The Sony BDP-S300/301 Review Thread

[Edwin]

OK, I am new here. Just got the player yesterday. Had 3.95 on it. Came across this update, and here's what I can report:

The firmware updated two Flash updates. It said 'Flash 1' for a bit, the 'Flash 2' for about 5-10 minutes after that. For a test, I will use Batman Begins...

From tray shut to play: 38 seconds.

Then the 2nd 'Loading' screen hits...at about 1:10

Then spinning disc at 1:40...

Then actual movie play at 2:38 (yikes).

I don't really see any other improvements other than it tells me it is version 4.2.

[tron3]

Wish I had timed Batman Begins but I did time a bunch of others. 4.20 seems to be a hit!
Flashing time took 9.30. Start up time is still 0.44 seconds.

Two of the longest loading movies under firmware 3.95 vs 4.20
* I, Robot: 2.18 / 1.47
* Independence Day: 2.27 / 1.42

I consider these significant improvements. 3.70 was the last firmware to have improvements across the board. Everthing else was a mixed bag. Some faster, some slower. 4.20 beats them all. Some by a mere seconds, others like above by a wide margin. Navigating the menus have never been smoother.

GET IT!

See the link for more titles.
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...28#post1115428

[Edwin]

Thanks for clarifying with before and after. Batman Begins has to be a poor example because of the in-movie Java stuff. Glad to hear it is better. Time to try it on another disc..."Invincible".

OK...put in "Invincible". Disc started playing at about 38 seconds...then it went into almost 2:30 of Disney ads and a thing about pirated DVDs. Total loading time was less than a minute, and that is with pop-up menus.

Those 'mandatory' ads are infuriating.

[JasonR]

Yep, 4.20 is a hit. Very consistent so far.

[leom_h]

4.20 is on the Sony UK (Europe) website now...

http://support.sony-europe.com/hav/d...0&f=FW_BDPS300

[JasonR]

Very interesting...

Improvements over firmware version 3.95

Improves BD-Java compatibility to enhance interactivity with some BD-ROMs.
Adds Dolby(r) TrueHD Audio decoding functionality.
Additional improvements over original firmware

[SS316SRV]

If I lose TrueHD I may consider not installing it.

[JasonR]

It looks like Sony is finally confirming that it is there with 4.20, not taking it away.

[Person8]

Hello all, my first post hope I am doing this correctly
I have an S300 and SONY Strdg 820 stereo when I play Resident Evil Extinction through HDMI the stero displays it is DD 5.1 not TrueHD as I had hoped, am I missing something?

[SS316SRV]

Originally Posted by Person8

Hello all, my first post hope I am doing this correctly
I have an S300 and SONY Strdg 820 stereo when I play Resident Evil Extinction through HDMI the stero displays it is DD 5.1 not TrueHD as I had hoped, am I missing something?

HDMI to receiver. Set the audio on the S300 to PCM. The receiver should read "PCM" or something similar.

[Person8]

Ok thanks SS316SRV as I believe I have it set to HDMI

[JasonR]

Not if it is showing DD, it would show PCM. It is most likely on Auto...

[Fatboymart]

"Adds Dolby(r) TrueHD Audio decoding functionality"

So does that mean TrueHD is sent via HMDI (which I don't have) to the amp for processing and outputing to the speakers?

Or

Does it mean the BD300 decodes internally and can send TrueHD to the anologue output jacks and into my amp that way?

[JasonR]

It is the same as the S1. Internally decoded, sent via HDMI only as PCM.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by Fatboymart

"Adds Dolby(r) TrueHD Audio decoding functionality"

So does that mean TrueHD is sent via HMDI (which I don't have) to the amp for processing and outputing to the speakers?

Or

Does it mean the BD300 decodes internally and can send TrueHD to the anologue output jacks and into my amp that way?

When DD TrueHD decoding was supposedly released with FW 3.70, a Sony insider on this forum said that it is decoded to PCM thus requiring an HDMI connection to your receiver. Accordingly, the HDMI setting must be set to PCM. If you are using the 5.1 analog outputs, you won't get DD TrueHD.

Whether this holds true for FW release 4.20 is anybody's guess. I would say no. Since Sony has officially announced it, the folks at the Sony tech support should be able to answer your question definitely one way or another. I suggest calling them to find out. Then let us know what they told you.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

v4.20 from the US site.

ftp://download.sony.com/US/bluray/UP...00_VER0420.EXE

I have the S301 player. Do you have a link for the S301? I tried google but didn't find it. The site:

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/mod...pl?mdl=BDPS301

still only has version 3.95.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

I have the S301 player. Do you have a link for the S301? I tried google but didn't find it. The site:

... still only has version 3.95.

This is for the S301.

ftp://download.sony.com/US/bluray/UP...01_VER0420.EXE

Only had to change the number, dude.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by tron3

This is for the S301.

ftp://download.sony.com/US/bluray/UP...01_VER0420.EXE

Only had to change the number, dude.

Thanks

[Fatboymart]

Now how would Homer say this...oh yer...D'OH!!!

[JasonR]

And Sony USA confirms S300 TrueHD capabilities. Thanks Sony!

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu...=3716&os_id=99

Improvements over firmware version 3.95:

Improves BD-Java compatibility to enhance interactivity with some BD-ROMs.
Adds Dolby® TrueHD Audio decoding functionality.