US Blu-ray players and 50hz compatibility

[Doc Ostrow]

Sneazer: My LG BD530 played the Return to Cranford Blu-ray imported from the UK, even though the Panasonic DMP-BD30 and DMP-BD605 Blu-ray players that I own wouldn't play it. Both of my Panasonics players are on the US Blu-ray players and 50hz compatibility list. I bought the LG BD530 for only $65 from Ralphs- a grocery store! I'm so glad I bought it.

I haven't yet tried the tests that 4K2K suggested, although I intend to in the future.

[obriensg1]

I didn't know about the whole 50 HZ thing until today. I bought the first two seasons of Sherlock off Amazon UK and shipped em' to Minnesota cause they said 'Region Free'. They won't play off PS3 or the Sony BD in my small living room.

I'm so sad. I want them to work somehow, but I'm probably going to have to send them back across the pond for a refund

[thistleknot]

Originally Posted by obriensg1

I didn't know about the whole 50 HZ thing until today. I bought the first two seasons of Sherlock off Amazon UK and shipped em' to Minnesota cause they said 'Region Free'. They won't play off PS3 or the Sony BD in my small living room.

This is exactly the reason I'm looking for a player that can play 50Hz on a 60Hz display. I ordered Sherlock from their mobile site, which didn't have the warning about the 50hz thing, only that it was region-free.

Does anyone have any updates on the Samsung players as to whether they play to 60hz displays? Was looking at buying one, but only a few of the older ones on the list actually say "Outputs 50Hz content at 60Hz". From reading the comments it seems more of a "hasn't been clarified" issue, so I was hoping someone had an update.

[Dotcom]

Same reason, guys. I've been dying for Sherlock but my Sony player doesn't play 50hz, and I'm not spending the money for another one.

My question is...will an external PC Bluray drive, such as the LG BP06LU10 or the Samsung SE-406AB, play at 50hz? I've been looking it up but no mention of it at all. I need a new disc drive for my PC anyway so this might be worth it.

[Sneazer]

Originally Posted by Doc Ostrow

Sneazer: My LG BD530 played the Return to Cranford Blu-ray imported from the UK, even though the Panasonic DMP-BD30 and DMP-BD605 Blu-ray players that I own wouldn't play it. Both of my Panasonics players are on the US Blu-ray players and 50hz compatibility list. I bought the LG BD530 for only $65 from Ralphs- a grocery store! I'm so glad I bought it.

I haven't yet tried the tests that 4K2K suggested, although I intend to in the future.

Thanks for the suggestion. I ended up ordering an Insignia and installed the hack that allows it to play 50hz blur ays and it also allows it to be region free. I will definitely look into the one you suggested. It's always nice to have options.

[Palomino]

4K2K, I love you.

Here in Canada, my BBC "Sherlock" Series 2 region-free Blu-Ray "authored to UK 50i specs" has just played episode 1 perfectly with my 2-year-old Samsung BD-P1600 (never updated firmware) and matching Samsung flatscreen LCD TV.

*** THREE TIMES *** I called Samsung technical support, and three different children there insisted that I should NOT buy this disc from Amazon UK, it would not work with my player. Meanwhile, they refused to say what "spec" my player IS "authored to", refused to explain how other region-free Blu-rays from the UK manage to work in my player, and refused to divulge exactly how the 50i disc would fail (specific error message? bad picture or sound? overheats and sets my house on fire?). I can't imagine how Samsung benefits from denying this feature of their product, but that's their party line and they lie like rugs. I suspect Moriarty is behind it. Be warned everyone!

[umeko]

I'm here pretty much on the verge of desperation. I have recently been upgraded to blu-ray and bought a sony BDP-BX38. I contacted their support, read their manuals and they said yes, the player does support 50hz. So I went ahead and bought Sherlock and Torchwood from Amazon UK. They arrived today but alas, my screen remains blank. No error page or anything just...a black canvas of sorrow and hoplessness. Excuse my candor but I'm just incredibly disappointed. I don't understand why the manual says it can play 50hz...should i be upgrading firmware? All I get on both discs is a flash of their production company logo "2entertain" before it falls back into darkness once again. I'm a complete dunce when it comes to these things...so I guess I'll have to return the discs and wait for Amazon US/Canada to come out with them...

[kyle]

Originally Posted by umeko

I'm here pretty much on the verge of desperation. I have recently been upgraded to blu-ray and bought a sony BDP-BX38. I contacted their support, read their manuals and they said yes, the player does support 50hz. So I went ahead and bought Sherlock and Torchwood from Amazon UK. They arrived today but alas, my screen remains blank. No error page or anything just...a black canvas of sorrow and hoplessness. Excuse my candor but I'm just incredibly disappointed. I don't understand why the manual says it can play 50hz...should i be upgrading firmware? All I get on both discs is a flash of their production company logo "2entertain" before it falls back into darkness once again. I'm a complete dunce when it comes to these things...so I guess I'll have to return the discs and wait for Amazon US/Canada to come out with them...

It may support/play 50Hz, but maybe your TV doesn't support the 50Hz input. Maybe you need a player that would convert/output 50Hz at 60Hz.

I hate this whole 50Hz thing--I've stopped importing BDs because of it. The original 2entertain releases (Robin Hood, Hotel Babylon, The Turdors) all worked fine. Now it seems like they use 50Hz for everything.

[umeko]

Originally Posted by kyle

It may support/play 50Hz, but maybe your TV doesn't support the 50Hz input. Maybe you need a player that would convert/output 50Hz at 60Hz.

I hate this whole 50Hz thing--I've stopped importing BDs because of it. The original 2entertain releases (Robin Hood, Hotel Babylon, The Turdors) all worked fine. Now it seems like they use 50Hz for everything.

Thanks for the reply, Kyle. My TV is a Sharp Aquos LCD. Checked the specs on the site and I guess it doesn't support 50hz since i only see 1080/24p 1080/60p 1080/60i 720/60p...I'm assuming anyway. I'm going on pure matching letters and numbers without any substantial knowledge. Went to the Sony store and they were no help at all-- they pretty much told me to go on forums to see what other people say. Thanks.

This is incredibly frustrating-- I feel like I have to jump through so many hoops before earning that damn measly treat. Especially when all I want to do is support the industry.

[top]

my old Sharp BD-HP21 plays Region 2 UK Sherlock series 1 and 2 on my new Panasonic Viera tv.

I didn't go through the thread to see how to check if the Sharp blu-ray player converts 50hz to 60hz or if my Panasonic Viera can play 50hz. I do know that the blu-ray player has played region 2 Blu-ray for years on multiple tv's as I never knew about this 50/60hz problem until I just now purchased series 2 of Sherlock.

[zeropcs]

Thinking about grabbing the Samsung BD-D6500 this week. My LG 60' plasma will not do 50hz, so with what I have read it seems this player is safe for upconverting 50hz the content to 60hz?

I have the Strike Back UK import set and all i get is sound on my Panasonic and nothing on the PS3, so I am hoping this solves my issue.

[zeropcs]

Never mind, pulled the trigger... WORKS!!!

[Blackloz]

Originally Posted by zeropcs

Thinking about grabbing the Samsung BD-D6500 this week. My LG 60' plasma will not do 50hz, so with what I have read it seems this player is safe for upconverting 50hz the content to 60hz?

I have the Strike Back UK import set and all i get is sound on my Panasonic and nothing on the PS3, so I am hoping this solves my issue.

I had to do the exact same thing for the exact same BD's as you, and I also got the BD-D6500.

[zeropcs]

Originally Posted by Blackloz

I had to do the exact same thing for the exact same BD's as you, and I also got the BD-D6500.

I am very very happy with this player so far... Its much quicker than the Panasonic 210, and seems to like everything I have thrown at it...

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread...

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by umeko

I'm here pretty much on the verge of desperation. I have recently been upgraded to blu-ray and bought a sony BDP-BX38. I contacted their support, read their manuals and they said yes, the player does support 50hz. So I went ahead and bought Sherlock and Torchwood from Amazon UK. They arrived today but alas, my screen remains blank. No error page or anything just...a black canvas of sorrow and hoplessness. Excuse my candor but I'm just incredibly disappointed. I don't understand why the manual says it can play 50hz...should i be upgrading firmware? All I get on both discs is a flash of their production company logo "2entertain" before it falls back into darkness once again. I'm a complete dunce when it comes to these things...so I guess I'll have to return the discs and wait for Amazon US/Canada to come out with them...

When I go to http://www.docs.sony.com/release/BDPS380_BX38.pdf
(which I think is the manual for the US BDP-S380/BX38 player)
I can't see where it says it supports 50hz discs. It does mention 50Hz in the "power requirements for other areas" though, but I can't see it saying it supports 50i/"PAL" discs.

It does say "Discs that cannot be played: A disc recorded in a color system other than NTSC, such as PAL (this player conforms to the NTSC color system)." Is there an online manual (do you have a link?) for this (or any other) US Sony player that says it supports 50Hz (ie. 50i or "PAL") discs?

Maybe their support misunderstood what you meant and thought you were talking about the power supply and non-US players. Maybe asking them about "PAL" or "50i Blu-ray" or "1080/50i" or 1080i25 or "25 fps" support on the US version of the player they would understand better?

[beckyward]

Thank you for the helpful information, which I couldn't find anywhere else. Like some of the other people on here, I was desperate to watch Sherlock 2. One Samsung BD-D6500 later, I was watching the cliffhanger from Sherlock 1 resolve. So worth the money...

[DJTommy]

the Vizio VBR100 plays 50hz but puts it on the upper left part of the screen

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by DJTommy

the Vizio VBR100 plays 50hz

Thanks.

but puts it on the upper left part of the screen

Could you give a bit more detail please? Is this with full HD high def content or standard def content? On Blu-ray or a "PAL" DVD? What aspect ratio was the content and does it cut off any of the picture or just not scale it/position it properly (not centred?)?

Also does it output 50hz discs at 50Hz or 60Hz - or either depending on the TV?

[octagon]

I don't even know what made me click on this thread late Thurs night but I'm very glad I did. I was planning to watch Sherlock Series Two with my niece over the weekend and would have been screwed if I hadn't known to take my Insignia BRDVD4 (which played just fine on both an LG LX90 LED and a 1080i Sony CRT rear projection) along for the ride.

[Iain1974]

Originally Posted by zeropcs

I am very very happy with this player so far... Its much quicker than the Panasonic 210, and seems to like everything I have thrown at it...

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread...

Pleased for you. I'm on my 3rd Samsung 6500 in about a month.

The First was sent back because it wouldn't play anything at all.
The second played 'Frozen Planet' UK version and then never played another disc.
The 3rd seems OK and hopefully will live at least 2 years.

My previous player was a SonyS350 from back in the days when $200 was an absolute steal for a Blu Ray player. I'm 80% convinced the PQ is noticably better on the Samsung. Crisper and truer than the old Sony.