Soniq QPB302B - region-free capable player

[gettodamoofies]

Hi all,

This Australian-released player has had somewhat limited exposure on the internet though with it's cheap price tag (as low as $99 AU often) and certain iterations of this model capable of being made to play all regions it's definitely worth a look in. This player is in store at JB Hi-Fi exclusively and occasionally shows up online elsewhere. I will be posting an in depth review within the next week though to start things off here's a few handy pieces of information:

Links:

Blu-ray.com database product page
Soniq website product page: Specs, manual and firmware updates
JB Hi-Fi product page: Available to buy online or in store
CNET.com.au review: 8/10 - "Great performance, decent build and a good feature set make the Soniq QPB302B Blu-ray player an absolute steal as one of the most affordable BD players on the market at the moment."


Is my QPB302B capable of playing all Blu-ray regions?

When purchasing your player confirm that the box lists a serial number in the following format: P36TF5Bxxxx or P36TF5Cxxxx. The last 4 digits will be the unique identifier. If it has the "5B" or "5C" it can be made to read all regions. If the serial number does not have "5B" or "5C" then caveat emptor. P36TF5Axxxx players have been confirmed as NOT having the ability to change region code so if you buy one of these the below process will not work. Any other serials have not been confirmed as being capable of playing all regions so bear this is mind if this is your motivation for purchasing.


How do I make my QPB302B multi region capable?

Press the setup button while at the player menu
Key in 8520
Select 0 for DVD region (once set this does not need to be changed)
Select: 1 (A), 2(B), 4(C) for Blu-ray region
Press the setup button

This player does not have an "All regions" option for Blu-ray so whenever you're trying to play a locked title you will need to manually change to the relevant region using the process above. Having said that, it is a minor requirement to have complete Blu-ray freedom for under $100AU.


Will the latest firmware update affect the ability to change the player's region for Blu-ray?

This has not been confirmed yet but a report by a member of another board states that their previously changeable player is now region locked after the firmware update. Until further confirmation is gained work under the proviso that updating your firmware WILL stop your ability to change the region code.


What's this BUDA error message I see?

If don't have the player connected to the internet the player will display and error message advising that playback errors may occur. It doesn't affect playback, it simply indicates that it won't be able to play the BD-Live components of the disc. Unfortunately taking action like disabling or prohibiting an internet connection will not remove the message, it's replaced with one of a different type. A minor annoyance but the player will function without error.