Video Asylum: REVIEW: Marantz BD-8002 DVD Players by mitch4t

Model:	BD-8002
Category:	DVD Players
Suggested Retail Price:	$2,000.00
Description:	Blu Ray DVD Player
Manufacturer URL:	Marantz
Model Picture:	View

Review by mitch4t on October 10, 2008 at 09:47:23
IP Address: 76.246.84.62 Add Your Review
for the BD-8002

Review: Marantz BD-8002 Blu Ray player

Every dvd player that I have ever owned played its best picture right out of the box. Never had to adjust or tweak anything. With this unit, fuggeddaboutit. I took it right out of the box and connected it to my projector and got the worst image that I have ever seen on any dvd player...even the $39 ones from Walmart looked better. The first thing that went through my mind was, "I just blew two grand for this??!!!" Fortunately I had read an earlier review warning me that the factory settings on the unit needs to be reset and tailored to your equipment. After about an hour of fooling around in the menu area, I finally got the settings that I needed. It might have helped if I'd read the manual first...but hey, this was a new toy and I was anxious to see what it could do, and I didn't have time to read any manual.

I previously had the Toshiba HD-XA2 hd-dvd player, just a great machine. When viewing an hd-dvd disc, it gave a stunning picture. The REON processor did an outstanding job upconverting standard def discs. So, my standards and expectaions were really high for this new machine. I had also owned a Sony BD-300s blu ray player. It had a very nice picture also.

After I got it all calibrated to my system and put on a disc, I couldn't believe how good it was. Upconverting a standard def disc with the new REALTA processor was even better than the Toshiba...whis is no small task. On Blu Ray discs, the picture is to die for. As good as the Toshiba was, the REALTA chip in this unit really makes the image much more film-like.

The thing about my system is that I have a 240 inch screen and the improvements are much more dramatic on a screen of that size than on a smaller screen.

I have the audio hooked up via the 7.1 analog outputs on the back of the dvd player going to pre/pro. The hi-def codecs are everything the hype said they would be. Outstanding.

A huge bonus is how great it is as a cd player. I've owned a couple of top-shelf cd players from Audio Research, and this player holds its own in that company as a redbook cd player.

If you have a big screen....this is the player to get.

It is a bargain at $2k.

Similar products
Toshiba HD-XA2....HD-DVD with the killer REON chip

Sony BD-300s.... blu ray

My entire system can be seen here: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vopin&1142632707

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Another thing, be sure to remove the disc after a movie. I found out that if you leave a disc in the tray without pushing the 'stop' button or without shutting the unit down, it will start the movie over and play it again every time the movie ends.
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Product Weakness:	..none that I can find.
Product Strengths:	see review

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Pass Labs X-600
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Audio Research Reference 3
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Audio Research CD 7
Speakers: Infinity IRS Beta
Cables/Interconnects: Signal Cable Silver Reference
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH): 70 ft x 22 ft x 22 ft
Time Period/Length of Audition: I own the unit, I've viewed 20 movies so far.
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition): http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vopin&1142632707

Amplifier:	Pass Labs X-600
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Audio Research Reference 3
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Audio Research CD 7
Speakers:	Infinity IRS Beta
Cables/Interconnects:	Signal Cable Silver Reference
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz
Room Size (LxWxH):	70 ft x 22 ft x 22 ft
Time Period/Length of Audition:	I own the unit, I've viewed 20 movies so far.
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vopin&1142632707