OFFICIAL "HELP ME CHOOSE A PLAYER" THREAD: Can't decide? Start HERE. - Page 387

Hi,

First time posting. I've read a bunch and note that someone was having a problem with the Panny 110 not playing audio out on analog while watching a Blue Ray. Then, I read that the newer players are not supporting 5.1 or 7.1 out in analog.

I want a player with 5.1 or 7.1 out in analog, I guess optical could work too? into a Denon 687AVR no HDMI at the same time it is playing out to the HDMI. I don't need WiFi, but I guess nice to have. Want to spend about $130 with tax. I want to stream netflix. Recos?

Does it do Vudu though?

Still taking suggestions fir a player that does all 3. Amazon VOD, Netflix and Vudu,

-Funk

I am going nuts reading all the reviews, the problems that seem to be in almost every new unit. Sound, video, noisey etc.
I just want simple. Can't watch 3D. I have many SD DVD's and I want to hook up to netflix.

Please any suggestions.

Hey guys.. I'm looking to upgrade my Sony PS3 Slim, which is definitely a fine Blu Ray player, but I'm looking for an even higher quality dedicated Blu Ray Player. I would like it to have 3D capability, Wi-Fi, and great DVD Upconversion as the PS3 Was all great at this so I don't want to take any steps back.

I've heard good things about Panasonic players and some Sony players? what do you guys recommend for a great quality BDplayer?

I am trying to spend as close to $100 as possible on a new 3D Blu-Ray player. I have a Sony HX800 and a wired gigabit router behind my TV so wifi is not really needed. I would like to stay with Sony since my TV is and the 3D sync accessory is Sony as well my glasses, but I guess it doesn't have to be. I was thinking about the older Sony BDP-S470, what do you guys think? S480? SD DVD upconversion must be good, right now my receiver is NOT HDMI ready so it should have analog out, but I may just ignore this for now and live with no HD sound until I get a new receiver. Adding analog out on the bluray player increases the price and as of now I do not even set my reciever to the anlalog input while watching bluray because it sounds way too quiet sometimes. I have an older Harmon Kardon and I have tried many different settings but the sound just varies way too much using analog.

So right now I am looking at Sony S470 unless someone helpfully chimes in here with a great alternative around $100. Thanks!!!

I have some what of a dilemna and would like some opinions if possible. Planning on getting either universal player.I'm using a marantz sr8002 as i guess im partial to marantz somewhat. I'm using a lexicon rt10 for dvda/sacd right now which i will either sell or move when replaced. I'm using a ps3 for blueray playback now as well which i may or maynot move.But the family has a hard time with the ps3.So they have to wait for me for blue rays,if it is reg dvd they just pop it in the lexicon without a problem. With either the marantz or oppo functionality would be as the lex as they wouldnt constantly have to wait for me and use would be blue ray and reg dvd's. Because as it stands every dvd i order now is basically blue ray.Just want to make it easier for everyone. But want the better player if possible.If they are compatible id probably get the marantz.Sorry for long post.

Hey Toots,

I'm with you...I asked basically the same question, albeit I threw in the sound part. Seems we have one reference to that Sony. I haven't looked that up yet.

I'm undecided which player to get, but I've narrowed it down between these two. Sony removed a few features that were found on the previous S770, including the 1gb hardrive and 5ghz wireless card. I have never owned a Panasonic, but the 210 seems to have many happy customers. Both players weigh about the same, which is a measley 3 and 1/2 pounds. I've read complaints that the wireless connection on the Sony is poor, while owners of the Panasonic 210 claim they can't connect to Netflix. Which has the better menu interface? So having said that, maybe someone here has experienced both players?

Can't go wrong with the panny 110 IMO. It's 3D, but you can completely forget about that (I have, since I don't have a 3D TV either). It has superior netflix to most everyone and good upconversion. Whatever you may have read about noise isn't normal. If you get a noisy one, exchange it.

The analog out issue only applies to maybe 2 people on the planet. Do you seriously intend to use 2 channel analog audio for movies? I never would in a million years. Optical works great, as does HDMI.

Agree it doesn't affect most people, but any buyer needs to know that despite having 2-channel audio outputs in the back of the player, they don't work at all if you output 24p over HDMI.

If you guys were referring to my analog out comments then I may have not explained it correctly. My current Blu-ray player has 5.1/7.1 multichannel analog out connected to my non hdmi receiver. This way the player decodes the HD audio and passes to the receiver. I do not lik the way the surround volume goes in and out this way, which I have read is a con of setting it up that way.

I also have it hooked up via toslink, that is how I usually watch blurays but that doesn't pass true HD sound.

The Panny 110, ok, will output optical at the same time HDMI for multichannel input via the optical into my Denon 687 AVR?

Someone, was it you julkruk? Said their component out would not work on a blue ray disk. Component out is only two channel stereo and the other channels aren't imbedded in that output to be decoded by the AVR? Well that's ok, if optical is. I just have to get a optical wire. Regard the other output for audio (one jack RCA? sorry don't know what it is called) Does that support multichannel out, so I won't have to go buy more wires?

No, he was probably referring to my posts. I need 2-channel analog output, and the 2 RCA jacks do not work if you use 24p output over HDMI (24p over HDMI turns off analog video and analog audio output). The player does not offer analog multichannel, only 2-channel (if you don't use 24p).

Huh? Component output (3 RCA jacks) is for analog video, not audio. The 2 red/white RCA jacks are for analog audio. Composite is a single video RCA jack (not hi def). Coaxial and optical are 2 different digital audio outputs.

Thanks, sorry mis-wrote. Yes, two rca jacks analog audio and only stereo? The multichannel stuff is not embedded? Ok the coaxial which is an rca jack connection, right? Single? You can use just one side of that two color group or strip it down? Carries 5.1 and I don't have to go out and order some optical wires? The cost is nominal...I don't want to wait if it is just as good.

Definitely. But shouldn't be a deal breaker for most. Didn't mean to offend.

Bobdeang,

IIRC, the panny doesn't have coax, only optical. Just get a toslink cable at monoprice. I think they're around $1. Multichannel may very well be embedded in the R/W out, I don't really know, but it's not as good as optical.

Coaxial looks like an RCA cable but I am pretty sure it is different so you have to get a coaxial cable. Coax and Toslink are basically the same thing just done differently. I don't think you will get 5.1 sound if you hook up a single RCA cable to the coax between the player and the receiver. Multichannel analog is one RCA jack per speaker, so you if your bluray player has multi out you will have a lot of RCA jacks on the back of the player, six for 5.1 (one sub, one center, two fronts & two surrounds).

He can either get a coax cable or toslink, from what I know they both do the same thing at the same quality (I think, maybe toslink is a little better).

Having a player that has multichannel analog out is actually better than Toslink or Coax because the player can then send the high def sound (DTS HD and Dolby TrueHD) to the receiver that supports multi pass through.

True, optical and coax are functionally equivalent. But the panny in question doesn't have a coax output, nor does it have multichannel analog. So optical and HDMI are the only options.

I have abandoned my HTPC after six years and am ready to have a device that does what it's supposed to more often than not. I am interested in Netflix and Vudu streaming and want a player that loads quickly. My question is whether there are aspects of the ps3 that are inferior compared to similarly priced current 2011 blu ray players.

Thanks for any help.

No, you cannot get multichannel from the 2 red/white analog audio outputs, only stereo (if you don't use 24p over HDMI, in which case the analog audio is turned off altogether). The player would have to have multiple analog outputs, one for each channel (which the 110 does not have).

I have 2 PS3's, fat and slim. Both are excellent blu-ray players. Netflix and Vudu work excellent. The only problem (as we discovered during the hacktivists attack that forced Sony to take down their servers for almost 3 weeks) is that if the Sony network is down, so is access to Netflix and Vudu. Sony has their access tied directly to your PlayStation account. You must have a PlayStation account to access these features. I believe Xbox is the same.

Somehow my post was moved to the middle of this thread instead of at the end. I've noticed that some Panasonic 210 owners are complaining about Netflix connectivity, but that may be due to thier router, who knows? At the same time, it appears there are not many owner reviews on the Sony S780, except for the SonyStyle website. People are complaining of the poor internet connection to Netflix. Maybe some of you have switched one for the other and can tell me the pros and cons of both? Basically, which is the more solid and reliable unit?

To the above posters, the Sony bdp-s370 or s380 have excellent streaming features, great upscaling ability, and also use digital coax instead of toslink/optical.

I much prefer digital coax, reasons could be easily found with an AVS search. I also have a nice digital coax cable I'd prefer to stick with.
ETA: here
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archi...t-1102993.html

Hey guys, without me hunting through the site, where are you getting your Coax or Toslink cables online? Toslink is a brand of optical cable and you can get other brands?

Check out monoprice.com for all your cable needs.

Thanks.

I'm looking for a Blu-Ray player that has 1080p DVD upscaling, and can play 3D movies (Do they all do that?). I don't really need internet applications (Unless the price difference is minimal AND it would have to be wireless....getting tired of running wires lol).

Anyone have any recommendations? I'm not looking to spend more than I have to, but I don't want total garbage either

monoprice.com is great place for cables, toslink is a type, like digital coax, not a brand.

Panny 210 is an excellent choice and does all that.