Can anyone in Australia recommend a good Region A player?

[hawkangel]

Preferably something that JB Hi Fi sell that can switch back and forth between region A and region B. I'm getting sick of Region A locked movies...

[Anamnesis]

Originally Posted by hawkangel

Preferably something that JB Hi Fi sell that can switch back and forth between region A and region B. I'm getting sick of Region A locked movies...

Your only real option from JB is the Soniq, not really a "good" player, but for $79 it does the job (although I am not sure if the current model is in fact still region changeable, maybe someone else can confirm that?)

your other option would be a Kogan or getting a modded player (like the Pioneer or Oppo from online) If you are handly with solder, you could also just buy the Pioneer from JB and then buy the mod on ebay and do it yourself.

[Lazlo]

Think I remember reading a post on the forum saying that a firmware update took away the region switching from the soniq so a new one may not still be switchable.

[hawkangel]

Thanks for the quick replies.
How about this one - ?

http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-3d...d-live-usb-sd/

It advertises it as region Free, but I'm a bit wary of such advertising...

[nitin]

what do you currently have? If its a Samsung or a Panny, might just be better to get it modded?

[hawkangel]

It's a SONY BDP-S350.
I'm going to move it to the kids room and get a new player.

[Anamnesis]

Originally Posted by hawkangel

Thanks for the quick replies.
How about this one - ?

http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-3d...d-live-usb-sd/

It advertises it as region Free, but I'm a bit wary of such advertising...

It is out of the box region free for DVD, but requires a remote control code for region changing the blu-ray region each time the unit is turned off.

[StrayButler91]

Originally Posted by Lazlo

Think I remember reading a post on the forum saying that a firmware update took away the region switching from the soniq so a new one may not still be switchable.

Not true. The biggest selling point of that Soniq is how easy it can be hacked. I picked up one of the players over a year ago and got the firmware update and it's still hackable.

[Supernaut]

If you're looking for a frontline player, I have just one word for you: Oppo.

[THE CHEVINATOR]

Kind of a last resort but you could always use a PC, although this can be tricky because you wont have you're surround sound setup hooked to it and maybe not as big of a TV. (Unless you move you're PC of course.) But if you REALLY want to get around the Region locked thing it is an option.

look at it as an alternate watching solution, watch all you're region b/free movies on you're normal player and the A movies on you're PC

If you install a Blu-ray drive in your PC most of the blu-ray software (power dvd12, TotalMedia Theatre 5 ect ect) allows you to change the region coding setting up to 5 times (then it becomes locked)

[NickMate]

Originally Posted by THE CHEVINATOR

Kind of a last resort but you could always use a PC, although this can be tricky because you wont have you're surround sound setup hooked to it and maybe not as big of a TV. (Unless you move you're PC of course.) But if you REALLY want to get around the Region locked thing it is an option.

look at it as an alternate watching solution, watch all you're region b/free movies on you're normal player and the A movies on you're PC

If you install a Blu-ray drive in your PC most of the blu-ray software (power dvd12, TotalMedia Theatre 5 ect ect) allows you to change the region coding setting up to 5 times (then it becomes locked)

That's the choice I've decided with since a lot of my films are region A locked and I primarily use my bedroom setup to watch films (lacks surround sound, but I have expensive headphones and a great amp to make use of them), so I recommend a PC drive if you computer is fast (core i5 or i7, it's best if you have nothing running or it might ruin playback) and if its convinent. Also, install mediaportal for some great visuals such as artwork, trailers, special features (similar to BD-LIVE) and descriptions, access to IMDB all up before you play the disk .

[VoorheesBD]

I grabbed a Toshiba 1200 about a year ago for $88 and it's region switchable, the upgrade was very easy , it was via a disc that comes with it and to change regions is ever easier there is also a 3200 model which is for 3D and wasnt much more in cost.

[insomniac]

Originally Posted by VoorheesBD

I grabbed a Toshiba 1200 about a year ago for $88 and it's region switchable, the upgrade was very easy , it was via a disc that comes with it and to change regions is ever easier there is also a 3200 model which is for 3D and wasnt much more in cost.

I picked up the 3200 model about 2 months ago. (1200 wasn't in stock anymore) If you look around Harvey Norman stores and get them to check the other stores for you, some might still have stock lying around.

You don't even need the disc, which apparently was only included with the initial batch. You can download the firmware for it in some AV Forum to update via USB or the .ISO if you prefer to burn it onto a disc.

[Nommag]

Is this the region free one:
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-p...yer-sku-25924/

[insomniac]

Originally Posted by Nommag

Is this the region free one:
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-p...yer-sku-25924/

Yep, that's the one if the model number they listed is correct.

[Flash.]

Laser BLU-BD1000 Blu-Ray Disc Player. NO FIRMWARE OR HACKS NEEDED. STR8 OUT OF BOX REGION FREE.
$88 Big W.
$79 Good Guys. Bought one last night,

*Instructions from page 35 of manual*

Plug it in,
Select SET UP/HOME on remote,
Type 8-5-2-0 on remote....

and.....

BINGO...up comes the bluray/dvd settings and you just change from region ABCD or 1234.

PQ is awesome. Watched the region A Dances with Wolves 20th Anniversary edition.

Can't beat $79. Good Guys near (Melbourne's west) had about 40 of them on the shelf and Big W had aboout a dozen.

Just what i was looking for as i am always buying from Amazon because of their range/prices and besides, i hate how the rating classification destroys the front cover art work on Aussie releases.

Hope this helps and looking forward to see how you went.

Cheers.

[hawkangel]

Originally Posted by Flash.

Laser BLU-BD1000 Blu-Ray Disc Player. NO FIRMWARE OR HACKS NEEDED. STR8 OUT OF BOX REGION FREE.
$88 Big W.
$79 Good Guys. Bought one last night,

Cheers.

Thanks! I bought one of these a couple of months ago. Works a treat.

[Futurhythm]

I think the best multi-region setup if you play games as well is to have a local BD player for all the Region B stuff and to import a PS3 from the States or Southeast Asia for all your Region A needs. Plus (most) PS3 games aren't region-locked so that's two birds with one stone.

After being burgled, I ended up selling the replacement PS3 my insurance got me and it more than covered the cost of one off of Amazon along with freight forwarding since at the time Amazon wouldn't ship electronics outside the States.

[Greengoblin]

I use a Phillips Bdp3000 you can change it from a to b and c i use it for a as i import all my horror films from Usa, you can change the firmware on it to change the region and it is cheaper then the oppo players it does a good job and i am very happy with it.