The Sony BDP-S300/301 Review Thread

[Stephan.klose]

Originally Posted by Octavio

Maybe a silly question, but it's your player also region B?

I have the Samsung Bd-P 1400 (Area Code B) and the disc worked fine.

[SS316SRV]

Originally Posted by Stephan.klose

I wonder. Why is this player so popular? It can't playback HD Sounds. Neither decode them internally or deliver them via bitstream.

The only thing it can playback is Dolby Digital Plus and there are virtually no Blu Ray Discs that utilize that Codec. (There were a bunch of HD-DVD's but that's moot now).

So, why do people waste their money on this player? (it's Number 1 in many sales charts) It'll become obsolete, as soon as you buy a new receiver. One that can work with HD Sound. Like the Onkyo 605 or 606. Or the Yamaha 663.

Tell me, why did you buy this player?

Well with firmware 3.70, it apparently gained the capability to decode TrueHD. Plus, when it was released, it was an affordable player. At the time I didn't want a PS3, I didn't know enough about it. They are not wasting their money. If the person does not have a surround sound or want a surround sound, it works just fine for them. It can play PCM tracks, and many of the top blu-rays from Sony, Warner, Buena Vista utilize that codec. It is not a useless player.

[SS316SRV]

Originally Posted by Stephan.klose

It'll become obsolete, as soon as you buy a new receiver. One that can work with HD Sound. Like the Onkyo 605 or 606. Or the Yamaha 663.

It is a good thing I don't own of those receivers.

Also, the player works just fine with those receivers. I bought my BDP-S300 for $315 the week it was released.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by Stephan.klose

I wonder. Why is this player so popular? It can't playback HD Sounds. Neither decode them internally or deliver them via bitstream.

The only thing it can playback is Dolby Digital Plus and there are virtually no Blu Ray Discs that utilize that Codec. (There were a bunch of HD-DVD's but that's moot now).

So, why do people waste their money on this player? (it's Number 1 in many sales charts) It'll become obsolete, as soon as you buy a new receiver. One that can work with HD Sound. Like the Onkyo 605 or 606. Or the Yamaha 663.

Tell me, why did you buy this player?

Not true. The S301 also plays back lossless LPCM 5.1 - 7.1. In addition to that, although not officially stated by Sony, a Sony insider on this forum has informed us that starting with FW 3.70, the S300/1 can decode DD TrueHD provided that you set the player's HDMI output setting to PCM. And you must have an HDMI connection to your AVR. The jury is still out as far as verifying that DD TrueHD is decoded by the player. Some claim the AQ is better than lossy DD while others claim it's the same.

Still the player delievers remarkable AQ. Even playback from lossy DD or DTS, or the 3X higher bitrate of the DTS-HD MA core, the AQ is still stunning. But definitely better when playing back lossless LPCM no doubt about that.

The PQ is stunning and outstanding, as good as the PS3's. That helped make this player popular.

As for me personally why did I buy this player?. Here are some reasons:

The PS3 does not have 5.1 analog outputs. I bought the S301 last November, 2007. I had an old Pioneer 1015 that didn't even have HDMI inputs/outputs but it did have 5.1 analog pre-amp inputs. That way from the lossless PCM tracks, I could get lossless audio playback. At that time during the format war, PCM was quite commonly found on BDs. Later, after Sony won the format war, other lossless formats like DD TrueHD and DTS-HD MA were replacing LPCM tracks because the studios wanted to have more space for special features and other extras. It wasn't until then that the S300 became outdated player. I do agree with you, that NOW, these days, it is outdated, but at the time I bought it, it wasn't.

The PS3 is not as cool looking as the stand alone players such as the S300, S500, Panny 30, etc.

I don't have time for video games so I didn't care to have that a video play machine bundled together with a BD player.

Does that answer your question?

[SS316SRV]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

The jury is still out as far as verifying that DD TrueHD is decoded by the player. Some claim the AQ is better than lossy DD while others claim it's the same.

I heard a difference when I tried it on Batman Begins. There was a difference.

Also, I believe Jesus had a BDP-S300, so it has to be good.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

It is a good thing I don't own of those receivers.
.

Please forgive the off topic question, but what is wrong with those AVRs?

[nycomet]

Originally Posted by Movie Maniac!

I have a question: how long was loading time for Batman Begins when any of you played it? So far it's been about 10 minutes since I put it in. I also did install the new 3.95 update, by the way. I just also want to know if it usually takes this long.

Thanks.

It took 10 seconds to load on my PS3. I never use my BDPS-300 anymore.

[SS316SRV]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

Please forgive the off topic question, but what is wrong with those AVRs?

Nothing at all.

I will be buying the RX-V663 for $240 or the RX-V863 for $430 eventually. I just at this current time, do not own those receivers. Doesn't mean I don't want to.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

I heard a difference when I tried it on Batman Begins. There was a difference.

Also, I believe Jesus had a BDP-S300, so it has to be good.

Batman Begins is a good test BD now that you mention it. I rented it from Blockbuster, and I didn't think about A/Bing the DD THD and lossy DD audio tracks. I plan on buying it though as soon as Wal-mart gets them in.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by SS316SRV

Nothing at all.

I will be buying the RX-V663 for $240 or the RX-V863 for $430 eventually. I just at this current time, do not own those receivers. Doesn't mean I don't want to.

Thanks. You don't mean new for $240 do you, isn't that at dealer cost? I think the Yamaha 663 is a perfect match for the S350 player, which I am planning on getting sooner or later to replace my S301. I am quite happy I bought the 663.

[MistyMorn]

I like the 300. It was a steal for us as it came with our HDTV purchase. The slow load times haven't bothered us and the sounds are just fine through our 605. We do keep the firmware updated and haven't had any issues with discs to this point. I've got my eye on the 350 or 550. Just waiting to hear the reviews before I put down the $$$.

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by Stephan.klose

I wonder. Why is this player so popular? It can't playback HD Sounds. Neither decode them internally or deliver them via bitstream.

The only thing it can playback is Dolby Digital Plus and there are virtually no Blu Ray Discs that utilize that Codec. (There were a bunch of HD-DVD's but that's moot now).

So, why do people waste their money on this player? (it's Number 1 in many sales charts) It'll become obsolete, as soon as you buy a new receiver. One that can work with HD Sound. Like the Onkyo 605 or 606. Or the Yamaha 663.

Tell me, why did you buy this player?

Well, I bought mine to watch Blu-Rays. HD sound wasn't that big of a deal to me at the time I purchased my player as I knew something better than all of them at a cheaper price point would be available by this Christmas. So, now I can move this one to my other HDTV in the house when the newer players are at bargain bin prices this holiday season. I don't have, nor plan to have a HD sound system on that TV so that point is moot.

Of course, I will still be able to watch new releases on this player as the become available in the future. So, the real question is why did YOU purchase a HDDVD player? (judging from your sig)

So, why do people waste their money on this player?

I don't give people a hard time unless they come into a thread asking for it.

[Octavio]

Originally Posted by Stephan.klose

So, why do people waste their money on this player? (BDP-S300)

Blu Ray: Samsung BD-P 1400
HD-DVD: Toshiba EP-30
TV: Samsung LE37 A 552
Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR605
Speakers: Vienna Acoustics
Subwoofer: Yamaha YST-SW300
52 Blu Ray's, 135 HD-DVD's

TALKING ABOUT WASTING MONEY!

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by Octavio

TALKING ABOUT WASTING MONEY!

Oh, that isn't even the best part. The best part is all the money this big proponent of HD audio and not wasting money is going to spend replacing most of his large HDDVD collection with the lossless Blu version.

[tolledesign]

Just wanted to thank everyone who helped in explaining how to update the BDP300 with using a Mac. I went out last night and bought Batman Begins and had the same problem many of you had - where it would start the film and then restart. But after I got the update to work, the disc played fine. So just wanted to say thanks again, everyone on this site is such a huge help!

[SS316SRV]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

Thanks. You don't mean new for $240 do you, isn't that at dealer cost? I think the Yamaha 663 is a perfect match for the S350 player, which I am planning on getting sooner or later to replace my S301. I am quite happy I bought the 663.

Yup, I mean new. I got hook ups, wink. I am spoiled with stuff like that.

[SS316SRV]

Originally Posted by Stephan.klose

So, why do people waste their money on this player? .

Tell me, why did you buy this player?
Blu Ray: Samsung BD-P 1400
HD-DVD: Toshiba EP-30
TV: Samsung LE37 A 552
Receiver: Onkyo TX-SR605
Speakers: Vienna Acoustics
Subwoofer: Yamaha YST-SW300
52 Blu Ray's, 135 HD-DVD's

Originally Posted by Octavio

TALKING ABOUT WASTING MONEY!

[dad2erin]

Originally Posted by Stephan.klose

I wonder. Why is this player so popular?

So, why do people waste their money on this player? (it's Number 1 in many sales charts)

Tell me, why did you buy this player?

It's a good solid player and does decode dd+ ddTHD, it sounds great and the price was good. I got mine @ CC around Thanksgiving for $270.

[awre]

Originally Posted by dad2erin

It's a good solid player and does decode dd+ ddTHD, it sounds great and the price was good. I got mine @ CC around Thanksgiving for $270.

Let's give Sony sony credit. For us non gamers this is a great machine. This is a solid basic unit that Sony has supported from inception. I have had for almost 2 years, never had one problem, have all of the firmware upgrades (mailed disk from Sony), and it is totally reliable.

While I am upgrading to the Marantz BD8002 for the 7:1 analogs and additional audio codecs, I will keep my Sony as a back up.

I have been very happy with Sony's ongoing support of this product (believe me, I have trashed Sony when they have not provided the support they should on other products) and give kudos to Sony for what they have done and are doing with the BDPS-300.

[cardiac161]

Being an early adopter, I got the BDP-S300 as it was the only Sony BD player in the market in regards to where I live. I would've gotten a Panasonic or Samsung but I kind of thought (maybe naively) that since it was Sony who developed this format, I might as well buy a Sony brand.

As much as I can complain about the slow load times or not being able to access all the special features on new BDs, one thing that has made me love the player is Sony's commitment in making it better through their consistent firmware upgrades. Now the player has faster load times and almost no problems whatsoever.

Still interested in getting the S350 but will probably wait by the end of the year to buy it.