The Pioneer BDP-LX 91 is a Blu-ray player released in late 2008. Almost a year after its release, the high-end player still demands prices of around  1,500 GBP.

• Excellent HDTV and 24p movie picture.
• Two HDMI outputs.
• Superb DVD playback.
• Numerous picture controls.
• Analog 7.1-channel output and bitstream audio

• Decoder for DTS-HD required a Firmware update at time of testing.
• BD-Live also required Firmware update.
• The massive price.

This is currently the best Blu-ray player on the market, and it doesn't come cheap. The huge, black device (which weighs 15 kilograms!) soars into the high-end class with two HDMI outputs, effective picture controls, a flawless picture, and top sound. It's a dream come true for picture-perfectionists and high-end freaks!

Multimedia

BD-Live Function:
When we first got our hands on Pioneer's top model in early 2009, the BD-Live function wasn't yet operational. The LX 91 has a network interface, but interactive, online BD-applications only became possible with an April 2009 firmware update - the same applied to full, internal decoding of DTS-HD audio for the analog, 7.1-channel output. Once the update became available for download, it took the wind right out of our criticism's sails: Everything now works perfectly! You might be wondering why Pioneer initially introduced to the market a device that wasn't perfect in every respect.

The answer is relatively simple: The Japanese company was under an enormous amount of pressure. Firstly, many buyers were desperate to try out the new top Pioneer player. Secondly, the main competitors in the upper price echelons (Denon and Sony) had already introduced their top models, forcing Pioneer into action yet further. In any case, Pioneer has already remedied the software's small shortcomings.

Great for Photography Fans:
In terms of multimedia, the LX 91 offers some great features for photography fans: Besides MP3 files and videos in DivX format, the player also displays photos in outstanding quality at resolutions of up to 4,096 x 4,096 pixels, with perfect up-scaling.

Photo selection is made easy by preview thumbnails for images stored on discs or memory cards, and you can display your high-definition photos in sequence using the handy "Slideshow" function.

The Pioneer's two HDMI inputs (bottom middle of the unit) are a first among BD players.

2 HDMI inputs with different functions:
Apart from the different look, perhaps the biggest difference from the Pioneer's high-end competitors is the second HDMI output - something we've never before seen in a Blu-ray player.

The two sockets are not identical, and are intended to perform different functions. While the first ("Main") is intended to relay the picture with a complete audio signal to an AV receiver, the second ("Sub") delivers only two-channel PCM audio and no HDMI control signals. The latter means, for example, that a TV can run during the day with stereo sound, but in the evening the main socket feeds an HDMI receiver with 7.1-channel HD sound and an image for a projector. This means you no longer need to constantly plug cables into different devices.

"Setup Navigator" Function:
Once the player is hooked up and switched on, a "Setup Navigator" helps with initial installation in order to set everything up as conveniently as possible. With its help, the AV interfaces set up easily, and the procedure ends by checking the audio with a noise signal.

The setup process also includes the important "HDMI High Speed Transmission" entry. The high-speed transmission should be activated for both outputs (Main and Sub) so that, in the "Auto" resolution setting, 1080p-compatible displays receive a 1080p signal, and not the interlaced 1080i signal. Furthermore, without "HDMI High Speed Transmission", the player outputs no "Deep Color" signal, although this will only become important in the future.

Picture Controls:
The numerous picture controls also deserve mention - these will appeal particularly to experts and lovers of fine-tuning, and are available even for 24p playback. Using the controls, the user can, for example, manually set the HDMI color space, the RGB contrast ratio, and all HDMI resolutions from 576i to 1080/60p.

HDTV:
Surprise, surprise - in the measurements lab, the LX 91 delivers perfect results! The HDMI frequency response shows perfect resolving capacity, precise black/white levels, and only minimal color-decoding deviations - these, however, are negligible in practice. It no wonder, therefore, that movie pictures look perfect and flicker-free, and don't show even the slightest stair-step effects or jagged edges. But all of this is still nothing special - these days, many players produce perfect movie playback.

A much harder test comes with documentaries or concert recordings in HDTV resolution, since these are stored on Blu-ray as interlaced video in 1080/50i or 1080/60i format. These images are particularly demanding of Blu-ray players, since the video processor must also convert the signal into the progressive format. In this discipline, the Pioneer shows us what it's really made of: The picture looks fantastic - and this already in the preset mode "Auto 1", which suits movies and HD video equally.

One professional test that we use testified further to the LX 91's outstanding qualities: This is the first player we've ever had in our test laboratory that managed an especially tricky scene with no weaknesses whatsoever. During a close-up shot, a woman tilts her head slowly to one side - here, the dark eyelashes moved across the display with no flicker at all. In all other players, the eyelashes flickered to one degree or another.

DVD:

The interior of the LX 91 shows why the device costs so much: The player is divided into two stages in order to avoid mutual interference between the individual sections.

Most Blu-ray players struggle with DVD playback, and especially with discs that have no progressive flag. The Pioneer, on the other hand, couldn't care less whether there's a progressive flag or not: DVD playback is simply perfect every time! With the "Pure Cinema" mode set to "On", not even the nastiest stumbling block will trip the player up - the results are at reference level, right across the board.

One contributor to these excellent results is the fine adjustment that the picture controls allow - the controls can, for example, often do a neat job of sprucing up ageing DVDs. We managed, for example, to bring a shine to the pupils of the ants' eyes in "A Bug's Life". Furthermore, we observed that fine structures of the anthill are more apparent than on other players. Similar differences in details showed up with other movies, such as in the nighttime camp-fire scene in "Gladiator", where even individual craters are visible on the moon. Sensational!

We weren't surprised to find that the LX 91's superb sound can also compete with high-end CD players - after all, Pioneer also enjoys an outstanding reputation in the audio sector. The LX 91 sounds especially impressive in a listening test with Pioneer's SC-LX90 amplifier. Let's look at an example - the Marla Glen title "Travel", input in analog: You'd think the good lady was actually standing in front of you, giving a private concert. Her voice sounds neither synthetic nor harsh; rather, it's sensual and wonderfully powerful. Diana Krall's song "I'm an Errand Girl for Rhythm" also impressed - there's no doubt about it: For CD playback, the analog cinch connection is a real alternative to digital audio transmission.

With digital transmission to the Pioneer receiver via HDMI, the spatial differentiation feels wider if the PQLS function is activated - this significantly reduces jitter. In comparison, however, the analog stereo sound shows somewhat more calm and serenity. Marla Glen's voice then takes on a darker, more pleasant timbre. In any case, both varieties sound fantastic, leaving a question simply of personal taste as to which of the two you prefer. Finally, however, we did have one tiny criticism: Particularly on the analog connections, you can occasionally hear quiet crackle after the chapter changes. But worse things have happened!