Pioneer BDP-LX70 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: The LX70 is beautifully built, with a gorgeous, minimalist design

Pros: The best-performing Blu-ray player yet, 1080p/24 output

Cons: Not cheap, No HDMI 1.3, Not BD Profile 1.1 compatible

Verdict: 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

Review summary: You can't argue with the stunning picture quality, great build, 1080p/24 support and PC network compatibility of the Pioneer BDP-LX70 Blu-ray player. It will reproduce every pixel of detail from remastered DVDs and delivers hi-fi performance from Blu-ray

Pros: Stunning picture quality; exceptional build quality; 1080p/24 support; PC network compatible

Cons: Not compatible with Blu-ray Profile 1.1; no HDMI 1.3 input; expensive; slow to load discs

Verdict: In a perfect world where we could judge the Pioneer BDP-LX70 purely on its performance standards, we'd be raving about it. But the HD disc situation right now is anything but perfect and once you put it in its proper market context, the LX70 becomes frust

Review summary: With the PlayStation 3 now allowing Blu-ray playback for £425, you might expect the prices of standalone Blu-ray decks to plummet. Yet the latest entrant into the burgeoning HD disc market, Pioneer's BDP-LX70, costs a cool £1,000.

Pros: Superb pictures, Well connected

Cons: No HDMI 1.3

Verdict: A sensational HD deck, but it lacks a couple of key features that might have made its £1k asking price more palatable

Review summary: With a price tag of £1,000, it's just as well that Pioneer's debut Blu-ray player, the BDP-LX70, has some pretty high-end tricks up its sleeve. With 1080/24p pictures foremost among them, this is quite simply the finest Blu-ray performance we've seen

Pros: Amazing 1080/24p pictures, Superb upscaling performance, Great sound

Cons: Only HDMI 1.2, not 1.3, Not BD Profile 1.1 compliant

Verdict: If you've got the cash and the right plasma screen, we guarantee you'll be basking in hi-def picture heaven.