OFFICIAL "HELP ME CHOOSE A PLAYER" THREAD: Can't decide? Start HERE. - Page 471

Looking for a 3D, wifi built in, good at streaming player for my main theater player. the only other thing I want is for it to be able to play a 3D movie off of a USB drive. I have one I want to watch in 3D but it is not avail in the US so this seems to be my only option. It will be hooked up to a Panasonic plasma display and a mid-range (no 3d pass through) Onkyo receiver. Is Samsung my only option? Are they any good?

I just checked the owner's manual for the Pioneer to sorta compare with that of the Panny 220--sometimes this helps determine factors like adjustability and such. Both seem pretty comparable except with regard to adustments for 3D playback (i.e. depth etc.). The Panny has some useful adjustments that can tailor the 3D to your particular set, the Pioneer doesn't--just turns 3D on or off.

I like Pioneer stuff, I own one of the lower end Elite receivers from a few years back and it's a paragon of performance and reliability. (looks classy too!).. I just don't think BD players are as important to them as one of their mainstream products as they are to a company like Panasonic, Sony, or Samsung. I would pick the 220 for function and performance over the Pio (in fact I already did). That being said you could have your cake and eat it too with the Pio if you simply added the optional Wi-Fi dongle. As far as updates, according to the manual you can download them to a USB flash drive with your computer, carry the flashdrive upstairs to the player, and do the update without un-installing the player from your system.

I actually do understand your concern for the appearance of your gear. The Panny, "in person" is a little on the small side (standard width but not depth) but imho is by no means tacky, gimmicky, or cheap looking.

To me, the picture makes it look like the Pioneer player is brushed metal. It isn't. It's the same high-gloss plastic as the comparable inexpensive players from most other manufacturers. Also, current Pioneer players (and the Sharp players they're based on) include support for only a very limited number of computer file formats. I find their menu system rather crude, too. So far as functionality is concerned, the current generation Sony players are much better, except for not being able to play PAL Region 0 discs, which is why I own a current Sharp player (and have an older Pioneer player which I haven't used for a while).

Personally, I consider the tapered shape of the current generation of Sony players to be silly and ugly, but the only time I have to look at mine is when the room is dark and I'm inserting a disc. It's almost invisible then.

I got this from the Pioneer site: "The classic brushed aluminum look of the BDP-150 is a bit of foreshadowing for the caliber of audio and video you’re about to experience." So, either it is brushed aluminum, or it is plastic made to look like it?

I"m bugged too, by the goofy shape of the Sony players, otherwise I'd strongly consider them.

Any BD player should work, but it's not ideal to use a device other than what you will be using for playback as a reference for calibration.

need help picking blu-ray player and 3d upscaling

need help picking blu-ray player and 3d upscaling. I have a sony KDL-60 NX810. Just bought the transmitter and glasses. Now i need to move on to the player. I Need something with 2 HDMI outputs due to the 3D limitation of Yamaha receiver. I unfortunately need to be less generous with my money this time around since i really should not be sending anything at all. I have been looking at the Oppo BDP-93. I found some around $400 which is still above my price point. The thing that have been trying to figure out for days is the Up scaling. just cant get clear info on this online. Is blu ray player X really that much better then Blu ray player Y ? If the upscaliong in the BDP-93 is really that much better i would prob buy it. And if it is is better does it have a hdmi input to upscale content from other sources. I tried to upscale some high deff streaming movies using my TV. The pic....well sucked. So whats up with that now? are upscaleing in tvs that much worse then in dvd players. am i expecting too much? is this similar results i will get after bying an expensive player? I know some of you may say it depends on the content. At the moment i only use streaming from netflix so if there is a particular title you would like me to try to upscale from redbox or amazon high deff download section then please.....i will give it a shot.

this is my first post. i am usually hanging out in the background. so any help would be great

Oppo 103 vs Pioneer BDP-62

Not certain if this has been brought up in previous threads before but any how share free to feel your thoughts on the two units.

The obvious main question is what are the main differences between the two?

and on a side note, If using a SC-65 AVR does the player really matter since it will be ran through the AVRs processor?
Whats the benefit of using a higher end blu-ray disc player with a high end AVR?

Sony's BDP-S790 lists for about $250. It includes quite a few video adjustments that can be applied when upscaling SD video. People also like its streaming options.

My understanding is that you can't judge upscaling quality while watching any streaming video source. They often have to use substantial lossy compression in order to avoid hickups in the playback, and you can't predict how destructive those losses will be. In other words, you need to use one of the calibration discs, like Disney's WOW, in order to do a valid comparison among the various scalers in the video chain.

WOW is great, but my recollection is that the scaling tests are geared towards ensuring that HD images aren't being scaled via overscan and that sort of thing. I think all of the demo content on the Blu-ray version is HD (please correct me if I'm wrong), so DVD media with real content and/or local streaming content (without transcoding) are probably better sources to compare upscaling performance in a real world context.

The larger problem with using streaming services to compare is that there is no guarantee of a consistent result. The service will send you a lower bitrate file if there is any sort of network issue between the player and the server for one. Also, different players receive different encodes based on what is supported by the player manufacturer, so it's difficult to determine if any perceived quality differences are the result of upscaling or some other factor (though those results still may be worth consideration when deciding which player to use.)

Player settings should also be considered. As noted, some players offer setting such as sharpness and noise reduction which impact the perceived upscaling quality and the default setting doesn't always best reflect the player's capabilities. Having a player with more options improves the chance that you can achieve a result you find desirable.

So, yes, use a calibration disc to set up the system, but I think that a reasonably broad sampling of real world content should be compared as well to make an informed judgement.

Part of the challenge in trying to get information about upscaling performance online is that many people are willing to share opinions about upscaling performance, but less go through the rather tedious process needed to evaluate the performance in such a way that a meaningful comparison can be made. Beyond that its a rather subjective measurement. My advice is to take opinions without a lot of insight or detail with a grain of salt, pick a player mainly based on other factors, then buy one at a place that has a reasonable return policy and find out if it meets your needs.

thanks for the help from both. I just picked up hunger games in hd. also tried polar express. i had my sony bravita do 2d to 3d conversion. no matter what i tried i could not get anything that resembled more then a bury pic. does not look 3d to me at all. dont know if i am doing something wrong here or just expecting something unrealistic. i have the glasses powered up but no real way to tell if there are sync to the tv? My plan is to invest in a good 3d player with up-scaling but would like to see my tv do at least a half ass job at it first. I am playing the dvd in a blu ray lg player and getting a 1080p single to the tv.. any help would be great


and Vampidemic....... I think i got what your trying to get across? but if you could explain it like i was 5..... The oppo 93 dose a better job at 3d conversion and the sony does a good job at hd 1080P / 1080I?

To get the best 3D experience you need to watch 3D movies as provided by the studios, playing those 3D discs on a 3D player connected directly to a 3D TV (or through a 3D-capable receiver or pre/pro to a 3D TV).

Automated 2D-to-3D conversions in consumer equipment are primarily a gimmick. The quality of the conversion varies from one device to another, but I don't know of any organized review of the quality of those conversions.

yeah i do know that your not going to get great or even good quality from a converted 3d movie. just figured i should be getting something. but i guess i will just pony up the dough and hope the 3d player i gets does a far better job at conversion then my tv?

There's at least one report of a Samsung player doing a much better job than a Samsung TV. See http://www.avsforum.com/t/1360047/suprisingly-good-2d-3d-conversion-bd-player

In general, I'd expect newer players do to a better conversion than older TVs.

FWIW, the Sony S590 lists for about $150, but often is available with substantial discounts. I haven't seen any reviews of it conversion quaity. Most reviews concentrate on how well it replicates (or upscales) what's provided on the disc.

Thanks for taking the time to suggest that Sony player to me. I think that's really the type of player that I'm looking for and maybe I will give some SACD a shot. I'm a fan of vinyl and have pretty much stopped purchasing CD's. I do very little with PAL discs so that should never be a problem. Most of my DVD-R are bootleg concert shows. I know that the quality on them is shady, but I still watch them and didn't want to have another standard DVD player hooked up also to my system.

Thanks again, for taking the time.

Todd

Thanks for the feedback. I will most likely be getting a new receiver around the same time as this Blu Ray Player. So the DTS-HD-MA and True HD will be taken care of.

I agree with the CD destruction. I rarely will ever play a CD anymore. I'm a big fan of vinyl and spend my music funds on that.

I think I'm going to look at the Sony BD 590 that was suggested. It appears to do everything that I want it to.

Thanks again,
Todd

Hi I wonder if any of you can help me. I'm about to buy a new Tv and a new blu ray player - this is my first foray into the world of HD. I have no blu ray discs but expect, in the future, to buy blu ray discs instead of dvd's. So I will need a blu ray player that can upscale DVD's very well (as well as playing Blu ray discs as well...). I would like to be able to stream movie content from my computer to the TV (I assume through the blu ray player) - most of films I have are either xvid or divx - although I also have films/clips from my hd video camera that I would like to stream as well. I have an extensive DVD library. I'm not the most technical savy person in the world and would prefer something simple to set up. I won't be buying a 3DTV - so having a 3D capability is not essential. I would also like to be able to have a usb and (if possible) a sd connection. Having netflix/hula/amazon - is not essential - nice to have but not essential - more important is picture quality, upscaling, being able to play different formats and being able to connect my computer or tablet whether wirelessly or through the LAN. My tv will be a LED 40 or LED 42 inches (not yet decided) and will either be a Panasonic or a Sony.

I hould add that I have dvd's burned on dvd-r and dvd+r discs if that makes any difference.

I have read about two dvd players - one is the sony BDP- s390 and the other is the Panasonic bdp- 220 - I have read excellent reviews on both but read some not very good comments on the threads here on the players. Given the use I will put the player to and given my limited technical ability - which would you recommend? Price is not a factor as the difference isn't so great.

One thought ihad was that if I buy a Panasonic TV I should buy a Panasonic player or if I buy a sony (which is more likely) I should buy a sony - or doesn't this matter?

Many, many thanks!
Edited by ramlin - 10/28/12 at 9:28am

Given that you are looking to play files from your computer I would suggest the Sony. However, it should be noted that Sony does not support DiVx, so you can either convert those files or use a DLNA server that can transcode them ( such as Serviio) to play them.

In addition to the Sony BDP S390, also look at the BDP S590. They often sell for about the same price and the 590 includes 3D, has a second USB port in the rear and a front display.

It's not necessary to have a TV and BD player from the same manufacturer, but the HDMI-CEC functions are more likely to work if you do. This just helps ensure that if your BD player has TV functions on its remote (or vise versa) that they will work, that devices can turn each other off, etc.

I'm planning to replace my Playstation 3 as my main bluray player.

I decided to save so I could get the Oppo BDP-103 in Amazon for $499.99 until I saw the Oppo BDP-93 in ebay which is capable of bluray 3D iso playback for $599.99...
If the BDP-93 could play 3d iso then I don't have to wait and upgrade my NMT to Popcorn Hour A400 or Dune HD-Pro
Will there be significant difference or improvements in picture quality between the BDP-93 and BDP-103?

Many thanks!!!

Your original thread asking this was merged into the BDP-103 thread. The response there:

Image quality is the same.

Note that you can never update firmware on the -93 without losing ISO playback. I would not go that route, but some people do.

The BDP-103 supports SMB network shares, and there is a trick to playing Blu-ray ISO files that way. See the FAQ: How do you play Blu-ray ISO files over SMB?

Also note that the studios do not want you playing ISO files or BDMV folders at all, and they may change the rules to prevent it in the future.

-Bill

Best Choice for non #D, wi-fi equipped player

Hello AVS,

I need some help in narrowing down which blu-ray to get for my mother in law. The issue is a little complicated by the following:

- she wants integral wi-fi, as running ethernet from the computer room / office to the TV room is not feasible (separate floors and ends of the house)

- she has no interest in 3D - her tv is not 3D, and she is using a stereo marantz reciever (SR-4320)

- the blu-ray needs to have coaxial audio outs, as the reciever above has neither HDMI or digital inputs

Based on the above, I've found 3 potentials, all for roughly the same price:

LG BP320
Sony BDP-S390
Panasonic DMPBD87

I'm leaning towards the Sony, but I have seen some reviews that state the online menus and features are not easy to use/navigate. I'm not sure how often these features (netflix etc) will be used, but I'd prefer not to have to walk anyone through it more than once.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Nick

Those low end models are overpriced for what they do and their poor quality. Even though you don't need 3D, there's no harm in getting a 3D player. The best bang for the buck and the simplest to use is the sony 590 ($108 at amazon). No current panny models have coax out AFAIK. Although all the sonys have the same interface, it's very simple to use. Only some of the apps your mother-in-law will never use are a bit confusing. Netfix and disc playback are dirt simple on sony. While the 390 is $6 cheaper than the 590, the quality difference is significant. I have several 390s, but only because they were a lot cheaper than the 590s at the time. Now the price is so close, there is no reason to even consider a 390.

Thanks for the advice - based on it I think I'll go with the Sony 390

I follow your logic in stepping up to the 590, but it's $30 (plus tax) more expensive up here in Canada. I'll have a look at the 590 in the store, but unless it's significantly better built or has better internals, seeing as she will never use the 3D, and since she's trying to keep the price down, I'll probably pick up the 390.

I think this is a good decision based on your report of the pricing. I have the BDP-S590 myself (the price difference is negligible in the US0 in but feature wise you're getting 3D, rear USB, front display and I think maybe the optical audio out by stepping up to the 590 and I'm guessing the display is the only thing there she would likely use. I would definitely avoid LG. Having owned 2010 and 2011 model LG players, they have serious quality control issues with both software and hardware --- much happier with my Sony players.

Sony 590? I'd hard wire it if you can.

Set up a DLNA server on your PC, use that to feed content to the 590.

For a remote, think of a universal remote, like one of the Logitechs. One of the best AVI tools I own.

If we were to compare, what does the 590 do that the Samsung BD-E5900 cant, just comparing these 2 because it looks to be about the same in cost? $129.00

THANKS!

Well, you could just compare the specs and they'd probably be fairly even. The thing that you want to look at is streaming performance, since that's important to you, ease of use and in general reliability. The Sony has gotten good press lately here and elsewhere; one of the things you could do is to look at the owner's discussions for each and see whether there are problems with one or the other.

Looking for a player for my mother. In this case bluray playback is less important than these features:

- Access to Amazon Prime videos (to be clear, the free videos you get from being a Prime member, not Instant Video)
- Access to Netflix
- Built-in Wifi
- Easy-to-use menus
-Cost

Don't care about 3d or disc load time or picture quality. Before anyone mentions, we don't want a streamer box; this is going to replace her DVD player so she doesn't have yet another device to deal with underneath her TV.

First thing I came across is the BDP S390. Looks good but if there's other/better alternatives available I'd love to know. It's hard filtering results by devices that support Amazon Prime video, so I don't know how prevalent it is - TiVo's won't do it, for example.

I think the BDP S390 or BDP S590/BDP BX-59 are both worth considering (BX-59 is the Costco version of the S590 with bundled HDMI cable). In the US, the 590 usually sells at a street price at, near or below the 390 depending on current promos. When it is more, the difference is usually less than $10.

I suggested the 590 for my mother and it seems to work for her. Would recommend you do the initial set up though as the authorization process for the streaming services is kind of tedious.

I'm looking for some suggestions after recently deciding to go with the 3d for the kids. I'm not looking for a super killer, does it all player anymore. I've got too many of those collecting dust, I just want a good player not very expensive that will play the 3d discs plus some of the other stuff that's out there. The USB port for flash media and hard drives would be nice if it can handle AVCHD (camcorder) and other formats from the PC along with the standard net-based stuff that most seem to provide today. I'd also like to be able to be able to play the bluray DVD playback of the camcorder files. Of couse all the standard stuff like HD audio (internal decoding no important). PC streaming is nice, but I don't even use that with my directv boxes, so I'm not sure how useful that is. I think hard disk playback would be more important.

I've seen a few comments on the newest line of sony players messing with the audio limit the play back from recordable media and I wouldn't like that. I have kids and most of the discs they use are the backups, I don't even trust my wife with the real disney media! Currently I've got 2 LG blus and 1 samsung player. The latest samsung players are so small I have a hard time believing they are a solid product. I've been looking at the '12 line from panasonic and the 320 or even 220 looks like it may do what I want. As a CE developer I like that panasoic has some of their source code online.

Any suggestions on what might be a good inexpensive player for the kids to be able to watch 3d movies?
Thanks