US Blu-ray players and 50hz compatibility

[KingBing]

Ok so I bought the Panansonic DMP 60 becuase i was told it could play the BBC Life (Uk Release in 1080/50hz format) I get home and update the player to the latest firmware update. Put in the first disk of life and what do you know, it works. Ok now I move it to my room (I had to update in a diffrent room) and I set everything up. Put the first disk in again and the main menu won't even load! I get to see the advertisements but when it comes time for the menu it doesn't display it on my screen. On the player it reads PLAY and then switches to HDMI. Why did it work in the other room?

[amazon13]

Originally Posted by KingBing

Ok so I bought the Panansonic DMP 60 becuase i was told it could play the BBC Life (Uk Release in 1080/50hz format) I get home and update the player to the latest firmware update. Put in the first disk of life and what do you know, it works. Ok now I move it to my room (I had to update in a diffrent room) and I set everything up. Put the first disk in again and the main menu won't even load! I get to see the advertisements but when it comes time for the menu it doesn't display it on my screen. On the player it reads PLAY and then switches to HDMI. Why did it work in the other room?

May be you second room TV doesn't recognize 50hz?

[KingBing]

Originally Posted by amazon13

May be you second room TV doesn't recognize 50hz?

It could be that, but how can I figure out if it does or not. I just looked through the manual and I googled my tv and I can't seem to find any information on wether it supports 50hz or not.

[amazon13]

Have you tried out other 50hz but region free BR(if you have any)?

[KingBing]

I don't think I have, how can I find out if any of the blu's in my collection are 50hz?

[KingBing]

My tv is 120hz toshiba regza...does that one support 50hz?

[bulussuc]

Originally Posted by BluLobsta

So interlaced video runs at 25 fps in Europe? How do they get film at 24 fps to transfer? I know for interlacing in the US they transmit two fields (odd/even lines) at 30 fps which gives 60 fields/sec for interlaced transmission. Then they use a trick called 3:2 pulldown which adds an extra field every other frame so that 2 frames generate 5 fields. This gives (24/2) * 5 = 60 fields/sec so 24 fps film transfers to 60 fields/sec for interlaced video. I can't see how the math works for Europe. I'm HT noobish at this point but I love tech stuff, so fill me in...?

That's great! That's quite a very informative post. Thanks for your share.

[richieb1971]

Film that would normally run at 24fps is speeded up in 50hz territories for standard definition. For high definition it is left as is. To get 25fps per second they speed up the movie reel so 25fps pass instead of 24. The pitch of the audio goes up ever so slightly but most human ears can't tell the difference. Its also the reason why many run times for the Euro releases for DVD is much shorter by about 4 minutes, thats because 1 frame extra has passed every second of motion.

Documentary presentations are not shot on film, they use digital cameras. Therefore anything that is filmed in docu style such as a wildlife program or concert would be done in interlaced fashion. If the blu ray is done in 50hz you will find problems in North America.

the guy above is telling of symptoms that tell me the tV in question does not support 50hz. You would need a TV that is globally sold. Example... If the UK Sony Bravia is called the KDL40W4000, its likely its American brother will have the exact same inards and therefore a good chance it will have 50hz. If you buy an RCA TV, they don't sell RCA's in the UK or elsewhere and therefore they will cut corners that only facilitate the US market.

50hz is not going to be a selling factor to 99.9999% of the US market, therefore it is not advertised.

[richieb1971]

Originally Posted by KingBing

My tv is 120hz toshiba regza...does that one support 50hz?

120hz means 120 fields per second are drawn. Since 120hz is 60x2 it means your TV is made compatible with NTSC standards. If the same TV is sold in Europe it will be 100hz since 50x2 is more compatible with Euro standards.

If the TV you have is sold in other regions its US counterpart has a slightly better chance of having 50hz compatibility, but nothing is assured.

Maybe you Americans should do a project to see whose TV's work with 50hz and whose don't. Perhaps share a region free disc to those who have standalone compatibility.

The other way to get 100% compatibility is to buy a player such as the OPPO which converts 50hz to 60hz on the fly giving 100% compatibility. However, its likely you will probably never to able to pass on the disc, since compatibility numbers in the US are so low (probably less than 15%)

[KingBing]

Ok thanks guys. Looks like I'll be selling my Life blu ray

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by richieb1971

Documentary presentations are not shot on film, they use digital cameras. Therefore anything that is filmed in docu style such as a wildlife program or concert would be done in interlaced fashion.

I think most documentaries these days are shot progressive eg. 25p in Europe - they sometimes use the Varicam which records stuff in higher speed. They could use a mix of digital or film cameras. Video cameras can shoot progressive as well as interlaced.

[SlaughterX]

So this is why I ddin't have any problems with the trailers on Red Cliff 2, guess I will hang on to my Samsung player...

[Blacklac]

Originally Posted by Blacklac

Anyone know about the Denon 1610?? I can't seem to find that info, not many own this player (that visit forums) it seems.

Denon 1610 will play and output 50hz. You will need a display that also accepts 50hz or a video processor to convert, IF you own a 60hz display.

[4K2K]

Thanks.

[Clark Kent]

Anyone have more detailed information on the LG BD370? Specifically, will it convert a 1080i/50 Hz Blu-ray to be playable on an American display (a Panasonic plasma)? I have the player and it plays standard-definition PAL sources fine on my plasma, but I am interested in a few European Blu-rays that are only in 1080i/50 Hz. I just want some confirmation before I buy a pricey import that may not play. Do American plasmas in general accept the European refresh rate without problem?

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Anyone have more detailed information on the LG BD370? Specifically, will it convert a 1080i/50 Hz Blu-ray to be playable on an American display (a Panasonic plasma)? I have the player and it plays standard-definition PAL sources fine on my plasma, but I am interested in a few European Blu-rays that are only in 1080i/50 Hz. I just want some confirmation before I buy a pricey import that may not play.

I think so:
Life - Blu-ray BBC documentary

Originally Posted by DarkDruid81

I am a a Briton living here in the States, and was also dissapointed at the result when i put it on my ps3... so naturally, I decided to do som research and found:

1) In order for the Panasonic DMP-BD60 to work your TV must accept the 50Hz and output it. (I bought this player with much the same result as the ps3 because my tv cannot output @ 50Hz.

2) i read up on, and tested the LG BD370 and indeed it not only accepts a 50 Hz signal it can also convert it to 60Hz just in case your TV cannot accept the 50Hz PAL (Phase Alternating Line) signal used in Europe.
Oh and by the way the BD370 displays the Programme in 1080p according to the info button on my Panasonic 85u series TV so good luck and hope this helps

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Do American plasmas in general accept the European refresh rate without problem?

The Panasonic Plasma in the link above didn't accept 50hz according to that post (assuming this is the TV he used the Panasonic BD60 with).

[ryoohki]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Anyone have more detailed information on the LG BD370? Specifically, will it convert a 1080i/50 Hz Blu-ray to be playable on an American display (a Panasonic plasma)? I have the player and it plays standard-definition PAL sources fine on my plasma, but I am interested in a few European Blu-rays that are only in 1080i/50 Hz. I just want some confirmation before I buy a pricey import that may not play. Do American plasmas in general accept the European refresh rate without problem?

Yes it will. It play 50i in 60p i can attest that here. Altought the movie must be region free...

[Clark Kent]

Thank you both so much for the helpful information. This is probably going to end up costing me a lot of money in imports.

[AmonTwin]

Originally Posted by 4K2K

This is a thread to list all US Blu-ray players and whether they are compatible with 50hz Blu-ray content (eg. 50i/50p). Usually this means 1080/50i, which could contain either 50i interlaced content or 25p progressive content.

All European Blu-ray players are obviously compatible.


US Blu-ray Players compatible with 50hz content:

Denon DBP1610 [Outputs 50hz content at 50hz - cannot convert 50hz content to another refresh rate]
LG BD 370 [Can convert 50hz content to 60hz]
LG BH200 [Outputs 50hz content at 50hz - cannot convert 50hz content to another refresh rate]
Momitsu BDP-899
Oppo BDP-80 [Can convert 50hz content to 60hz]
Oppo BDP-83 [Can convert 50hz content to 60hz]
Panasonic DMP-BD30 prior to firmware 1.6
Panasonic DMP-BD60 [Outputs 50hz content at 50hz]
Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD [Outputs 50hz content at 50hz, also up-converts 50hz content]
Pioneer BDP-51FD [Outputs 50hz content at 50hz, also up-converts 50hz content]
Samsung BD-P1000
Samsung BD-P1200
Samsung BD-P1400
Samsung PD-P1500 [Outputs 50hz content at 60hz]
Samsung PD-P1600 [Outputs 50hz content at 60hz]
Samsung BD-P2550 [Outputs 50hz content at 60hz]
Sherwood BDP-5004

Note: You will need a 50hz compatible display to play back 50hz content with some of the above US players (eg. Panasonic DMP-BD60) or use a video processor to convert it to a compatible rate.

Other players (including the Samsung players) convert the content to another frame rate (eg. 60hz) so they don't need a 50hz compatible TV.

US Blu-ray Players NOT compatible with 50hz content:

Panasonic DMP-BD30 with firmware 1.6 or later
Panasonic DMP-BD35
Sony BDP-S350
Sony BDP-S550
Sony Playstation 3


If you know of an error with this list or to add to or update the list, please post in this thread.

Hi. New to the forum. I have been on the lookout for an affordable all-region player [under $250]. Is there any update on the Momitsu BDP-899 or its clone the Sherwood BDP-5004 that it is able to convert 50hz content to 60hz? I am unsure if my Panasonic plasma can display the 50hz content so I want to be sure by getting a player that will convert to 60hz. I would love to get an Oppo but can't spend that much now.

Thank you very much.

[Clark Kent]

Great news and confirmation of what several users here had already told me. The American version of the LG BD370 will convert 1080i / 50 Hz material from region-free Blu-rays and play them at 1080p on any American display! There is no noticeable loss or decline in quality when performing this conversion. I have personally tested this with a region-free European BD I imported. It also handles and converts PAL video well, so extra features can also be played.

Anyone tested this on a LG BD390 or LG BD270? I bet those players might have similar capability.