The Sony BDP-S300/301 Review Thread

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by tek101

Thank you Rolo.

Hello. Has anyone installed this V 4.40 for US models yet....?

BDP-S300
ftp://download.sony.com/US/bluray/UP...00_VER0440.EXE

BDP-S301
ftp://download.sony.com/US/bluray/UP...01_VER0440.EXE

[jomari]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

BDP-S300
ftp://download.sony.com/US/bluray/UP...00_VER0440.EXE

BDP-S301
ftp://download.sony.com/US/bluray/UP...01_VER0440.EXE

rdodolak,

any idea what this updates all about tho?

[rdodolak]

Originally Posted by jomari

rdodolak,

any idea what this updates all about tho?

More of the same ...

Improvements over firmware version 4.30:

• Improves BD-Java compatibility to enhance interactivity with some BD-ROMs.

[jomari]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

More of the same ...

Improvements over firmware version 4.30:

• Improves BD-Java compatibility to enhance interactivity with some BD-ROMs.

thanks for the quick input...

am i pushing it if id ask for a linky?

[tek101]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

BDP-S300
ftp://download.sony.com/US/bluray/UP...00_VER0440.EXE

BDP-S301
ftp://download.sony.com/US/bluray/UP...01_VER0440.EXE

Thanks Rdodolak.
Any proplem.....to install it......?

[goldie1970]

first time i've heard anything about firmware updates and everything else here...i've had some freezing with wall-e and a couple others, nothing bad...load times are pretty slow...heck, it takes a while for the thing to turn on sometimes.

after reading some stuff here, i went to sony website and downloaded firmware 4.3. then read further and saw lots of bad stuff on 4.3...since the time i downloaded 4.3, i see a link to 4.4...

i'm baffled by this...should i download 4.4...should i install 4.3 first...should i just leave it all alone. i don't want to turn my player into a paperweight. really need some guidance. thanks all

[krisjan]

Originally Posted by goldie1970

first time i've heard anything about firmware updates and everything else here...i've had some freezing with wall-e and a couple others, nothing bad...load times are pretty slow...heck, it takes a while for the thing to turn on sometimes.

after reading some stuff here, i went to sony website and downloaded firmware 4.3. then read further and saw lots of bad stuff on 4.3...since the time i downloaded 4.3, i see a link to 4.4...

i'm baffled by this...should i download 4.4...should i install 4.3 first...should i just leave it all alone. i don't want to turn my player into a paperweight. really need some guidance. thanks all

Since FW 4.4 is imminent, I would suggest you wait for it to be released on the Sony support site (http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu...pl?mdl=BDPS300) and then update to 4.4. A few users have reported possible glitches with 4.3 although I have 4.3 on my player and it has performed fine. As always, carefully follow the instructions on the web site to download and burn the update CD-R and then when running it in your S300 player.

[jomari]

as ive mentioned on my previous posting, i just recently got this for a smashing 109 clams, and just finished loading it up for the first time. mind you, i still love my ps3, and consider this as a secondary player. for the price i got it (refurb btw), im pretty much happy with it.

its currently standing at 3.9 as its firmware, and have reconsidered getting the new 4.3 firmware, and, until it goes legit on the sony website, im staying at my current status.

did it work well with the other bds i bought?

dk worked well, so did kung fu panda.

of course its slow, but its not as slow as a HD-A1 player i had. (that entitles you to a full 3 course meal compared to this one)

in summary, this ones a keeper. wait for the next update on sony, and lets hope for the best.

forgot to mention to goldie,

heres how you find out about your current firmware... from sonys support website linked above...

***
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 4.30 or higher, it is not necessary to install this firmware update.
***

[goldie1970]

thanks...the ver4.4 that is listed above, is that the pending update you mentioned? wondering why someone here would have that link but the sony website wouldn't....

[jomari]

Originally Posted by goldie1970

thanks...the ver4.4 that is listed above, is that the pending update you mentioned? wondering why someone here would have that link but the sony website wouldn't....

good question. im sure rdodolak has his sources, and numerous times, are legit as well. they trickle down thru forums, as well as blogs et al, as a million sources are available on the web.

heck we wouldnt know about certain things until we start really diggin in.

and i mean beyond just googling em.

thus my inquiry if rdodolak would be kind enough to shoot out a link towards his source.

nonetheless, take things with a grain of salt as i always say on forums.

[goldie1970]

hopefully not offending rdolak or anyone...just hesitant to download something off the internet that isn't company provided and put it in a 300 toy!

love the player as is, not touching it until I have issues!!

[tek101]

Originally Posted by goldie1970

hopefully not offending rdolak or anyone...just hesitant to download something off the internet that isn't company provided and put it in a 300 toy!

love the player as is, not touching it until I have issues!!

As always....This is the place I go to get firmware before anybody knows about it...and It works verytime......
Just the last firmware V4.30...( Even if they downloaded directly from Sony w/site) somehow it effects some players but not all.
I got it from here...(in UE site and works fine for my US model)
So yeah....wait if you want....
I did install V4.40 it works great...

[tron3]

Originally Posted by goldie1970

thanks...the ver4.4 that is listed above, is that the pending update you mentioned? wondering why someone here would have that link but the sony website wouldn't....

It takes time to migrate across the Sony servers. My job's web site was recently redone and it took a few days for the old site to go away. It's safe to go back in the water, people.

With that knowledge in hand, I updated and loaded the firmware tonight. I only tested Madasgascar and no change in load time. I keep a list. Wasn't able to test Wall-e with a full playback yet. That is the real test in my opinion.

[robertc88]

Looking for a Panny? Well I'm looking for a Sony and maybe this player on the cheap because I'm not happy with upconversion on BD30 even after FW upgrade!

I'd be satisfied if I just use it for upconversion and there aren't any issues just for that and the pQ is better than the Panny I have.

[Teabaggins]

I think the s300/301 does a good job at upscaling dvds

[zeekchic]

Horton Hears a Who will not play at all on my BDP-S300. Front display shows "can't play disc". I have never had this happen before. I have the latest firmware update 4.3 installed prior to my attempt to watch this movie.. Other new Blu-ray discs play including Dark Knight flawlessly and regular discs play.. Is this my player or will 4.4 fix this? Sony support wants me to send player in. I am hesitant because other blu-ray movies work.. The only other disc I have ever had a problem with this player was The Incredible Hulk..It would load to the menu but shut down when trying to play movie. This was fixed with v4.2...

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by zeekchic

Horton Hears a Who will not play at all on my BDP-S300. Front display shows "can't play disc". I have never had this happen before. I have the latest firmware update 4.3 installed prior to my attempt to watch this movie.. Other new Blu-ray discs play including Dark Knight flawlessly and regular discs play.. Is this my player or will 4.4 fix this? Sony support wants me to send player in. I am hesitant because other blu-ray movies work.. The only other disc I have ever had a problem with this player was The Incredible Hulk..It would load to the menu but shut down when trying to play movie. This was fixed with v4.2...

Do 4.4 before sending it in...by all means.

[hourglass]

Horton played about ten times (gotta love a 2-year-old in your house...) in my BDP-S301. I'm on firmware 4.3. I never had a single problem with it.

hg

[zeekchic]

Originally Posted by zeekchic

Horton Hears a Who will not play at all on my BDP-S300. Front display shows "can't play disc". I have never had this happen before. I have the latest firmware update 4.3 installed prior to my attempt to watch this movie.. Other new Blu-ray discs play including Dark Knight flawlessly and regular discs play.. Is this my player or will 4.4 fix this? Sony support wants me to send player in. I am hesitant because other blu-ray movies work.. The only other disc I have ever had a problem with this player was The Incredible Hulk..It would load to the menu but shut down when trying to play movie. This was fixed with v4.2...

So not only will Horton Hears a Who not play but The new Mummy movie will not play (Cannot Play disc error).. I called sony support again and they claim I will probably have to wait for the next firmware update... The player does not even attempt to load these 2 movies.. I can confirm that other movies will load such as Spiderman 3. Is there something different about these new movies.. The Dark Knight played for me flawlessly. I thought I had heard somewhere about encryption or encoding changes. If I do require the new update why do other people not have a problem with v4.3?

[Old Geezer]

"Horton Hears a Who" and the newest "Mummy" both played flawlessly in my BDP-S300. I'm currently running with the 4.3 firmware. I have most of the newest releases and I haven't had a problem with any of them.