Another UK player option for Americans and Canadians

[Tembo]

Rather than purchasing modded players a new idea for us here in North America is purchasing a B 2 player from the UK and using it to play discs from Europe. This however normally requires a reliable 110v-220v step-up transformer.

However, it seems that a number of players operate from 12v DC current and are supplied with a wall-wart type adapter.

In several cases the same model is sold in both North America and Europe and operate on the same 12v DC voltage, requiring that they be supplied with an appropriate wall wart transformer for local mains current. This of course is a huge advantage in manufacturing cost savings as the physical innards are identical with only the region code programming being different.

For us this means that we can purchase a region B2 player from Europe in the knowledge that it will work here, once we purchase the appropriate wall wart for the same model.

I've just checked some Sonys and the wall warts used here in NA and Europe all feed 12vDC centre polarity into the players. I believe there are some models by other manufacturers that this can work with.

The big advantage here is that we will be able to play European discs in the "correct" region players.

The most difficult part of this idea is actually identifying suitable players and locating North American wall wart transformers!

[mar3o]

Interesting thought. In my signature I made a thread covering a similar idea, except instead of buying a new transformer, I purchased a voltage transformer/converter. For the Panasonic player I went with, I don't think your method would have worked for me, since it's not a power brick - it's simply a plug that plugs into the unit and the wall. I believe the power transformer is on the inside for my player.

[15ofclubs]

Originally Posted by Tembo

Rather than purchasing modded players a new idea for us here in North America is purchasing a B 2 player from the UK and using it to play discs from Europe. This however normally requires a reliable 110v-220v step-up transformer.

However, it seems that a number of players operate from 12v DC current and are supplied with a wall-wart type adapter.

In several cases the same model is sold in both North America and Europe and operate on the same 12v DC voltage, requiring that they be supplied with an appropriate wall wart transformer for local mains current. This of course is a huge advantage in manufacturing cost savings as the physical innards are identical with only the region code programming being different.

For us this means that we can purchase a region B2 player from Europe in the knowledge that it will work here, once we purchase the appropriate wall wart for the same model.

I've just checked some Sonys and the wall warts used here in NA and Europe all feed 12vDC centre polarity into the players. I believe there are some models by other manufacturers that this can work with.

The big advantage here is that we will be able to play European discs in the "correct" region players.

The most difficult part of this idea is actually identifying suitable players and locating North American wall wart transformers!

Have a look at Sony BDP-S5500 & BDP-S6700. They both have 110-240V external power supply. You can but from Australia or UK for region B

[Tembo]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Interesting thought. In my signature I made a thread covering a similar idea, except instead of buying a new transformer, I purchased a voltage transformer/converter. For the Panasonic player I went with, I don't think your method would have worked for me, since it's not a power brick - it's simply a plug that plugs into the unit and the wall. I believe the power transformer is on the inside for my player.

If I recall correctly the Panasonic you bought from the UK was one you wanted for it's 3D capability, as well of course as being native Region 2, zone "B".

Because it is one of the models with either attached or detachable power cord you still needed the 110V-220v step-up converter, only to have the voltage dropped to 12v DC inside the unit.

Once I realised that some of these units dropped the AC mains with an exterior power brick it became obvious that buying a player in one country and the correct power brick in another was probably a good solution. Actually finding a source for the power brick may be problematical but we shall see what happens.

[Tembo]

Originally Posted by 15ofclubs

Have a look at Sony BDP-S5500 & BDP-S6700. They both have 110-240V external power supply. You can but from Australia or UK for region B

Thanks 15ofclubs! Actually I'm thinking of going with the BDP-S6700 but I'm just wondering if I might be creating a potential problem.

I've just bought the Sony X800 (unmodified) while it was on sale on amazon for $199. I'm going to leave it "clean" for Region / Zone A 1 and was looking at having a second player purchased overseas with B 2 as it's factory setting. As best as I can tell both players use the same remote. If both are just three ft apart can they be controlled without having both respond to the same commands??? Any ideas? Incidentally, neither players will be connected to the internet.

The above will let me finally retire my 12+ year old Yamaha DVD-S1500 which has been great for R2 and R4 DVDs as well as a few SACD. However, without HDMI it was becoming a real dinosaur!