Yamaha BD-S667 Blu-ray Disc Player - Product Review

The Yamaha BD-S667 features 1080p/60 or 1080p/24 resolution playback for Blu-ray Discs, provides bitstream output for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD via its HDMI 1.3a output, and is fully playback compatible with DVDs, CDs, and CD-Rs/RWs. The BD-S667 upscales standard DVDs up to 1080p via the HDMI output. The BD-S667 also features internet connectivity via Ethernet which enables access to BD Live and Netflix streaming content, as well as downloadable firmware updates when needed. NOTE: The Yamaha BD-S667 is not 3D-Compatible.

After reading this review, also check out my Photo Gallery and Video Performance Tests.

Blu-ray is one of the two major High Definition disc formats that were vying to replace the current DVD standard in the U.S. market. The other format was HD-DVD. However, as of February 19, 2008, HD-DVD was discontinued and now Blu-ray is the remaining high definition disc format available to consumers.

Blu-ray utilizes Blue Laser and sophisticated video compression technology to achieve high definition video playback on the same size disc as a standard DVD. For more details on Blu-ray, as well as historical information on HD-DVD, check out my Guide to Blu-ray and Blu-ray Disc Players.

Overview of DVD Upscaling

In addition to play Blu-ray Discs, the BD-S667 can also upscale standard DVDs to 720p, 1080i, or 1080p (in addition to 480p) to your HDTV, provided you are using the HDMI connection option.

720p is 1,280 pixels displayed across the screen horizontally and 720 pixels down the screen vertically. This arrangement yields 720 horizontal lines on the screen, which are, in turn, displayed progressively, or each line displayed following another.

1080i represents 1,920 pixels displayed across a screen horizontally and 1,080 pixels down a screen vertically. This arrangement yields 1,080 horizontal lines, which are, in turn, displayed alternately. In other words, all the odd lines are displayed, followed by all the even lines.

1080p represents the same pixel resolution as 1080i, however, the lines are displayed progressively, rather than alternately, providing a better visual look. Check out more details on 1080p.

The ability of the BD-S667 to upscale standard DVDs in 720p, 1080i, or 1080p format allows a closer match to the capabilities of today's HDTVs.

Although this is not the same as watching DVDs in true-high definition, such as when watching Blu-ray Discs, it does provide a better DVD viewing experience, especially with larger screen HDTVs.

Yamaha BD-S667 Features

1. The BD-S667 features Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) functionality with 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 Resolution output capability via HDMI 1.3a audio/video output. NOTE: The Yamaha BD-S667 is not 3D-Compatible.

2. The BD-S667 can play the following discs and formats: Blu-ray Disc/BD-ROM/BD-R/BD-RE/DVD-Video/DVD-R/DVD-RW/CD/CD-R/CD-RW/CD, AVCHD.

3. The BD-S667 also provides DVD video upscaling to 720p, 1080i, 1080p output via HDMI connection (adaptable to DVI- HDCP).

4. High definition video outputs include: HDMI, DVI-HDCP video output compatibility with adapter.

5. Standard definition video outputs include: Component video (red, green, blue) , and Composite video.

6. Besides audio output via HDMI, additional audio output options include: Digital Optical, Digital Coaxial, and a set of 2-channel stereo analog audio outputs.

7. Built-in Network and Internet connectivity via Ethernet. DLNA certification allows access to audio, video, and still image content stored on network connected devices, such as PC or media server. Internet connectivity allows access Netflix® streaming and firmware updates.

8. Two USB 2.0 ports for BD-Live memory and/or digital photo, video, and music content access via flash drive.

9. A Wireless Infrared Remote Control and full color high definition onscreen GUI (Graphical User Interface).

10. Suggested Price: $329.99

For a closer look at the BD-S667, check out my Photo Gallery.

Hardware Used

Home Theater Receivers: Onkyo TX-SR705 and Yamaha Aventage RX-A1000 (On review loan).

Source Components: OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc player and OPPO DV-980H Upscaling DVD Player.

Loudspeaker/Subwoofer System 1 (7.1 channels): 2 Klipsch F-2's, 2 Klipsch B-3s, Klipsch C-2 Center , 2 Polk R300s, Klipsch Synergy Sub10.

Loudspeaker/Subwoofer System 2 (5.1 channels): EMP Tek E5Ci center channel speaker, four E5Bi compact bookshelf speakers for left and right main and surrounds, and an ES10i 100 watt powered subwoofer.

TV/Monitors: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor.

DVDO EDGE Video Scaler used as upscaling reference.

Software Used

Blu-ray Discs: Across The Universe, Avatar, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, Hairspray, Iron Man 1 & 2, Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Shakira - Oral Fixation Tour, The Dark Knight, Tropic Thunder, Transporter 3, and War of the Worlds (2005).

Standard DVDs: The Cave, House of the Flying Daggers, Kill Bill - Vol 1/2, Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut), Lord of Rings Trilogy, Moulin Rouge, and V For Vendetta.

CDs: Al Stewart - Sparks of Ancient Light, Beatles - LOVE, Blue Man Group - The Complex, Joshua Bell - Bernstein - West Side Story Suite, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture, HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Lisa Loeb - Firecracker, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me, Sade - Soldier of Love.

The BD-S667 provides very good detail, color, contrast, and black levels with Blu-ray Disc playback. One example of excellent detail and color reproduction was the 2D Avatar Blu-ray Disc, with its lush and colorful CGI jungles and wildlife. In a more "real world" example Transporter 3 with the close-ups of Jason Statham and the heavily freckled face of his co-star Natalya Rudakova were reproduced with very good detail. Also, the opening bank robbery scene and the night scenes in the The Dark Knight provided another example of how well the BD-S667 does with color, detail, and contrast.

In more testing, the BD-S667 did very well with Silicon Optix HQV Benchmark DVD, which measures DVD playback performance with regards to video processing and upscaling.

The tests revealed that the BD-S667 does very well on all film and video cadences tested, including progressive scan (3:2 pulldown), jaggie elimination, detail, motion adaptive processing, and moire pattern detection and elimination. On the other hand, the BD-S667 could use a little improvement in suppressing background video noise in the upscaled image. However, BD-S667 ranks well overall in upscaling (see examples of test results).

Also, the BD-S667 did not have a problem with HDMI to DVI conversion. Using a DVI input on the Westinghouse LVM-37w3, which required the HDMI output of the BD-S667 to be converted to DVI, there was no problem with recognition. Also, rerunning the HQV tests, no performance difference was detected.

Proceed to Page 2: Evaluation and Final Take