Shoudl I update firmware on a Sony BDP-S1700?

[KID Yamamoto]

I just recently purchased my first region free blu-ray player, and if I DON'T update the firmware, will that prevent me in the future from watching other region blu-rays?


I have multiple Blu-Ray Region A Players, PS5, PS4, PS3, and a Panasonic, but I'm only using the Sony BDP-S1700 for Region B blu-rays.


Any answer would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[KID Yamamoto]

*Should* in the thread title, sorry about that.

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by KID Yamamoto

I just recently purchased my first region free blu-ray player, and if I DON'T update the firmware, will that prevent me in the future from watching other region blu-rays?


I have multiple Blu-Ray Region A Players, PS5, PS4, PS3, and a Panasonic, but I'm only using the Sony BDP-S1700 for Region B blu-rays.


Any answer would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

Also own a multi-region 1700 (purchased from 220 Electronics along with a MR 3700), and I've never updated the FW.

This after a few years of use. In fact, I'm not sure if there have been any FW updates from Sony.

At this stage of the product (and Blu-ray) lifecycle, any updates will be more or less limited to compatibility and not feature/performance improvements.

Unless you are experiencing playback issues, I would simply let it be.

[Streamingsux]

I thought firmware always had to be updated or any discs released after the date of the firmware update might not play..

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by Streamingsux

I thought firmware always had to be updated or any discs released after the date of the firmware update might not play..

Perhaps that was true a decade or so ago when players required updates for the latest versions of Java and such, but the spec and related parameters have been static for some time now.

[KID Yamamoto]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

Also own a multi-region 1700 (purchased from 220 Electronics along with a MR 3700), and I've never updated the FW.

This after a few years of use. In fact, I'm not sure if there have been any FW updates from Sony.

At this stage of the product (and Blu-ray) lifecycle, any updates will be more or less limited to compatibility and not feature/performance improvements.

Unless you are experiencing playback issues, I would simply let it be.

Thanks! I don't have mine connected to Wi-Fi anyway, but I was just curious since it was my first Region Free Blu-Ray Player that I'm sure is Chip-Mod-ded and not soft mod-ded.


I now feel comfortable not having to update anything and can just use it for imports .

[Vanguard]

Originally Posted by KID Yamamoto

Thanks! I don't have mine connected to Wi-Fi anyway, but I was just curious since it was my first Region Free Blu-Ray Player that I'm sure is Chip-Mod-ded and not soft mod-ded.


I now feel comfortable not having to update anything and can just use it for imports .

+1 on not needing to firmware update the player.

I bought a BDP-S3500 in 2016 to replace a Samsung player that was modded for multi-region. A firmware update broke the region mod on the Samsung, necessitating to replace it.

Since 2016, I have not done a single firmware update and have had zero issues. Currently going through the Blackadder Blu-ray set(December 2023 release) and it plays perfectly fine.

[Streamingsux]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

+1 on not needing to firmware update the player.

I bought a BDP-S3500 in 2016 to replace a Samsung player that was modded for multi-region. A firmware update broke the region mod on the Samsung, necessitating to replace it.

Since 2016, I have not done a single firmware update and have had zero issues. Currently going through the Blackadder Blu-ray set(December 2023 release) and it plays perfectly fine.

I have a Panasonic instead of a Sony. I can't remember the exact model number but I think it was the bigger badder one lol. So this still applies? It's probably a stupid question but I like to be absolutely sure. I don't NEED to do firmware updates....and they, in fact, can cause it to play WORSE?? Sometimes?

[Vanguard]

Originally Posted by Streamingsux

I have a Panasonic instead of a Sony. I can't remember the exact model number but I think it was the bigger badder one lol. So this still applies? It's probably a stupid question but I like to be absolutely sure. I don't NEED to do firmware updates....and they, in fact, can cause it to play WORSE?? Sometimes?

Like cgpublic said, unless you are having actual problems, don't bother doing firmware updates on modded players.

On an unmodded player, do a bit of research to find if a firmware update actually improves the player, or worsens it.

[Streamingsux]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

Like cgpublic said, unless you are having actual problems, don't bother doing firmware updates on modded players.

On an unmodded player, do a bit of research to find if a firmware update actually improves the player, or worsens it.

Oh...ok. Now I understand. Thank you much!

[Vilya]

As the old saying goes: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Deadend45]

Never update the firmware on a modded player. It should not even have to be written here. Some geniuses do it anyway and they complain about a broke player without mentioning it was a mod of course.