Pioneer BDP-450 is an upgraded version of the BDP-150 Blu-ray player. The player features better video processing, two HDMI ports and DVD-Audio playback. In addition, the device works on the Web, i.e. plays content from media servers and the Internet.
Design
Pioneer BDP-450 is a classic player. With a depth of 252 mm and a height of 90 mm, it is hard to go unnoticed. Although its body is large, it is beautifully designed. The black brushed aluminum front panel gleams pleasantly in the light. It has 4 buttons (on, play, stop and load a disc) plus a USB connector for multimedia. The tray is placed in the middle above a large LED screen that is easy to read from a distance.
The player feels lighter in hand than you might expect, but the build quality is high thanks to the firmly screwed aluminum top cover.
Connectivity
The BDP-450 has 2 HDMI ports on the back, primarily forowners of receivers without 3D support. Through one of them you can feed 3D to the TV, and through the other - the audio signal to the AV receiver. In addition, you can simultaneously broadcast the signal to 2 displays. The mode of using HDMI connectors is configured in the menu:
- Dual outputs video and audio to 2 ports.
- Separate broadcasts the image to the main port, and the sound to the secondary port.
- Pure Audio is limited to audio only.
There is an Ethernet port, a coaxial digital output and another USB connector. The BDP-150, although cheaper, had more outputs (except for a second HDMI), including analog stereo and composite.
Functionality
The player supports DLNA and can stream photos, audio and video from home servers or smartphones. It can be controlled by mobile devices using the iControlAV2012 program, which allows you to control all the main functions of the device.
Users are unhappy that the player is not equipped with a Wi-Fi module. This is a shame, especially since many cheaper competitors have this functionality. However, the model is equipped with an optional wireless LAN converter as a separate unit, which connects either via the Ethernet connector or the rear USB port. It has its own power supply. The converter costs 4-6 thousand rubles.
The manufacturer has long been a leader in supporting various formats, so it is not surprising that the BDP-450 is capable of playing a variety of files, including AVI, MP4, AVCHD,WMV, 3GP, FLV, DivX, XviD and MKV, FLAC, AAC, WMA, MP3, WAV. FLAC streaming is not possible, however this is Pioneer's only omission.
The player plays DVD-Audio and SACD in high resolution, which will appeal to many audiophiles.
Internet content
BDP-450 Firmware gives you access to Picasa, Netflix and YouTube. The latter is presented as an application with a simplified Leanback interface, which is easy to control using the remote control. There are 4 menu options in the YouTube GUI: Channels, Search, My YouTube and Favorites. According to user feedback, the search requires input from the virtual keyboard, taking a lot of time, but the results appear instantly. Can play SD and HD video.
Netflix main menu is bright, with posters of all available movies and a decent search mode.
Picasa has an attractive design, according to reviews. You can enter keywords and the corresponding results fill the screen with large, full-color images.
Pioneer prefers web content quality over quantity and does not fill the screen with unused apps.
Video and audio formats
The player supports BD Live, 3D, 1080p24 output, HDMI CEC, DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD. You can output audio formats as bitstream or PCM (7.1). Useful is the Continue mode, which allows you to resume playback from where you left off, even if the player was turned off. However, this will not work if Last Memory is enabled. Quick Tray allows you to open the tray andinsert a disc during software download, saving user time.
Since the dawn of DVD, sophisticated video processing has made the Pioneer brand popular with AV enthusiasts, and the BDP-450 continues that tradition. The player is equipped with Marvell QDEO chipset, Motion and PureCinema adaptive conversion modes, triple noise reduction system and Stream Smoother for video streaming like YouTube.
Pioneer PQLS eliminates distortion from timing errors when connected to an AV receiver via an HDMI port. Sound Retriever Link allows the receiver to recognize the audio signal and automatically select the audio processing mode to improve its quality.
The "Video Settings" menu section offers users a wide range of image control. There is a choice of presets for different types of screens and projectors. You can change the brightness, contrast, hue, color level, detail, and noise reduction.
Quality work
According to the owners, Pioneer BDP-450 provides a pleasant and hassle-free video viewing. The on-screen menu stands out for its classic style and simplicity. It is done on a deep black background with monochrome illustrations to the right. Fonts are crisp and clear, and all menu items are logically structured to help with initial setup.
You can access DLNA servers and USB storage devices from the Home Media Gallery. The list of files is located on the left in a gray box wide enough to fully display most of the names. Here you can create playlists for videos, music andphoto.
The remote is littered with small buttons, but according to owners, the main controls are located within reach of the thumb, there is a Netflix button for quick access to this web service.
The Quick Tray feature is more useful than it looks: according to users, the player loads discs quite quickly, much faster than most other models.
Performance
According to the owners, the Pioneer BDP-450 does an excellent job of playing FullHD-video. The player instantly detects and corrects image errors, and panning occurs without any distortion or noise - just turn off the Pure Cinema mode. The moving white stripes of the Jaggies dough are displayed with smooth, clean edges, indicating good diagonal filtering. The device perfectly conveys a large number of details that give the image complexity and texture. Contrast levels are good, black depth is not lost, and bright areas are rendered with a crisp, attractive sheen. This is achieved using presets, but you can experiment with custom settings if they are not enough.
Reviews note that the color palette is good and that motion is transmitted without delay or distortion when the screen is filled with many fast-moving objects.
3D movies of users are mesmerizing. The player reproduces a sense of depth, which is achieved by vivid details and impressive colors. Overall BDP-450 -amazing player, regardless of the type of disc being played. It does an excellent job with music, transmitting digital audio signals to the receiver without distortion. Multi-channel SACDs sound great, immersing listeners in music with high frequency detail, rhythmic bass and a flat midrange.
Verdict
The Pioneer BDP-450 isn't a cheap Blu-ray player, but it's worth the price. The build quality is great, the look is great, and the player plays great high-definition images from 2D and 3D discs. Access to Picasa, YouTube and Netflix, DLNA media streaming, smartphone remote control, multiple formats and settings supported.
The player has 2 HDMI outputs and watching Blu-ray discs is much more convenient thanks to the functions of fast loading the disc and continuing interrupted viewing. However, shoppers looking for built-in Wi-Fi and richer web content may want to look elsewhere.
