This deck makes a very strong case for hanging on to your DVD collection, too, producing a very full and vibrant upscaled picture from regular DVDs that usually look a bit soft and flat after Blu-ray.

Refined but lacking

Pioneer takes it's audio seriously and although this model wasn't fine-tuned at the famous AIR studios in London, like the cream of the brand's product range, it does sound highly refined.

The analogue outputs are no afterthought and you can listen through these without audibly polluting the sound. There's no SACD or DVD-A compatibility sadly, but for stereo listening, there's another pair of analogue outputs available that offer an even more direct route for the audio signal, so it'll sound like an entry-level audiophile CD player too.

So: no BD Live compatibility, SACD/DVD-A playback, USB and media card ports, or DTS HD Master Audio decoding. But even without the extras, the Pioneer BDP-LX71 represents an compelling purchase for home cinema enthusiasts keen to take the Blu-ray plunge right now.