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A summary of views from around the web of the Pioneer BDP-LX70.

CNet
Pros: outstanding picture quality, 1080p/24fps output, upscales non-1080p content
Cons: not HDMI 1.3, won’t play some discs with Blu-ray Profile 1.1 features

On the one hand, the LX70 deserves to have praise showered upon it for showing just what exceptional picture quality Blu-ray is capable of producing. But on the other, it’s practically impossible to recommend that anyone but the filthy rich consider spending the best part of a grand on it. It not only caters for just one side in an unresolved format war, but it’s also about to go out of date.

Read the review.

Trusted Reviews
Pros: Performance, LAN connection for viewing content from a computer
Cons: not HDMI 1.3, won’t play some discs with Blu-ray Profile 1.1 features, expensive

Overall the LX70 makes us sad. For while a big part of us wants to jump up and down and shout from the rooftops about how unprecedentedly great its HD pictures are, another big part of us tragically has no choice but to accept that unless you’ve got enough money to upgrade from this deck in just a few months time, when more fully specified Blu-ray models start to come along, you’re probably better off leaving the LX70 on the shelf.

Read the review.

TechRadar
Pros: Best performing Blu-ray player at time of release, 1080p/24fps output
Cons: Not cheap, not HDMI 1.3, won’t play some discs with Blu-ray Profile 1.1 features, expensive

In one sense £1,000 doesn’t seem a crazy amount to pay for the best-performing Blu-ray player yet - especially if you already own a recent Pioneer plasma TV and so can get the most from its 1080/24p talents. But it does seem a lot for a deck that lacks an HDMI 1.3 jack and won’t, therefore, play all the features of future Blu-ray discs.

Read the review.

HDTVorg
Pros: Excellent HD performance, build quality
Cons: Ordinary DVD performance, price

Combined with one of Pioneer’s plasma flat panel offerings, the BDP-LX70 is a compelling option, and possibly the finest HD picture you will achieve. The BDB-LX70 is a good player in any context, but at around £1000 it is just too expensive.

Read the review.

Sony’s X4500 and W4500 series TVs were first announced back in August, and have been on general sale for a month or so now. I thought it would be good to round up thoughts from around the web on how these models shape up. If these are helpful I’ll turn this into a regular series of posts.

First up, the W4500 series.

My summary of the reviews:

Pros: SD picture, sound quality, contrast, motion handling, design

Cons: Time to download EPG settings, possible clouding issues, value for money

Definately a mixed bag, as you’ll see below!

What HiFi: Sound and Vision:

The 40W4500 is one of the finest TVs we’ve seen all year. And, if you want a screen that can make the most of high-definition content, you’d be bonkers not to give it an audition.
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Bobby J on AV Forums:

The KDL-40W4500 is absolutely brilliant - it produces a clarity of picture in SD digital which is quite mind blowing whilst in analogue the picture is very acceptable - I now can’t wait for my 1st HD viewing.
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BruceWayneIII on AV Forums:

Got my 46″ W4500. Watched a Blu-ray yesterday - Kung-fu Hustle - and although the movie’s image quality isn’t the best Blu-ray has to offer, I was however very, very impressed by the TV’s way of handling it. Deep black, no judder, smooth and colorful. Just excellent.
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Trusted Reviews:

After the ‘warning shot’ of the 52W4500, the smaller 46W4500 seems to suffer even more distractingly with the picture-ruining light pooling problem that troubled us on the large model. Seriously, the problem is so aggravating this time out that it’s hard to believe these TVs are getting through Sony’s quality control systems. In fact, if I hadn’t now seen the problem on two separate W4500 TVs I might have suspected the 46W4500 was faulty.

Basically, someone at Sony needs to get to the bottom of what’s gone wrong with the W4500 range fast, or the brand’s already dwindling profits this year could be in for even more of a hammering.
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