The Sony BDP-S300/301 Review Thread

[WarrenPS]

I have had my BDP-S300 about 2 months. Last night, I tried to watch Letters from Iwo Jima and the unit froze at several points during the movie. After the freezes, it would skip forward several minutes to another portion of the movie. It would play OK for awhile and then do so again. I unplugged the unit, plugged it back again, and tried the movie again. This time, it told me that it couldn't play the disc. After several attempts, it played the disc but continued to freeze and skip at various points. I speculated that the disc was bad. I put Apocalypto into the player and it immediately told me that it couldn't play that disc either. Once I got it to play the disc, it froze and skipped on this disc as well. Of course, I cleaned both discs but that did not help. I installed the latest firmware several weeks ago so that is not the cause. I guess the unit is bad so I shall return it this week. This is very disappointing but it sounds as if this is not all that unusual as I review some of the previous posts. If anyone has any other suggestions before I return the unit, please let me know. Thanks for this forum as it has proven very helpful.

[Moefiz]

Originally Posted by WarrenPS

I have had my BDP-S300 about 2 months. Last night, I tried to watch Letters from Iwo Jima and the unit froze at several points during the movie. After the freezes, it would skip forward several minutes to another portion of the movie. It would play OK for awhile and then do so again. I unplugged the unit, plugged it back again, and tried the movie again. This time, it told me that it couldn't play the disc. After several attempts, it played the disc but continued to freeze and skip at various points. I speculated that the disc was bad. I put Apocalypto into the player and it immediately told me that it couldn't play that disc either. Once I got it to play the disc, it froze and skipped on this disc as well. Of course, I cleaned both discs but that did not help. I installed the latest firmware several weeks ago so that is not the cause. I guess the unit is bad so I shall return it this week. This is very disappointing but it sounds as if this is not all that unusual as I review some of the previous posts. If anyone has any other suggestions before I return the unit, please let me know. Thanks for this forum as it has proven very helpful.

What firmware are you running...should be 3.80

[WarrenPS]

Moe, Thanks for the response. I am indeed running 3.80 so that is not the issue.

[krazeyeyez]

i was running fine with the 3.3 i think it was for a while, i update to the 3.7 a few days before they released 3.8, and i have had a few weird glitches bugs problems etc.... i need to go get some more blank discs before i do the 3.8, hopefully that will resolve some of the "issues" i have been experiencing. im hoping at this point its the firmware and not my actual player because i have had problems getting it to register BD's in the tray a few times. i get like a cannot play disc thing.

[krazeyeyez]

wow this is really starting to suck, cannot play disc on like half of my blu-rays, it plays dvd's just fine, and once it starts playing a blu-ray no problem, but most now come up as "cannot play this disc".
bought this at the end of november and its already taking a dump. somehow i talked myself into buying a sony player, don't know why because every piece of disc reading related equipment i have ever owned that sports the sony logo has always done this crap.
panasonic better get their player out soon! i was planning on buying a s550 when they hit so i guess its a blessing this happened now. can't believe sony still hasn't perfected their crap yet.

[nycomet]

Now that PS3 has DTS-HD Master Audio from a firmware upgrade that came out today, is there any chance that the BDP-S300 can get DTS-HD Master Audio from a firmware upgrade as well? That would be sweet.

[cj-kent]

Does anyone know if there will be a firmware update that makes this player version 1.1 compliant, or if that's even possible?

[cj-kent]

I meant profile 1.1 compliant. Does anyone know about this. The forums that have talked about this are vague and out of date. Any new news?

[krisjan]

Originally Posted by cj-kent

I meant profile 1.1 compliant. Does anyone know about this. The forums that have talked about this are vague and out of date. Any new news?

The 300 will never be profile 1.1 - it doesn't have the onboard memory needed to implement this feature.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by krazeyeyez

wow this is really starting to suck, cannot play disc on like half of my blu-rays, . . .
panasonic better get their player out soon! i was planning on buying a s550 when they hit so i guess its a blessing this happened now. can't believe sony still hasn't perfected their crap yet.

I have the S301 and the latest FW version 3.80. I haven't had any problems playing my blu-rays or any of the ones that I've rented.

I too plan on getting the Panny 50 thought when they come out in a month or so. The 301 served it's purpose but it is old tech now.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by nycomet

Now that PS3 has DTS-HD Master Audio from a firmware upgrade that came out today, is there any chance that the BDP-S300 can get DTS-HD Master Audio from a firmware upgrade as well? That would be sweet.

I don't think there's any chance of that. Really, it's the dead end for the 300/301 now that the S550 is coming out.

[MistyMorn]

Got the 300 by default as a package deal with the Sony KDL 46W3000 for only $200. Being it's the only Blu player we've owned, I can't compare it to others. So far all BD have played. No major issues with any BD, although the more java on the BD, the slower the load times. (using current 3.8 firmware) We use it only for BD because the Oppo 980H is better at upconversion of SD DVD. I can't complain because the pricing was so very reasonable. Maybe we'll purchase a newer model this time next year.... (all depends on the haf as he is tighter with the $$$ than myself )

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by MistyMorn

Got the 300 by default as a package deal with the Sony KDL 46W3000 for only $200. Being it's the only Blu player we've owned, I can't compare it to others. So far all BD have played. No major issues with any BD, although the more java on the BD, the slower the load times. (using current 3.8 firmware) We use it only for BD because the Oppo 980H is better at upconversion of SD DVD. I can't complain because the pricing was so very reasonable. Maybe we'll purchase a newer model this time next year.... (all depends on the haf as he is tighter with the $$$ than myself )

The S300 is old tech basic profile 1.0 and only supports lossless PCM 7.1 audio and perhaps, but rumored, DD True HD (but no official confirmation from Sony on that). I would have saved that $200 and invested in the PS3 now or wait for the Sony S550. I have the S301, same as yours actually. When the Panny BD50 player is released in a month or so, that's going to be one of the best BD players on the market (along with PS3 of course). I am selling my S301 and will be getting the Panny as soon as it comes out.

[Octavio]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

The S300 is old tech basic profile 1.0 and only supports lossless PCM 7.1 audio and perhaps, but rumored, DD True HD (but no official confirmation from Sony on that). I would have saved that $200 and invested in the PS3 now or wait for the Sony S550. I have the S301, same as yours actually. When the Panny BD50 player is released in a month or so, that's going to be one of the best BD players on the market (along with PS3 of course). I am selling my S301 and will be getting the Panny as soon as it comes out.

Old tech? mmm

I don't think it's a good idea to immediately buy a new Blu-ray player just for the sake of having it, unless if you have lots of $$$ to spend.

I bought the S-300 because here in my country it was the first affordable Blu-ray player.
I have played lots of BD's and I haven't had any problem so far. it's true that it takes some time to load BD's with java, but that's a minor nuisance IMO.

I am surely going to buy a 2.0 Blu-ray player but I don't see why I should throw my "old tech" S-300. Most BD's right now doesn't take any advantage of the 2.0 profile and the few ones that does are a HUGE deception, also the PiP commentaries are quite rare.

About the audio... Do you have a hi-end audio/receiver? No? then you won't be able to listen DTS Master Audio 7.1 even if you have a 2.0 player. Am I wrong about this? can you fully enjoy 7.1 DTS MA without a hi-end A/V receiver?

So first let's think about buying a new audio/receiver capable of decoding EVERYONE of the new audio formats plus with ouputs for 7.1 speakers.
Do you have it already and u have the money? Good for you! then buy the pricey Panasonic BD50.

I am not that rich, I have to spend my money in more important things, like to provide food and school to my family.

Sony S300 will allow me to enjoy the BD's I have, to listen the PCM 5.1 audio tracks and DD True HD as explained in this thread. That until I can afford to buy a new A/V receiver and a new player. Something that I won't do right now because they are going to be a bit pricey at the beginning. In 1 year or 2 at most they must be cheap enough.


I can wait, no need to pay $500-600 or whatever would be its price for something that most likely you won't take full advantage within the next year or even more. When finally most BD's comes with DTS MA 7.1, PiP commentaries and worthy internet features, then I'll be right there ready to buy the same player for maybe only $200 or less.

Sorry for my bad english.

[Blu-Raider]

Originally Posted by Octavio

Sorry for my bad english.

I believe you stated your opinion very nicely.

[cjl_04]

im hoping sum one can help me, i have an HDMI cable will it make a difference if i buy an s video cable also or is the HDMI cable fine?

[TObject]

Of course it will make a difference: your wallet will be lighter, and you will have [one more] useless cable around.

[cjl_04]

so when its plugged in do i have to set up the player and my hdtv to s video mode or can it just be plugged in and thats that? dont forget im new to this!

[aich75013]

Originally Posted by cjl_04

im hoping sum one can help me, i have an HDMI cable will it make a difference if i buy an s video cable also or is the HDMI cable fine?

The HDMI is a better cable than S-Video. It carries Audio & Video.
No need for S-Video if your TV/Receiver accept HDMI input.

[cjl_04]

thanks!