The Sony BDP-S300/301 Review Thread - Page 78 - Blu-ray Forum

jomari · 12-22-2008, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robertc88

If cheap enough, I may bite just for upconversion primarily.

Is there a way by serial or UPC to know the build date and what FW version the player is? Then again I might just find an open box and can you tie in the build date with the FW version beforehand?

if im not mistaken, you wont find that info anyways handy on the box without opening it. there is no way to figure out the firmware details of that particular item, until connected.

if you are close to any, locate your local sony outlets. got mine for $109 refurb thus no hesitation (well, yeah, a bit i admit), to get it off the shelf.

if your looking for upconversion, well, read up on the upconversion/upscaling fallacies stickied in the er... display threads? i dont remember.

christopher710 · 12-23-2008, 03:28 PM

I'm glad I found this forum. My daughter has the 300 and it won't play Constantine, Elf or the Mummy.

I'm going to upgrade the firmware, not sure what it has now. It was purchased as a refurb unit last Xmas.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

rdodolak · 12-23-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christopher710

I'm glad I found this forum. My daughter has the 300 and it won't play Constantine, Elf or the Mummy.

I'm going to upgrade the firmware, not sure what it has now. It was purchased as a refurb unit last Xmas.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

Whoa! If you've never upgraded the firmware I'm guessing it has v3.70 (released around 19 Dec 07) or earlier installed.

No other suggestions other than upgrading the FW as it appears you will be doing. Make sure you burn the .iso file as an image (not as a "Data disc" when creating the disc. If you have any problems let us know.

ldrover · 12-23-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krisjan

No. The S300/301 does not bitsream the hi-rez audio formats like TrueHD and DTS-MA so it doesn't matter what your AVR does, it can't get the bitstream from the S300. Fortunately, Sony added TrueHD internal decoding some while back but DTS-MA decoding will never happen - the hardware can't support it.

In the end, S300 owners will have to settle for LPCM and TrueHD audio (via HDMI) for the hi-rez formats and forget about DTS-MA. If ones selects a DTS-MA track on a BD, you will get the core DTS 5.1 audio instead (which will be just fine for 90+% of the users out there who would be incapable of distinguishing between DTS and DTS-MA anyway with their audio setups.)

What is the best setting under Audio (HDMI)...Auto or PCM? If I set it and leave it at PCM, what will happen to Dolby 5.1 and DTS? What about TrueHD?

krisjan · 12-23-2008, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldrover

What is the best setting under Audio (HDMI)...Auto or PCM? If I set it and leave it at PCM, what will happen to Dolby 5.1 and DTS? What about TrueHD?

To answer your question, I need to know how you are connected to your AVR. Are you using HDMI? If not, what?

ldrover · 12-23-2008, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krisjan

To answer your question, I need to know how you are connected to your AVR. Are you using HDMI? If not, what?

I am connected to a Sony STR-DG820 via HDMI.

krisjan · 12-23-2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldrover

I am connected to a Sony STR-DG820 via HDMI.

Then set audio to PCM. You will get TrueHD this way and basic DD and DTS otherwise. Note that your AVR display will show something like "MultiCh" indicating that its receiving multichannel PCM audio. It will not show DD or DTS or TrueHD.

ldrover · 12-23-2008, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krisjan

Then set audio to PCM. You will get TrueHD this way and basic DD and DTS otherwise. Note that your AVR display will show something like "MultiCh" indicating that its receiving multichannel PCM audio. It will not show DD or DTS or TrueHD.

When playing DVD's with DD or DTS, will I need to swithc back to auto?

krisjan · 12-23-2008, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldrover

When playing DVD's with DD or DTS, will I need to swithc back to auto?

NO

divemaster · 12-25-2008, 04:43 AM

I think I'll send mine back to Sony for repair after the holidays. V4.4 is loaded, but movies that played before, no longer play. The player seems "moody" as sometimes it will play some of the older blu-ray movies, then it will decide not to play them. What was interesting today is that I wanted to watch Indiana Jones 4. The movie wouldn't load, but the extras disc had no problems. Both Blu-Ray. Go figure.

I'm curious to see if the price on the S350 drops after Christmas

jpepmont · 12-25-2008, 05:57 AM

hi, new to this and just want to know how to step by step process on updating to the new firm ware. do you have to save it onto a disc and play in your blu ray. if so, how? thanks.

jpepmont · 12-25-2008, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdodolak

Whoa! If you've never upgraded the firmware I'm guessing it has v3.70 (released around 19 Dec 07) or earlier installed.

No other suggestions other than upgrading the FW as it appears you will be doing. Make sure you burn the .iso file as an image (not as a "Data disc" when creating the disc. If you have any problems let us know.

how do you burn as an image?

JasonR · 12-25-2008, 06:08 AM

http://www.imgburn.com/

tek101 · 12-25-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpepmont

hi, new to this and just want to know how to step by step process on updating to the new firm ware. do you have to save it onto a disc and play in your blu ray. if so, how? thanks.

Follow this to download....
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu...=4141&os_id=99

Or you can oreder a firmware disk from Sony. they will send you with the instruction.

fighthefutureofhd · 12-25-2008, 02:17 PM

an update:

i've had the player for a week now and it has played every blu-ray i put in there. all the way through. i have no complaints with this player at all. best decision i made. not the smartest, but life will go on.

divemaster · 12-28-2008, 02:14 AM

is there a way to wipe the current firmware and reupload an older version to test to see if the firmware is the problem with reading the blu-ray discs versus a possible laser problem?

krisjan · 12-29-2008, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by divemaster

is there a way to wipe the current firmware and reupload an older version to test to see if the firmware is the problem with reading the blu-ray discs versus a possible laser problem?

The problem you have is not FW related.

GodofBlu · 12-30-2008, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by divemaster

is there a way to wipe the current firmware and reupload an older version to test to see if the firmware is the problem with reading the blu-ray discs versus a possible laser problem?

Did you try powering down your S300 by pulling the plug for a few hours? Sometimes they need a hard reset.

GORT · 12-30-2008, 02:35 AM

Firmware update 4.40 is now avalible at sony.com

Baldrick · 12-30-2008, 07:39 AM

Just downloaded 4.40, will upgrade tonight

12-25-2008, 05:57 AM	#1551
jpepmont New Member Member since:Dec 2008	Sony BDP s300 firmware update hi, new to this and just want to know how to step by step process on updating to the new firm ware. do you have to save it onto a disc and play in your blu ray. if so, how? thanks.

Similar Threads
thread	Forum	Thread Starter	Replies	Last Post
The Sony BDP-S1 Review Thread	Blu-ray Players and Recorders	iceman	475	03-02-2014 06:38 PM
Trouble with 007 for BDP-S300/301	Blu-ray Movies - North America	Smokin' T	19	10-23-2008 02:54 AM
When will 3.90 be Released for the BDP-S300/301	Blu-ray Players and Recorders	viiv	3	04-16-2008 02:19 AM
Firmware Update BDP-S300/301	Blu-ray Players and Recorders	Ratdaddy	2	02-01-2008 02:23 AM
Sony BDP-301 with latest 3.30 Firmware	Blu-ray Players and Recorders	TheDoc46	18	12-23-2007 12:24 AM

12-23-2008, 03:28 PM	#1542
christopher710 New Member Member since:Dec 2008	I'm glad I found this forum. My daughter has the 300 and it won't play Constantine, Elf or the Mummy. I'm going to upgrade the firmware, not sure what it has now. It was purchased as a refurb unit last Xmas. Anyone else have any suggestions?

12-25-2008, 04:43 AM	#1550
divemaster Junior Member Member since:Dec 2008	I think I'll send mine back to Sony for repair after the holidays. V4.4 is loaded, but movies that played before, no longer play. The player seems "moody" as sometimes it will play some of the older blu-ray movies, then it will decide not to play them. What was interesting today is that I wanted to watch Indiana Jones 4. The movie wouldn't load, but the extras disc had no problems. Both Blu-Ray. Go figure. I'm curious to see if the price on the S350 drops after Christmas

12-25-2008, 06:08 AM	#1553
JasonR Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Trading Score:12	http://www.imgburn.com/

12-25-2008, 02:17 PM	#1555
fighthefutureofhd Blu-ray Baron Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Dry County	an update: i've had the player for a week now and it has played every blu-ray i put in there. all the way through. i have no complaints with this player at all. best decision i made. not the smartest, but life will go on.

12-28-2008, 02:14 AM	#1556
divemaster Junior Member Member since:Dec 2008	is there a way to wipe the current firmware and reupload an older version to test to see if the firmware is the problem with reading the blu-ray discs versus a possible laser problem?

12-30-2008, 02:35 AM	#1559
GORT Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Nov 2007 Location:Reducing Your Planet To A Burned Out Cinder Blu-ray collection:295	Firmware update 4.40 is now avalible at sony.com

12-30-2008, 07:39 AM	#1560
Baldrick Junior Member Member since:Feb 2008 Blu-ray collection:3	Just downloaded 4.40, will upgrade tonight

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals