keanu Reeves’ dust-up in the opening scene, each punch sounds suitably bruising and painful.

Switch to Transformers’ Dolby TrueHD offering and the same sonic character applies. The epic battle between Megatron and Optimus Prime is a powerful and explosive climax to the film.

Blu-ray images look clean and unblemished
Picture quality is top-notch too. Blu-ray images look clean and unblemished. The robots in Transformers boast superb detail and solid edge definition: the Panasonic player more than delivers when it comes to the breathtaking CGI.

The DMP-BD55 is also an excellent DVD-spinner, doing a great job extracting fine detail from the transfer of Iron Man. The desert landscapes that serve as a backdrop for Tony Stark’s capture show excellent clarity and definition, especially where the rocky outcrops are concerned.

The DMP-BD35 set the benchmark for budget players last month, and the DMP-BD55 might just have done the same at this higher price point.

Click here to watch our video review of the Panasonic DMP-BD55.