Comments on: Pioneer BDP-51FD BonusView Blu-ray Player

By: Darrell Jackson

Darrell Jackson — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 23:36:44 +0000

Starting having issues May of 09 after purchasing this unit in February of 09. I didnt like the blu-ray player in the first place because it took 5 minutes sometimes 7 or 8 before the movie would even load up and all of the remote functions were terribly slow. But still, when may came, the unit kept shutting off in the middle of a movie and that was horrible because it took so long to restart the movie. I did a firm ware update and then the player wouldnt play anything at all. I called pioneer, they had me mail it in, spent 15 dollars on shipping to get it to them. They sent it back saying that they reset it and the unit is up to spec. Well the second movie i put in the unit cause it to keep shutting off again. they had me send it to them again, so i spent another 15 dollars on shipping because they refused to cover the cost. and they sent it back to me with the same problem saying that they fixed it. I called them for the 3rd time and they tried to feed me a stupid excuse like that i have to buy every bluray disc because their players dont play block buster and netflix titles very well. So I said the the support person, so you expect me to purchase every movie in order to watch it and i can never get a net flix or blockbuster title again? and the lady said yes. thats when i said its time to speak to a manager. the manager said he will send me a new unit. but this is already after 5 months of frustation messing with the darn thing for them to realise it was defective. i will not shop pioneer again
Rating: 1 / 5

By: Josh Pritchard

Josh Pritchard — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:56:04 +0000

I bought this blu ray player as a result of having to get rid of my PS3 because it was just too fun. Anyway, I have to say that although I can’t give a technical review of this player, I can say that just on casual visual comparison it is miles above the PS3 in image quality. I’m so happy I got this player.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Regina A. Walter

Regina A. Walter — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:29:20 +0000

When you read a review on a product that upto that review had been liked by everyone, but is now hated and a piece of junk, you have to give a thought to the likely source. If that review than recommends a competitor’s machine, which is almost always the case, you can be assured that it is a seller of that competing machine who is inputting the review. The review is generally completely bogus, to drive down the score on the reviewed product while trying to convince a potential buyer to shift to that brand.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Chas The Audiophile

Chas The Audiophile — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:56:44 +0000

I have always wanted to purchase this fine player ever since I became serious about purchasing a Blu-Ray Player (as I am in the process of putting together a new Home Theater System). I just want to let Beach Camera know what a commendible job they did in handling my order. I ordered my player on the brink of midnight on Thursday, May 14, 2009 and even with the free shipping and tax free shopping and all, I am pleased to announce that I have received my player on Monday, May 18, 2009 (two days earlier than expected). With this level of Customer Service and the prompt shipment of my order, they pretty much earned my business as a customer, and I will be doing business with them again in the future.

Great Job Beach Camera!!!!
Rating: 5 / 5

By: BobW

BobW — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:34:24 +0000

Sold with 1.02 firmware. I picked this one up to match up with Pioneer Elite 60in Plasma and Yamaha RX-V3900 AV receiver.

Didn’t take long before I found a movie that locks up the player. Resident Evil, end of Chapter 5. Also own a Panasonic DMP-BD35. The Panasonic was way cheaper and it doesn’t lockup where the Pioneer does.

Updated firmware to 1.21 – problem still exists.

Will be complaining about this to local dealer tomorrow
Rating: 2 / 5