Yamaha BD-S2900 Blu-ray Disc Player - Product Review and Rating

The BD-S2900 is Yamaha's first entry into the Blu-ray Disc player market. This player 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 standard DVDs, most recordable DVD formats, standard music CDs, and CD-Rs/RWs. The BD-S2900 upscales standard DVDs up to 1080p via the HDMI output. The BD-S2900 adheres to Profile 1.1 (Bonus View) specifications, and is not upgradable to Profile 2.0 (BD Live) specifications. In addition, the BD-S2900 does have a high suggested price of $1,199.

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 a more details on Blu-ray, as well as historical information on HD-DVD, check out my reference articles: Blu-ray and HD-DVD - What You Need To Know, Blu-ray and HD-DVD FAQs, and Before Your Buy a Blu-ray Disc Player.

Yamaha BD-S2900 Product Overview

1. The BD-S2900 features Profile 1.1 functionality with 1080p/60 and 1080p/24 Resolution output capability via HDMI 1.3a audio/video output.

2. The BD-S2900 offers multi-format playback capabilities for: BD-ROM, BD-R/RE, DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW, AVCHD, CD/CD-R/CD-RW.

3. The BD-S2900 offers Internal decoding of Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD, as well as Bitstream output (via HDMI) for all digital surround sound formats, including DTS-HD.

What this means is that this Blu-ray disc player can decode most surround sound formats internally, or pass them in bitstream form for decoding by a Home Theater Receiver.

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

5. Standard definition video outputs include: Component Video (progressive or interlaced), S-Video, and composite video.

6. The audio outputs of the BD-S2900 include: Two channel analog stereo and 5.1 Channel analog audio output options, digital optical, digital coaxial and HDMI outputs.

7. Front Mounted SD Card Slot for playback of digital still images, as well as access to Virtual Package Data. Virtual Package access lets you combine information from a Blu-ray Disc with information downloaded to an SD card to enjoy additional content and services for select Blu-ray Disc titles.

8. A Wireless Infrared Remote Control and full color high definition onscreen GUI (Graphical User Interface) is provided for easy setup and function access.

9. RS-232C connection provided for smooth integration with control applications used in custom home theater installations.

10. Suggested Retail Price: $1,199

For a closeup physical look at the BD-S2900, after reading this review, also check out my Yamaha BD-S2900 Photo Gallery.

The additional home theater hardware used in this review included:

Home Theater Receivers: Onkyo TX-SR705, Harman Kardon AVR147, and Pioneer VSX-1018AH-K (on review loan).

Source Components: Sony BDP-S1 and Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray Disc Players, LG BH100 Blu-ray/HD-DVD Combo Player and OPPO DV-983H DVD Player (used for standard DVD upscaling comparison). NOTE: All Blu-ray Disc players used in this review have the most currently available firmware updates installed.

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

System #2: 2 JBL Balboa 30's, JBL Balboa Center Channel, 2 JBL Venue Series 5-inch Monitor speakers, Polk Audio PSW10 Powered Subwoofer.

Loudspeaker System 3: (5.1 Channels): EMP Tek HTP-551 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker Package (EF50C Center Channel Speaker,4 EF50 Bookshelf Speakers, E10s Powered Subwoofer (on review loan).

TV/Monitors: A Westinghouse Digital LVM-37w3 1080p LCD Monitor, and Syntax LT-32HV 720p LCD TV. Displays calibrated using SpyderTV Software.

Audio/Video connections made with Accell, Cobalt, and AR Interconnect cables. 16 Gauge Speaker Wire used.

Level checks made using a Radio Shack Sound Level Meter

Blu-ray Discs: A Night at the Museum, Across The Universe, Chronicles of Narnia, Hairspray, Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, John Mayer - Where The Light Is, Kung Fu Panda, Ratatouille, Shakira - Oral Fixation Tour, Transformers.

Standard DVDs: Godsmack - Changes, The Cave, House of the Flying Daggers, Kill Bill - Vol 1/2, Lord of Rings Triology, Master and Commander, The Mist, U571, V For Vendetta

CDs: Al Stewart - A Beach Full of Shells, The Beatles - LOVE, Joshua Bell - Bernstein - West Side Story Suite, Blue Man Group - The Complex, HEART - Dreamboat Annie, Eric Kunzel - 1812 Overture, Lisa Loeb - Firecracker, Nora Jones - Come Away With Me.

Proceed to Page 2 - Evaluation and Final Take