The Pioneer BDP-LX52 Blu-ray player topped the line of new set top boxes from the company who brought us the Kuro when it was announced last month thanks to some brand new kit built in, and now it’s made it to Blighty. We met the flagship HD flinger at arrivals for first hands-on photos and a little test spin, so come meet and greet in our gallery!
For high-end AV maniacs, the Pioneer BDP-LX52 Blu-ray player is a dream come true. As well as knocking off full HD, 24p images in its spare time, it’s the world’s first Blu-ray player to support Pioneer’s new multi surround Precision Quartz Lock System (PQLS). In plain speak, when hooked up to a PQLS AV receiver, the Pioneer BDP-LX52 stamps out all jitter on the audio. We were given a demonstration with it lashed up to a Pioneer surround system, and it knocked our ears off.
Pioneer unleashes Blu-ray trio
Specs-wise, the Pioneer BDP-LX52 is also BD-Live friendly, plays back nigh on any format you could care to throw at it, and supports both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. We got to watch a clip from Quantum of Solace hooked up to a dearly departed Kuro plasma display, and while the extra equipment will cost you more than a pound of flesh, the smooth picture and incredible sound the Pioneer BDP-LX52 can handle on its own are well worth the £550 base price.
Also on show was the cheaper but still powerfully specced Pioneer BDP-320, which for £400 only drops the PQLS- to 2-channel audio. We didn’t get to see it hooked up to an HDTV, but if its bigger brother is anything to go by, if you’re not splashing out on a Pioneer AV receiver too, this should be top of the shopping list for your sitting room.
Both the Pioneer BDP-LX52 and Pioneer BDP-320 ship from this month, but get a sneak peek at these polished black boxes of HD heaven in our hands-on gallery right now.
Out Now | £550 | Pioneer
