The best Blu-Ray player so far...

[Fudzy]

I still say the PS3 is the best deal, but if you only want a blu ray player, the S350 and S550 looks very tasty.

Oh, btw, the Sony S350 got 5 stars from What Hi-fi magazine.....

What did that oppo one get?

 

[kingrob]

What did that oppo one get?

Not sure if it's been sent to them for testing yet.

 

[dotVIBE]

Oppo hasn't been released for mainstream purchase yet, anyway, Whathifi doesn't review Internet Direct products. Anyway, the S350 has been around for a while now, the LG is pretty new, and it has a couple of features the the Sony doesn't have, plus faster loading times. But i think I'll hold out for the S360, then retire it to the bedroom when I can get my little paws on the oppo.

 

[dotVIBE]

Why don't you just buy the Popcorn Hour a-110 ? It plays everthing, so you will get the full benefit.

well, everything except dvd's and blu-rays

 

[mercurial]

well, everything except dvd's and blu-rays

Did you bother reading the specs? It plays everything.

 

[dotVIBE]

that's awesome buddy. where do you put the disk in?

 

[undesign]

that's awesome buddy. where do you put the disk in?

In your PC, then you rip with DVD Decryptor, encode with AutoGK to XviD, copy to Popcorn Hour and VOILA!!! (or make ISO and copy)

Blu-Ray might be a problem, not sure if the PH plays Blu-Ray iso's and it's a helluva resource hungry exercise to encode blue ray to h264. And you'll need a blu-ray drive of course.

 

[mercurial]

that's awesome buddy. where do you put the disk in?

Connect an external DVD-ROM to the device.

 

[dotVIBE]

good lord. all that and a bag of chips. whatever happened to pop in a disc and press play?

look, I know about the A-110, and if i'm in the market for an external media device outside of a PS3, I know that's the one to go for. BUT, for me it's an add-on device, not a primary device. It does not in any way replace a blu-ray player. Until we get decent internet lines and can start to make use of direct streaming hi definition sources, blu-ray is the most useful way to enjoy 1080p True-HD DTS-MA source material.

 

[Kerrrang!]

I also say go for a PS3. Still one of the best Blu-ray players around, but it's just so much more than that. It's a true multimedia device, all my music and photos and some home movies are stored on there (photos look amazing in all its HD glory), and everything can be easily backed up to external harddrive, or you can easily view extra content, music etc from an external HDD.

 

[undesign]

I agree

 

[PeterCH]

Most MAINSTREAM HOLLYWOOD Blu Rays are available in all regions, for the few months I have to wait for some to cross regions, I'd rather have the PS3. It's an awesome media centre. I've had my PS3 for a few months and BD discs look awesome on it!

I corrected that for you.

Most films are not available in BluRay. Also there are significant differences in the variety of titles available in Region A (great) and Region B (small). We're Region B, btw.

 

[PeterCH]

Sony invented blu ray, think I'll stick with them.

Sony didn't invent the BD.

These are the BD Founder companies:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc_Founders

* 20th Century Fox
* Dell
* Hewlett Packard
* Hitachi
* LG Electronics
* Matsu****a Electric Industrial (Panasonic)
* Mitsubishi Electric
* Philips
* Pioneer
* Samsung Electronics
* Sharp
* Sony
* TDK
* Thomson

 

[PeterCH]

Oppo hasn't been released for mainstream purchase yet, anyway, Whathifi doesn't review Internet Direct products. Anyway, the S350 has been around for a while now, the LG is pretty new, and it has a couple of features the the Sony doesn't have, plus faster loading times. But i think I'll hold out for the S360, then retire it to the bedroom when I can get my little paws on the oppo.

Maybe, it will be REGION FREE? Who knows.....

 

[DJNgoma]

It also depends if you want your system all digital or you want some analogue sound output like the S550 that has 7.1 analogue output. I got the S350 when it got the BD-Live update, so I don't have to worry as it already outs 1080p/24fps.

 

[BigAl-sa]

Sony didn't invent the BD.

These are the BD Founder companies:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc_Founders

They might not have invented it, but they produced the first consumer device:

On June 30, 2004 Panasonic, part of Matsu****a Electric, a founder member of the Blu-ray Disc Association, became the second manufacturer after Sony to launch a Blu-ray Disc consumer product into the Japanese market.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ra...or_events_and_announcements_involving_members

http://www.pcworld.com/article/109617/sony_shows_first_bluray_recorder.html

http://www.blu-ray.com/ceatec2004/

Sony also made the first full length Blu-ray movie:
http://sev.prnewswire.com/entertainment/20051118/LAF08318112005-1.html

 

[Silver82]

I corrected that for you.

Most films are not available in BluRay. Also there are significant differences in the variety of titles available in Region A (great) and Region B (small). We're Region B, btw.

Thanks Peter, but no correction necessary, I wasn't saying that ALL films are on Bluray, I said that the ones that are, are pretty much across all regions with a few exceptions. I'd rather just stick to one region than have to bother with multi regions, because then you get the b*tch of having to choose the region with the most features, as quite often the different region discs offer different benefits. I'll just stick with one choice ... it makes life easier.

The only disc that I'm really still waiting for is Black Snake Moan. Have most of the others that I want.

If you're looking to buy Bluray, you should check out Amazon, some amazing specials! Blows SA prices away!

 

[dotVIBE]

Maybe, it will be REGION FREE? Who knows.....

I know, Oppo is famous for their region free upscaling DVD players. Unfortunately the Blu-Ray player is not region free. This is due to licensing restrictions, Oppo not being able to get a license to distribute players without making their players region fixed. For region free players, check out me earlier post re the modded oppo players, the same company also mods other players to make them region free.

Ufortunately, at this stage the only way to do so is via hardware mod.

 

[PeterCH]

Thanks Peter, but no correction necessary, I wasn't saying that ALL films are on Bluray, I said that the ones that are, are pretty much across all regions with a few exceptions. I'd rather just stick to one region than have to bother with multi regions, because then you get the b*tch of having to choose the region with the most features, as quite often the different region discs offer different benefits. I'll just stick with one choice ... it makes life easier.

The only disc that I'm really still waiting for is Black Snake Moan. Have most of the others that I want.

If you're looking to buy Bluray, you should check out Amazon, some amazing specials! Blows SA prices away!

The BDs you find in Region B, you'll find in Region A but not vice versa.

There is a major difference in the variety in these regions, so for most Hollywood stuff, you'll find it in both, but other things, Region A is far bigger in selection - and let's face it - North America is No 1 choice for consumer sales and Region A now includes Japan and Korea, too, so you score double.

Amazon prices are actually expensive . There are more overseas retailers you know.

 

[PeterCH]

I know, Oppo is famous for their region free upscaling DVD players. Unfortunately the Blu-Ray player is not region free. This is due to licensing restrictions, Oppo not being able to get a license to distribute players without making their players region fixed. For region free players, check out me earlier post re the modded oppo players, the same company also mods other players to make them region free.

Ufortunately, at this stage the only way to do so is via hardware mod.

Yes, with hardware mods. That sucks because they could possibly fail or require a purchase from a dedicated small time operation somewhere.