The Sony BDP-S300/301 Review Thread

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by JasonR

Paid is suppossed to be giving me exact menu settings for this. I was leary as well, he said he was POSITIVE though. I should have the settings this week maybe....

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=690

Please check my post on the insiders thread.

[Scorxpion]

Thanks Paidgeek.

"I finally took some time this evening to reconfirm what is going on with the 300.

A couple of points to know first:

I checked this with firmware 3.7, but it applies to several earlier releases going back to when the feature first appeared on the S1.

It is not an advertised feature of the S300, It could be removed at any time in a future firmware release.

DO NOT call Sony customer service and hassle them about why this does not show up in the information display or in the manual. As mentioned before, this is an unadvertised feature. Consider it a gift.

The only setting that matters is the HDMI audio setting. It MUST be set to LPCM, or Dolby THD will only come out of the HDMI connection as DD. The downmix setting does not matter.

Dolby THD will only be decoded and passed as LPCM on the HDMI connector. If you want to confirm if you are really getting THD versus DD, try the following: Connect your receiver analog inputs to the analog outputs of the S300, set the HDMI audio output to LPCM and connect the HDMI output to your receiver as well, playback a THD audio stream and use your receiver to toggle between the analog input or the HDMI input, better yet, have someone else do the switching for you. If these do not sound the same to you, you have learned something. Now try the same thing with a normal DD stream and see if you hear the same difference, if not....

For those of you who will continue to question this until the sun burns out, someone makes a test disc to confirm it, or someone dedicated does an invert/add of the analog out vs. the HDMI THD out, keep in mind that I don't do this for a hobby and I don't have anything to gain by misleading you."


Hopefully now everything is clear.

BDP-S300 decode DolbyTHD as LPCM through HDMI output only.

Enjoy it..............

[djOS]

I just upgraded to FW v3.8 and it seems to boot quicker - haven't actually timed it or tried any BD+ / BDj disc yet.

[SBLANS2292]

Anyone seen any faults with these units? I have one and get strange white dotted lines through the picture! I have attached a picture, beginning to get very miffed with blu-ray had nothing but problems!!

[blurayisking]

Scorxpion:


If I understand correctly, the BDP-S300 does DECODE Dolby TrueHD via HDMI if set for PCM. Is that the same thing as saying that if I have my non-HDMI receiver and BDP-S300 player hooked via the 5.1 analog outputs, that I'm getting the decoded Dolby TrueHD sent as PCM via the 5.1 analog outputs.

Please advise accordingly

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by blurayisking

Scorxpion:


If I understand correctly, the BDP-S300 does DECODE Dolby TrueHD via HDMI if set for PCM. Is that the same thing as saying that if I have my non-HDMI receiver and BDP-S300 player hooked via the 5.1 analog outputs, that I'm getting the decoded Dolby TrueHD sent as PCM via the 5.1 analog outputs.

Please advise accordingly

Paid said it only decodes to HDMI, DD through analog.

[LeeS]

Wisper9999: Thank you.

Bsaxman: I would have to agree with the other posters, if you are having those kinds of issues with the player operation, I would seriously suspect the hardware, not the firmware and return the player.

The idea of waiting until the next gen player comes along is a good one, but I don't have any info as to what will replace the S300 and when that will happen. The constraint here may be the length of time where your warranty duration may be an issue.

Ideally, you return your player for the next gen model, but I'd take a working S300 if time is not on your side regarding that option.

[aviman33]

Originally Posted by LeeS

Wisper9999: Thank you.

Bsaxman: I would have to agree with the other posters, if you are having those kinds of issues with the player operation, I would seriously suspect the hardware, not the firmware and return the player.

The idea of waiting until the next gen player comes along is a good one, but I don't have any info as to what will replace the S300 and when that will happen. The constraint here may be the length of time where your warranty duration may be an issue.

Ideally, you return your player for the next gen model, but I'd take a working S300 if time is not on your side regarding that option.

I believe the new player is the S350 and I futher believe is is Profile 2 ready.

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by blurayisking

Scorxpion:


If I understand correctly, the BDP-S300 does DECODE Dolby TrueHD via HDMI if set for PCM. Is that the same thing as saying that if I have my non-HDMI receiver and BDP-S300 player hooked via the 5.1 analog outputs, that I'm getting the decoded Dolby TrueHD sent as PCM via the 5.1 analog outputs.

Please advise accordingly

I have a friend who have this player and i hope they can upgraded to get DolbyTHD through 5.1 analog output because he has an old receiver.But i think this is impossible for the time being.I told him about BDP-S500 it can decode DolbyTHD through 5.1 analog output but the Distributor here in my Country still doesnt have it.

You can only enjoy DolbyTHD through HDMI output as LPCM.

[blurayisking]

Further to my previous message.

I just finished comparing the sound of a Dolby TrueHD via 5.1 analog versus the digital coax bitstream.

I could not hear any difference so I have to conclude that the only way the BDP-S300 decodes Dolby TrueHD is via HDMI set for PCM as per Paidgeek's response.

Case closed.

[LeeS]

All, just found this while checking out new player information:

http://www.electronichouse.com/artic...u_ray_players/

It tells about the new BDP-S350 and the S550 players due out this summer and fall (respectively). I will likely wait for the new 350. They will be BD-Live-Ready with HDMI 1.3 and ethernet connectivity.

[LeeS]

All, I thought that I already posted this, but somehow it got hung up. Anyway, the new info on the upcoming Sony BDP-S350 and S550 can be found at:

http://www.electronichouse.com/artic...u_ray_players/

[jwhitta]

What would prevent Dolby TrueHD from being decoded and passed via 5.1 analog? Is it hardware/software related or just an option not being provided?

I don't have a HDMI capable receiver but would like to enjoy the benefits of TrueHD when PCM is not an option. Otherwise, I have become quite fond of the S300.

Thanks.

[aviman33]

Version 3.8 firmware is currently available on the Sony site. I just loaded it into my player, but haven't noticed any improvement in load or navigation times.

[JasonR]

Startup and BD-J titles seemed quite a bit quicker to me.

[aviman33]

Originally Posted by JasonR

Startup and BD-J titles seemed quite a bit quicker to me.

I tried mine on Ratatouille and found no difference. Start up and disc navigation still awful.

Jon

[JasonR]

I tried Pirates 3 and Cars, both seemed quite a bit better.

[tron3]

3.80 firmware a hit and a miss. Meaning, some BD-J discs load faster, and some take LONGER.

Timing starts from the moment the tray clips shut, to the moment of first screen image.

Format is:
Title / 3.70 load time / 3.80 load time
======================================
Power on / 44 sec / 44 sec 0 Difference
POTC 1 / 1:40 / 1:36 -04 sec.
POTC 2 / 1:12 / 1:31 +19 sec
POTC 3 / 1:18 / 1:03 -15 sec
Spiderman1 / 1:35 / 1:16 -19 sec
Spiderman2 / 1:13 / 1:15 -02 sec
Spiderman3 / 1:24 / 1:22 -02 sec
Fan. Four / 0:23 (non BD-j) / 0:23 0 difference
Fan Four Rise / 1:18 / 2:03 +45 sec

[Baldrick]

3.80 only available for USA Machines, sony.co.uk still only shows 3.70 download.

[russtcb]

Just loaded it and mostly noticed a difference in menu speeds. Load times seemed about the same. 3:10 To Yuma and Good Luck Chuck both had far easier menu navigation after this firmware.