Pioneer BDP-LX52 review

The Pioneer BDP-LX52 is well worth the cash if your budget can stretch to it Tested at £550.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

A worthwhile upgrade from Pioneer, the BDP-LX52 stands proud at this price-point

Pros

  • +

    Smart styling and easy control

  • +

    full spec for HD AV

  • +

    clean, detailed and colourful images

  • +

    clear, punchy sound

Cons

  • -

    No multichannel analogue outputs

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

This much we know: Pioneer has put its name to some stunning plasma TVs and Blu-ray players. As the company is no longer in the business of doing the former, it makes new examples of the latter all the more exciting.

The BDP-LX52 is the second product we've seen from Pioneer's latest trilogy of BD players, and it follows the BDP-320, which won a Supertest with ease.

Costing £150 more, the 'LX52's specification is similar. It's a Profile 2.0 BD-Live player with a 1GB internal memory and USB connection.

All HD audio formats supported
Naturally, it plays 1080p/24fps video content, while also supporting 48-bit Deep Colour and x.v.Colour.

All HD audio formats can be decoded on-board or sent via bitstream, while there remain no multi-channel analogue outputs.

What this player does offer is a DTS-HD Master Audio ‘Essential' sound profile, as well as Pioneer's PQLS technology, which now reduces ‘jitter' from multichannel audio, as well as two-channel.

All audio sent over HDMI, from any disc, will benefit from this when linked to a similarly specified amp such as the Pioneer VSX-LX52.

Small, but clear improvements
Certainly we're not going to argue with the results. The BDP-LX52 manages a cleaner, sharper rendition of the Watchmen Blu-ray compared with the BDP-320.

There are also improvements to sound, too, with effects sounding crisper, fuller and more detailed.

We were massively impressed with the £400 Pioneer BDP-320, but the BDP-LX52 is well worth the extra cash should your budget stretch.

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What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.


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