Released to 11/2:


What does this do?

This utility updates the BDP-S300 firmware to version 3.20, and provides the following benefits:

Improvements over firmware version 2.60:

Improves BD-Java compatibility to enhance interactivity with some BD-ROMs.
Compatibility with the newly released BD-R/RE format (BDMV).
Additional improvements over original firmware:

Improves BD-Java compatibility to enhance interactivity with some BD-ROMs.


ftp://download.sony.com/US/bluray/UPDATE_BDPS300_VER0320.EXE

Where's dolby true hd decoding?

This is a bummer, I really thought Sony would offer TrueHD on their next firmware release.

Kind of a let down after the long wait.

Has Sony said they would be including TrueHD decoding with the S300?

You mean other than in the owner's manual?

No Sony hasn't said a thing. I have though, no more Sony products.

This is nice to see a firmware update, considering some people on this forum stated it couldn't be updated.

I'm kind of mad at myself on the S300. As soon as I was ensured it didn't do TrueHD or DTS-HD (not MA), I should have done what I've always done when something doesn't do what it says it will, and that is return it.

Since I didn't, I'll just have to be satisfied that no more Sony products will cross my doorstep. I've also influenced a few other local buyers into looking elsewhere for their BD player purchases.

You know, screw me once shame on you, screw me twice shame on me. I don't plan on that particular shame happening.

What about BD-R support?

While the S500 appears to have TrueHD decoding, until someone actually reports that it does, I'll take it as another false advertising from Sony.

Just like page 48 of the S300 manual.

I'm kind of mad at myself on the S300. As soon as I was ensured it didn't do TrueHD or DTS-HD (not MA), I should have done what I've always done when something doesn't do what it says it will, and that is return it.

Since I didn't, I'll just have to be satisfied that no more Sony products will cross my doorstep. I've also influenced a few other local buyers into looking elsewhere for their BD player purchases.

You know, screw me once shame on you, screw me twice shame on me. I don't plan on that particular shame happening.

As I said in another thread, the BDP-S1 had several firmware updates before receiving TrueHD. I'm sure it will come along, both players are essentially the same.

While the S500 appears to have TrueHD decoding, until someone actually reports that it does, I'll take it as another false advertising from Sony.

Just like page 48 of the S300 manual.

I'm kind of mad at myself on the S300. As soon as I was ensured it didn't do TrueHD or DTS-HD (not MA), I should have done what I've always done when something doesn't do what it says it will, and that is return it.

Since I didn't, I'll just have to be satisfied that no more Sony products will cross my doorstep. I've also influenced a few other local buyers into looking elsewhere for their BD player purchases.

You know, screw me once shame on you, screw me twice shame on me. I don't plan on that particular shame happening.


Not sure about you but so far I been very impressed with the sound and picture out of the S-300.. I mean come on, the first DVD player only had Dolby Digital at best and then picked up DTS later. I don't see this as a Sony issue, I see it as a software one, more discs (software). More software is needed before I turn into a lunatic about it (I have in the past) and who's to say a firmware can't be done down the road to include it. Also just now receivers are including Dolby True HD and DTS-HD etc.. If you are not statisfied sell it, I am sure you get a decent price for it.

Tobject: Now that I will welcome if it happens...

I'm not unhappy with what the S300 does. The PQ/AQ from it is superb. But when I buy something that clearly states that it does something, I expect it to do it. In this case, because of the relative newness of the format, I waited and am waiting for Sony to make it do what they said it would in their own darn manual.

What the first DVD player did or didn't do in irrelevant unless the first DVD player said it would do DTS.

You are correct in that most movies don't have TrueHD or DTS-HD on them, including the HDDVD format. That's another issue and I won't go in rant mode about how the studios are missing the boat by not including some lossless codec on all movies.

The S300 will be my only BD player for a bit more time. It was my first foot in the door with BD and made me look. What I keep seeing is 'just wait' all the time in BD. So I'll use this and 'just wait' until they really get it ready to market and decide to offer some more realistic pricing in their players.

But, I stand by my statement. There will be no more Sony products cross my doorstep. From my perspective, 'overpriced and overpromised' describes Sony to a Tee!

But when I buy something that clearly states that it does something

When I was researching the S300 I don't remember Sony ever claiming the player decodes TrueHD or that it will in the future. There is not TrueHD logo on the player or the packaging or manual. People misinterpreted the manual and started making claims and hoping and that was how this mess started. Is the manual a little ambiguous, yeah I give you that. But again not TrueHD logo and no press release claiming that it did.

I say it again people. Buy a player based on the features that are CLEARLY stated by the mfg and not based on hopes or rumors. When I bough my Samsung 1400, I bought because it clearly states that it decoded TrueHD and DTS-HD-HR and was not expecting Samsung to ever add DTS-HD-MA bitstreaming. Again buy facts not hope or rumors.

I read the manual and it seemed quite clear that it did TrueHD and DTS-HD. Of course it is worded well enough that they can weasel around. If you don't think that they intended buyers to think that it did those decodes, you must be a lawyer! ;-)

Sony never claimed this unit did TrueHD or DTS-HD, It was mostly wishful thinking on most people's part in conjuction with misreading the manual. I remember being attacked in the early days of the owners thread when I said it did not do this stuff.

Maybe when the BDP-S1 is completely gone we'll get TrueHD.

Pooping out and not being as advertised are two seperate issues. My A2 has been flawless, as has the S300. The issue for me isn't that they don't work, it is that all too often the marketing stuff and even owners manuals are 'optimistic' in what they describe.

I'll keep the S300 as it does let me watch BD movies, and it does work well. But any further BD (most likely HDDVD also) equipment purchases will be after the dust settles a bit more and the prices tumble to the more realistic realm. For the most part, HDDVD today seems a bit more settled and BD is still more in flux. I see that mostly because BD was rushed to market a bit as a response to HDDVD coming out when it did. I can't say I blame the BD side in this as they had to respond to have any chance of market penetration.

And don't even get me started on the HDMI issue. A connector designed by committee, must've been some gov't committee at that! :)

Guys this is a discussion of the S300 and its new firmware. Please take the A2 comments and the S500 comments to an appropriate thread.


Now back to S300, did anyone notice an improvement in POTC load times or the liars dice game functionality?

Jon: Totally agree with you, seems like a ton of these threads go right down the crapper because of complaints or issues, which is most likely to happen with any early adoption.

Back to your comment on S300 and playback... I just did the update a few hours ago and it was very easy quick and painless. I did noticed load times where better and PQ still looks stunning if not a tad better as well. I haven't played the liars dice game yet though. Upconversion still looks good as well.

Frankly, I've held off in getting any POTC discs because of the load issues and JAVA capabilities. I'll look forward to seeing if v2.60 fixes these issues.

As for D-TrueHD, can anyone state emphatically that it produces better sound than uncompressed PCM 5.1?

Frankly, I've held off in getting any POTC discs because of the load issues and JAVA capabilities. I'll look forward to seeing if v2.60 fixes these issues.

As for D-TrueHD, can anyone state emphatically that it produces better sound than uncompressed PCM 5.1?

Right now there isn't that many disc using Java, plus the load issues where still pretty quick even with POTC, now they have improved. As far as Dolby TrueHD a double blind test most like people would be hard pressed to hear the difference especially in a movie soundtrack...

It doesn't happen to pass bitstream audio now does it????

It doesn't happen to pass bitstream audio now does it????

Nope. I believe hdmi 1.3 is required for this which the Sony doesn't have.

Frankly, I've held off in getting any POTC discs because of the load issues and JAVA capabilities. I'll look forward to seeing if v2.60 fixes these issues.

As for D-TrueHD, can anyone state emphatically that it produces better sound than uncompressed PCM 5.1?

Are you saying this f/w update supports D-THD in the S300?

Are you saying this f/w update supports D-THD in the S300?

No, no.

He is asking in general; does TRUEHD sound better than PCM. To which I say how can it they are the same (although Sony has put higher bitrate TRUEHD tracks on some of their discs, I doubt we can hear that differnce in reality).

No, no.

He is asking in general; does TRUEHD sound better than PCM. To which I say how can it they are the same (although Sony has put higher bitrate TRUEHD tracks on some of their discs, I doubt we can hear that differnce in reality).

Then, IMHO, if PCM is available on all discs that have TrueHD, then the endless whining over lack of TrueHD for this player should be put to rest.

I just upgraded. I noticed right away that the button response from menus and when skipping chapters is quicker.

Also, in case anyone isn't aware (I wasn't until tonight) you can update via CD just fine. The instructions on the Sony website erroneously say you have to use a DVD.

I see this, but the third s301 keeps letting me down. after a month, the banding on the left screen appears again. i can't take it anymore..:) i can live with PCM only ..but PQ is my most interest. DOn't get me wrong, i have many Sony brand electronics in the house..., but BD won't take a chance on my belief. So, i will look for another brand .

Good luck...

I see this, but the third s301 keeps letting me down. after a month, the banding on the left screen appears again. i can't take it anymore..:) i can live with PCM only ..but PQ is my most interest. DOn't get me wrong, i have many Sony brand electronics in the house..., but BD won't take a chance on my belief. So, i will look for another brand .

Good luck...

I haven't heard much about this problem, but your comments are alarming. Have you heard reports elsewhere regarding this issue? Does the banding occur suddenly or gradually?

.....And don't even get me started on the HDMI issue. A connector designed by committee, must've been some gov't committee at that! :)

I was just in this section to research HDMI problems. My 300 via HDMI to my Sony 970 tube gets a vertical collum of pixels near the left picture edge out of place. Is that what your's does? The player looks just fine via component but it ought to do what's intended. So, do start if you care to.

Another goofy issue I have is that the Sony isn't holding the Resume position on some discs that my Panasonic will. Several times the readout has said Resume but then went back to start.

I quess I need the upgrade and see if it helps.....

I just upgraded. I noticed right away that the button response from menus and when skipping chapters is quicker.

Also, in case anyone isn't aware (I wasn't until tonight) you can update via CD just fine. The instructions on the Sony website erroneously say you have to use a DVD.Probably because they cloned the S300 upgrade instructions from the S1 which can't read CDs.

I was just in this section to research HDMI problems. My 300 via HDMI to my Sony 970 tube gets a vertical collum of pixels near the left picture edge out of place. Is that what your's does? The player looks just fine via component but it ought to do what's intended. So, do start if you care to.

Another goofy issue I have is that the Sony isn't holding the Resume position on some discs that my Panasonic will. Several times the readout has said Resume but then went back to start.

I quess I need the upgrade and see if it helps.....

Let us know if the upgrade solves any of these issues.

I was just in this section to research HDMI problems. My 300 via HDMI to my Sony 970 tube gets a vertical collum of pixels near the left picture edge out of place. Is that what your's does? The player looks just fine via component but it ought to do what's intended. So, do start if you care to.

I just checked mine using HDMI - I didn't see any problems or distortion on the left side or anywhere, but I didn't check it prior to updating the firmware.

I always use component video on my set because it provides a clearer picture. With Sony's Direct View CRTs there is slight, artificial softening effect via the HDMI input. This is the case with your XBR970 as well (I have the 960). Component video should be clearer provided you're using high grade, well shielded cables to block out any noise (like from Blue Jeans).

I just checked mine using HDMI - I didn't see any problems or distortion on the left side or anywhere, but I didn't check it prior to updating the firmware.

I always use component video on my set because it provides a clearer picture. With Sony's Direct View CRTs there is slight, artificial softening effect via the HDMI input. This is the case with your XBR970 as well (I have the 960). Component video should be clearer provided you're using high grade, well shielded cables to block out any noise (like from Blue Jeans).

The HDMI thing is really weird. It's not on all discs. About an inch (2.5 cm) from the left side of the screen. there is a perfect vertical collum of displaced pixels about an inch wide. I know the player doesn't need HDMI for this TV, which BTW is brand new....I bought it for $600 on sale....it was in my garage for the better part of 2 years. It just P's me off that the deck doesn't do as intended, play through HDMI. I have another component that can make better use of the set's HDMI input anyway. I decided to try Blu first. I've only been using the set 5 weeks.

My mom has a hi-speed connection. I'll go over there and try and burn a CD this week. I hope Resume gets fixed. On one BD, I paused made some food, the screensaver came on after some minutes. Just as I sat down to start the film again, poof, the screen saver stoped just as I was picking up the remote, back to start.

I've used the 300 really hard the last monthand otherwise it's performed purr-dy well. It did take a long, long time to load Delta Farce....

Well I did install a few days ago and I must say, load times are very quick. Drawer opens up very quickly now and the up conversion seems even better. I watched Fantastic 4 "Rise of the Silver Surfer" and the DVD looked fantastic on my 60" and I even tested it on my 92" FP projector, looked better than my Oppo 981 upconverting DVD Player.

I haven't heard much about this problem, but your comments are alarming. Have you heard reports elsewhere regarding this issue? Does the banding occur suddenly or gradually?

This happens on my 2nd and 3rd unit ( i exchanged 3 times at Costco). The banding appears suddenly and it stays there until i have to turn off the power and turn it back in. Unfortunately, i i haven't heard any reports on this. However, i would consider this is the defect , at least to my unit.

so now i'm back on the search for different player.

This happens on my 2nd and 3rd unit ( i exchanged 3 times at Costco). The banding appears suddenly and it stays there until i have to turn off the power and turn it back in. Unfortunately, i i haven't heard any reports on this. However, i would consider this is the defect , at least to my unit.

so now i'm back on the search for different player.

I have the Costco 301 connected to my Pioneer via HDMI and I have had zero problems with the unit, nothing before and after the firmware upgrade it has become faster in operations.

Sounds to me that after three units doing the same thing that the problem lies in the cable or the TV and not in the player.

I have the Costco 301 connected to my Pioneer via HDMI and I have had zero problems with the unit, nothing before and after the firmware upgrade it has become faster in operations.

Sounds to me that after three units doing the same thing that the problem lies in the cable or the TV and not in the player.

Ditto, on that. I have had zero issues with my S-300, since the update it seems to load much faster and works almost as fast as my DVD player sitting right next to it and the upconversion is much better.

Well I for one can confirm that I had problems with a vertical band on the left hand side. My problem sounds exactly like the one described here.

Happened on more than one disc, and not all the time, and powering down and back up fixed it.

I swapped my tivo hdmi with my 300 hdmi and it did not stop the problem from occassionally surfacing.

finding out someone else h as virtually the exact same problem, on the same side sure makes me wonder. Search my posts from about 2 months ago to see my description of the problem. I will keep you posted as to whether it stops with the new update.

link to June 13th post about problem http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11402015#post11402015

Scott\

thanks I was having a lot of problems with mine. FF was jamming up to a red screen. Glad it will work.

The HDMI thing is really weird. It's not on all discs. About an inch (2.5 cm) from the left side of the screen. there is a perfect vertical collum of displaced pixels about an inch wide.

I have the 94HD and had that same thing through half of Wild Hogs. It eventually froze up and when I restarted it was gone.

Well I for one can confirm that I had problems with a vertical band on the left hand side. My problem sounds exactly like the one described here.

Happened on more than one disc, and not all the time, and powering down and back up fixed it.

I swapped my tivo hdmi with my 300 hdmi and it did not stop the problem from occassionally surfacing.

finding out someone else h as virtually the exact same problem, on the same side sure makes me wonder. Search my posts from about 2 months ago to see my description of the problem. I will keep you posted as to whether it stops with the new update.

link to June 13th post about problem http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11402015#post11402015

Scott\


My 2nd unit had the problem 3 days after i bought it, but the 3rd unit showed the problem after 6 weeks running. I don't think my tv has problem at all. I even borrowed another unit from my friend and had no problem after 3 days running. Of course it had to tell, but S300 is out of option for now.

I actually think of S1 since the unit is discontinued and price goes down.

I have the 94HD and had that same thing through half of Wild Hogs. It eventually froze up and when I restarted it was gone.

I never had it stop or start in a movie, well, or never found out. I just always ended up switching to component video. I do recall that I had the distorted collum with Wild Hogs and Delta Farce.

I gave my HDMI input to D-VHS now. I'll test the Sony again later when it gets firmwared, I suppose.

The HDMI thing is really weird. It's not on all discs. About an inch (2.5 cm) from the left side of the screen. there is a perfect vertical collum of displaced pixels about an inch wide. I know the player doesn't need HDMI for this TV, which BTW is brand new....I bought it for $600 on sale....it was in my garage for the better part of 2 years. It just P's me off that the deck doesn't do as intended, play through HDMI. I have another component that can make better use of the set's HDMI input anyway. I decided to try Blu first. I've only been using the set 5 weeks.

My mom has a hi-speed connection. I'll go over there and try and burn a CD this week. I hope Resume gets fixed. On one BD, I paused made some food, the screensaver came on after some minutes. Just as I sat down to start the film again, poof, the screen saver stoped just as I was picking up the remote, back to start.

I've used the 300 really hard the last monthand otherwise it's performed purr-dy well. It did take a long, long time to load Delta Farce....


I noticed the same thing also. At the time I noticed it, it seems to go away when you hit stop, shut down and restart the player. I think the cause may be when switching between resolutions. I just downloaded the FW, I will be checking to see if that stopped it.

This happens on my 2nd and 3rd unit ( i exchanged 3 times at Costco). The banding appears suddenly and it stays there until i have to turn off the power and turn it back in. Unfortunately, i i haven't heard any reports on this. However, i would consider this is the defect , at least to my unit.

so now i'm back on the search for different player.

My Pioneer 94HD did the same thing. I went with the Samsung 1400 and that unit stops playing the movie at will, like you pressed the stop button. I was going to return it and give this one a try, but now I think I'll wait for the 500. Does anyone know the details about the 500?

Logged on to Sony site for new firmware disc. Filled out info. serial #, name etc. Today I got email "This message to notify you our Customer Satisfaction Center in MT PLEASANT, PA has received your product. We are sorry to here you are having problems with your product. It is our goal etc, etc.. Listed below is work order number & contact info. we will be sending you periodic updates by email etc, etc." :confused:

mark

well i got an s301 and loaded the 2.60 fw before i ever put a disc into it and it worked perfecftly until today when in the middle of lucky number slevin (you read right) the machine did a hardware reset and rebooted itself. needless to dat the fw seems fine and not all i need is to exchange the unit for one w/out bad hardware. i have high hopes for this bd player and am looking forward to using it more.

3.2 now out. see first post

3.2 now out. see first post

After loading the new firmware last night, I tested POTC DMC, and found it loaded in 1 minute 30 seconds where as with the previous firmware it took 2 minutes.

Garman,

Dude, you need to get yourself one of those Toshiba $98 deals.

I have both the 301 and an A2 playing on a HDMI PDP 50".

The sound and picture of the BD player sucks in comparison to the A2.
SD DVD upconversion is also unremarkable on the 301. The 301 cost me $450!
My Oppo for $200 does better upconversion.

I have done the Sony firmware updates hoping for improvement, but they really do nothing that the typical user can notice.
The Toshiba updates are via Ethernet on the back of the A2, and thru my broadband, and have fixes that are noticable improvements in playability, compatibility and quality.

I dont know if the BD disc title mastering is to blame, or the 301 player, or the BD format in general, but its not as good as HD DVD as of yet, IMO.

And I hear that the XA2 is even more awesome. Can't imagine that...

Take care.

The sound and picture of the BD player sucks in comparison to the A2.


You might need to explain this. What picture quality(movie?) "sucks" compared to the A2. How do you have your 301 connected ? How do your have your A2 connected?

What kind of audio "sucks" compared to the A2.

I have both the 301 and an A2 playing on a HDMI PDP 50".

The sound and picture of the BD player sucks in comparison to the A2.
SD DVD upconversion is also unremarkable on the 301. The 301 cost me $450!

I also have the A2 and the S301, but for me the the S301 has slightly better picture quality than the A2.

wewa,

Dude, I have the HD-XA2 and the S300 and IMHO can not tell the difference in PQand AQ. Although the SD upconversion is better on the HD-XA2 than the S300.

Probably because they cloned the S300 upgrade instructions from the S1 which can't read CDs.

Using a CD to burn the FW update for the S300. Do you burn the ISO image onto the CD disc?

This firmware update appears to be in .EXE format. So I'm guessing it's unusable for Mac users. I checked Sony's web page for the update, and it only lists files in Windows format. :mad: :(

How can we get a copy of this update in .ISO format so we can use Apple's Disk Utility to burn it to CD?

This firmware update appears to be in .EXE format. So I'm guessing it's unusable for Mac users. I checked Sony's web page for the update, and it only lists files in Windows format. :mad: :(

How can we get a copy of this update in .ISO format so we can use Apple's Disk Utility to burn it to CD?

It is just a self-extracting zip.

On your mac, download it, rename it to something.zip, right click and select open with "stuffit expander"

Then you'll be good to go.

It is just a self-extracting zip.

On your mac, download it, rename it to something.zip, right click and select open with "stuffit expander"

Then you'll be good to go.

It didn't work. :(

I expanded the file, but what I got was a folder with a file called _ÄH__ in it - and which was only a megabyte in size. Long story short: It didn't work. :mad:

Looks like if I get the Sony, I will have no choice but to have them send me a CD with the update on it. Has anyone here done this? How long does it take?

I looking at this unit because its on sale.

Can anyone confirm its video output through component?

I read, I dont remember where that it only does 720i through component

I looking at this unit because its on sale.

Can anyone confirm its video output through component?

I read, I dont remember where that it only does 720i through component

Component it's typically 1080i!!!

I looking at this unit because its on sale.

Can anyone confirm its video output through component?

I read, I dont remember where that it only does 720i through component

The unit will up to 1080i via component video on BD titles.

It didn't work. :(

I expanded the file, but what I got was a folder with a file called _ÄH__ in it - and which was only a megabyte in size. Long story short: It didn't work. :mad:

Looks like if I get the Sony, I will have no choice but to have them send me a CD with the update on it. Has anyone here done this? How long does it take?

I've done this on a Mac and it works fine. You just need to be sure to be using an OLDER version of stuffit. There's a link to that older version somewhere on AVS (probably in this very thread).

The end result is a disk image: use disk utility to burn it to a CD or DVD and you're good to go.

I do wish Sony would just put up the file WITHOUT the self extracting zip to avoid confusion like this.