What Blu Ray Player should I get?

oakland25

Member
Apr 1, 2007
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Well ive decided to get a Blu Ray player because of the wider selections of movies that I prefer

So my Question is what is the better Blu Ray player the Sony Bdp-S300 or the Samsung BDP 1200?

If there are better Players in the price range please let me know

Thx in advance
 

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
Isn't the PS3 still considered one of the top players in terms of PQ and features?
 

mlm

Senior member
Feb 19, 2006
933
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^ yes. Even if you don't care for gaming, it also has the media hub capabilities.

And it's eligible for the 5 free BD's as well :)
 

cubby1223

Lifer
May 24, 2004
13,518
42
86
The Sony is cheaper, but the Samsung has a little better dvd upscaling.

I've heard the Sony BDP-S301 (same as the S300 but includes an hdmi cable in the box) can be had at Costco for $449. As long as the Sony has the audio connections you need for your receiver, I'd go with that over the Samsung, just because of the price difference.
 

oakland25

Member
Apr 1, 2007
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Well ill be hooking it up to my receiver through HDMI. So which one suppllies the better decoding for the lossless audio formats. Also my receiver decodes Dolby True HD and DTS-HD codecs so will it matter between the two or will it not? Thats my big question which one will decode the lossless codecs or will allow my receiver to decode them?Also if these wont what other Blu Ray player will and will i notice a substantial differnece by using these codecs compaired to another codec?
 

cubby1223

Lifer
May 24, 2004
13,518
42
86
Originally posted by: oakland25
Well ill be hooking it up to my receiver through HDMI. So which one suppllies the better decoding for the lossless audio formats. Also my receiver decodes Dolby True HD and DTS-HD codecs so will it matter between the two or will it not? Thats my big question which one will decode the lossless codecs or will allow my receiver to decode them?Also if these wont what other Blu Ray player will and will i notice a substantial differnece by using these codecs compaired to another codec?
If you've got an hdmi receiver, then you'll have no worries whatever player you get.

They all can decode Dolby TrueHD and pass it through hdmi. I'm almost positive they all can decode DTS-HD as well, but it's the lossless DTS-HD-MA tracks that no player will decode, and I don't think they will even pass the bitstream through to a receiver. For either Blu-ray or HD DVD. A large number of Blu-ray movies have uncompressed PCM sound tracks anyways, so you'll certainly get full quality with those.

As for the post concerning the BD-J updates later this year - by the holiday season, the new model Blu-ray players will be including an extra picture-in-picture feature to be used for things like directors commentaries or what-not. Think of it if you had bought an iPod before the video iPod's came out - the old model still plays the music that you bought it for. And as such, the players today will always play the movies of future releases.
 

Blayze

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2000
6,152
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0
Originally posted by: biggestmuff
Wait a little longer until the BD-J finalized players are released.

Thats what I would do, or if you want to buy now I think Costco has a Sony player for $449 with HDMI cable. Should be able to get the 5 free Blu-rays with it by mail too.
 

LegendKiller

Lifer
Mar 5, 2001
18,256
68
86
Originally posted by: cubby1223
PCM sound tracks anyways, so you'll certainly get full quality with those.

As for the post concerning the BD-J updates later this year - by the holiday season, the new model Blu-ray players will be including an extra picture-in-picture feature to be used for things like directors commentaries or what-not. Think of it if you had bought an iPod before the video iPod's came out - the old model still plays the music that you bought it for. And as such, the players today will always play the movies of future releases.

lol. This is rich. "Hey, buy this $600 pile of trash, so that in 5 months you can buy another $600 pile of trash, but it'll at least by a better smelling pile of trash!"

BD-J should have been finished long ago and it probably won't be finished by the end of this year, knowing Sony and how long it took for BD+. Why buy a half-assed player right now and then double down on another one in 5 months?

Typical fanboish attitude. Throw good money after bad in a poor attempt to support a poor format.

 

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Originally posted by: cubby1223
PCM sound tracks anyways, so you'll certainly get full quality with those.

As for the post concerning the BD-J updates later this year - by the holiday season, the new model Blu-ray players will be including an extra picture-in-picture feature to be used for things like directors commentaries or what-not. Think of it if you had bought an iPod before the video iPod's came out - the old model still plays the music that you bought it for. And as such, the players today will always play the movies of future releases.

lol. This is rich. "Hey, buy this $600 pile of trash, so that in 5 months you can buy another $600 pile of trash, but it'll at least by a better smelling pile of trash!"

BD-J should have been finished long ago and it probably won't be finished by the end of this year, knowing Sony and how long it took for BD+. Why buy a half-assed player right now and then double down on another one in 5 months?

Typical fanboish attitude. Throw good money after bad in a poor attempt to support a poor format.

cubby's response was perfectly legitimate and actually contributed useful information to the thread. I don't see any endorsement of the BR format in his post; he merely shared information about what to expect from BR players in the next 6 months.

Your post, on the other hand, adds nothing to this thread, does not answer the OP's question and makes an unnecessary and unprovoked personal attack (accusing cubby of being a "fanboi"). I welcome your criticism of the BR format, but in this case you're just trolling, plain and simple.
 

LegendKiller

Lifer
Mar 5, 2001
18,256
68
86
Originally posted by: MrChad
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: LegendKiller
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cubby1223
PCM sound tracks anyways, so you'll certainly get full quality with those.

As for the post concerning the BD-J updates later this year - by the holiday season, the new model Blu-ray players will be including an extra picture-in-picture feature to be used for things like directors commentaries or what-not. Think of it if you had bought an iPod before the video iPod's came out - the old model still plays the music that you bought it for. And as such, the players today will always play the movies of future releases.</end quote></div>

lol. This is rich. "Hey, buy this $600 pile of trash, so that in 5 months you can buy another $600 pile of trash, but it'll at least by a better smelling pile of trash!"

BD-J should have been finished long ago and it probably won't be finished by the end of this year, knowing Sony and how long it took for BD+. Why buy a half-assed player right now and then double down on another one in 5 months?

Typical fanboish attitude. Throw good money after bad in a poor attempt to support a poor format.

</end quote></div>

cubby's response was perfectly legitimate and actually contributed useful information to the thread. I don't see any endorsement of the BR format in his post; he merely shared information about what to expect from BR players in the next 6 months.

Your post, on the other hand, adds nothing to this thread, does not answer the OP's question and makes an unnecessary and unprovoked personal attack (accusing cubby of being a "fanboi"). I welcome your criticism of the BR format, but in this case you're just trolling, plain and simple.

His response wasn't good advice and is what I would expect from him considering what he has posted in the past. If I connected the two it is for legit purposes.

His advice is akin to somebody selling a car without AC when it should have had it in the first place, then saying to that person, 5 months later, that he now has a car with AC that that guy should buy, at the same price. Sure, the first car will still work but does that mean you should have bought it in the first place?

My obvious slant against BD aside, I would never advocate anybody buy a poorly implemented CE when a much better one is inside of a half a year of purchase. That goes for HD-DVD, tvs, or any other technology. Now, if you were getting a much cheaper price and you didn't believe the value of the missing feature was there, then sure, go ahead and buy the item without the feature.

For example, my boss is looking at a new plasma tv. He is debating the 4270 and the 4280 4 months ago. I told him that the significant difference will be contrast ratios/black levels, and maybe marginally better color. He waited to actually see the difference. Now he's getting the 4270 because it's $800 cheaper and since he's 11' away from the tv he won't see much of a difference.

Another example would be 1080p on a 42", I say it's a ripoff. Some could disagree, but unless you're sitting very close the chances are you won't be able to see one iota of difference.

Take it however you want.

 

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
Originally posted by: LegendKiller
His response wasn't good advice and is what I would expect from him considering what he has posted in the past. If I connected the two it is for legit purposes.

His advice is akin to somebody selling a car without AC when it should have had it in the first place, then saying to that person, 5 months later, that he now has a car with AC that that guy should buy, at the same price. Sure, the first car will still work but does that mean you should have bought it in the first place?

My obvious slant against BD aside, I would never advocate anybody buy a poorly implemented CE when a much better one is inside of a half a year of purchase. That goes for HD-DVD, tvs, or any other technology. Now, if you were getting a much cheaper price and you didn't believe the value of the missing feature was there, then sure, go ahead and buy the item without the feature.

For example, my boss is looking at a new plasma tv. He is debating the 4270 and the 4280 4 months ago. I told him that the significant difference will be contrast ratios/black levels, and maybe marginally better color. He waited to actually see the difference. Now he's getting the 4270 because it's $800 cheaper and since he's 11' away from the tv he won't see much of a difference.

Another example would be 1080p on a 42", I say it's a ripoff. Some could disagree, but unless you're sitting very close the chances are you won't be able to see one iota of difference.

Take it however you want.

Fair enough. Your criticism is a valid one, and if you had posted this reply originally, I would not have said anything.
 

cubby1223

Lifer
May 24, 2004
13,518
42
86
Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Originally posted by: cubby1223
PCM sound tracks anyways, so you'll certainly get full quality with those.

As for the post concerning the BD-J updates later this year - by the holiday season, the new model Blu-ray players will be including an extra picture-in-picture feature to be used for things like directors commentaries or what-not. Think of it if you had bought an iPod before the video iPod's came out - the old model still plays the music that you bought it for. And as such, the players today will always play the movies of future releases.

lol. This is rich. "Hey, buy this $600 pile of trash, so that in 5 months you can buy another $600 pile of trash, but it'll at least by a better smelling pile of trash!"

BD-J should have been finished long ago and it probably won't be finished by the end of this year, knowing Sony and how long it took for BD+. Why buy a half-assed player right now and then double down on another one in 5 months?

Typical fanboish attitude. Throw good money after bad in a poor attempt to support a poor format.
Get an f'ing life, troll. You can't even get the damn facts straight when you try to insult someone. When did I tell him to buy a $600 player? Grow up.

Your next post continues with:
Originally posted by: LegendKiller
My obvious slant against BD aside, I would never advocate anybody buy a poorly implemented CE when a much better one is inside of a half a year of purchase. That goes for HD-DVD, tvs, or any other technology. Now, if you were getting a much cheaper price and you didn't believe the value of the missing feature was there, then sure, go ahead and buy the item without the feature.

How is that any different than the advice I gave which you so quickly insulted me for?
 

Blayze

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2000
6,152
0
0
Originally posted by: mlm
The PS3 will be $499 next week at Circuit City...

I take back the comment about the Sony at Costco. This is a much better deal, if you don't mind using a console for Blu-ray playback.
 

zig3695

Golden Member
Feb 15, 2007
1,240
0
0
$499 still sounds like a lot for a video game console, even in today's money. if stupid high-def players werent so costly, maybe video game consoles would be affordable too. doesnt anyone realize that it costs virutally NO extra money to make high-def lasers for the players? they are overcharging because you basically are getting a moderately fast computer. and, because were still in the first two generations, they are BAD, slow computers. there is about 100x room for improvement in high-def players. right now the ps3 really is a good player, but it wont be in two years when any $150 high def player smokes the hell out of it in terms of speed and picture quality.
 

Rio Rebel

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,194
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0
His advice is akin to somebody selling a car without AC when it should have had it in the first place, then saying to that person, 5 months later, that he now has a car with AC that that guy should buy, at the same price. Sure, the first car will still work but does that mean you should have bought it in the first place?

Nice HD-DVD fanboi analysis. Clown.

The BD-J 1.1 standard is CONSTANTLY blown out of proportion by Blu-ray haters who desparately want their doomed format to win.

A better analogy of the functionality would be the On-Star system. It may add something for some people, but those who don't have it never miss it.
 

mlm

Senior member
Feb 19, 2006
933
0
0
Originally posted by: Blayze
Originally posted by: mlm
The PS3 will be $499 next week at Circuit City...

I take back the comment about the Sony at Costco. This is a much better deal, if you don't mind using a console for Blu-ray playback.

Actually, it's starting to look like it will be a universal price drop (Best Buy in Canada will have a similar deal), so $499 at Costco would be even better :)
 

LegendKiller

Lifer
Mar 5, 2001
18,256
68
86
Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
His advice is akin to somebody selling a car without AC when it should have had it in the first place, then saying to that person, 5 months later, that he now has a car with AC that that guy should buy, at the same price. Sure, the first car will still work but does that mean you should have bought it in the first place?

Nice HD-DVD fanboi analysis. Clown.

The BD-J 1.1 standard is CONSTANTLY blown out of proportion by Blu-ray haters who desparately want their doomed format to win.

A better analogy of the functionality would be the On-Star system. It may add something for some people, but those who don't have it never miss it.


Wow, "clown", great win for you.

BD-J 1.1 is enough to keep you to stripped down half-assed discs, or no releases at all from many studios. Not to mention the lack of internet connectivity on anything but the PS3.

No, the functionality analogy with On-Star would be that it's sold as a feature on your car, you are charged for it, you're told that it works, but when you try to use it you only get a busy signal. Then, when they finally implement it, they tell you to buy a whole new car.

Go drop another $500 on a wasteful pile of trash with half-assed implementation, draconian DRM, and region coding. I'll enjoy a full featured, less DRM'd, and region free player.

I never thought I'd see the day when consumers would be paying more for less, but I guess PT Barnum was right.
 

Rio Rebel

Administrator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,194
0
0
That response is even more inane than your first one. You have no justification for using terms like "stripped down" or "wasteful pile of trash", and when called on it, you shift to arguments about internet connectivity and DRM.

You and the rest of your "HD-DVD or Die!" ilk are content to spread misinformation and scare people out of buying current players WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THEY WILL PLAY FUTURE DISKS JUST FINE.

So go back and enjoy your player, if you can. I'm SURE it never skips or freezes, right?
 

LegendKiller

Lifer
Mar 5, 2001
18,256
68
86
Originally posted by: Rio Rebel
That response is even more inane than your first one. You have no justification for using terms like "stripped down" or "wasteful pile of trash", and when called on it, you shift to arguments about internet connectivity and DRM.

You and the rest of your "HD-DVD or Die!" ilk are content to spread misinformation and scare people out of buying current players WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THEY WILL PLAY FUTURE DISKS JUST FINE.

So go back and enjoy your player, if you can. I'm SURE it never skips or freezes, right?

I have watched 87 discs, never one skip or freeze.

The players built up until 1.1 is finalized with be obsolete and won't be able to play value-added content. Not to mention that every disc that is stripped down without BD-J will then be re-released, double soaking purchasers. Also, let me know when all of the BD players decode TrueHD, because many don't, as opposed to ALL Toshiba HD-DVD players do, including the HD-A2 $299 player.

If it wasn't for competition you'd be still paying $1000 for your half-assed players and draconian DRM and you'd be begging Sony for more like a good little school kid. "Please master, make me pay double the price for half as much!"
 

cubby1223

Lifer
May 24, 2004
13,518
42
86
Originally posted by: LegendKiller
The players built up until 1.1 is finalized with be obsolete and won't be able to play value-added content. Not to mention that every disc that is stripped down without BD-J will then be re-released, double soaking purchasers.

If it wasn't for competition you'd be still paying $1000 for your half-assed players and draconian DRM and you'd be begging Sony for more like a good little school kid. "Please master, make me pay double the price for half as much!"
Heh - straight from the universal list of HD DVD troll responses. Someone's buying a Blu-ray player, let's throw out the "All players will be obsolete" line without examining exactly what's happening this fall. Let's also throw out the "HD DVD competition is good" line without discussing how Blu-ray players are also competing against themselves, against the PS3, against regular and upscaling dvd players, against on demand cable & satellite services.

Take your HD DVD troll handbook and leave.

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=38&threadid=2068575
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