US Blu-ray players and 50hz compatibility

[TeddyMac]

Other than the Samsung BD-E5700? Hoping for a broader selection than 1.

[amckinney]

Originally Posted by Crazy4DVD

I have a Sony LCD, and I am pretty sure it will not be able to accept 50 Hz input. So, I need a player which will convert and output at 60 Hz (my current players Sony 470 and Panasonic 210 do not do this).

I don't know about your Sony panel, but I have a Sony Bravia panel (KDL-EX500 series, I think) that displays PAL just fine over the component and HDMI connections (but not over composite, unlike my Sharp TVs which accept PAL/50hz over all inputs) without having to be converted to NTSC. I know this doesn't necessarily cover 1080i/50, but it's possibly a good sign, since it accepts a native PAL signal. You might not need a "converting" player after all.

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by TeddyMac

Other than the Samsung BD-E5700? Hoping for a broader selection than 1.

I haven't included the initial release date of the various players in the lists, but is there a specific reason you are excluding all those players initially released more than about 5.4 months ago - even though they are for sale brand new?

Though for other player models not listed, you could get an indication from those that are on the list. ie. there's probably a good chance that most if not all of the recent Samsung players are also compatible. Maybe ask at a store if you could check a 50Hz Blu-ray disc in a player you are interested in to check for compatibility before purchasing? Also, if the players(s) you are interested in are not on the lists in the OP, you could also check/ask in the threads for those players in the forum to check their 50Hz compatibility.

[W3sTC0astCA]

Thanks for the information.

[vinmar]

Originally Posted by AlexMcC

Vinmar - did you mean D5700? I was looking at the E5700 today, but couldn't confirm either way that it also converts the 50hz region free...

It'd be nice to find out, as my local best buy has the E5700 in stock...and it's on sale...

Hello - sorry for the delayed rely. Correct that it's the E5700. I got it during the best buy sale as well.

I'm interested in knowing if other Samsung models such as the non-wifi E5300 support 50 to 60Hz conversion. I don't need wifi support but felt it was less of a risk getting the 5700

[mb3]

Originally Posted by 4K2K

Thanks. Does it say 60Hz on your TV (pressing Info/Display) when playing 50Hz content with it?

sorry i just went back through and found this question


Samsung HDTV reports 60 Hz listed with BD Player source when I switch source to BD player with a 1080i50 BD in player already playing (pressing info on my Samsung LCD actually doesn't tell me, it only tells me when switching to the source; tested with French copy of Jim Jarmusch's Broken Flowers)

again, this is for SAMSUNG BD-C6500, and apparently, it does convert to 60 Hz as suspected. But glad to confirm it for all =)

btw, it will not play my PAL DVDs though, which I am saddened by, since I have a good many PAL DVDs.

[4K2K]

Thanks mb3. I wonder if it not playing PAL DVDs is because of the region coding (eg. being set to region 2 instead of 0. all regions) - though surely it would have said they were the wrong region if they were.

[TeddyMac]

I can confirm that the Samsung BD-E5300 [Outputs 50Hz content at 60Hz] is compatible with 50Hz/50i media. Tested w/ 2 Entertain Video's U.K. editions of Lark Rise to Candleford: Series 2 BD set (1080/50i) & Little Dorrit Blu-ray (1080/50i). Both played perfectly and output at 60Hz on my Samsung and LG HDTVs.

[vinmar]

Originally Posted by TeddyMac

I can confirm that the Samsung BD-E5300 [Outputs 50Hz content at 60Hz] is compatible with 50Hz/50i media. Tested w/ 2 Entertain Video's U.K. editions of Lark Rise to Candleford: Series 2 BD set (1080/50i) & Little Dorrit Blu-ray (1080/50i). Both played perfectly and output at 60Hz on my Samsung and LG HDTVs.

Thanks, good to know. I saw a repackaged one at Target for under $65. Might pick it up as a backup player if it's still on the bargain shelf next time I'm there. It's not that much more new, either.

[TeddyMac]

Originally Posted by vinmar

Thanks, good to know. I saw a repackaged one at Target for under $65. Might pick it up as a backup player if it's still on the bargain shelf next time I'm there. It's not that much more new, either.

$69.99 @ Amazon.com, fyi

[2littletime2play]

First, let me say that I have read all of the posts in this thread in an attempt to solve this problem myself. I have been unsuccessful and hope that someone can and will help me. I am trying to play the BBC "Life" Blu-ray discs. The intro and set up screen displays but once I hit play there is audio but no video. My system consists of a Panasonic DMP-BDT210 player (I have already updated the firmware), an Epson PowerLite 8350 projector, and a Denon AVR-2112CI receiver, all connected via HDMI cables.. The Epson 8350 owner's manual shows one of the Compatible Video Formats with HDMI to be: Signal HDTV 1080p; Refresh rate (Hz) 24/30/50/60; Resolution 1920 x 1080. The Blu-ray disc shows video format to be High Definition 1080p and disc format to be 4 x BD50. I have tried various settings on the player and projector with no success. I have not had any problems playing other Blu-ray discs. Any help would really be appreciated.

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by 2littletime2play

First, let me say that I have read all of the posts in this thread in an attempt to solve this problem myself. I have been unsuccessful and hope that someone can and will help me. I am trying to play the BBC "Life" Blu-ray discs. The intro and set up screen displays but once I hit play there is audio but no video. My system consists of a Panasonic DMP-BDT210 player (I have already updated the firmware)

See this thread:
http://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=174389

I think it only works if you're using 'enhanced' firmware (ie. not the official firmware) - which is why it is only in the 'compatible' list if using "enhanced firmware" and in the 'not compatible ' list with standard firmware. Also the site that has the 'enhanced' firmware want a 'donation' (payment really) for that firmware so it isn't free.

The Blu-ray disc shows video format to be High Definition 1080p and disc format to be 4 x BD50

The UK Life discs are encoded as 1080/50i (which is the correct format for this title. If it was 1080p it would be at 24 fps which would be a slowed down version, and also credits - which are the bits that are interlaced in the title, would be less than half as smooth in motion - the rest is mostly 50i (interlaced) but encoded as progressive segmented frames - ie. similar to 25p).

So what it says on the back cover isn't technically correct, since the only 1080p format available in the standard Blu-ray specs is 1080p24 or 1080p23.976 (but what is on the disc is actually the most accurate for the title).

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by TeddyMac

I can confirm that the Samsung BD-E5300 [Outputs 50Hz content at 60Hz] is compatible with 50Hz/50i media. Tested w/ 2 Entertain Video's U.K. editions of Lark Rise to Candleford: Series 2 BD set (1080/50i) & Little Dorrit Blu-ray (1080/50i). Both played perfectly and output at 60Hz on my Samsung and LG HDTVs.

Thanks. I've added it to the compatible list.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by TeddyMac

Other than the Samsung BD-E5700? Hoping for a broader selection than 1.

I have tested the BD-P1500, BD-P2550, BD-D5100, BD-D5700 and all four convert 1080i50 to 1080i60. The first two in the list do so with some interlacing artifacts, but the 2011 models onwards do a crystal clear perfect conversion.

[2littletime2play]

Thank you 4K2K. That tells me what I need to know. I think I will buy a compatible player rather than deal with the enhanced firmware.

[amckinney]

Originally Posted by 4K2K

So what it says on the back cover isn't technically correct, since the only 1080p format available in the standard Blu-ray specs is 1080p24 or 1080p23.976 (but what is on the disc is actually the most accurate for the title).

I think the 4xBD 50 refers to the disc size, rather than any on-disc formatting (a lot of UK DVDs, for example, will say on the back if it's a DVD5 or a DVD9, for example), even though the person who posted this probably didn't know that and assumed it had something to do with video.

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by amckinney

I think the 4xBD 50 refers to the disc size, rather than any on-disc formatting (a lot of UK DVDs, for example, will say on the back if it's a DVD5 or a DVD9, for example), even though the person who posted this probably didn't know that and assumed it had something to do with video.

I was talking about the back cover incorrectly saying "1080p" - since it's actually encoded as 1080i (50i) - ie. interlaced - though it will mostly contain 25p style content. I wasn't talking about the "4xBD 50" (maybe I should have cut that bit out of the quote).

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Life-Blu-ray/6699/

[dobyblue]

No I thought it was obvious what you were saying.

[someboy6]

Does the Insignia NS-WBRDVD2 output at 50Hz or does it output at 60Hz?

[KFelon]

Originally Posted by someboy6

Does the Insignia NS-WBRDVD2 output at 50Hz or does it output at 60Hz?

Almost certain it accepts the 50hz signal and outputs it at 60hz. This has been a recurring theme with the Insignia BR players that can be made region free.