Don't buy an expensive Blu-Ray player until you have read this months magazine

i would say the fact that the paticipants were av enthusiasts gives the test findings more than a little credibility ...

bigboss:

aliEnRIK:

Incorrect. A placebo can work both ways just by being aware. Thats why 'double' blind tests are widely recognised as being the best tests to use (on anything)

Having attended the BQ myself in the past, I can tell that there is no placebo effect on part of the WHF team. They just don't react to anything you say.....they simply say: "Ok" & move on. It's not possible for participants to get influenced by their reactions.

But....why are we even debating this?? Seems like you've formed an opinion, & anything that doesn't agree with your opinion is flawed.

 

 

Im not agreeing, disagreeing or even debating the test. ALL im stating is that the placebo effect is present within the test purely because everyone 'knows' theyre being tested.

Dunno if anybody else thinks this (and since I don't work for the mag I can say this), but isn't the BQ just a bit of fun? It's a statement of the opinions of three people (kind of) off the street. It's not a statement of fact...

chudleighpaul:

The reaction to this BQ by some is typical of those who don't like the message.

Knock the methodology, knock the sample.

The truth is the test was carried out in near perfect conditions and the participants were enthusiasts who are able to give a fair judgement of the proceedings.

 

The 1st bit certainly doesnt apply to me. I couldnt care less what the results of the test were. I simply see what the test was, how it was run and put all the relevant factors together to see how significant it was

 

The 2nd part is fair enough. Its still 'statistically' irrelevant though. And I for one would prefer a more controlled test (Just my opinion)

JohnDuncan:

Dunno if anybody else thinks this (and since I don't work for the mag I can say this), but isn't the BQ just a bit of fun? It's a statement of the opinions of three people (kind of) off the street. It's not a statement of fact...

 

I completely agree with you there John. I also see it as a 'bit of fun' ~ which is why I enjoy reading them

I certainly dont draw any major conclusions from them

This section of the mag is the only reason I buy it , as it involves the readers / enthusiast , and I am sure the results influence many people .

I am thinking of the month a Tacima was tested , pretty sure Tacima sales increased that month.

Wouldn't like to think it was treated by WHF as "just a bit of fun" but a serious test with properly set up kit.

 If WHF would be kind enough to post what is involved prior to the readers attending , or is it a cold out of the box quick swap of equipment I for one would appreciate clarification.

JohnDuncan:

Dunno if anybody else thinks this (and since I don't work for the mag I can say this), but isn't the BQ just a bit of fun? It's a statement of the opinions of three people (kind of) off the street. It's not a statement of fact...

Any review is subjective- the opinions of the BQ participants are not "fact", but none of the reviews in the magazine are. Ideally the process would have been more rigourous, had a bigger sample etc but this is probably not practical or affordable. Reading the normal reviews, we can learn what the reviewers believe to be the best product( in any price bracket, but because absolute marks are not provided it is impossible to know how much difference there is between a £100 product and a £1000 product. I can imagine that many readers would not have considered adding a £100 player to there £n000 pound system before reading this BQ, but now they would at least entertain the possibilty. The 370 appears to be a game changer based on this BQ (and its many excellent reviews) and if I was trying to sell £1000 blu-ray players, I would be very worried.

lesmor:

If WHF would be kind enough to post what is involved prior to the readers attending , or is it a cold out of the box quick swap of equipment I for one would appreciate clarification.

Equipment is assembled well in advance of the readers arriving, and given time to warm up. It will have been used previously for testing, so no, it's not cold from the box.

So I wanted to change my Panasonic bd80 with a sony S370.
Looks like I better don't and do an isf calibration on My Pana 50G10???

Andrew Everard:

lesmor:

If WHF would be kind enough to post what is involved prior to the readers attending , or is it a cold out of the box quick swap of equipment I for one would appreciate clarification.

Equipment is assembled well in advance of the readers arriving, and given time to warm up. It will have been used previously for testing, so no, it's not cold from the box.

Thanks for that Andrew

lazarus:

So I wanted to change my Panasonic bd80 with a sony S370.
Looks like I better don't and do an isf calibration on My Pana 50G10???

Any display should have some kind of calibration ,depending on the quality even going as far as being ISF.

As there is no display you can buy that is calibrated correctly It does beg the question how manufactures can get off with selling displays that are so far off the D65 standard , I appreciate that it needs calibrated in the viewing room for complete accuracy but most are not even in the ball park only set up to look good in a showroom.

I have to pay 100 euro for an isf calibration,think that I will benifit more from that instead of buying a new blu ray player?!

lazarus:

I have to pay 100 euro for an isf calibration,think that I will benifit more from that instead of buying a new blu ray player?!

 

Sounds very cheap for an ISF calibration that!

But yes, id definitely have a true calibrated screen over a new bluray player (Of which people can barely tell a difference)

lazarus:

I have to pay 100 euro for an isf calibration,think that I will benifit more from that instead of buying a new blu ray player?!

Remember that you need to have it calibrated for every source as well Im sure the ISF tech will do that.

I'd be interested in the results if you care to feedback once its done

1st:I have to pay 100 if I take the screen to the shop,if not it will be 200 euro(wich I prefer and is less dangerous)

2nd:I can't give feedback because they can't do the calibration before 20th August because they're closed for vacation-(