Need new player.... not up to date on features

[Uniquely]

My PS3 got the yellow light of death so I'm going to get a standalone player now. I know a lot of new players have been coming out and I am really not up to date on how they all compare. I'd LIKE to spend around $250-350 on a new player but can spend more if need be to get the features I want.

Features I want....

Bitstream the HD formats via HDMI
Internet connection... preferably wi-fi but ethernet is fine too
Any extra streaming services would be nice but not necessary

That's about it.... any recomendations?

Also, anyone know how I can get my Iron Man disc out of the dead PS3 without having to crack the case?

[Rob J in WNY]

R&T,

Bummer about your PS3, but at least with a new standalone player, you'll be able to bitstream your audio and see that glorious "Dolby TrueHD" or "DTS-HD Master Audio" light up on your Onkyo!

You will not have a problem finding a player which bitstreams advanced multichannel HD audio (not to mention decodes HD audio onboard) for your budget of up to $350. I've shown MSRP pricing on my suggestions, but it's easy to find better deals with various retailers, especially online retailers. Figure to save up to $50 or perhaps a little more. Other, brand-specific features may come into play for you as well. Take a look at each model's specific manufacturer webpage. For instance, analog audio enthusiasts would appreciate the Pioneer BDP-320 and its four highly acclaimed Burr-Brown DACs for ultra-accurate 7.1-channel digital audio rendering.

Here's four brands/models which may be of interest to you:

Samsung BD-P2500
MSRP: $400.00
Netflix streaming: YES, BD-Live: YES, WiFi: NO, Audio bitstream: YES

LG model BD300
MSRP: $350.00
Netflix streaming: YES, BD-Live: YES, WiFi: NO, Audio bitstream: YES

Sony BDP-S560 (available mid-August)
MSRP: $349.00
Netflix streaming: NO, BD-Live: YES, WiFi: YES, Audio bitstream: YES

Pioneer BDP-320
MSRP: $399.00
Netflix streaming: NO, BD-Live: YES, WiFi: NO, Audio bitstream: YES

Good luck in finding a player just for you! I wish I could speak for the players I have suggested, but I read reviews and try to keep up on some of the varieties out there. My only personal point of reference is that I have a Sony BDP-S350 and it has given me NO trouble whatsoever with any title.

Hopefully someone can chime in on advice on your Iron Man BD which is stuck in your PS3!

[jonesyg27]

Originally Posted by Rob J in WNY

R&T,

You will not have a problem finding a player which bitstreams advanced multichannel HD audio (not to mention decodes HD audio onboard) for your budget of up to $350. I've shown MSRP pricing on my suggestions, but it's easy to find better deals with various retailers, especially online retailers. Figure to save up to $50 or perhaps a little more. Other, brand-specific features may come into play for you as well. Take a look at each model's specific manufacturer webpage. For instance, analog audio enthusiasts would appreciate the Pioneer BDP-320 and its four highly acclaimed Burr-Brown DACs for ultra-accurate 7.1-channel digital audio rendering.

Here's four brands/models which may be of interest to you:

Samsung BD-P2500
MSRP: $400.00
Netflix streaming: YES, BD-Live: YES, WiFi: NO, Audio bitstream: YES

LG model BD300
MSRP: $350.00
Netflix streaming: YES, BD-Live: YES, WiFi: NO, Audio bitstream: YES

Sony BDP-S560 (available mid-August)
MSRP: $349.00
Netflix streaming: NO, BD-Live: YES, WiFi: YES, Audio bitstream: YES

Pioneer BDP-320
MSRP: $399.00
Netflix streaming: NO, BD-Live: YES, WiFi: NO, Audio bitstream: YES

Good luck in finding a player just for you! I wish I could speak for the players I have suggested, but I read reviews and try to keep up on some of the varieties out there. My only personal point of reference is that I have a Sony BDP-S350 and it has given me NO trouble whatsoever with any title.

Hopefully someone can chime in on advice on your Iron Man BD which is stuck in your PS3!

Those are all good choices. Samsung has newer models out now so you may want to take a look at the BD-P3600. It comes with a usb Wi-Fi dongle and Netflix streaming. You should be able to find it for around $350. Since you don't need analog outputs the otherwise identical BD-P1600 is even cheaper, but you have to buy the Wi-Fi dongle. BTW, Amazon has both the older (but still very good) 2500 and the 1600 for $300 right now.

And don't forget Panasonic, the DMP-BD80 and DMP-BD60 (no analog outputs) are similar (but no Netflix, just YouTube and Amazon on demand), and are on sale at Amazon for $265 and and $195, respectively. They have ethernet ports. You can get a gaming adapter/wireless bridge for any player with ethernet.

Or you could do what I did and blow your budget to get the Oppo BDP-83 for $499. It does everything you need and has ethernet (but no streaming services included). I had no intention of spending that much but the Oppo seduced me.

But like Rob said, it will be easy finding something in your desired price range.

[billt928]

Originally Posted by jonesyg27

I had no intention of spending that much but the Oppo seduced me.

I know the feeling I have a Panasonic DMP-BD55 and a Panasonic DMP-BD80 and I got bit by the Oppo bug. Running out of rooms with HDTV's to put them all in LOL

[Uniquely]

Thanks for the responses guys! It's always my luck when I buy something I don't have to have, something else breaks. Yesterday I bought a new entertainment unit, and last night go to watch a movie and the PS is dead

I want to go ahead and buy one locally so I can be sure and have it before my new entertainment unit is delivered. The Samsung looks like the one for me. I've always had great luck with Samsung electronics and appliances.

Thanks again guys.

[JackM]

I have a Samsung BD-2500 and I wouldn't recommend it. On paper it looks great but with each firmware "update" mine looses functionality. With ver. 2.5 firmware it won't even mount Prince Caspian, Slumdog Millionaire, Baraka, Twilight, or Australia. It does work better with lower resolution settings but that's not what we buy blu-ray players for. I've gone back to ver. 2.0 firmware but it doesn't work well with Netflix streaming.

[wafi]

My suggestion would be any of the newer Sony BD players.

[BlueSkyRay]

Excuse the novice question but why would I want WiFi USB and what is BD live?
Thanks

[MasterSandman]

Originally Posted by jonesyg27

And don't forget Panasonic, the DMP-BD80 and DMP-BD60 (no analog outputs) are similar (but no Netflix, just YouTube and Amazon on demand), and are on sale at Amazon for $265 and and $195, respectively. They have ethernet ports. You can get a gaming adapter/wireless bridge for any player with ethernet.

I have the BD80...do you think something like this would work to connect wireless?

[jonesyg27]

Originally Posted by MasterSandman

I have the BD80...do you think something like this would work to connect wireless?

I don't have any experience with third party usb WiFi adapters and Blu-ray players. I was thinking more about ethernet adapters like this or this or this. Linksys isn't the only brand, but I know they work.

[jonesyg27]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyRay

Excuse the novice question but why would I want WiFi USB and what is BD live?
Thanks

WiFi usb is just one way to connect the player to the Internet. You can also use the ethernet port. BD live is the content the studios put online to go with their Blu-ray movies, like the extras that come on the disks themselves. But since they are online they can be changed and updated, or give you special offers like discounts.

[BlueSkyRay]

Originally Posted by jonesyg27

WiFi usb is just one way to connect the player to the Internet. You can also use the ethernet port. BD live is the content the studios put online to go with their Blu-ray movies, like the extras that come on the disks themselves. But since they are online they can be changed and updated, or give you special offers like discounts.

I understand BD live is a way to add content/features once a disc has already been released. That's pretty novel or could be anyway. Usb wireless or ethernet would allow streaming video or other internet content to be viewed via the player and Ads of course. Isn't streaming HD video at less that BD video quality?