The Sony BDP-S300/301 Review Thread

[odin24]

Originally Posted by krisjan

Your list of audio capabilities for the 300 with FW 4.2 is correct. The unit has always been capable of delivering LPCM via analog outputs from the beginning. Just bear in mind that not all BD's have an LPCM audio track. TrueHD decoding was added "officially" with FW 4.2 but only via HDMI output. There is no (and never will be) DTS-MA decoding in the 300. You will get the core DTS track if you select a DTS-MA audio track.

Awesome, thanks a million I can pick this player up for $200, HD audio here I come

[odin24]

One more thing... this player does play AVCHD DVD5/9 (answered - yes) Also, is it true this player cannot play BD-R, or BD-RE? This I read in the online manual. I cannot imagine a BD player will not play BD-R/E, the PS3 does.

[Rob1956]

I was able to try a BD copy of Iron Man on my s300. What happens is the loading status bar looks like it's doing it's thing for about 90 seconds, then it disappears and nothings happens. The readout indicates "2" with the rest of the numbers at zero. Hitting the play, scan, stop buttons do nothing at all. The open/close button works, tho.

[Johan1981]

Originally Posted by Rob1956

I was able to try a BD copy of Iron Man on my s300. What happens is the loading status bar looks like it's doing it's thing for about 90 seconds, then it disappears and nothings happens. The readout indicates "2" with the rest of the numbers at zero. Hitting the play, scan, stop buttons do nothing at all. The open/close button works, tho.

Then you probably have one of the recalled discs, there is a known problem with the authoring of the first batch.

[Fatboymart]

Originally Posted by krisjan

Your list of audio capabilities for the 300 with FW 4.2 is correct. The unit has always been capable of delivering LPCM via analog outputs from the beginning. Just bear in mind that not all BD's have an LPCM audio track. TrueHD decoding was added "officially" with FW 4.2 but only via HDMI output. There is no (and never will be) DTS-MA decoding in the 300. You will get the core DTS track if you select a DTS-MA audio track.

Hi krisjan

Do you think, in years to come, there will be some clever person, who creates a patch for the S-300 (or any other BD player), which would allow TrueHD and/or DTS-Ma HD, to be converted into analogue in the BD player and output via analogue as opposed to HDMI - thus saving me from having to replace my Yamaha, which doesn’t have HDMI - but is still like new and works very well?

[krisjan]

Originally Posted by Fatboymart

Hi krisjan

Do you think, in years to come, there will be some clever person, who creates a patch for the S-300 (or any other BD player), which would allow TrueHD and/or DTS-Ma HD, to be converted into analogue in the BD player and output via analogue as opposed to HDMI - thus saving me from having to replace my Yamaha, which doesn’t have HDMI - but is still like new and works very well?

Doubt it. The best you could hope for with the S300 is for TrueHD via analog but I seriously doubt that Sony will do it on this model. It is already outdated and there are players appearing now with fill hi-rez audio decoding to analog (like the Panasonic BD55 and the upcoming Sony 550).

[buscape]

don't forget that the majority of them also sell receivers so they wouldn't be really interested in develop more and more the analog outputs.

[TObject]

Plays BD-RE no problem.

[Fatboymart]

Originally Posted by krisjan

Doubt it. The best you could hope for with the S300 is for TrueHD via analog but I seriously doubt that Sony will do it on this model. It is already outdated and there are players appearing now with fill hi-rez audio decoding to analog (like the Panasonic BD55 and the upcoming Sony 550).

Thanks Krisjan

I'll keep a close watch on these up and coming players to see how things develop.

[tron3]

Hey, just throwing this out there. How long might we expect Sony to continue giving us firmware support? 3 years? 5 years?

While version 4.20 is great, Madasgascar loads in 2 minutes and 20 seconds. That rates a "poor" on the Tron scale and is the longest loading BD-J I know.

Other movies had poor load times as well, but the firmware updates took care of that. Imagine if that was the last update and a year from now you wait 3 minutes for a new movie to load. Or worse, it doesn't load at all.

Anyone know?

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by tron3

Hey, just throwing this out there. How long might we expect Sony to continue giving us firmware support? 3 years? 5 years?

While version 4.20 is great, Madasgascar loads in 2 minutes and 20 seconds. That rates a "poor" on the Tron scale and is the longest loading BD-J I know.

Other movies had poor load times as well, but the firmware updates took care of that. Imagine if that was the last update and a year from now you wait 3 minutes for a new movie to load. Or worse, it doesn't load at all.

Anyone know?

I think 5 years is probably pushing it. However, I think we can expect 2 - 3 years of continued firmware support. I hope. Disclaimer: I really don't know.

Yes, the new releases seem to have longer load times. If and when it starts taking longer than 3 minutes, it's time for me to upgrade to a new player. My old player sadly enough won't be playin' the blus anymore. But, it still has nice upscaling, and I will use it for whatever DVDs I have left.

[JasonR]

I will hold onto my S300 until I can get something like the S350 for under 200 dollars. After the 4.20 upgrade I have full confidence in Sony, and all-in-all it has been a great first player. The only reason I have even considered trading it out is DTS-HDMA, load times aren't even an issue.

[tron3]

People who can't burn their own disc will probably call Sony and get the firmware update. Then there are the bi-polar butt heads who SCREAM, RANT, AND RAVE at how crappy the player works. Those people return it, or sell it on ebay for cheap. Technically, anyone here can buy a "bad" S300 for cheap and flash the firmware. Now you have a good second player.

While I do agree with some people that "the thing should just work out of the box", I made a major exception for the S300 because I know Sony had to rush it out the door. I understand how the hardware can support a feature but the software just isn't written yet.

What is the difference if the company flashes it, or if I do it? NONE.

[krisjan]

Like it or not, Blu-ray technology is still in the early adopter phase. Thus the need for periodic FW updates as the kinks get worked out. However there will come a time (and I think that time will occur in the next 12-18 months) where the technology will have stabilized and there will be no more need for FW updates for disc playability issues. I am sure that Sony will continue to support this player until that time so it will really come down to how robust the BD transport is (in other words, how long will it last). I believe that will be the limiting factor on the S300 player and not the FW updates.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by krisjan

...(and I think that time will occur in the next 12-18 months) where the technology will have stabilized and there will be no more need for FW updates for disc playability issues. ....

Even a "finalized" player will eventually have firmware tweaks. In the old days, you lived with the problem. I think we should be grateful we have them rather than complain we have to do them.

[Dreedree]

My wife gave me a Blu-ray player. As it happens it is the BDP-S300.

I am so very happy with it. I saw the movies of the Spider-man trilogy and i
enjoyed it very much. Also the SD-Dvd's i own are now far more beautifull.
The sound is great, even on my old Yamaha receiver (non-hdmi)

It is "my first Sony" blu-ray ;-). I don't know if i ever have to buy another one.
It came out of the box with FW 3.8 and i upgraded it to 4.2. The startup-time's are OK.
Just wanted to say that this "tank" is working like a charm and the image it produces upon my KDL-40V3000 is awesome.

Glad to be BLU

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by JasonR

I will hold onto my S300 until I can get something like the S350 for under 200 dollars. After the 4.20 upgrade I have full confidence in Sony, and all-in-all it has been a great first player. The only reason I have even considered trading it out is DTS-HDMA, load times aren't even an issue.

+1

Yes, I'm also waiting to see whether the upcoming holiday shopping season will drop the prices for the S350 under $200. I might pull the trigger then too.

But what will really sway me away from the S301 regardless of cost is when DTS-HD MA becomes the primary lossless format, if that ever happens. Well what we have is this: Fox, Lions Gate, MGM, and Universal being well known for their DTS-HD MA releases and I see no reason for them to ever go TrueHD or LPCM. Warner, Sony, Paramount, and Disney have been the S300's friend as far as lossless audio goes releasing mosty LPCM and TrueHD. All the other studios it's almost a tie between LPCM and DTS-HD MA with TrueHD in third place but not trailing far behind. So the big question is will Warner, Sony, Paramount, and Disney ever be won over in favor of DTS-HD MA? Most of my BD collection is made up of titles from these four studios. So the way I figure it, when they go DTS-HD MA, if ever, then it's time to get a DTS-HD MA compatible player.

[MATTYBLU2]

Hey guys, have a friend that has a s300 and was wondering where you find what version FW he has in it???


trying to see which one he has in it? thanks

[QwikSand]

Check Current Firmware Version

1. Power on the television and make sure it is tuned to the inputs to which the BDP-S300 player is connected.
2. Power on the BDP-S300 Blu-ray Disc™ player.
3. 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.
4. On the remote control (RMT-B101A), press the SYSTEM MENU button.
5. At the "System Menu" screen, use the arrow keys on the remote control to highlight "Setup" and then press the ENTER button.
6. At the "Setup" screen, use the arrow keys on the remote control to highlight "Video Setup" and then press the ENTER button.
7. Use the arrow keys on the remote control to highlight "TV Type" and then press the ENTER button.
8. On the remote control, press "BLUE" button.
9. The firmware version currently installed on the BDP-S300 will be listed on the television screen. If the version number is 4.20 or higher, it is not necessary to install this firmware update.

[RIPSeanTaylor21]

ANYONE HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH IRON MAN BLU RAY! >?????