The Sony BDP-S300/301 Review Thread - Page 5 - Blu-ray Forum

THE STUD · 06-30-2007, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsciv123

Lots of confussion on 1080P vs. 1080i. The naked eye cannot tell the difference. I have a Sony KDF-E50A10 that upconverts to 1080i and I have the PS3 connected via HDMI. All I can say is the picture is awesome. I've downloaded all the firmware updates and I had watched Ghost Rider on
blu-ray before the 1080p dvd upconversion firmware update and when I watched it after the firmware update the picture was even better. I was blown away with the picture quality. The only difference between 1080p and1080i is 1080p shows all lines of horizontal resolution at once and 1080i shows the odd lines and then the even lines and the naked eye cannot see this.

well my point is that on brands like marantz, they upscale so great, their near blu ray quality ina lot of cases. Sony upscale looks bla and a side by side test of standard sony to blu ray sony will make a big difference. For me to see a big difference, i must have a side by side test of marantz to marantz, sony can't touch marantz

BOBBY · 07-02-2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seeker_moc

1080p (or 1080i for that matter) is overrated for everything except front projectors with huge screens. Most people with average sized living rooms would need screens of 70"+ before you can seriously start to see a big difference.

I also have a Grand Vega, the KDF-E55A20. Unless your's is a SXRD series, it only has a 1366x768 screen, which is pretty standard for mid-level LCD displays. With these TV's 720p is the native resolution, not 1080i. Your tv can decode and display a 1080i signal, however it has to be de-interlaced (all digital TV's can only display a progressive signal, no matter what the source material and/or tuner is programmed for) and scaled first. Plus the Sony Grand Vegas tend to scale 1080i like this 1080i -> 540p -> 720p (where you lose alot of resolution), and the de-interlacer on these tv's is not so good. You'll likely get a much better result by setting your BDP to output 720p instead. Try it out and trust your eyes to which is better!!

Trying to decide between Sony S300 and Samsung 1200. Have NEC HT100O projecting on 80" screen, and Yamaha receiver. Plan on using DVI/HDMI cable between NEC and whatever.

aqupunk · 07-03-2007, 04:08 AM

Ok I am thinking of getting the onkyo 605 (reciever) that decodes true hd and DTS-HD Master audio. Then I stopped to think does my new bdp-s300 even decode those? Will an update allow it to like the ps3 and bdp-s1? Is it coming down the pipe line? Anyone heard? I check daily for any updates for the 300.

Greg36 · 07-03-2007, 11:50 AM

Just received my S300 from B&H last night.
Hooked it up, and even though the first boot took a little long, the first movie that I put in "Crank" started up pretty quickly.
I didn't watch all of it, or even check to see what OS version the player has. (had to get it set up quick, I promised a dinner for my wife plus a few other honey do's to let me get the BD player)
So far though, I am impressed with the picture quality compared to the PS3.
Set up was stupid easy.
My drawback is that the "feet" on this product are plastic, and can be removed, as found when I placed the S300 on the rack, and found that it was unstable until I looked in the foam wrap and found the foot that had come off. It snapped back on, but what ever happened to using screws?

Sound via coax is stream line and very crisp, as if they used a conditioner, or it is just better than my PS3 as well.
5.1 for now...I don't know how big that list of hers will get if I ask permission for a 7.1

dobyblue · 07-03-2007, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE STUD

well my point is that on brands like marantz, they upscale so great, their near blu ray quality ina lot of cases.

No they absolutely are not near Blu-ray quality.

dobyblue · 07-03-2007, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aqupunk

Ok I am thinking of getting the onkyo 605 (reciever) that decodes true hd and DTS-HD Master audio. Then I stopped to think does my new bdp-s300 even decode those? Will an update allow it to like the ps3 and bdp-s1? Is it coming down the pipe line? Anyone heard? I check daily for any updates for the 300.

You should contact Sony and ask them when the updates are coming.
Without an HDMI 1.3 port there's nothing the Onkyo will help you with.I don't think outside the PS3/BD-P1200 that any of the current players have an HDMI 1.3 port.

aqupunk · 07-03-2007, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobyblue

You should contact Sony and ask them when the updates are coming.
Without an HDMI 1.3 port there's nothing the Onkyo will help you with.I don't think outside the PS3/BD-P1200 that any of the current players have an HDMI 1.3 port.

No I am sure that bdp-s300 and the onkyo 605 are 1.3 hdmi. But yeah I will contact sony.

dobyblue · 07-03-2007, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aqupunk

No I am sure that bdp-s300 and the onkyo 605 are 1.3 hdmi. But yeah I will contact sony.

The Onkyo definitely is.

rauer · 07-04-2007, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cortiz

For example, POTC takes about 2 1/2 minutes to load on the Sony, on the Samsung only takes 45 seconds!

I don't own an HD player of either camp yet, but I had heard of the long load times. However, I expected a long time to be something like 30 secs! Anything more than 1 minute is just plain ridiculous. What the heck were they thinking designing those players and specs?

THE STUD · 07-05-2007, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobyblue

No they absolutely are not near Blu-ray quality.

right, and u saw my side by side comparison how?....

whippersnapper · 07-05-2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rauer

I don't own an HD player of either camp yet, but I had heard of the long load times. However, I expected a long time to be something like 30 secs! Anything more than 1 minute is just plain ridiculous. What the heck were they thinking designing those players and specs?

How long does it take your HD-DVD to load Pirates of the Carribean?

rauer · 07-05-2007, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whippersnapper

How long does it take your HD-DVD to load Pirates of the Carribean?

Are you asking me? As I posted originally, I don't own an HD player of either camp yet.

monkyman · 07-05-2007, 11:56 AM

As I type this Circiut City has the Sony Bluray player listed on there website homepage as "top selling products" at the top of the list.

Best Buy has the S300 on backorder now, along with selling out of most of the bluray players they sell.

Is it the lower price? I certainly haven't seen any kind of advertising push.
Why all of a sudden the demand? Glad I got mine!

THE STUD · 07-06-2007, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whippersnapper

How long does it take your HD-DVD to load Pirates of the Carribean?

um, hd dvd doesn't have pirates....

monkyman · 07-06-2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by whippersnapper
How long does it take your HD-DVD to load Pirates of the Carribean?

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE STUD

um, hd dvd doesn't have pirates....

I think that was his point

rauer · 07-06-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkyman

I think that was his point

Well, in that case his point was rather pointless. I'm not trying to have a sandbox level format war flaming here, but was rather flabbergasted as an outsider to see how impractical the HD playback is compared to DVDs. I'm not suggesting it's better (or worse) with HD DVD, frankly I have no idea which it is.

Woody · 07-07-2007, 12:11 AM

So does this player have HDMI 1.3 or not?

LeoneFan · 07-07-2007, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rauer

Well, in that case his point was rather pointless. I'm not trying to have a sandbox level format war flaming here, but was rather flabbergasted as an outsider to see how impractical the HD playback is compared to DVDs. I'm not suggesting it's better (or worse) with HD DVD, frankly I have no idea which it is.

Actually the PS3 loads Blu-ray discs just as fast as your typical DVD player. The stand alones will get faster and faster as the technology matures. The upcoming Sharp player is being touted as extremely fast but we'll have to wait and see.

Jeramief · 07-08-2007, 04:35 PM

I just got the Sony S300 last weekend so far I only have watched 2 hd movies on it click not impressed and blackhawk down looked better than click I had been using our ps3 for a dvd player but my wife found it to diffucult for her to use. Overall i am quite happy with the player I have a sharp aquos 42" 1080P compatible tv i am very happy with the results I have not hooked up my sound system yet but will be doing so soon. The main gripe as others have mentioned is the start time for this machine when you turn on the switch the main reason I purchased this player was the price tag. I was holding off waiting to see which format was going to prevail I have little doubt now as most of the studios are going to support blu-ray i believe the other format is going to fade with time.

dobyblue · 07-08-2007, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THE STUD

right, and u saw my side by side comparison how?....

I don't care about your side by side comparison.

Anyone who says any upconverting player is as good as Blu-ray quality is spouting nonsense and should be disregarded. That goes for you, Chapek, Graffeo, Jesus, Reznor, Dylan, Queen Elizabeth II, The Pope, Dubya; anyone.

07-03-2007, 04:08 AM	#83
aqupunk Expert Member Member since:Jun 2007 Home Theater Gallery:2 4K collection:54 Blu-ray collection:246 Trading Score:1	Ok I am thinking of getting the onkyo 605 (reciever) that decodes true hd and DTS-HD Master audio. Then I stopped to think does my new bdp-s300 even decode those? Will an update allow it to like the ps3 and bdp-s1? Is it coming down the pipe line? Anyone heard? I check daily for any updates for the 300. Last edited by aqupunk; 07-03-2007 at 04:39 AM.

07-03-2007, 11:50 AM	#84
Greg36 New Member Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Florida Blu-ray reviews:1	Just got my S300 Just received my S300 from B&H last night. Hooked it up, and even though the first boot took a little long, the first movie that I put in "Crank" started up pretty quickly. I didn't watch all of it, or even check to see what OS version the player has. (had to get it set up quick, I promised a dinner for my wife plus a few other honey do's to let me get the BD player) So far though, I am impressed with the picture quality compared to the PS3. Set up was stupid easy. My drawback is that the "feet" on this product are plastic, and can be removed, as found when I placed the S300 on the rack, and found that it was unstable until I looked in the foam wrap and found the foot that had come off. It snapped back on, but what ever happened to using screws? Sound via coax is stream line and very crisp, as if they used a conditioner, or it is just better than my PS3 as well. 5.1 for now...I don't know how big that list of hers will get if I ask permission for a 7.1

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07-05-2007, 11:56 AM	#93
monkyman Special Member Member since:Jun 2007	As I type this Circiut City has the Sony Bluray player listed on there website homepage as "top selling products" at the top of the list. Best Buy has the S300 on backorder now, along with selling out of most of the bluray players they sell. Is it the lower price? I certainly haven't seen any kind of advertising push. Why all of a sudden the demand? Glad I got mine!

07-07-2007, 12:11 AM	#97
Woody Power Member Member since:Jun 2007 Home Theater Gallery:60 4K collection:175 Blu-ray collection:415 DVD collection:165	So does this player have HDMI 1.3 or not?

07-08-2007, 04:35 PM	#99
Jeramief New Member Member since:Jul 2007	I just got the Sony S300 last weekend so far I only have watched 2 hd movies on it click not impressed and blackhawk down looked better than click I had been using our ps3 for a dvd player but my wife found it to diffucult for her to use. Overall i am quite happy with the player I have a sharp aquos 42" 1080P compatible tv i am very happy with the results I have not hooked up my sound system yet but will be doing so soon. The main gripe as others have mentioned is the start time for this machine when you turn on the switch the main reason I purchased this player was the price tag. I was holding off waiting to see which format was going to prevail I have little doubt now as most of the studios are going to support blu-ray i believe the other format is going to fade with time.

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