Sony BDP-S301? - Blu-ray Forum

blu-eyes · 03-02-2008, 08:04 PM

I was in Sam's today and saw a Sony BDP-S301 model. Does anyone know if this is a reliable model? I've never seen a 301, even on the Sony Style website.

bootman · 03-02-2008, 08:09 PM

Same as the BDP-300 but for sale in discount warehouse stores. (costco, BJs etc)
It comes with a HDMI cable too.
Seach in the BDP-300 thread above for more info.

blu-eyes · 03-02-2008, 08:12 PM

I noticed that it had a 1.5 m HDMI cable included. However, I wasn't sure if this player had any problems since I hadn't seen any reviews of it. It was $378

GORT · 03-02-2008, 08:15 PM

I have a 301 if you get it first thing you need to do is update the firmware to 3.70 I have had zero problems with mine it is a great player

blu-eyes · 03-02-2008, 08:19 PM

Thanks FEP. How difficult is it to update? How long have you had it?

nu2blu2 · 03-02-2008, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FEP3108

I have a 301 if you get it first thing you need to do is update the firmware to 3.70 I have had zero problems with mine it is a great player

I too have this same one, no problems

Synaptic Reality · 03-02-2008, 08:50 PM

I also have this same model and have enjoyed it but ran across a few problems. It froze on me a few times, although that was prior to the update. It also takes several minutes to load a disc and it won't decode/bitstream TrueHd or DTS-MA audio codecs but it will handle uncompressed audio.

Other than that it has been a great player, I bought it June and really enjoyed it. However, recently I bought a PS3, which does handle TrueHd and uncompressed audio (but not DTS-MA), and the load times are a vast improvement. Given its $400 for the PS3, I would recommend checking it out first. It will also be upgradeable to profile 2.0, whereas the 301 will not.

If you dont' really care about the profiles (which offer extra's such as PiP and internet connectivity) and you have a receiver that can decode TrueHd and DTS-MA, I suggest looking into the Panasonic DMP-BD30.

Edit: To update the 301, you have to download an update file from the sony website and burn it onto a DVD then play the update in your player. Not bad, but a bit annoying.

blu-eyes · 03-02-2008, 09:59 PM

Cool, thanks. I have been debating on what to get when I ran across this today. I was curious, but I think I'll wait a little longer for the new PS3's or the new Sony standalones. I'm feeling a bit impatient.

krisjan · 03-02-2008, 10:07 PM

FW updates are burnt to a CD not DVD.

JasonR · 03-02-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krisjan

FW updates are burnt to a CD not DVD.

They can go on either actually...

Yeha-Noha · 03-09-2008, 06:47 AM

I bought one over 3 months ago from Sam's Club. From the start, I had my doubts about it. It was soooo slow loading initially. After the 3.30 and 3.70 updates the load times were much faster.

The recent FW 3.80 update again improved the load time performance.

It had been rumored and supposively turned out to be true that one of the FW updates enabled the S300/1 to decode DD TrueHD. However, beware of future FW updates that might again disable this feature as yet claimed by another rumor, this time coming from Sony.

plee · 03-09-2008, 12:50 PM

Actually, they just released 3.8 for both BDP-S300/S301.

Improvements over firmware version 3.70:

* Improves BD-Java compatibility to enhance interactivity with some BD-ROMs.
* Compatibility with BD-R/RE discs burned by the Click to Disc™ and Click to Disc™ Editor software included with some VAIO® computers

Additional improvements over original firmware:

* Compatibility with the newly released BD-R/RE format (BDMV).
* Improves BD-Java compatibility to enhance interactivity with some BD-ROMs.

03-02-2008, 08:04 PM	#1
blu-eyes Member Member since:Feb 2008	Sony BDP-S301? I was in Sam's today and saw a Sony BDP-S301 model. Does anyone know if this is a reliable model? I've never seen a 301, even on the Sony Style website.

03-02-2008, 08:50 PM	#7
Synaptic Reality Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Phoenix, AZ	I also have this same model and have enjoyed it but ran across a few problems. It froze on me a few times, although that was prior to the update. It also takes several minutes to load a disc and it won't decode/bitstream TrueHd or DTS-MA audio codecs but it will handle uncompressed audio. Other than that it has been a great player, I bought it June and really enjoyed it. However, recently I bought a PS3, which does handle TrueHd and uncompressed audio (but not DTS-MA), and the load times are a vast improvement. Given its $400 for the PS3, I would recommend checking it out first. It will also be upgradeable to profile 2.0, whereas the 301 will not. If you dont' really care about the profiles (which offer extra's such as PiP and internet connectivity) and you have a receiver that can decode TrueHd and DTS-MA, I suggest looking into the Panasonic DMP-BD30. Edit: To update the 301, you have to download an update file from the sony website and burn it onto a DVD then play the update in your player. Not bad, but a bit annoying. Last edited by Synaptic Reality; 03-02-2008 at 09:00 PM.

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03-02-2008, 08:09 PM	#2
bootman Special Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:The Burghs	Same as the BDP-300 but for sale in discount warehouse stores. (costco, BJs etc) It comes with a HDMI cable too. Seach in the BDP-300 thread above for more info.

03-02-2008, 08:12 PM	#3
blu-eyes Member Member since:Feb 2008	I noticed that it had a 1.5 m HDMI cable included. However, I wasn't sure if this player had any problems since I hadn't seen any reviews of it. It was $378

03-02-2008, 08:15 PM	#4
GORT Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Reducing Your Planet To A Burned Out Cinder Blu-ray collection:295	I have a 301 if you get it first thing you need to do is update the firmware to 3.70 I have had zero problems with mine it is a great player

03-02-2008, 08:19 PM	#5
blu-eyes Member Member since:Feb 2008	Thanks FEP. How difficult is it to update? How long have you had it?

03-02-2008, 09:59 PM	#8
blu-eyes Member Member since:Feb 2008	Cool, thanks. I have been debating on what to get when I ran across this today. I was curious, but I think I'll wait a little longer for the new PS3's or the new Sony standalones. I'm feeling a bit impatient.

03-02-2008, 10:07 PM	#9
krisjan Active Member Member since:May 2007 Location:Chicago suburbs	FW updates are burnt to a CD not DVD.

03-09-2008, 06:47 AM	#11
Yeha-Noha Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Blu-ray reviews: 43	I bought one over 3 months ago from Sam's Club. From the start, I had my doubts about it. It was soooo slow loading initially. After the 3.30 and 3.70 updates the load times were much faster. The recent FW 3.80 update again improved the load time performance. It had been rumored and supposively turned out to be true that one of the FW updates enabled the S300/1 to decode DD TrueHD. However, beware of future FW updates that might again disable this feature as yet claimed by another rumor, this time coming from Sony.

03-09-2008, 12:50 PM	#12
plee Senior Member Member since:Mar 2007	Actually, they just released 3.8 for both BDP-S300/S301. Improvements over firmware version 3.70: * Improves BD-Java compatibility to enhance interactivity with some BD-ROMs. * Compatibility with BD-R/RE discs burned by the Click to Disc™ and Click to Disc™ Editor software included with some VAIO® computers Additional improvements over original firmware: * Compatibility with the newly released BD-R/RE format (BDMV). * Improves BD-Java compatibility to enhance interactivity with some BD-ROMs.

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