Problem with Fox titles on BDP-S300

[Mike Z]

Hey everyone,

I have a question. Does anyone else who owns a Sony BDP-S300 have problems playing BDs from Fox? I purchased my player back in August of 2007 and have since updated it to the latest firmware. In November 2007 I bought Live Free or Die Hard and it wouldn't play. I figured it was just a bad disc so I returned it for another copy and it also wouldn't play. I got in touch with Fox.com and they eventually sent me another copy and it still wouldn't play. I figured maybe for whatever reason it just wouldn't play that particular BD. Since then I've had absolutely no problems playing any BDs on the player.

Then last night I purchased Robocop and Planet of the Apes on BD and neither will play. The only connection I see between the three discs is that they're all from 20th Century Fox.

I'm really frustrated with the player. I spent $500 on it when blu-ray hadn't really caught on with the public and there's no reason it shouldn't be playing particular movies.

Any advice on this? I already know some people are going to say to get a PS3 but I don't play video games in any way, shape or form and it's not the point. There's no reason a stand alone player should be picking and choosing which BDs to play.

I'm going to try to get in touch with Sony after work today and see if there are any repair places in my area.

[dvd_mazter]

Sounds like it could be your player. I have 3.9 firmware on my 300 and so far, it has played every Fox title perfectly. I would say it is a good idea to get it repaired.

[Mike Z]

I'm screwed. It costs like $135 an hour for repair if I send it off to a Sony repair place and it's $190 an hour if I have on-site assistance, plus any additional fees. And there's no guarantee that it will be fixed.

I really don't want to buy a new player but I may end up doing that instead of wasting money on getting it repaired.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Mike Z

I'm screwed. It costs like $135 an hour for repair if I send it off to a Sony repair place and it's $190 an hour if I have on-site assistance, plus any additional fees. And there's no guarantee that it will be fixed.

I really don't want to buy a new player but I may end up doing that instead of wasting money on getting it repaired.

What FIRMWARE version are you running? Could very likely be the problem.

[Mike Z]

I'm at 4.20 right now and Planet of the Apes is a brand new release. There's really no reason it shouldn't be working.

Very frustrating.

[ahearst]

The latest firmware release for Sony S-300 is 4.30. I own an S-300 and I'm using this firmware, which supposedly corrects playback issues with Fox titles. Try it and let us know your results.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by Mike Z

I'm at 4.20 right now and Planet of the Apes is a brand new release. There's really no reason it shouldn't be working.

Very frustrating.

Try 4.3 before spending any money. Every problem I have had was solved by an update. Now I never wait....I hate the frustration that you are experiencing.

[Mike Z]

Originally Posted by ahearst

The latest firmware release for Sony S-300 is 4.30. I own an S-300 and I'm using this firmware, which supposedly corrects playback issues with Fox titles. Try it and let us know your results.

Where did you hear that it corrects playback issues with Fox titles? I believe you but I was just wondering where you may have heard it or who said it.

If that's the case, I'll burn the update on a DVD-R tonight and load it up.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by Mike Z

Where did you hear that it corrects playback issues with Fox titles? I believe you but I was just wondering where you may have heard it or who said it.

If that's the case, I'll burn the update on a DVD-R tonight and load it up.

If that doesn't work. In a few days on Black Friday go out and buy a brand now player for $200 or maybe even less. It'll power on and load BDs nearly instantly and have the ability to decode or bitstream all the HD audio codecs.

I have an S301 player. Although it never had any problems at all, I'm still getting a new player on Black Friday. I'm missing out on DTS-HD MA lossless audio. It 's time to get a new player.

[ahearst]

Originally Posted by Mike Z

Where did you hear that it corrects playback issues with Fox titles? I believe you but I was just wondering where you may have heard it or who said it.

If that's the case, I'll burn the update on a DVD-R tonight and load it up.

I'm at work and this site is filtered at my desk, so I pulled the article from the cached.

http://www.fudzilla.com

4.30 update fixes Bond Blu-ray problem

We had a couple of our sources email us letting us know that at least one of the most high profile Blu-ray players that was having problems playing the new Blu-ray 007 James Bond titles has new firmware avilaible to correct the problems.

Sony has released firmware version 4.30 which corrects the playback problems on the S300 Blu-ray player that was causing the James Bond Blu-ray titles not to work.

Still other manufacturers are working on qualifying firmware updates to get the problem resolved, but many are still working on addressing the problem. While it is surprising that the Bond titles have created such a stir, many Blu-ray fans are complaining about the issue, which has put increased pressure on the manufacturers to get the problem resolved.

In the meantime we suggest that you check here for additional firmware update info for your Blu-ray player.

+++++++

The Bond movies were released by FOX/MGM.

+++++++

http://www.hometheaterreview.com/av-...-ray001245.php

MGM & FOX Release Six James Bond Films On Blu-ray
By: HomeTheaterReview.com
Category: 2008 Home Theater News, Blu-ray Software News, News
Resources & Links: Blu-ray News , James Bond


November 14, 2008

MGM AND FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT SIX BOND FILMS ON BLU-RAY DISC - NOW AVAILABLE IN STORES

Includes the Fully Restored Original Bond Film DR. NO and FIVE More

Includes QUANTUM OF SOLACE Movie Ticket*

The world's most well known secret agent is even hotter in high definition when six, must-have, electrifying James Bond films debut on Blu-ray Disc from MGM and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

Recently restored and re-mastered for the highest quality picture and sound quality via the state-of-the-art Lowry process digital frame-by-frame restoration and featuring special features galore, Bond is primed for Blu-ray Disc with a selection of 007 adventures spanning the storied career of cinema's most recognizable spy. Bond titles arriving on Blu-ray Disc, timed to the highly anticipated worldwide theatrical premiere of the 22nd James Bond mission QUANTUM OF SOLACE this November include

DR. NO, DIE ANOTHER DAY, LIVE AND LET DIE, FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and THUNDERBALL.

One of the world's most successful film franchise, Bond... James Bond has generated more than four billion in global box office gross and boasts an astounding 98% global consumer awareness. CASINO ROYALE, the most recent James Bond film starring Daniel Craig, debuted on BD March 2007, and continues to rank as one of the best selling Blu-ray Disc releases to-date.

Each James Bond Blu-ray Disc is available for the suggested retail price of $34.98 U.S. / $46.98 TBD Canada and will be packaged with a movie ticket for the all-new Bond adventure QUANTUM OF SOLACE.

Additionally the films will be available in two 3-pack Blu-ray Disc collections with two movie tickets - VOLUME ONE: DIE ANOTHER DAY, LIVE AND LET DIE and DR. NO; VOLUME TWO: FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE and THUNDERBALL - and are available for a suggested retail price of $89.98 U.S. / $119.98 Canada.

[Mike Z]

Thanks, man. I really appreciate you putting the effort into sending that to me. Maybe this firmware update will finally be the one to fix the problem. I'm cautiously optimistic and I'll let those that are interested know how it went when I try it tonight.

Thanks again for all your help.

[Mike Z]

Well it didn't work. I'm so annoyed right now I just wanna throw it into the middle of the street. Really pisses me off.

I really don't want to spend another $400 on a player.

[rscott]

Originally Posted by Mike Z

Well it didn't work. I'm so annoyed right now I just wanna throw it into the middle of the street. Really pisses me off.

I really don't want to spend another $400 on a player.

i have that same player (s300). i upgraded to the 4.3 firmware and it fixes the bond discs playback issue. however, tropic thunder still does not play.

i'm with you on the frustration. they need to get their crap together if this is ever going to be widely adopted. i should not need to download a firmware update every time i buy a new disc.

i know the war is over and, yes, i am still a little bitter, but i never had these issues with hd-dvd. it seems like it was a more mature format even then. blu-ray is still working out some major issues even a year later.

[Moefiz]

MIKE....unplug the player for a few seconds and then plug it back up.Make sure the 4.30 update is still in there after you do the reboot.if not do th update again

[Carlos2992]

Hello Mike :

I have had the same problem with this player, few of my blu rays refused to play ( the can't read disc on the display was showed ). The rare thing is that the discs it refused to play were always the same ones. I took it to the service and the problem was that the player couldn't read double layered discs because of a malfunction on the main board. I called to the only local store here ( I live in Buenos Aires - Argentina ) that imports Sony replacements parts for several equipments and they asqued me U$1000 for the main board !!!!!!! CRAZY !!! So now I use the S-300 ONLY to view single layered BRs and DVDs and I had to buy a new BR Player, I opted for the Panasonic BD30, and for my experience comparing both, it is a better piece of equipment than the S-300.

Hope this can help you.

PS: Excuse my English.

Carlos Pigozzi.

[ahearst]

Originally Posted by Mike Z

Well it didn't work. I'm so annoyed right now I just wanna throw it into the middle of the street. Really pisses me off.

I really don't want to spend another $400 on a player.

I feel your pain. I plan to buy a new player soon, either a BDPS-350 or the Panasonic equivalent (don't know the model #). Just waiting for a good price (hopefully on Black Friday) because like you I can't spend $400. If I did my wife would divorce me, lol. My 300 will move to the bedroom as a backup bluray/DVD player. I agree, there are way too many issues with the S-300. Mine has problems playing WALL-E.

[Mike Z]

Thanks for the support guys.

Yeah, for a millisecond I toyed with the idea of possibly sending it off to get repaired but I already know they either won't find anything or will say they fixed it and it'll still not play specific BDs, not to mention all the money it would cost.

I've decided to just get a new player and I told my parents they could have the S-300 when they eventually get an HDTV. It'll play most BDs and upscale nicely for any DVDs.

I'm thinking about either going for the Sony BDP-S350 or 550 but I feel kinda burned by Sony so I may look into another brand.

I just really don't know which player right now is a safe bet.

[Digital-Man]

I have MANY Fox titles (Dr. No, Thunderball, both Alien movies that are available, Planet of the Apes, etc.) and a BDP-S300 player running v4.20 firmware and no problems!

[wafi]

New firmware version 4.40 available now. Release date is 12/17/08