The Sony BDP-S300/301 Review Thread

[crackinhedz]

Review: Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray Player

--Update-- It looks as if the BDP-S300 isn't HDMI 1.3 equipped after all. This post (picture) from A/V Magazine (Italian) clearly shows a Silicon Image SiI9030 chipset which is HDMI 1.1 only



...this is the chip if it would have if it were HDMI 1.2 (SiI9033) or HDMI 1.3 (SiI9134)


...if the chip inside the BDP-S300 is the SiI9030 (HDMI 1.1), how can it be considered 1.3?!!

[GaryR]

I have a BDP-300 and I have noticed that sometimes the picture and sound will pause for a brief second when playing a regular DVD. Anyone else have this problem or know why it might do this?

[garytma]

Originally Posted by GaryR

I have a BDP-300 and I have noticed that sometimes the picture and sound will pause for a brief second when playing a regular DVD. Anyone else have this problem or know why it might do this?

Are you actually getting a "pause", or a momentary "disappear" of the picture & audio.

I get the latter, in two ways:

1. When I set the player's "video format" button to "source direct", and play a DVD, I seem to miss a couple seconds of whatever the player has been commanded to play: i.e., menu item, or movie.

This disappears when I set the video format to "auto", and my theory is that the player has to sample the disc before its algorhythm upconverts the 480i to 1080p. When set to auto, the player determines, at start up, what your TV can support, and then sets it to that resolution, and does not have to sample the disc, for each playing of an individual program from the DVD.

2. And then, very rarely, I have seen, more what you describe: during playback of a program, the picture and audio "disappear" for a brief moment. This has happened to me maybe twice, while viewing maybe 8 or 10 DVDs.

My gut feeling is that this is related to the HDMI communicating that is taking place amongst any of the equipment we have connected to the player. In my case, I have the S300 connected, via HDMI, first to my receiver, and then from that to my display, via a 50ft HDMI cable. The long run of my cable, makes me believe that this is what might be occurring.

For me, a very infrequent "glitch" like this is not a problem. But if you are getting this, for every DVD you play, and/or more than once on a DVD, you might check your "video format" setting, and then check your DVDs, to be sure they are not smudged or scratched. The Blu-ray players may be more sensitive to DVD imperfections.

[jcneel]

I've had a Sony BDP-300S for a few weeks now - but have not had much of a chance to sit and watch it too much. So far have only watched two Blu-ray disk, Planet Earth (BBC) and 300. On both, there are times when I get a pulsing white static in the picture on both of these disks. For the Planet Earth Disc, I thought that this might have been part of the problems with the original filming of the disks as per the other threads on this forum. Just finished watching 300, and see the same thing in many scenes. Does anyone else have any idea what this may mean? I have the disc player hooked to my Samsung LNT4066F 40" LCD 1080i HDTV. This does not happen all of the time, but appears throughout during differernt scenes on both discs. Needless to say, I'm finding it a little annoying for my HD discs. Does not appear to happen when I play SD DVDs.

Thanks

jcneel

[tron3]

Originally Posted by aqupunk

So does your bdp-300 run the 2.0 firmeware right outta the box?

Mine came 2 days ago. Go to the advanced menu where you set the tv to 4:3 or 16:9 selection. Hit the blue button on the remote. Mine says 2.0.

It does take a little bit to turn on, but no where near the lag I heard reported on the first gen machines. Seems to start DVD or blu-ray in about the same amount of time.

I'm not going to fret over the small technical issues. As long as I can play Ghost Rider (when it gets here), and my other movie purchases, I'll be happy. Sometimes it is better to be practical instead of a purist.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by crackinhedz

Review: Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray Player

--Update-- It looks as if the BDP-S300 isn't HDMI 1.3 equipped after all. This post (picture) from A/V Magazine (Italian) clearly shows a Silicon Image SiI9030 chipset which is HDMI 1.1 only



...this is the chip if it would have if it were HDMI 1.2 (SiI9033) or HDMI 1.3 (SiI9134)


...if the chip inside the BDP-S300 is the SiI9030 (HDMI 1.1), how can it be considered 1.3?!!

On page 70 of the September 2007 Perfect Vision magazine the review of the Sony BDP-S300 incorrectly states the player has HDMI 1.3.
Here is the Home Theater review link that mentions the HDMI 1.2 on the Sony
http://www.hometheatermag.com/discplayers/707sonybdp300/

It is interesting this Sony BDP-S300 only has HDMI 1.2 and not HDMI 1.3? Earlier reports said it was HDMI 1.3. They must have changed the specs before releasing the player at a lower price.
Quote
“According to Sony the player will pass x.v.Color from its HDMI 1.2 output, but will not automatically switch an x.v.Color-compatible display to the correct color space. You will have to do this manually; auto-switching apparently requires HDMI 1.3. I lacked both x.v.Color source material and an x.v.Color display, so did not test this feature (at present x.v.Color source material is limited to discs recorded on a few camcorders). “

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

On page 70 of the September 2007 Perfect Vision magazine the review of the Sony BDP-S300 incorrectly states the player has HDMI 1.3.
Here is the Home Theater review link that mentions the HDMI 1.2 on the Sony
http://www.hometheatermag.com/discplayers/707sonybdp300/

It is interesting this Sony BDP-S300 only has HDMI 1.2 and not HDMI 1.3? Earlier reports said it was HDMI 1.3. They must have changed the specs before releasing the player at a lower price.
Quote
“According to Sony the player will pass x.v.Color from its HDMI 1.2 output, but will not automatically switch an x.v.Color-compatible display to the correct color space. You will have to do this manually; auto-switching apparently requires HDMI 1.3. I lacked both x.v.Color source material and an x.v.Color display, so did not test this feature (at present x.v.Color source material is limited to discs recorded on a few camcorders). “

That doesnt account for why an HDMI 1.1 chip (SiI9030) is inside the BD-S300.

how can you even call it hdmi 1.2??? it would have the SiI9033 chip.


this picture clearly shows the Si9030 chip. (hdmi1.1)



"SiI9030CTU"

[HDTV1080P]

Maybe Sony is using both HDMI 1.1 and HDMI 1.2 chips? Perhaps the first batch of players had HDMI 1.1 and then they started using HDMI 1.2 chips? I have not researched the circuit board design but maybe the BDP-S300 works with both the SIL9030 and SIL9033 chip. One would need to take another player apart to see if they are using two different versions of the chips or circuit boards.
What ticks me off is the pre-release specs of this player was going to have HDMI 1.3 before Sony decided to change the specs and not include HDMI 1.3. What really is going to confuse consumers is that magazines like the Perfect Vision are claiming in their review that the BDP-S300 is HDMI 1.3. I emailed the Perfect Vision to inform them of the incorrect review.

[crackinhedz]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

Maybe Sony is using both HDMI 1.1 and HDMI 1.2 chips? Perhaps the first batch of players had HDMI 1.1 and then they started using HDMI 1.2 chips? I have not researched the circuit board design but maybe the BDP-S300 works with both the SIL9030 and SIL9033 chip. One would need to take another player apart to see if they are using two different versions of the chips or circuit boards.
What ticks me off is the pre-release specs of this player was going to have HDMI 1.3 before Sony decided to change the specs and not include HDMI 1.3. What really is going to confuse consumers is that magazines like the Perfect Vision are claiming in their review that the BDP-S300 is HDMI 1.3. I emailed the Perfect Vision to inform them of the incorrect review.

"Maybe Sony is using both HDMI 1.1 and HDMI 1.2 chips? Perhaps the first batch of players had HDMI 1.1 and then they started using HDMI 1.2 chips?"

I can respect that.

[pug]

I am just glad that I returned my BDP-S300 and got the PS3 80 Gig version. The HD is beautiful (displaying at 1080i on my set) and Blu-ray movies look sensational. Besides, any firmware updates are done effortlessly and wirelessly. When Sony makes a Blu-Ray player that will not be outmoded in 90 days, I will buy one. For now, the PS3 is a beauty.

[tron3]

I read the review and now I am a little nervous about Ghost Rider (just came today) playing in my Sony DBP-S300. Was the firmware 2.0?

As long as I get sound I am not complaining. Can anyone tell me?

Anyone? Anyone?
Beuller? Beuller?

[tron3]

Ok, I managed to get Ghost Rider to play on my Sony BDP-S300. My output is as it has been - 1080i through component. My audio is whatever the standard setting was on the player. PCM stereo I think?

While it started out just fine, the Ghost Rider menu sequence kept playing but no menu selections. Pressing the menu buttons, or play did nothing.

So I press the stop button once. Instead of pressing play to resume, I pressed the "top menu" button. The sequence started playing back, only this time the menu options showed up on the bottom. Was able to play and select the options as usual.

The movie played without a hitch or glitch still sounded and looked awesome.

[GTsmokeya]

I am a long time viewer or this website first time poster. I work in the elctronic field and feel bad i never read this post. The BDPS300 has no 1.3 hdmi right now but its a good performer for the money and with personal use it is just as slow as the bdps1 but much lighter and thinner of course. I will look at the forums more often as I am speaking with sharp reps about their new blu-ray palyer. I beleive this new one by shapr will be something to contend with. It should be HDMI 1.3 and have video enabled features to play off of their newer 120hz lcd 1080p displays.

GTsmokeya

[Shadow_IA]

I have heard that Sony is going to be releasing something called "PlayTV".

I am very into to DVR possibility of the PS3 with PlayTV, but was not sure if there are any other stand alone BR players with built in DVR & DigitalHD Tuner. Other than Tivo3 but it has no Blu-Ray. & Is Expensive.

I guess what I'm getting at is that I have a Visio T.V. With only 1 HDMI. & want to Set it up to use the best Picture most of the time. My other alternative would be to find a Home Theature system with mutiple HDMI Inputs & a decent OSD.

[Xeena]

Originally Posted by Cortiz

The reviewer failed to mention that when you power the unit off, and then on the BD discs starts up again from the begining, menus and all. To me, this is a huge issue since most of the time I don't finish watching movies in one sit, and I think it's a big hassle to be searching for the point where you left off.

We just got the Sony 301 (came with HDMI cable) from Costco, Hubby had started watching a movie before I was home, when powered back on it kept the spot in the movie that it was shut off on. I wanted to start from beginning so went to menu, hit start movie, and bam it went to the pervious spot. Had to go back to the menu and click on some of the other options to get the damn thing to start the movie at the beginning....annoying!

We also have had the thing lockup, had to hold down the power button last night to get the thing to shut down. Anyone else have troubles with this? I can't seem to determine a sequence that makes it lock up, but it has done is three times now on different disk's both Blu-ray and DVD.

[richard lichtenfelt]

You probably just need to hook the player up to the internet and download the latest firmware updates. It's been a while since it was produced, oredered, shipped from overseas, then in a warehouse somewhere before being trucked to to the store.

[Xeena]

Originally Posted by richard lichtenfelt

You probably just need to hook the player up to the internet and download the latest firmware updates. It's been a while since it was produced, oredered, shipped from overseas, then in a warehouse somewhere before being trucked to to the store.

I'm not sure to whom you are replying, but the 300 doesn't connect to the internet.

I’m not at home to check the firmware version, but based on a previous post of someone who purchased at Costco, the version is 2.0, the most current firmware available.

[garytma]

Originally Posted by Xeena

I'm not sure to whom you are replying, but the 300 doesn't connect to the internet.

I’m not at home to check the firmware version, but based on a previous post of someone who purchased at Costco, the version is 2.0, the most current firmware available.

My understanding is that, if one has registered one's player, Sony will keep the individual informed as to when an update is available.

At any rate, I would stay aware of new developments at the S300 website at Sony.

Additionally, updates will likely be done via a disc, sent to an owner, and installed by inserting said disc into player.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by garytma

My understanding is that, if one has registered one's player, Sony will keep the individual informed as to when an update is available.

At any rate, I would stay aware of new developments at the S300 website at Sony.

Additionally, updates will likely be done via a disc, sent to an owner, and installed by inserting said disc into player.

Supposedly. Personally, I would burn my own DVD and run the update. As I have said before, my personal experience is that firmware updates are generally very good things. You can put the 2.0 firmware on the first gen Sony player and have the same benefits as my second gen player with the same 2.0 firmware.

The future may be in "transputers". The difference is that today's firmware is mostly like a BIOS/CMOS update for your computer. Basic operating instructions to run the machine. A transputer is a CPU that can be programmed for entirely different tasks. Maybe a number cruncher, or video processor, etc. The benefit is that processors for these players could be updated to aleviate the inherit bugs. Instead of programming around it with the support firmware as we do today. Cool, eh?

[videonut]

I would still just buy a PS3. You get more for your money.