The Sony BDP-S300/301 Review Thread

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by 720pHD

I'm trying to get information on the BDPS300. I got it last week with the SP3 disk. Is this 1.0? Should I take the player back if it is. Will I have trouble with new movies?

It says "Region A" Blu-ray Discs only"... what does that mean?

Check out this thread for information on the different profiles:

Blu-ray player profiles explained in detail

Basically a profile 1.0 player doesn't support Picture in Picture (PiP) or internet connectivity but the majority of the content including the movies will still play.

Region A, B, and C are similar to the regional coding found on DVDs. Your player will support titles coded as Region A or Region A,B,C (all regions/region free).

Below is a map that identities the countries in the same region as you. This doesn't mean that all blu-ray discs made in other countries won't work. If a country outside your region decides to code there releases as Region A,B,C then they'll play just fine.

Check out the following site for international blu-ray releases and whether or not they are region free:

http://bluray.liesinc.net/

[720pHD]

Thanks, as long as it's playing movies in a year from now, I don't care abot web features or pip.

[720pHD]

I just downloaded the firmware..... but it says to read the instructions to apply the firmware? Where are the instructions?

[QwikSand]

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu...pl?mdl=BDPS300

Click the version of Windows you have and it will show you. You need to burn the image onto a cd or dvd.

[720pHD]

In case anyone else needs it here it is.

Power on the television and make sure it is tuned to the inputs to which the BDP-S300 player is connected.
Power on the BDP-S300 Blu-ray Disc™ player.
If the player starts to play a disc, press the "STOP" button and wait until the blue Sony Blu-ray Disc screen is displayed on the television before proceeding.
On the remote control (RMT-B101A), press the SYSTEM MENU button.
At the "System Menu" screen, use the arrow keys on the remote control to highlight "Setup" and then press the ENTER button.
At the "Setup" screen, use the arrow keys on the remote control to highlight "Video Setup" and then press the ENTER button.
Use the arrow keys on the remote control to highlight "TV Type" and then press the ENTER button.
On the remote control, press "BLUE" button.
The firmware version currently installed on the BDP-S300 will be listed on the television screen. If the version number is 3.70 or higher, it is not necessary to install this firmware update.

[russtcb]

I bought the S300 about 4 weeks ago now. Ran the firmware (3.70) about 2 days after buying it and I adore the machine. The only complaint I have is ofcourse the giant load times on some discs. I'm currently running it in 1080i through component cables on an HDTV I purchased some time ago that didn't have HDMI.

I am purchasing a 40V3000 in about two weeks that I will then use HDMI with. I'm hoping to have a fairly smooth transition.

[Sandman416]

I purchased a S301 running V2 and had no issues with it. It is connected via HDMI to my KDS-50A2000. However I use the optical to my Yamaha reciever. Yes the thing was slow loading and I thought there was something wrong with the player.

I ordered the firmware from Sony because I didn't want to take a chance with a Mac getting the disc wrong. It updated in 10 minutes. It has played every disc I have tossed at it. BD and DVD. I guess as long as the updates keep up with the BDs then I'll keep it.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by russtcb

I bought the S300 about 4 weeks ago now. Ran the firmware (3.70) about 2 days after buying it and I adore the machine. The only complaint I have is of course the giant load times on some discs. I'm currently running it in 1080i through component cables on an HDTV I purchased some time ago that didn't have HDMI.

...

Wow, thought I was the only person using HD component cable. You think the movies take long to load now? You should have tried the 2.0 firmware like when I bought my player. Pirates of the Caribbean took about 4 minutes to load up to the intro! Takes about 1:40 with 3.70 firmware.

Non BD-J discs will start in under 30 seconds so the player speed is fine. That Java is the bottleneck. This is why most of the updates are all Java tweaks.

Fantastic Four: RotSS loads in 1:50. It is currenly the longest loading movie I know of. It is my test bed for firmware updates. I expect the next update in 5 to 7 days. I hope it is a 4.x version with more features and speed tweaks.

[russtcb]

Originally Posted by tron3

Wow, thought I was the only person using HD component cable. You think the movies take long to load now? You should have tried the 2.0 firmware like when I bought my player. Pirates of the Caribbean took about 4 minutes to load up to the intro! Takes about 1:40 with 3.70 firmware.

Non BD-J discs will start in under 30 seconds so the player speed is fine. That Java is the bottleneck. This is why most of the updates are all Java tweaks.

Fantastic Four: RotSS loads in 1:50. It is currenly the longest loading movie I know of. It is my test bed for firmware updates. I expect the next update in 5 to 7 days. I hope it is a 4.x version with more features and speed tweaks.

Yeah, I'd heard that about the old load times. I guess I shouldn't complain overall. I think the longest loading ones I've noticed at 3:10 and Live Free Or Die Hard. But ofcourse, I can live with it.

I have a question about Firmware updates. You mentioned you expect another update within 5 to 7 days. Is that about how fast they come? I think mine came with 2.something installed and I updated it to 3.70 and didn't expect anything else for awhile. Are they generally about a month apart or so?

[tron3]

Originally Posted by russtcb

...

I have a question about Firmware updates. You mentioned you expect another update within 5 to 7 days. Is that about how fast they come? I think mine came with 2.something installed and I updated it to 3.70 and didn't expect anything else for awhile. Are they generally about a month apart or so?

I am noticing about a month apart, yes. So I hope to see something about the 20th. Naturally, I'd rather wait and make sure it is a good version and not something they rushed out the door.

I really, really, REALLY want upsampling though the HD component cable. I'm sure they can reprogram the internal menu's and not just the sub systems.

[Midnightsailor]

Originally Posted by tron3

I really, really, REALLY want upsampling though the HD component cable. I'm sure they can reprogram the internal menu's and not just the sub systems.

Same.

[russtcb]

Originally Posted by Midnightsailor

Same.

Dumb question; what is "upsampling through component cables"?

[chodges]

I hope SONY is listening want up sampling thru component also.

[aviman33]

Up Convert.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by russtcb

Dumb question; what is "upsampling through component cables"?

Also known as upconversion. The 480 DVD picture is taken and displayed at either 720 or 1080. It sharpens the picture and adds information. It is not a perfect process as it can only extropolate pixel data from the surrounding actual pixels. In short, it can't display something which is not there. Which is why it never looks as good as blu-ray.

Upconversion currently only works through the HDMI cable. A number of us here use our players with the older HD component cables to get an HD picture, but the player does not support DVD upconversion this way.

[russtcb]

Originally Posted by tron3

Also known as upconversion. The 480 DVD picture is taken and displayed at either 720 or 1080. It sharpens the picture and adds information. It is not a perfect process as it can only extropolate pixel data from the surrounding actual pixels. In short, it can't display something which is not there. Which is why it never looks as good as blu-ray.

Upconversion currently only works through the HDMI cable. A number of us here use our players with the older HD component cables to get an HD picture, but the player does not support DVD upconversion this way.

Oh ok. I've just never heard someone refer to it as upsampling, I've always heard it referred to as upconverting so I was confused. Thanks though.

[qbngixxer]

Originally Posted by martigen

Well, here in Miami its been selling for $297.99 for the past month at store called BRANDSMART, and NO, they are NOT refurbished and YES, the units come with Spiderman 3

I miss that store soooo much. I used to live in miami and i shopped there all the time! they have the BEST prices!!! Im in Houston now, and no-ones ever heard of them!

[qbngixxer]

ok, so i skimmed through all the pages and read a couple of different things ... I know that when you buy this player in the store it is incapable of decoding TrueHD and DTS MA, but some people are saying that with a firmware update it will ...

Will it ... or Wont it?

[hitechiowa]

i also had a question about this player. I currently have a ps3 that i don't game on ne more because i havent been impressed with it as a gaming console so i wanted to possibly pick up the BDP-S300 instead as my blu player? is this a smart idea because in my b/s/t thread somebody asked me if i was crazy to downgrade myself from a ps3 to this sony s300?

[monkyman]

Originally Posted by qbngixxer

ok, so i skimmed through all the pages and read a couple of different things ... I know that when you buy this player in the store it is incapable of decoding TrueHD and DTS MA, but some people are saying that with a firmware update it will ...

Will it ... or Wont it?

The S300/S301 have the same chip setup that the S1 has. the S1 had a firmware upgrade 3.6 that Adds Dolby® TrueHD and Dolby® Digital Plus Audio decoding functionality. Not DTS MA. So in theory, yes, it could output TrueHD if they decide to give us the firmware, but unsure if it could ever do DTS MA.

I have asked many times if this firmware is coming, but never get a straight answer. I was told an audio upgrade was coming by a Sony Tech a couple of weeks ago, but then I was told no by another.