The Sony BDP-S2000ES Review Thread

[didihala]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

According to several reports it will neither decode internally nor bitstream DTS-HD MA. So, in all actuality it's a total waste of money. It's gonna be $1300 for supposedly having "better build quality". That's quite laughable in my opinion.

What is WRONG with these manufacturers (Pioneer, Sony) that build a high end Blu-ray player (Elite BDP-95FD/Elite BDP-05FD, Sony BDPS2000ES) with over $1000 price tag that CANNOT even do one of the essential audio decodings for today's HD movies??

Is this manufacturer's fault that they can't get it right? or is it DTS, Inc.'s fault? Is this technologically had to do?

DD+ & Dolby TrueHD doesn't seem to have this issue.

Anyone?

TIA
---------------------------------
Pioneer PDP-5050HD plasma
Sony STRDA5300ES receiver
Sony BDP-S300 blu-ray

[JimPullan]

If you can be patient a few more months, sometime in the 2nd. quarter 2008, Panasonic will be introducing the DMP-BD50 "that does it all" - HDMI 1.3 compliant, Profile 2.0, will decode 'all' advanced audio codecs, upscaling of 480 DVD's up to 1080p/24 fps, excellent video processing. Need I go on ?

I don't recall if it has an ethernet port for connection to the internet or not. Maybe someone here can enlighten us to whether it does or does not have that feature. Even if it does not, it is my Player of Choice [Jim]

[didihala]

Originally Posted by JimPullan

If you can be patient a few more months, sometime in the 2nd. quarter 2008, Panasonic will be introducing the DMP-BD50 "that does it all" - HDMI 1.3 compliant, Profile 2.0, will decode 'all' advanced audio codecs, upscaling of 480 DVD's up to 1080p/24 fps, excellent video processing. Need I go on ?

I don't recall if it has an ethernet port for connection to the internet or not. Maybe someone here can enlighten us to whether it does or does not have that feature. Even if it does not, it is my Player of Choice [Jim]

Thanks Jim. Someone should print your post on a huge banner and hang it in front of Sony and Pioneer headquarter building!

I hate to be the one who spent $1000+ on those high end blu-ray players (Elite BDP-95FD, Sony BDPS2000ES) and not have the onboard decoding of dts-HD MA. I almost pulled the trigger on these players, so glad I didn't. Let's hope at least those people who bought them can get this capability through a firmware upgrade. Not sure if this is even technically possible.

---------------------------------
Pioneer PDP-5050HD plasma
Sony STRDA5300ES receiver
Sony BDP-S300 blu-ray

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by Carmien

Ahh, the legendary scenario of; parts were made from mithril, bathed in quicksilver and assembled by a crack team of ninjas in a dust proof chamber.

Yes, the compelling aspects of a quality build that do everything but customers with obvious HT requirements.

Sure, it'll run twice as long, but at half the HT quality. YUMMY. Must go and buy me one of these with my fat wallet.

/sarcasm off

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by JimPullan

If you can be patient a few more months, sometime in the 2nd. quarter 2008, Panasonic will be introducing the DMP-BD50 "that does it all" - HDMI 1.3 compliant, Profile 2.0, will decode 'all' advanced audio codecs, upscaling of 480 DVD's up to 1080p/24 fps, excellent video processing. Need I go on ?

I don't recall if it has an ethernet port for connection to the internet or not. Maybe someone here can enlighten us to whether it does or does not have that feature. Even if it does not, it is my Player of Choice [Jim]

Yes, it will have an Ethernet port since it is a BD-Live certified unit. In order to be a BD-Live certified (profile 2.0 unit) an Ethernet connection is a mandatory part of the spec for any Blu-ray player. BD-Live is about the ability to download extra added content/special features from the internet onto the profile 2.0 mandated 1GB local storage of such capable players.

[quetzalcoatl]

Originally Posted by didihala

Thanks Jim. Someone should print your post on a huge banner and hang it in front of Sony and Pioneer headquarter building!

I hate to be the one who spent $1000+ on those high end blu-ray players (Elite BDP-95FD, Sony BDPS2000ES) and not have the onboard decoding of dts-HD MA. I almost pulled the trigger on these players, so glad I didn't. Let's hope at least those people who bought them can get this capability through a firmware upgrade. Not sure if this is even technically possible.

---------------------------------
Pioneer PDP-5050HD plasma
Sony STRDA5300ES receiver
Sony BDP-S300 blu-ray

Well I am one of those that bought the Pioneer 95 and knew exactly what it could do and not do. And it does everything I need it to do. I donot need onboard decoding of DTS HD MA. And no it will never do it. And I have no regrets over buying it. If we wish to wait on what is next there is never a time to buy. The HT market is getting so much like the computer market that there is always something new around the corner.

[JimPullan]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

Yes, it will have an Ethernet port since it is a BD-Live certified unit. In order to be a BD-Live certified (profile 2.0 unit) an Ethernet connection is a mandatory part of the spec for any Blu-ray player. BD-Live is about the ability to download extra added content/special features from the internet onto the profile 2.0 mandated 1GB local storage of such capable players.

Excellent !!!! Who would want anything else other than a Realto chip in it !! [Jim]

[bootman]

Originally Posted by JimPullan

Excellent !!!! Who would want anything else other than a Realto chip in it !! [Jim]

The BD-50 will NOT have that.

[didihala]

Originally Posted by quetzalcoatl

Well I am one of those that bought the Pioneer 95 and knew exactly what it could do and not do. And it does everything I need it to do. I donot need onboard decoding of DTS HD MA. And no it will never do it. And I have no regrets over buying it. If we wish to wait on what is next there is never a time to buy. The HT market is getting so much like the computer market that there is always something new around the corner.

I understand that you cannot wait forever to buy new technology, and if you see my equipment list, I have already bought some.

My point was that with the new high def video technology (Blu-ray, HD-DVD) came the new high def Audio technology (DD+, TrueHD, dts-HD, dts-HD HR, dts-HD MA, etc.) which is exclusive to this new technology. Now, when these manufactures build a high end player that costs that much, they should at least stuff them with the latest technology availablr at the time - after all we are not talking about an entry level player here.

In any case, I am glad you are happy with your 95D, it is a great unit, don't get me wrong.

BTW, I noticed you have this quote in your post: "DTS HD MA not sure how I lived without it."

Souds like we both agree on that! But I am curious how you get dts-HD MA output from your 94THX if the 95FD cannot decode it? Still learning this stuff!

TIA

---------------------------------
Pioneer PDP-5050HD plasma
Sony STRDA5300ES receiver
Sony BDP-S300 blu-ray

[JimPullan]

I know that dipstick !!!

Originally Posted by bootman

The BD-50 will NOT have that.

[quetzalcoatl]

Originally Posted by didihala

I understand that you cannot wait forever to buy new technology, and if you see my equipment list, I have already bought some.

My point was that with the new high def video technology (Blu-ray, HD-DVD) came the new high def Audio technology (DD+, TrueHD, dts-HD, dts-HD HR, dts-HD MA, etc.) which is exclusive to this new technology. Now, when these manufactures build a high end player that costs that much, they should at least stuff them with the latest technology availablr at the time - after all we are not talking about an entry level player here.

In any case, I am glad you are happy with your 95D, it is a great unit, don't get me wrong.

BTW, I noticed you have this quote in your post: "DTS HD MA not sure how I lived without it."

Souds like we both agree on that! But I am curious how you get dts-HD MA output from your 94THX if the 95FD cannot decode it? Still learning this stuff!

TIA

---------------------------------
Pioneer PDP-5050HD plasma
Sony STRDA5300ES receiver
Sony BDP-S300 blu-ray

The 95 can send all the advanced codecs via bitstream and the 94 can decode them.

[2blu2]

Originally Posted by gvortex7

According to several reports it will neither decode internally nor bitstream DTS-HD MA. So, in all actuality it's a total waste of money. It's gonna be $1300 for supposedly having "better build quality". That's quite laughable in my opinion.

Actually according to every report the BDP-05FD will decode & bitstream all codecs.

Why would you think the BDP-05FD will NOT even bitstream DTS-HD MA when the BDP-95FD has had bitstream support for almost a year now.

The "next gen" one has less capabilities than the current gen one? You honestly think that. Pioneer waits over a year to release the next player and it does less than the current one?

[CAB]

Originally Posted by 2blu2

Actually according to every report the BDP-05FD will decode & bitstream all codecs.

Why would you think the BDP-05FD will NOT even bitstream DTS-HD MA when the BDP-95FD has had bitstream support for almost a year now.

The "next gen" one has less capabilities than the current gen one? You honestly think that. Pioneer waits over a year to release the next player and it does less than the current one?

This thread crossed the streams which should only be done to close portals to other dimensions. I'm pretty sure he was referring to the OP's questions regarding the 2000ES. It's a lot of price for no 1.1 and limited HD audio support.

[gvortex7]

Originally Posted by CAB

This thread crossed the streams which should only be done to close portals to other dimensions. I'm pretty sure he was referring to the OP's questions regarding the 2000ES. It's a lot of price for no 1.1 and limited HD audio support.

Exactamundo. The comments was made regarding the BDP-S2000ES and not the new Pioneer unit. How did comments from two threads merge anyway? (the obvious reason notwithstanding)

[bootman]

Who crossed the streams?
I thought crossing streams was bad?

What do you mean, "bad"?
Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
Total protonic reversal.

Important safety tip of the day.

[didihala]

Originally Posted by quetzalcoatl

The 95 can send all the advanced codecs via bitstream and the 94 can decode them.

I'm still confused... I can only go by what the user's manual says (table on page 44 and foot note # 18):

Disk audio format >>>>> HDMI output (Auto)

DTS-HD Master Audio >> DTS

18. DTS sound is output

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/St...ctions1010.pdf

And DTS = Core DTS.

So is the manual is wrong?

TIA

[scarpi]

It seems that alot of people are bashing spending $1300 for the build quality of the Sony S2000ES. Well in 1997 people told me not to spend $1200 on my DVP-S7000 Sony reference DVD player. Well ten years later it still works perfectly and it shows my DVDs very clear on my 65 inch HDTV. It never had a problem playing any DVD I ever bought. No freeze up no problems. So now judging by my past experience with that player I probably will buy the 2000ES. I don't care about internet connectivity, I only care that it does the job intended for it in my system (play movies and not have problems). I'm new in this forum, but I'm a little surprised that some people with high end systems don't think build quality is important.

[viiv]

Scarpi (check your PM inbox)

There is nothing wrong with build quality. I admire good quality too. It's just that it would be a better idea for you to wait for the replacment to the S2000ES which will inevitably come, and have ALL the features missing from the current model.

Besides, it seems that you want to buy the first "reference" model, the same as your old Sony DVD Player. Well the first reference model was actually the BDP-S1, which also sold for the same price and the BDP-S2000ES replaced. With the latest firmware update to the BDP-S1, it is functionally identical to the BDP-S2000ES except for the fact it can't play CDs. If you want the actual first Sony reference model with the same or maybe even better build quaility than the BDP-2000ES, go for the BDP-S1 instead.

This video talks about how it is the "first" player.

http://reviews.cnet.com/video-player...-31799184.html

[didihala]

Originally Posted by scarpi

It seems that alot of people are bashing spending $1300 for the build quality of the Sony S2000ES. Well in 1997 people told me not to spend $1200 on my DVP-S7000 Sony reference DVD player. Well ten years later it still works perfectly and it shows my DVDs very clear on my 65 inch HDTV. It never had a problem playing any DVD I ever bought. No freeze up no problems. So now judging by my past experience with that player I probably will buy the 2000ES. I don't care about internet connectivity, I only care that it does the job intended for it in my system (play movies and not have problems). I'm new in this forum, but I'm a little surprised that some people with high end systems don't think build quality is important.

scarpi, if I came across bashing Sony, that is not my intension. You can see from the list of stuff I own I am, and have been, a long time Sony fan, and that is for their built quality.

However, just because you are a fan that doesn't mean you cannot criticize them for some of the decisions they make or lack of features they put in a component. I do not mind paying top $ for a high quality component, but this is the High Definition era, and my problem with BDP-S2000ES is not the quality of picture, it is the lack of onboard decoding of all (and I mean all) HD Audio codecs - in this case lack of dts-HD MA decoder (not PCM). An example is if a manufacturer comes out with a HDTV but chooses not to include an HDMI interface, would you pay top dollar for it even if they have the best picture quality? Not me. As I said this is a High Definition era, and they should at least include all HD Audio decodings in the player. To me the picture quality is is only half the enjoyment of watching HD movies. Just my 2 cents!

---------------------------------------------
Pioneer PDP-5050HD Plasma TV

Sony STR-DA5300ES Receiver
Sony STR-DA3100ES Receiver
Sony STR-DA333ES Receiver

Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray
Sony DVP-NS90V SACD/DVD Upconverter
Sony DVP-NC655P DVD/CD player
Sony C75ES CD player

Monitor Audio 7.1 Speaker system w/Klipsch sub

[LeoneFan]

I agree with didihala, I don't think anyone is trying to bash this player. The ES line is legendary and has always had a great and solid reputation. Most of the components even come with a 5 year factory warranty, not even Pioneer has the balls to offer that on their high end stuff. They should have crammed all the options into this player as far as audio goes. I'm sure the next iteration will be done right.