The Official Sony BDP-S550 Owner's Thread - Page 127

I have played The Other Guys and Resident Evil:Afterlife 2D without any problem on my s550 with the latest firmware.

I've watched The Losers, The Karate Kid, Salt and Takers with no audio issues.

I use the analog outputs into the preamp inputs of my AVR. That is why I bought the 550, since it didn't have HDMI inputs.

The 550 always selects the highest supported audio codec, which is usually DTS HD Master Audio.

Aaron

Players select the default track that was set during encoding. You may seem to always get the best available codec because most BDs only have one English language track and that's what gets played. But, try a disc like The Dark Knight, which has DD 5.1 and TrueHD. The S550 will play the DD 5.1 track, which is the default, unless you select TrueHD from the disc audio menu.

Firmware update (2/10/2011): This utility upgrades the Blu-ray player firmware to version 024 and provides the following benefits:

* BD-ROM playability improvement


Applicable models:

* BDP-S350
* BDP-S550
* BDP-S5000ES

Keep in mind that cinavia only activates if it detects you are playing an "unprotected" burned backup copy of the title.

Sony has a major firmware update for many of his BD players. Normally the latest firmware version is the best and can not be reversed once updated. I had playback problems with a SD dvd and the problem is solved with this new firmware version 024. If you buy an original BD you do not have to worry about the copy protections on the disc. The Cinavia Encryption watermark is in the audio stream of the original BD and only people who make back-ups of a BD could experience problems as mentioned above.

The interesting thing about cinavia is that it apparently IS audible, as it is being used to attempt to foil folks who steal movies by camcorder recording in a theater. It is reproduced by speakers and can be picked up and recognized by a microphone. I don't recall hearing anything different, but the dog has been acting strangely lately . . (kidding).

OK, I am probably missing a lot of details here, and I'd be surprised If someone came up with a specific solution, but I thought I would post just to see if anyone has experienced anything similar. My setup is as follows: Sony BDP S550 into Onkyo SR607 into Epson HC720, all via HDMI. When I watch a 2.35 film on DVD, I get an aspect ratio on screen of about 2.14:1. If I watch that same movie that I have ripped onto my Mac Mini HTPC, going through the Onkyo and Epson (also via HDMI), it displays in the correct ratio of 2.37:1. I've tried a bunch of settings in the player, receiver, and projector to no avail. I am not sure if the image is just being vertically stretched, or if its being zoomed (sides cut off), I have to do a little more experimentation. Anybody experience anything similar?
Thanks in advance...Jared

With my display, it only allows the full pixel-to-pixel resolution for 1080i/p. Lower resolutions are cropped with overscan if viewed without upconversion before the tv. Maybe your projector is similar. If you are upconverting with the BD player, it should be fine. Also maybe check that both of your inputs are set to show the full resolution without overscan.

Thanks, I'm hoping it's something like that. All three components have settings for aspect ratio, so it's probably just a matter of finding the right combination. I'll have to do some more experimentation tonight.

A new protection for audio-video content appeared: it is called Cinavia. It is reported to be used for protection of movie from theaters and disc releases on DVD & Blu-ray. It consists of a multi-level watermark that is embedded in the audio track and, while being theoretically transparent(not-audible) for the listener, it is supposed to resist various transformations of the audio stream like re-compression, analog playback&record, re-sampling, pitch shift, etc. The base levels are analog, but on the top level there's the watermark payload that contains some restrictions regarding the playback environment.

The protection has two elements (one cannot work without the other):
1. The watermark embedded in audio-video content.
2. Cinavia enabled player, that will refuse to play the content if it does not match the restrictions.
Examples:
1. A movie copy made with a camcorder in a theater that contains Cinavia (THEATRICAL_NO_HOME_USE) watermark will stop playing within about 1 minute on a Playstation 3 and display a Message 1.
2. An unprotected (no AACS) Blu-ray backup of "The Losers" (US release) will mute the audio after about 20 minutes with Message 3 (for not coming from a TRUSTED_SOURCE).

Blu-ray discs:
The Losers *(Warner Brothers, volume name=THE_LOSERS) (English track only)
The Karate Kid (2010)* (Sony, volume name=THE_KARATE_KID) (most of the tracks)
The Other Guys (Sony, 14dec2010) (English track only)
Resident Evil: Afterlife 2D* (Sony, 28dec2010) (English track only)
Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D* (Sony, 28dec2010) (English track only)
Salt (Sony, 21dec2010) (English track only)
The Social Network (Sony, 11jan2011) (English track only)
Takers (Sony, 18jan2011) (English track only)
Burlesque (Sony, 01mar2011)
The Tourist (Sony, 22mar2011)
How Do You Know (Sony, 22mar2011)
* for those, in teritories where the movie is not released by Warner Bros. or Sony, the Blu-ray does not have Cinavia

DVD discs:
Takers (Sony, 18jan2011) (English track only)
Burlesque (Sony, 01mar2011)
The Tourist (Sony, 22mar2011)

Blu-ray/media players that use Cinavia:
Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) firmware 3.10 or higher

I do not know if Sony has also implemented Cinavia in the S5000ES/S550/S350 in firmware version 024.

At present, the Cinavia technology has only been introduced into Blu-ray players (which also includes PS3s. However, since the technology has now been officially stamped into AACS’s new agreements, all major manufacturers will be assumed to comply to the new protocol.

"Cinavia has been adopted as a required component of the AACS content protection system. Blu-ray players with Cinavia detectors began entering the consumer market in late 2009."

This is a big win for Verance’s Cinavia; not only are all (or most) BD players said to adopt it as the de-facto DRM standard, but Cinavia also has some heavy backing through studios like 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Entertainment.

I just upgraded my S550 firmware to 024 and was able to play my backup of The Losers, which is Cinavia protected, without triggering the Cinavia warning.

Good to know. I would think the 024 firmware for the S350 is clean also then.

We're all worried about Cinavia but I think it would be extremely difficult to implement it in a player that's first entered the market some three+ years ago. The S550 class of players probably just doesn't have enough computational bandwidth to handle it. The PS3 is completely programmable and has lots of extra horsepower even being on the market for four years so I'm not surprised that Cinavia is there.

Applied firmware #024 to a Sony BDP-S350 & a Sony BDP-S550.
The firmware installed without issue & tested with no functional issues noted (including no cinavia infection hidden in the firmware).

Upgrade in software seemed to work fine for me too.

This is my 1st..concern.. since I got the player in 12/08. There is more noticeable heat from the unit than I remember. The disk feels warmer when ejected. There is a low smooth vibration running even when the unit is off or unplugged.

I plan on removing the cover to see if there is an issue with the fan.

That said I have had no failure whatsoever in playbabck or any functions. I am running the latest FW.

I ran a search of the thread but couldnt find specific remarks so any input is appreciated.

Not sure why but the heat issue has stopped...false alarm, all is well and the new FW is on and no glitches there. I did get a new AVR and use only the hdmi instead of analogs for audio. I dont know if that had anything to do with it. The receiver is on a well ventelated shelf below. So the s550 will stay until I upgrade to a 3d monitor.

The manual says it will draw power, generate heat and possibly kick the fan on if "Quick Start" is activated. You might check "Standby Mode" in System Settings and make sure it is set to "Normal".

I've got the BDP-S550 and I've been searching.. the model has the ability to stream Netflix however it doesn't. Anyone know or heard of a Firmware update coming to allow this? I'm currently using a wii to do it but I don't play my wii and I want to sell it. I hate to have to invest in another pc of equipment to stream when this player can do it.

I didn't know it could.

Well you know what I mean.. the ethernet connection is there, the hardware is similar to the next model up that does have netflix ability yet I think it's just a matter of a firmware update that would allow it. Really wish they would push this and push it soon!

Sorry to say, but I doubt this model is still actively developed. I retired mine to my bedroom as a stand alone player with no internet connection. It did serve me well, but I bought an Oppo for my theater room & now have full streaming of all media. Me thinks it's time to move on?

If you want streaming - it is most assuredly time to move to a newer player model as it is unlikely the S550 will ever be able to stream.
As a profile 2 blu-ray player complete with multi-channel analog outputs however, the S550 remains a great choice. You just have to decide what matters most to you.

It just got new firmware about 2months ago and is still active according to Sony.

I may end up selling it and getting a newer model just cause I don't want to keep stacking equipment on top of each other.

If it doesn't do something you want, then buy a player that does. But as far as Sony keeping this player up-to-date i.e. able to play (2D) Blu-rays, you should expect firmware updates as-needed for quite some time to come. The BDP-S350, S550, and S5000ES all share the same firmware, and given the 5000ES has a five year warranty it's reasonable to assume they will keep it viable til at least 2014 or 2015 (it was introduced in 2009). I'd expect the 350 and 550 to enjoy as long a ride.

hello all,

i picked up a sony n100 media player at costco. i love my s550 unit. it was easier adding this into the system than buying a new bluray player. a lot cheaper also.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921666261253

I have an S550 with firmware 24.

Played Harry Potter Deathly Hollows Pt. 1 blu-ray no prob.

Went to play HP Sorcerer's Stone blu-ray, brand new disc from 2007 year 1-5 gift set. Got "unknown disc error."

Can load all other discs in the set without incident. I heard of an issue with this gift set having HD DVD substitued for year 4 but that is not the case. Year 1 disc definitely says blu-ray.

Anyone have issues playing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on this player? Disc looks fine, no signs of rot.

No problem here with the Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone standalone blu-ray. I did however have one brand new Lost Season 5 disc not work that I was able to replace via Amazon, so sometimes a disc can be new and perfect looking and still just be not right.