Sony BDP-S350 now or S550 Later? - Blu-ray Forum

Mirage · 08-01-2008, 02:36 AM

I'm currently running an Onkyo TX-SR803 A/V receiver in my system at home, with a Sony KDS-50A2000, 7.1 JBL speaker setup and a Sony DVP-NS75H DVD player. I want very much to add Blu-Ray capability to my system, and have just about decided to buy the Sony BDP-S350.

However, I'm concerned about not being able to access DTS-HD MA since neither the S350 nor my receiver will decode it - I'm dependent on the player to decode all the new audio formats.

I've looked at replacing the receiver with something like the TX-SR805 or the newer 806 (this is my second Onkyo receiver, and I've had great luck with both), but the cost is not trivial and my current receiver is barely two years old.

If I wait for the BDP-S550, it looks like all the decoding will be onboard that receiver, but I'll be missing out on Blu-Ray capability for months to come (and I've already started acquiring a collection of BDs).

Would very much appreciate recommendations or work-arounds. Being without Blu-Ray is just not working well.

ZMan · 08-01-2008, 12:22 PM

Although not quite in the same situation as you, I too am trying to decide which of the two to buy. My receiver does all of the decoding necessary however, I think I will wait just a couple more months and buy the S550 due to it having everything on board right out of the box. No firmware update necessary to decode any particular codec. Also BD-Live compatible.

Yellowjacket · 08-01-2008, 02:08 PM

I'm with you guys. My Onkyo will not do the decoding needed either. I was planning on getting the 350 and started my blu-ray movie collection already but I'll have to wait a few more months for the 550 to come out. I already have Live Free or Die Hard, Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's chest, BBC Planet Earth, and preordered iron man, transformers, batman begins, clockwork orange, top gun. My wallet hates me!!

Paradiso · 08-01-2008, 02:27 PM

Hmmm that model seems to be in stock on Amazon.com.....whaaa?

(EDIT) Oops, my mistake, it's the S500 at Amazon. Sorry about that...

garak · 08-01-2008, 05:17 PM

You may want to consider the Panasonic BD-50. It decodes both DD TrueHD and DTS HD-MA, is profile 2.0, and is available now.

MPDIEHL · 08-01-2008, 09:11 PM

Currently available, Decodes all formats... + plays games
PS3

blu master · 08-01-2008, 09:39 PM

well denon has a budjet player coming out the dvd-1800bd in the fall for $750

shawnmos · 08-03-2008, 03:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPDIEHL

Currently available, Decodes all formats... + plays games
PS3

And only has 2.0 analog out which makes decoding all formats worthless.

Mirage, I suggest you wait for the S550 to come out.

jimmymiro12 · 08-03-2008, 03:39 AM

I am getting S550. December isnt that far away

Mirage · 08-03-2008, 04:08 AM

Thank you all for the replies. I've decided to pull the trigger on the S350 for the time being and begin enjoying what Blu-Ray has to offer next week. I'll either upgrade the receiver or player at some point in the future.

Thanks again!

basil_ansari · 08-04-2008, 10:00 AM

My advice go for the Panasonic DMP-BD50 it does all the decoding with 5.1 analog out. But if you require a 7.1 analog then i suggest you wait fot the Sony S550.
But fot time being go for the Panasonic instead of the Sony S350. you will enjoy the DTS decoding on 5.1 atleast.

Entertainment72 · 08-04-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shawnmos

And only has 2.0 analog out which makes decoding all formats worthless.

Mirage, I suggest you wait for the S550 to come out.

Why use analog, I believe his current receiver has HDMI.

MacDaddyOJack · 08-04-2008, 01:35 PM

Don't get the 350!!!! There are lots of titles with DTS-MA and you will want to hear them in full. You will kick yourself later if you get the 350 now. If you don't want to wait for the 550, then look at picking up the Panasonic BD50, I think it will be out before the Sony 550.

frw007 · 08-04-2008, 02:50 PM

A previous post said the 550 comes out in Dec. I thought it was in the "fall"...

SS316SRV · 08-04-2008, 03:03 PM

can the 350 bitstream Dolby MA?

ZMan · 08-04-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frw007

A previous post said the 550 comes out in Dec. I thought it was in the "fall"...

I was under the impression that the S550 comes out in October.

Entertainment72 · 08-04-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

can the 350 bitstream Dolby MA?

yes

SS316SRV · 08-04-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Entertainment72

yes

I thought so.

I just helped my brother hook up his new system. He bought it on Saturday. S350, Harman Kardon 254 and hooked it up to his 60" Pioneer plasma (he works for Best Buy). I/he did not have a blu-ray with MA to put in the player. The new menu interface on the 350 is outstanding.

Entertainment72 · 08-04-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

I thought so.

I just helped my brother hook up his new system. He bought it on Saturday. S350, Harman Kardon 254 and hooked it up to his 60" Pioneer plasma (he works for Best Buy). I/he did not have a blu-ray with MA to put in the player. The new menu interface on the 350 is outstanding.

XMB....baby! It's even better on the PS3

, but yea it's pretty sweet. I've concluded the S350 is an outstanding deal.. not that of the PS3 but compared to other standalones you cannot beat it.

$363 shipped from Amazon - ethernet - bitstreams all codecs - 2.0 soon.

SquidPuppet · 08-04-2008, 05:01 PM

BDP-S350 = No slow motion or frame by frame :-(

08-01-2008, 02:36 AM	#1
Mirage Junior Member Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Central Florida	Sony BDP-S350 now or S550 Later? I'm currently running an Onkyo TX-SR803 A/V receiver in my system at home, with a Sony KDS-50A2000, 7.1 JBL speaker setup and a Sony DVP-NS75H DVD player. I want very much to add Blu-Ray capability to my system, and have just about decided to buy the Sony BDP-S350. However, I'm concerned about not being able to access DTS-HD MA since neither the S350 nor my receiver will decode it - I'm dependent on the player to decode all the new audio formats. I've looked at replacing the receiver with something like the TX-SR805 or the newer 806 (this is my second Onkyo receiver, and I've had great luck with both), but the cost is not trivial and my current receiver is barely two years old. If I wait for the BDP-S550, it looks like all the decoding will be onboard that receiver, but I'll be missing out on Blu-Ray capability for months to come (and I've already started acquiring a collection of BDs). Would very much appreciate recommendations or work-arounds. Being without Blu-Ray is just not working well.

08-01-2008, 02:27 PM	#4
Paradiso Active Member Member since:Sep 2007 Blu-ray collection:45	Hmmm that model seems to be in stock on Amazon.com.....whaaa? (EDIT) Oops, my mistake, it's the S500 at Amazon. Sorry about that... Last edited by Paradiso; 08-01-2008 at 02:29 PM. Reason: wrong info

08-04-2008, 02:50 PM	#14
frw007 Junior Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Stowe VT	does 550 come out in Dec? A previous post said the 550 comes out in Dec. I thought it was in the "fall"...

Similar Threads
thread	Forum	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
The Sony BDP-S350 VS The Sony BDP-S550 Need Some Help	Blu-ray Players and Recorders	notezaa	12	01-28-2009 03:13 PM
Sony Bdp-s350 And Bdp-s550 (twice Info Article)	Blu-ray Players and Recorders	HDTV1080P	7	07-19-2008 12:50 PM
PS3 vs BDP-S350 vs s550	Blu-ray Players and Recorders	stogster	39	05-23-2008 03:25 PM
Which player, the Sony BDP-S350 or BDP-S550?	Blu-ray Players and Recorders	Audio5oh	22	05-15-2008 04:05 PM
Sony announces players BDP-S350 and BDP-S550	Blu-ray Players and Recorders	Grubert	32	02-27-2008 03:43 AM

08-01-2008, 12:22 PM	#2
ZMan Active Member Member since:Jan 2007 Location:Huntsville, AL	Although not quite in the same situation as you, I too am trying to decide which of the two to buy. My receiver does all of the decoding necessary however, I think I will wait just a couple more months and buy the S550 due to it having everything on board right out of the box. No firmware update necessary to decode any particular codec. Also BD-Live compatible.

08-01-2008, 02:08 PM	#3
Yellowjacket Junior Member Member since:Jan 2008	I'm with you guys. My Onkyo will not do the decoding needed either. I was planning on getting the 350 and started my blu-ray movie collection already but I'll have to wait a few more months for the 550 to come out. I already have Live Free or Die Hard, Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's chest, BBC Planet Earth, and preordered iron man, transformers, batman begins, clockwork orange, top gun. My wallet hates me!!

08-01-2008, 05:17 PM	#5
garak Active Member Member since:Apr 2007 Location:Arizona	You may want to consider the Panasonic BD-50. It decodes both DD TrueHD and DTS HD-MA, is profile 2.0, and is available now.

08-01-2008, 09:11 PM	#6
MPDIEHL Active Member Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Sarasota, FL USA	Currently available, Decodes all formats... + plays games PS3

08-01-2008, 09:39 PM	#7
blu master Member Member since:Feb 2008 Location:New york city Blu-ray collection:9	well denon has a budjet player coming out the dvd-1800bd in the fall for $750

08-03-2008, 03:39 AM	#9
jimmymiro12 Senior Member Member since:Jun 2008 Blu-ray collection:225 Trading Score:122	I am getting S550. December isnt that far away

08-03-2008, 04:08 AM	#10
Mirage Junior Member Member since:Jul 2008 Location:Central Florida	Thank you all for the replies. I've decided to pull the trigger on the S350 for the time being and begin enjoying what Blu-Ray has to offer next week. I'll either upgrade the receiver or player at some point in the future. Thanks again!

08-04-2008, 10:00 AM	#11
basil_ansari Member Member since:Feb 2008 Blu-ray collection:2	My advice go for the Panasonic DMP-BD50 it does all the decoding with 5.1 analog out. But if you require a 7.1 analog then i suggest you wait fot the Sony S550. But fot time being go for the Panasonic instead of the Sony S350. you will enjoy the DTS decoding on 5.1 atleast.

08-04-2008, 01:35 PM	#13
MacDaddyOJack Blu-ray Guru Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Richmond, VA PSNetwork: MacDaddyOJack Trophy Level: 12(4%) Home Theater Gallery:12 Blu-ray collection:71 Blu-ray reviews:23 Trading Score:4	Don't get the 350!!!! There are lots of titles with DTS-MA and you will want to hear them in full. You will kick yourself later if you get the 350 now. If you don't want to wait for the 550, then look at picking up the Panasonic BD50, I think it will be out before the Sony 550.

08-04-2008, 03:03 PM	#15
SS316SRV Blu-ray Guru Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Appleton, WI Blu-ray collection:74	can the 350 bitstream Dolby MA?

08-04-2008, 05:01 PM	#20
SquidPuppet Blu-ray Duke Top contributor Member since:Dec 2007 Location:Club Loop Blu-ray collection:277 Blu-ray reviews:27	BDP-S350 = No slow motion or frame by frame :-(

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals