543 replies to this topic

[kamma]

With there being so many BR players on the market and questions being asked daily on features and compatibility of players in regards to audio decoding, profiles, region coding and other things i thought the forum needs a Blu-Ray buyers guide.

So, lets go through some of the players and the features of each.

Not all players are listed so its not the ultimate guide just yet but i am happy to add more and would appreciate help in updating the list and editing any mistakes or exclusions made to make it the Ultimate Guide and a handy reference point for all members.


Some players are affected by a -5db LFE issue. Read about it here.


Sony PS3
Sony Website Link

Positives
Its a games console
Quick load times
Quick boot up times
Very few disc playback problems
Decodes all HD audio
BDLive 2.0 profile enabled after FW upgrade
HDMI v1.3 (fully featured on 60gb)
Web connection for future web-enabled features
Regular FW upgrades

Negatives
Its a games console
No bitstreaming of HD audio
No built in infrared remote receiver
Region locked for SD
No analogue outs for those with non-hdmi avrs
Small percentage of issues of noisy consoles. seems a hit and miss affair as others are almost silent
Restricted HDMI v1.3 feature set on 40gb

Sony BDP-S300
Sony Website Link

Positives
Analogue multichannel outs
Nice PQ
Competent SD upscaling
Dolby True HD decoding (after FW upgrade 3.3) Set the HDMI audio to "PCM" NOT "Auto".

Negatives
Slow boot ups
Slow load times on BD-J titles (improved after upgrading to FW v3.7)
Disc playback problems on some titles (improved after upgrading to FW v3.7)
No profile 1.1
No bitstreaming of HD audio
No decoding of DTS HD HR/MA
HDMI v1.2
Region locked SD

Sony BDP-S500
Sony Website Link then click on S500 down the right hand side

Positives
Decodes Dolby True HD
Decodes DTS HD HR (not MA)
Bitstreams True HD and DTS HD HR
Analogue multichannel outs
Nice PQ
Competent SD upscaling

Negatives
Slow boot ups
Slow load times
Disc playback problems on some titles
No profile 1.1
No bitstreaming of DTS HD MA audio
No decoding of DTS HD MA
Region locked SD

Sony BDP-S1E
Sony Website Link then click on S1E down the right hand side

Positives
Solid Build
Decodes Dolby True HD (with some limitations)
Analogue outs
Nice PQ
Competent SD upscaling
Competant CD player

Negatives
Slow boot ups
Slow load times
Disc playback problems on some titles
No profile 1.1
No HD audio bitstreaming
No decoding of DTS HD HR/MA
Decoding of Dolby True HD is limited
HDMI v1.2
Region locked SD
Poor support by Sony locally until recently

Sharp BD-HP20
Sharp Website Link

Positives
Quick start
Good value
Nice PQ
Analogue multichannel outs (adjustable level trims and distance setting for all speakers except the sub)
Decodes all audio except DTS HD HR/MA
Competant SD upscaling

Negatives
No 1.1 profile
No DTS HD HR/MA decoding
Disc compatibility problems (improved after FW upgrade)
Some reported problems of 2 channel Dolby True HD playback
HDMI v1.2 only
No HD audio bitstreaming
Region locked for SD

Pioneer LX70A
Pioneer Website Link

Positives
Well built
Decodes all audio except DTS HD MA
Bitstreams all HD audio including DTS HD MA
Region free for SD (some players only, others by FW update)
Good PQ
HDMI v1.3
Impressive upscaling
Analogue multichannel outs
Network media ability via LAN
Can update firmware via disc or via net.
Good support from Pioneer locally

Negatives
Not profile 1.1 enabled
Pricey
Some title playback issues (None with latest update)
Slow load times (Fine with latest update)
Slow boot times (Fine with latest update)
Region locked for SD (some players only, others can be made region free by FW update)

Panasonic DMP-BD30
Panasonic Website Link

Positives
Profile 1.1 enabled
HDMI v1.3
HD audio bitstreaming of all formats
Impressive BR playback
Quick boot times
Quick load times
Analogue outs

Negatives
No internal decoding of HD audio formats (must use with newer HDMI enabled amps new HD audio decoders on board)
No high bitrate audio when using secondary audio decoder
LPCM audio tracks  -4-5 db on LFE (rectified with FW 1.6 upgrade) Read More Here

Samsung BD-P1400
Samsung Website Link

Positives
Impressive PQ
On-board True Hd and DTS HD HR decoding
HD audio bitstreaming
Ethernet port for FW upgrades
Analogue multichannel outs
Profile 1.0 (Samsung claim its upgradeable to 1.1)
HDMI v1.3

Negatives
Below-average performance with 1080p output at 24 frames per second (rectified with fw 1.5)
Profile 1.0 (Samsung claim its upgradeable to 1.1 with future FW upgrade)
No DTS HD MA onboard decoding


PLEASE NO FORMAT WAR DISCUSSIONS AND KEEP IT FACTUAL AND DISCUSS ONLY THE CAPABILITIES OF THE PLAYERS. PERSONAL OPINIONS HAVE NO RELEVANCE TO THE THREAD.

[yorac]

Only disagreement I have mate is from my POV the PS3 is a Blu ray player, yes primarily designed as a gaming console, but mine will never be used for gaming and like many has been purchased for BR and compared against other BR players before purchasing

[kamma]

yorac, on Jan 2 2008, 05:34 PM, said:

Only disagreement I have mate is from my POV the PS3 is a Blu ray player, yes primarily designed as a gaming console, but mine will never be used for gaming and like many has been purchased for BR and compared against other BR players before purchasing

you are of course right but the fact remains it is a games console

[kamma]

maybe Al can give me a run down on the sony S1E so i can add that too

[mav]

Kamma, I would add for the Sharp BD-HP20 that it has very nice asthetics and it does a very good job at upscaling DVD.

For the PS3 I would add that Sony has been releasing firmware updates on a regular basis which is a definite plus for the owners of the PS3.

Also some PS3's are now nobbled to reduce the price of it by removing some features.

[kamma]

mav, on Jan 2 2008, 05:43 PM, said:

Kamma, I would add for the Sharp BD-HP20 that it has very nice asthetics and it does a very good job at upscaling DVD.

For the PS3 I would add that Sony has been releasing firmware updates on a regular basis which is a definite plus for the owners of the PS3.

Also some PS3's are now nobbled to reduce the price of it by removing some features.

i have noted and added the quality of the sd upscaling of the sharp but with asthetics being a personal thing have left it off.

[Ken Tripp]

"No decoding of DTS HD MA"

No player of either format can do this, but some will output bitstream that you can process in your AVR if it can decode DTS HD MA (not many do).

All should extract the 1.5mb/s legacy core though.

And PS3 stuff...

The PS3 bitstreams DD and DTS just fine.

It's a Blu-ray player that can also plays games (if you're so inclined).

Updating the firmware is very easy.

Infrared remote will cost you less than $20 (nyko).

The Blutooth remote works better than any IR remote anyway.

Ken

[momaw]

Ken Tripp, on Jan 2 2008, 06:50 PM, said:

"No decoding of DTS HD MA"

No player of either format can do this....

oh contrar

On board decoding of *ALL* audio codecs

[:)]

kamma, on Jan 2 2008, 05:38 PM, said:

maybe Al can give me a run down on the sony S1E so i can add that too

hi kamma, used your template for the other sony

Sony BDPs1e

Positives
Nice design same build as pios
Decodes Dolby True HD (only after FW upgrade, decoding ability limited)
Analogue outs same quality of pios
Nice PQ
Competent SD upscaling
Nice remote

Negatives
Slow boot ups
Slow load times
Disc playback problems on some titles
No profile 1.1
No bitstreaming
No decoding of DTS HD MA
Decoding of DTS-HD/Hr is suspect
Decoding of trueHD is limited
Is hdmi v1.2
Region locked SD
Poorly supported by Sony locally

For the pio lx70a I would add

Pioneer LX70A
Positives
Well built same as the sony bdps1e
Decodes all audio except DTS HD MA
Bitstreams all audio including dts-hd ma
Region free for SD (some players, others by F/W update)
Good pq
HDMI v1.3
Good upscaling
Analogue outs
Network media ability via LAN
Can update firmware vi disc or via net.
Good support from Pioneer locally


Negatives
Not profile 1.1 enabled
Pricey
Some title playback issues (none with latest update)
Slow load times (Fine with latest update)
Slow boot times (Fine with latest update)
Region locked for SD (some players, can be freed with F/W update)

as far as disc load times/boot times pio has been pretty responsive releasing updates before discs released locally so thats a pleasing aspect. Can only comment on performance on latest discs I have eg Diehard 4 etc which have played through fine.

ps updated a bit more above following ips driver errors  !

[kamma]

Ken Tripp, on Jan 2 2008, 06:50 PM, said:

"No decoding of DTS HD MA"

No player of either format can do this, but some will output bitstream that you can process in your AVR if it can decode DTS HD MA (not many do).

All should extract the 1.5mb/s legacy core though.

And PS3 stuff...

The PS3 bitstreams DD and DTS just fine.


Ken

on the subject of on-board decoding this is meant to be a be a guide for a novice so all information pertaining to the audio capabilities of the player is relevant especially this information so a purchaser knows whether the DTS HD MA audio soundtrack displayed on the back of the cover will or wont work with whichever player he is looking at buying

on the other matter i have modified it to read

no HD audio bitstreaming

thanks for your contribution

[cowabungadude]

i would've thought the ps3 being a games machine as a positive, it is an extra feature. also it's access to the playstation network allows for some free downloads (movie trailers in HD etc), and the fact it is a gaming console open up its possibility and popularity to be hacked for the future (and the fact you can run other OS on it).

[cowabungadude]

Double, this site is slow today...

Edited by cowabungadude, 02 January 2008 - 06:16 PM.

[ajm]

Ken Tripp, on Jan 2 2008, 06:50 PM, said:

"No decoding of DTS HD MA"

No player of either format can do this, but some will output bitstream that you can process in your AVR if it can decode DTS HD MA (not many do).

But not the PS3...

Ken Tripp, on Jan 2 2008, 06:50 PM, said:

And PS3 stuff...

The PS3 bitstreams DD and DTS just fine.

Which is hardly a bonus since it's the HD audio that we're concentrating on.

Ken Tripp, on Jan 2 2008, 06:50 PM, said:

It's a Blu-ray player that can also plays games (if you're so inclined).

80% of Blu-ray owners surveyed in the US would look at it the other way round.  The fact that it comes with a games controller and not a remote would tend to support the idea that it is, first and foremost, a games console (with bugger all games)

Ken Tripp, on Jan 2 2008, 06:50 PM, said:

Updating the firmware is very easy.

First time I did my console froze, had to be returned and was eventually replaced.  But this issue applies to all players.

Ken Tripp, on Jan 2 2008, 06:50 PM, said:

Infrared remote will cost you less than $20 (nyko).

But can't turn the console on or off and requires a pretty ugly 'dongle' to be left hanging out of the front of the machine.

Ken Tripp, on Jan 2 2008, 06:50 PM, said:

The Blutooth remote works better than any IR remote anyway.

Unless you want to use a universal remote as a few of us do.

So, while it's good it's a considerable compromise.

[Ken Tripp]

momaw, on Jan 2 2008, 07:01 PM, said:

oh contrar

On board decoding of *ALL* audio codecs

Really?

Has it been released yet?

Ken

[Ken Tripp]

momaw, on Jan 2 2008, 07:01 PM, said:

oh contrar

On board decoding of *ALL* audio codecs

Really?

Has it been released yet?

Ken

[momaw]

Ken Tripp, on Jan 2 2008, 07:26 PM, said:

Really?

Has it been released yet?

Ken

This month

[Ken Tripp]

momaw, on Jan 2 2008, 07:01 PM, said:

oh contrar

On board decoding of *ALL* audio codecs

Really?

Has it been released yet?

Ken

[Ken Tripp]

momaw, on Jan 2 2008, 07:27 PM, said:

This month

So that would be a no then?

So does it count in any survey of what players can or cannot do?

And apologies for the multiple postings, site doing weird things.

Ken

[momaw]

Ken Tripp, on Jan 2 2008, 07:31 PM, said:

So that would be a no then?

So does it count in any survey of what players can or cannot do?

And apologies for the multiple postings, site doing weird things.

Ken

Your complaint was blanket and didn't care wether released or not.

Ken Tripp, on Jan 2 2008, 06:50 PM, said:

"No decoding of DTS HD MA"

No player of either format can do this,

Besides, in 3 weeks it will be so what is your point?  You wanna argue over 3 weeks?

Of course it counts!!!!

[Ken Tripp]

ajm, on Jan 2 2008, 07:17 PM, said:

But not the PS3...

Nor can the Sony BDP-S300/500, Sony BDPs1e, Sharp BD-HP20, Pioneer LX70A and no doubt others.

Quote

80% of Blu-ray owners surveyed in the US would look at it the other way round.  The fact that it comes with a games controller and not a remote would tend to support the idea that it is, first and foremost, a games console (with bugger all games)

Good for them, but is it really a games console if you never play a game on it.

Quote

So, while it's good it's a considerable compromise.

You turn it on, stick a disk (movie) in it and hit play just like any other player, so where's the compromise?

Ken

[kamma]

PS3 edited

[yorac]

kamma, on Jan 2 2008, 05:22 PM, said:

PLEASE NO FORMAT WAR DISCUSSIONS AND KEEP IT FACTUAL AND DISCUSS ONLY THE CAPABILITIES OF THE PLAYERS. PERSONAL OPINIONS HAVE NO RELEVANCE TO THE THREAD.

It's just an impossibility isn't it

[:)]

kamma, on Jan 2 2008, 07:45 PM, said:

PS3 edited

hi kamma I jsut finished updating my post re the pio and the sony sorry the ips driver errors drving things up the wall !

[kamma]

alebonau, on Jan 2 2008, 07:03 PM, said:

hi kamma, used your template for the other sony

Sony BDPs1e

Positives
Nice design same build as pios
Decodes Dolby True HD (only after FW upgrade, decoding ability limited)
Analogue outs same quality of pios
Nice PQ
Competent SD upscaling
Nice remote

Negatives
Slow boot ups
Slow load times
Disc playback problems on some titles
No profile 1.1
No bitstreaming
No decoding of DTS HD MA
Decoding of DTS-HD/Hr is suspect
Decoding of trueHD is limited
Is hdmi v1.2
Region locked SD
Poorly supported by Sony locally

For the pio lx70a I would add

Pioneer LX70A
Positives
Well built same as the sony bdps1e
Decodes all audio except DTS HD MA
Bitstreams all audio including dts-hd ma
Region free for SD (some players, others by F/W update)
Good pq
HDMI v1.3
Good upscaling
Analogue outs
Network media ability via LAN
Can update firmware vi disc or via net.
Good support from Pioneer locally
Negatives
Not profile 1.1 enabled
Pricey
Some title playback issues (none with latest update)
Slow load times (Fine with latest update)
Slow boot times (Fine with latest update)
Region locked for SD (some players, can be freed with F/W update)

as far as disc load times/boot times pio has been pretty responsive releasing updates before discs released locally so thats a pleasing aspect. Can only comment on performance on latest discs I have eg Diehard 4 etc which have played through fine.

ps updated a bit more above following ips driver errors  !

al, just a couple questions on the s1e please

when bitstreaming is it limited to DD and DTS?
could you also explain the limitations and question marks over the decoding of DTS HD HR and Dolby True HD

thanks for contribution. i will edited first post when i clear up the questions asked

[Ken Tripp]

momaw, on Jan 2 2008, 07:36 PM, said:

Your complaint was blanket and didn't care wether released or not.
Besides, in 3 weeks it will be so what is your point?  You wanna argue over 3 weeks?
Of course it counts!!!!

So now you're having to resort to the abuse of syntax and semantics to defend your argument.

Sad really.

And no it doesn't bloody count.

Ken