The Sony BDP-S300/301 Review Thread

[Audiofile]

Originally Posted by blackpixels

After reading the review it really makes you wonder if Sony released this thing without the same type of 2.0 firmware update we recieved for the S1...ever since v2.0 I've have no problems or issues at all with navigation or speeds; granted it's not lightning fast but no where near like it was before the udpate and the way he's describing the 300's operation sounds exactly the same as the S1 did pre-updates...hmmm?? Otherwise it appears to be a "mini-me" version of the S1 without the extra audiophile touches plus it includes CD playback and HDMI 1.3 at an attractive price point.

I just traded in the Sony S1 for the S300 at Best Buy. I was still within my 30 day return window. I just checked out POTC to compare and it loads exactly the same as the S1 with the 2.0 update which is to say still slow but at least it works. If you were checking it out for the first time you would think it was pretty slow too. The players seem to be identical in terms of IQ and functionality. It looks like I've got the same player for almost half the price as the S1.

[malam]

Just a quick question - Will the S300 upconverts standard DVD to 1080p better that the Regular Players in the market that upconverts to 1080p ?
Thanks.

[krisjan]

Originally Posted by malam

Just a quick question - Will the S300 upconverts standard DVD to 1080p better that the Regular Players in the market that upconverts to 1080p ?
Thanks.

No. The Samsung 1200 has the best upconversion of the blu-ray players out there today because they use the Reon chip.

[malam]

Originally Posted by krisjan

No. The Samsung 1200 has the best upconversion of the blu-ray players out there today because they use the Reon chip.

I picked up my BDP-S300 this afternoon. Very easy to setup, I was up and running as soon as I had the unit plugged-in. First DVD I tried was Pacifier- not a Blu-ray, but I had watched this several times with my little one on an LG with 1080i upconverting DVD. Well...the display was astounding ! It could be because my TV is an HD1080p, but the diference is quite obvious. I am going to try my other old DVDs just to be sure my eyes are not deceiving me. Will keep you posted.

[krisjan]

Originally Posted by malam

I picked up my BDP-S300 this afternoon. Very easy to setup, I was up and running as soon as I had the unit plugged-in. First DVD I tried was Pacifier- not a Blu-ray, but I had watched this several times with my little one on an LG with 1080i upconverting DVD. Well...the display was astounding ! It could be because my TV is an HD1080p, but the diference is quite obvious. I am going to try my other old DVDs just to be sure my eyes are not deceiving me. Will keep you posted.

If you like what the S300 does with SD DVD, then you would like the 1200 better. It has a superior upconversion chip. Anyway, glad you like what you bought.
Mark

[malam]

Originally Posted by krisjan

If you like what the S300 does with SD DVD, then you would like the 1200 better. It has a superior upconversion chip. Anyway, glad you like what you bought.
Mark

It was the price Mark. I got the unit for $499.00 at the Sony Store. The Samsung 1200 would have cost me more than twice that. The upconversion of the SD DVDs was a huge thing for me because I was not ready to start compiling Bluray movies yet, maybe the occassional one. My local Blockbuster is still not carrying HD movies either. It appears that Sony had to cut some corners to be able to offer S300 at these prices. I won't be suprised to see them down to $300 or so by the end of this year.

[LeoneFan]

Originally Posted by krisjan

No. The Samsung 1200 has the best upconversion of the blu-ray players out there today because they use the Reon chip.

On paper maybe, in the real world however I doubt you would see much difference. Certainly not enough difference to justify the price difference of the player. Upconversion overall is extremely overrated.

[aqupunk]

I just got a bdp-s300 replaced it from my panasonic dmp-bd10 and I think it has better pq! I am extremely happy with it, less buggy than the panasonic and I am sure in time with updates it will be extremely improved on the few things it lack which are totally acceptable in my opinion. Seriouly best bd player I have had so far!

[LeoneFan]

Originally Posted by aqupunk

I just got a bdp-s300 replaced it from my panasonic dmp-bd10 and I think it has better pq! I am extremely happy with it, less buggy than the panasonic and I am sure in time with updates it will be extremely improved on the few things it lack which are totally acceptable in my opinion. Seriouly best bd player I have had so far!

There is a thread over at AVM$ forum where a guy compared the S300 and 10A and he also thought the S300 had better BD PQ.

[malam]

Originally Posted by malam

I picked up my BDP-S300 this afternoon. Very easy to setup, I was up and running as soon as I had the unit plugged-in. First DVD I tried was Pacifier- not a Blu-ray, but I had watched this several times with my little one on an LG with 1080i upconverting DVD. Well...the display was astounding ! It could be because my TV is an HD1080p, but the diference is quite obvious. I am going to try my other old DVDs just to be sure my eyes are not deceiving me. Will keep you posted.

I bought a Blu-ray movies "Click" and put it on last night - my first Blu-ray movie. I did not finish the movie - was very dissappointed! I was not impressed at all. I heard that some of the available movies are not well made and I'm not sure if this is one of them. The clarity wasn't up to what I expected - not as good as the upconverted "Planet of the Apes" which I ended up watching. Where is the "WOW" factor here ! I am willing to try another Blu-ray movie before I make up my mind whether to keep this unit or not. Any suggestion as to which one will actually show me the true value of having a Blu-ray Player ?
Thanks.

[ottscay]

7 years in Tibet, Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, Crank, Transporter 2 are some of the favs for pure visual goodness. Crank is not one of the better regarded transfers, although in part taht may have to do with the source aquisition cameras.

[whippersnapper]

Originally Posted by malam

I bought a Blu-ray movies "Click" and put it on last night - my first Blu-ray movie. I did not finish the movie - was very dissappointed! I was not impressed at all. I heard that some of the available movies are not well made and I'm not sure if this is one of them. The clarity wasn't up to what I expected - not as good as the upconverted "Planet of the Apes" which I ended up watching. Where is the "WOW" factor here ! I am willing to try another Blu-ray movie before I make up my mind whether to keep this unit or not. Any suggestion as to which one will actually show me the true value of having a Blu-ray Player ?
Thanks.

What's the serial number on your 300?

[Dadds]

Layer Cake, Casino Royal, PotC: 1 and 2, A Scanner Darkly and the transporters.

[Scorxpion]

Originally Posted by malam

I bought a Blu-ray movies "Click" and put it on last night - my first Blu-ray movie. I did not finish the movie - was very dissappointed! I was not impressed at all. I heard that some of the available movies are not well made and I'm not sure if this is one of them. The clarity wasn't up to what I expected - not as good as the upconverted "Planet of the Apes" which I ended up watching. Where is the "WOW" factor here ! I am willing to try another Blu-ray movie before I make up my mind whether to keep this unit or not. Any suggestion as to which one will actually show me the true value of having a Blu-ray Player ?
Thanks.

you cant judge Blu-ray experience from one viewing title and decide upon,As you said you should decide on a couple more titles.a Recommendation there are many out but to begin with are:
MI3,KOH,BHD,Tears Of The SUN,Casino Royale,POTC both of them,Crank,The departed,Prestige,Rocky Balboa,Dreamgirls,Identity,Open Season,Chicken little,ect...

I would like you to join us on Blu-ray Movies discussion where there you can have a true discussion upon many BD movies which has a WOW factor.

[malam]

Will pickup "Casino Royal" and "Dream Girls" in a couple of days. I have seen both movies and they will be a good set to use as guide. I will also join the discussion in the Movies section of this Forum. I can see that there is a lot of passionate Blu-ray owners here, which is a good thing.
Thanks.

[Wolfie]

Originally Posted by malam

I bought a Blu-ray movies "Click" and put it on last night - my first Blu-ray movie. I did not finish the movie - was very dissappointed! I was not impressed at all. I heard that some of the available movies are not well made and I'm not sure if this is one of them. The clarity wasn't up to what I expected - not as good as the upconverted "Planet of the Apes" which I ended up watching. Where is the "WOW" factor here ! I am willing to try another Blu-ray movie before I make up my mind whether to keep this unit or not. Any suggestion as to which one will actually show me the true value of having a Blu-ray Player ?
Thanks.

How much do you want for it?

Wolfie

[Wolfie]

Originally Posted by aqupunk

I just got a bdp-s300 replaced it from my panasonic dmp-bd10 and I think it has better pq! I am extremely happy with it, less buggy than the panasonic and I am sure in time with updates it will be extremely improved on the few things it lack which are totally acceptable in my opinion. Seriouly best bd player I have had so far!

No doubt! Mine does some seriously good processing of SDVD's and I'm using plain-ole components.

Wolfie

[Coltboy]

i have yet "not to have a wow factor" with any of my BDs and i was expecting a lot when i bought my $1000 unit. i was and still am Wowed by them.

[johnmhemp]

Originally Posted by malam

Will pickup "Casino Royal" and "Dream Girls" in a couple of days. I have seen both movies and they will be a good set to use as guide. I will also join the discussion in the Movies section of this Forum. I can see that there is a lot of passionate Blu-ray owners here, which is a good thing.
Thanks.

Maybe just my imagination but I have Spiderman 1 & 2, Crouching Tiger, and Dracula on Superbit and they jump out in near HD quality on the BDP-S300. Some of the standard dvds just look OK but those particular discs look great. After they load... Pirates 1 & 2 are jaw droppingly amazing. Dreamgirls, Casino Royale, and MI3 are great BDs too.

[malam]

Originally Posted by malam

Will pickup "Casino Royal" and "Dream Girls" in a couple of days. I have seen both movies and they will be a good set to use as guide. I will also join the discussion in the Movies section of this Forum. I can see that there is a lot of passionate Blu-ray owners here, which is a good thing.
Thanks.

I picked up Casino Royale and Ghost Rider yesterday. I like the Ghost Rider best, but both are great. However, I have decided to return the Sony Player this afternoon. I arrived at this decision after a review of the BD movies available currently and their prices. Its one thing to have the BD Player or HD Player for that matter, but its another thing to be able to support the very expensive "habbit" of collecting the movies.

I see the operating cost of these players as the biggest barrier and not which technology is better than the other. In my opinion, the availability and cost of HD or Blu-ray movies, either for purchase, or rental will be, by far, the most determining factor as to which of the two systems will "WIN" the war. Both Sony and Toshiba may end up Losing the war if the movies are not there to support them.

I have seen the passion on this forum for the Blu-ray format. I do share some of that passion, but I am willing to Cool it for a while longer and see how things go. I will still keep the space for a Blu-ray player on my Home Theatre rack open and reserved for Sony though. Maybe one of these days.
Thanks.