Blu-Ray Players

[BobB]

What Blu-Ray player in the 250.00 to 300.00 range is a good bang for the buck so fas as picture and sound quality and of course ease of use?

Bob

[pixelthis]

What Blu-Ray player in the 250.00 to 300.00 range is a good bang for the buck so fas as picture and sound quality and of course ease of use?

Bob

i have a thread going on a Funai player I have purchased from WALMART for 68 $.
IF you want to pay out the nose and get a bunch if "features" of questionable value
get something like an OPPO.
Or go to Walmart and get a magnavox (Funai) for 68 bucks. Or splurge and get a
LG for 80$ , or a Sony for a 119, etc.
My first player was 400$, a Sony that was slow as CHRISTMAS and out of date in
six months. My second was a SHARP, died in less than a year. My fault, shoulda known better.
I love my new 68$ player, looks and sounds great, dies, and I trashcan it and get one
up to date. I HAVE SPENT ENOUGH ON BLU PLAYERS.
The day of the "250 to 300" BLU player is over.
Been over.

[Worf101]

i have a thread going on a Funai player I have purchased from WALMART for 68 $.
IF you want to pay out the nose and get a bunch if "features" of questionable value
get something like an OPPO.
Or go to Walmart and get a magnavox (Funai) for 68 bucks. Or splurge and get a
LG for 80$ , or a Sony for a 119, etc.
My first player was 400$, a Sony that was slow as CHRISTMAS and out of date in
six months. My second was a SHARP, died in less than a year. My fault, shoulda known better.
I love my new 68$ player, looks and sounds great, dies, and I trashcan it and get one
up to date. I HAVE SPENT ENOUGH ON BLU PLAYERS.
The day of the "250 to 300" BLU player is over.
Been over.

Do you HAVE to trash everything you don't own or use? The OPPO players are great pieces of gear, even the basic ones are marvelous. True I don't use SACD or some of the other audio formats BUT when that machine UPDATES itself its and amazing thing to watch. Also if I do run across a Blu-Ray it won't play you go on-line to their forums and you'll find probably find a solution. I don't own a $68.00 Funai, but I'm not going to disparrage gear I don't own or use, that's just stupidity.

Worf

[BadAssJazz]

My first player was 400$, a Sony that was slow as CHRISTMAS and out of date in six months. My second was a SHARP, died in less than a year. My fault, shoulda known better. I love my new 68$ player, looks and sounds great, dies, and I trashcan it and get one up to date. I HAVE SPENT ENOUGH ON BLU PLAYERS.

Pix, I'm just hoping that your luck with blu ray players has finally improved for the better. Reminds me of that commercial catchphrase from decades ago, "You could have had a V8!"

Granted, most have upgraded their BD players due to technological improvements, but that's some seriously bad voodoo that you've had to replace as many as you have because of flawed units. I'm not one to shop another guy's wallet, but I would definitely consider an Oppo if I had the same experiences as you, no matter if it cost me a couple hundred more than another manufacturer's player. Dependability and reliability would trump all other concerns.

After all, in the long-term, you're only shelling out more money to constantly replace price-conscious BR players than you would have spent if you had purchased, say, an Oppo BDP-80.

[pixelthis]

Pix, I'm just hoping that your luck with blu ray players has finally improved for the better. Reminds me of that commercial catchphrase from decades ago, "You could have had a V8!"

Granted, most have upgraded their BD players due to technological improvements, but that's some seriously bad voodoo that you've had to replace as many as you have because of flawed units. I'm not one to shop another guy's wallet, but I would definitely consider an Oppo if I had the same experiences as you, no matter if it cost me a couple hundred more than another manufacturer's player. Dependability and reliability would trump all other concerns.

After all, in the long-term, you're only shelling out more money to constantly replace price-conscious BR players than you would have spent if you had purchased, say, an Oppo BDP-80.

Only one (the SHARP) failed, and I managed to get it back with a memory wipe.
MY FIRST, a SONY, only had LPCM , couldn't tell what was coming out of it.
Gave it to my best friend, he had Cancer, but wanted one. Couldn't afford one.
I then bought the SHARP, paid too much, but all they had, only place I could buy one.
I LOVE my SHARP. But it got to where it would not play any of the newer discs, couldn't find a firmware update(thanks Sharp), so I bought the MAGNAVOX, and was pleasantly surprized, very nice. But cheap.
BEFORE throwing it in the dumpster, I THOUGHT I would try , in desperation, a reset
on the SHARP, and it worked , and without wiping the one firmware upgrade I could find for it. NOW it works great, the MAGNAVOX went back, happy ending.
THE fUNAI named MAGNAVOX was a very capable player, especially for 68 bucks,
but not even close to the SHARP aquos(a 232 price diff, after all.)
THE Aquos was a serious piece of kit, detachable power cord, full chassis, and most importantly, better DVD up-conversion. GLAD I could get it working, even tho I will
probably need a reset every once in awhile, and SHARP'S service stinks on ice. BIG SURPRIZE.
But they do make a great piece of kit. AND I have spent enough on BLU players,
although the first superfecta I hit at the track, I'M getting an oppo.

[Mr Peabody]

I haven't really looked deeply into BDP's for a while. I'd start by deciding what features you need/want opposed to those you'd never use. Like, interested in 3D, want Wyfi capability, want streaming features to receive Netflix or other internet movie services, do you need it to play music formats CD/SACD, etc. If you even think you'd want to play any games the PS3 is still a main contender. Oppo is always mentioned as a good value. I'm not sure if either is in your price. I still have two 2nd gen Samsung that are going strong as far as reliability. I'm not sure what price Marantz starts at but I am happy with mine and easy to use, it even automatically loads the best audio track. I feel Panasonic or Denon would also be good choices. Since I have a decent size DVD collection upscaling video is an important feature for me as I don't care to replace all titles with BD. Wyfi is also a nice feature for receiving firmware updates.

Although prices have dropped I still believe quality parts and chips cost and generally you get what you pay for. I really need to read some current reviews to see how these cheap players fare in video performance. I know my daughter's Samsung 1500 didn't have the picture quality of my older 1200. It's like with DVD you could buy one for $40.00 but the PQ was not up to par with a $250.00 player. Of course, with BDP level performance maybe even poor is still very good.

[02audionoob]

The LG BD570 is nice, easy to use and is about as fast as average. I haven't seen any that are notably faster. It plays the music formats and streams YouTube, NetFlix, etc. They look pretty and have a good remote. I think i like the remote on my Sony better, but it's a close race.

[bfalls]

The Sony BDP-S570 is a very good general purpose BD player and within in your price range. It has wireless wifi with a number of movie and music sites available. It's 3D capable with the firmware upgrade. It has very good picture and sound. I've read several articles praising it. There's a newer model, but I don't know much about it (BDP-S580). Being the S570 is an older model it should be discounted nicely. I've had one for about 6 months and really enjoy it.

[recoveryone]

This list could become endless with suggestions, but you need to know some facts about how to get the most out of a BDP regardless of the make or model.

1. Do you have HDMI ( for max res and PQ)

2. Does your AVR support or passthrough the newer audio formats DD True, DTS HD (7.1)

3.Does you T.V. support 24fps (Flim standard)

All the rest is bells and whistle as to Wifi, netflick, voodoo, Youtube support, If you do not have the basic support gear to get the most out of it you will also wonder what if.

[Woochifer]

This list could become endless with suggestions, but you need to know some facts about how to get the most out of a BDP regardless of the make or model.

1. Do you have HDMI ( for max res and PQ)

2. Does your AVR support or passthrough the newer audio formats DD True, DTS HD (7.1)

3.Does you T.V. support 24fps (Flim standard)

All the rest is bells and whistle as to Wifi, netflick, voodoo, Youtube support, If you do not have the basic support gear to get the most out of it you will also wonder what if.

Very very true!

For anyone without a HDMI connection on their HDTV, they'd better decide which Blu-ray player they want ... and fast! The first step of the analog video phaseout went into motion at the start of this year. Any Blu-ray players introduced this year will have NO analog component video outputs, so anyone looking for something with component video outputs will have to look for an older model.

Goodbye HD Component Video: The Analog Sunset Has Begun

As for the other stuff, Netflix is rapidly becoming standard issue on Blu-ray players and those functions might finally gain some traction for internet TV services in the living room (up to this point, they've had relatively limited usage because they were largely confined to PCs).

[pixelthis]

Very very true!

For anyone without a HDMI connection on their HDTV, they'd better decide which Blu-ray player they want ... and fast! The first step of the analog video phaseout went into motion at the start of this year. Any Blu-ray players introduced this year will have NO analog component video outputs, so anyone looking for something with component video outputs will have to look for an older model.

Goodbye HD Component Video: The Analog Sunset Has Begun

As for the other stuff, Netflix is rapidly becoming standard issue on Blu-ray players and those functions might finally gain some traction for internet TV services in the living room (up to this point, they've had relatively limited usage because they were largely confined to PCs).

cart before the horse.
I HAD a receiver that was obsolete about six months or so after I bought it(maybe a little
longer), because it had component video switching.
I COULDN'T use that connection after seeing just how silly good HDMI is.
You need a monitor with an HDMI connection, not only for that best connection, but
any monitor that has all the new up to date stuff, will have HDMI.
If your set only has component, it is missing stuff like 1080p, 120hz, etc.
BUY AN OLDER BLU and you wind up with an obsolete(well, not up to date) BLU
player. This gives you two devices that need updating.
WHEN YOU get the BLU, get a new monitor with HDMI with it. COMPONENT is so
inferiour to HDMI I wouldn't even bother hooking a BLU up with it.
Solve the real problem, update your monitor.

[Woochifer]

cart before the horse.
I HAD a receiver that was obsolete about six months or so after I bought it(maybe a little
longer), because it had component video switching.
I COULDN'T use that connection after seeing just how silly good HDMI is.
You need a monitor with an HDMI connection, not only for that best connection, but
any monitor that has all the new up to date stuff, will have HDMI.
If your set only has component, it is missing stuff like 1080p, 120hz, etc.
BUY AN OLDER BLU and you wind up with an obsolete(well, not up to date) BLU
player. This gives you two devices that need updating.
WHEN YOU get the BLU, get a new monitor with HDMI with it. COMPONENT is so
inferiour to HDMI I wouldn't even bother hooking a BLU up with it.
Solve the real problem, update your monitor.

If someone already owns a HDTV, and all they want is to add a Blu-ray player, why wouldn't they just buy a Blu-ray player? Buying a new TV doesn't address the original inquiry of which Blu-ray player they should buy, especially if their budget is under $300.

And even with HDMI connections, many of the older HDMI-enabled HDTVs have noticeably worse picture quality using the digital connection than with the component video connector.

[pixelthis]

If someone already owns a HDTV, and all they want is to add a Blu-ray player, why wouldn't they just buy a Blu-ray player? Buying a new TV doesn't address the original inquiry of which Blu-ray player they should buy, especially if their budget is under $300.

And even with HDMI connections, many of the older HDMI-enabled HDTVs have noticeably worse picture quality using the digital connection than with the component video connector.

I have never seen a HDMI connection thats worse than component.
If someone already owns a HDTV set, why would they want a new one just to "add" a
BLU player? Maybe because a BLU player is just not effective with an inferiour set.
WHY buy PORSCH for a dirt road?
Back when they had live video clerks instead of a Red box, I would rent a BLU and
get the same comment, mainly that they had heard that BLU doesn't look any better than a DVD. And true, even tho there is an improvement with a 720p set and other inferiour devices, its not that much different than a decent DVD image.
Its only with a 1080p set that BLU really shines, and since they have, to the last one,
HDMI it stands to reason that you only need that on a BLU player.
If your monitor only has component, then you need a new set anyway.
BUYING an older, and probably inferiour BLU player to match your older, inferiour
monitor is throwing good money after bad.
I have an older set at the house, about five years old. And it has HDMI.
Using component is like the singer who has a great voice but "tears it up getting it out".
Get a new BLU player, and use the composite until you can afford a decent set
that doesn't belong in a MONGOLIAN VILLAGE. You will find that theres not much diff,
and you won't be compromising by getting a BLU player thats older and you will be stuck
with for awhile. COMPONENT is dead, involves two digital to analog conversions,
and you buy stuff to upgrade your system, not to accommodate obsolete tech, IMHO.
swallow hard and join the 21st century.

[Mr Peabody]

Come on Pix, you are being a bit dramatic. Component is capable of 1080i and with decent cables the connection is not far off from HDMI. It could be, with standard video as most modern sets don't upscale via analog connections due to copy protection. Component is not as bad as you want to make it out to be though.

[pixelthis]

Come on Pix, you are being a bit dramatic. Component is capable of 1080i and with decent cables the connection is not far off from HDMI. It could be, with standard video as most modern sets don't upscale via analog connections due to copy protection. Component is not as bad as you want to make it out to be though.

CAPABLE of 1080i? Thats like saying a girl has a great personality.
I know that you have a dlp 1080i, and didn.t mean to insult you, Mr P.
But the time has come for you to upgrade to 1080p, and not just for BLU.
I watched 2001 on ONDEMAND this morning in 1080i, which my set deinterlaced to
1080p. Deinterlacing gives a real improvement as opposed to upconversion,
progressive being so much better than interlace. This doesn't mean 2001 was an good
as BLU, but darn, it was close. WATCH it on your set and you start out with half the
rez of a 1080p;, and its downhill from there, as you lose a great deal whenever theres movement, and thats after two D/A conversions. SORRY, but the industry has passed
interlaced by. TIME to start shopping.

[Woochifer]

Come on Pix, you are being a bit dramatic.

You noticed that too, huh?

Component is capable of 1080i and with decent cables the connection is not far off from HDMI. It could be, with standard video as most modern sets don't upscale via analog connections due to copy protection. Component is not as bad as you want to make it out to be though.

Actually, component video is fully capable of carrying a 1080p signal, and in the early days of HDMI (before signal equalization and boosting switches became available), was preferred over HDMI for long cable runs.

Component video is well within the capabilities of existing HD video standards. It's getting phased out with Blu-ray players starting this year because of copy protection agreements with the studios.

[Mr Peabody]

I also have a 1080p Toshiba 40" and have seen 1080p, I still don't feel it's as large a difference as you make it. I do use HDMI for my 62".

[pixelthis]

I also have a 1080p Toshiba 40" and have seen 1080p, I still don't feel it's as large a difference as you make it. I do use HDMI for my 62".

Well, most people do, which is why 1080i is dead. Try finding one Technology as
passed interlaced formats by, and good riddance. They were always a con anyway.

[Mr Peabody]

I have always heard component maxed out at 1080i as in http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hdmi-vs-component.html but apparently there is now a digital version of component that can support 1080p http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_video

I just did a quick search if you have anything to show analog component does 1080p I'd be interested in seeing it. Thanks for the clarification. At this point it looks like what component is capable of depends on whether it's digital or analog.

[Woochifer]

I have always heard component maxed out at 1080i as in http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hdmi-vs-component.html but apparently there is now a digital version of component that can support 1080p http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_video

I just did a quick search if you have anything to show analog component does 1080p I'd be interested in seeing it. Thanks for the clarification. At this point it looks like what component is capable of depends on whether it's digital or analog.

1080p over analog component video is supported by several manufacturers, including Samsung.

Blue Jeans Cable also has a good explanation outlining some of the reasons why you can't automatically presume that HDMI is always preferable. Keep in mind that BJC is generally very critical of HDMI because of its unreliable signal integrity over long distances and the poor basic design of the connector (that last point, I'm very much in agreement with).

The most important point is that with most sources, you're not looking at a pure unadulterated signal. At some point, the video signal is going to get rescaled, deinterlaced, or otherwise altered. And that will vary considerably between different HDTVs and HD devices. Even Blu-ray is a native 1080p24 format that needs either a 5:5 frame repeat or 2:3 pulldown applied just to display properly on a native 1080p60 display. In the early days of HDTV, more emphasis was given to the analog video path. That's why reviews of early HDMI-enabled HDTVs would point out instances where the component connection rated better than the HDMI connections.

Consequently, there are always conversions going on, and these conversions aren't always easy going. "Digital to digital" conversion is no more a guarantee of signal quality than "digital to analog," and in practice may be substantially worse. Whether it's better or worse will depend upon the circuitry involved--and that is something which isn't usually practical to figure out on paper. As a general rule, with consumer equipment, one simply doesn't know how signals are processed, and one doesn't know how that processing varies by input. Analog and digital inputs must either be scaled through separate circuits, or one must be converted to the other to use the same scaler. How is that done? In general, you won't find an answer to that anywhere in your instruction manual, and even if you did, it'd be hard to judge which is the better scaler without viewing the actual video output. It's fair to say, in general, that even in very high-end consumer gear, the quality of circuits for signal processing and scaling is quite variable.

So, which is better, HDMI or component? The answer--unsatisfying, perhaps, but true--is that it depends. It depends upon your source and display devices, and there's no good way, in principle, to say in advance whether the digital or the analog connection will render a better picture. You may even find, say, that your DVD player looks better through its HDMI output, while your satellite or cable box looks better through its component output, on the same display. In this case, there's no real substitute for simply plugging it in and giving it a try both ways.

[Mr Peabody]

Pix, you aren't being rational here. I'd rather buy a BDP for $100.00 give or take opposed to dropping $600.00 give or take for a new HDTV when I have a HDTV with just not the latest technology. Component inputs on a TV are valuable even if a Progressive Scan DVD player not to mention a BDP. People were impressed with High Definition at 720p or 1080i, which by the way is all you can get from broadcast networks, the big step is not 1080i to 1080p, that may not even be that important at all with a smaller screen.

I think your big step was going from Vizio to Sharp and you think it was the 1080p. You really need to read the link posted to the Bluejeans article and pay attention.

[Woochifer]

Pix, you aren't being rational here. I'd rather buy a BDP for $100.00 give or take opposed to dropping $600.00 give or take for a new HDTV when I have a HDTV with just not the latest technology. Component inputs on a TV are valuable even if a Progressive Scan DVD player not to mention a BDP. People were impressed with High Definition at 720p or 1080i, which by the way is all you can get from broadcast networks, the big step is not 1080i to 1080p, that may not even be that important at all with a smaller screen.

And we're not yet even talking about the rest of home theater system. If someone also uses an older receiver that doesn't have HDMI switching, then that's yet another component that needs to get upgraded if HDMI is the primary priority. For someone who only wants to add a Blu-ray player, it is indeed irrational to expect them to upgrade the HDTV and AV receiver at the same time, if they already have those components in place.

Do you HAVE to trash everything you don't own or use? The OPPO players are great pieces of gear, even the basic ones are marvelous. True I don't use SACD or some of the other audio formats BUT when that machine UPDATES itself its and amazing thing to watch. Also if I do run across a Blu-Ray it won't play you go on-line to their forums and you'll find probably find a solution. I don't own a $68.00 Funai, but I'm not going to disparrage gear I don't own or use, that's just stupidity.

Oh man, why did you have to bring common sense into the discussion? I think I'm gonna pack my ball and go home!

[recoveryone]

well said Worf

[BadAssJazz]

All of this talk about blu ray players made me want to buy another one. And so I did. It's a sickness, I tell you!

[pixelthis]

All of this talk about blu ray players made me want to buy another one. And so I did. It's a sickness, I tell you!

"Come on come on, get down with the sickness"...(DAWN of the dead).