BDP-S301 and an SD TV - Blu-ray Forum

viiv · 12-24-2007, 04:01 AM

Hi, with my last DVD player just dying after 6 years (purchased in 2001), I am in the market for a new one. However, with the new redicously low price of the BDP-S301 at my local Costco (same as S300 but with HDMI cable), I am thinking it would be smart to purchace that instead of a decent quality DVD player (which would cost like $150) so for a little more than an additional $100 I can get my self a Blu Ray machine. However, I currently have a 27" Sony CRT I purchased on clearence for $450 when it was discontinued in early 2005. It is a KV-27FS320. A 4:3 480i 27" analog CRT set. Now this was Sony's last top line 27" non-HD TV, it even has a Memory Stick drive, something I hardly see in even expensive Sony Bravias. Much more convenient than burning JPEG CDs/DVDs. Doesn't lack inputs either, it has one composite only input, two S-Video/composite inputs and two component inputs. Anyways, my point is (after you calibrate it) it still has excellent PQ, and very good colour reproduction, with nice true deep blacks that are better than any black level I have seen on any LCD or plasma. My point is, I am against buying a new TV for environmental and other reasons, with this one still working and, its not like I am embarresed by it, it still is a very modern and expensive looking TV. Anyways, I would still like to buy a Blu Ray machine, and would even like to buy Blu Ray movies instead of DVD versions when available, since I would rather not keep buying an obsolete format, and that way when I do end up getting a new HD TV in 5 years or so, I would already have a decent collection of HD movies to enjoy, since from now to then I would have purchased Blu-Ray when possible. Although I refuse to repurchase movies I already own on DVD on Blu Ray, but movies I do not own, prefer on Blu Ray. Anyways, assuming I connect the S301 to my TV via component, my questions:

1: How would standard DVDs look vs my old player? Any improvement? I know upscaling doesn't work for a non-HD TV right? But with the 24 bit processor of the S301, any improvement to be noticed? I mean it is newer and better technology right?

2. Playing Blu Rays. I am sure I would notice some difference vs DVDs right? Even minute, maybe the colour reproductuion would be better, with less pixilization that you sometimes see. I do see occasional blockiness when watching DVDs. Even on my 480i set, I see awful pixilization on those dark scenes/shadows. I am sure Blu Ray will solve those problems on my set up right?

3. All Blu Ray films are released in wide screen right? But do some films have an option for 4:3 or 16:9 as some DVDs had in the menu, or not in Blu Ray.

4. Does the player itself have an option to output films in 4:3 mode, in essence cutting off the edges, so it will fill up my TV screen in full screen mode?

5. I have a collection of maybe 20-30 Video CDs. Lots of them hare home movies. I see no mention of VCDs in the players specs, will it play them? It seems silly not to include support for VCDs since it can read the CD format since it can play audio CDs. I mean they went through the trouble from the S1 to make it's successor able to read CDs, but they only allow it to decode Audio CDs? Adding support for the MPEG1 codec wouldn't cost Sony a thing, espetially since I imagine this player is much more powerful than my old DVD player which could play them. This player could probably play Video CDs while it it's asleep (okay well maybe not when its off, but using like less than 5% of its CPU power). I see NO REASON to not include support for it, no matter how old it is is. I can draw a comparison to the PS3 here. Its like a PS3 that can't play Playstation 1 games. Video CDs and PS1 games were CD based. DVD Video and PS2 games were DVD based. BD Video and PS3 games are Blu Ray based. But the PS3 can go back and play it old CD based ancestor. Its not like the PS3
is only backwards compatible with its PS2 based DVD games. Why can't Blu Ray players go back and play their CD based equivelent? It should be full backwards compatability, not just going back one level.

6. I notice support for MP3 discs, but I have seen only if its recoreded on a DVD??? Once again a stupid oversight by Sony. I don't know of anyone who records MP3 discs on DVDs, since car decks, home stereos, CD Walkmans that can read MP3s, all read them off CDs. I dont know of any that can read DVD MP3 discs. Once again, stupid, if one has to burn MP3 discs on CDs for all his devices, and burn a second copy on DVDs just for ONE device.

7. Can 5 or 6 be added via firmware updates?

Thanks alot,

crackinhedz · 12-24-2007, 05:43 AM

1: How would standard DVDs look vs my old player? Any improvement? I know upscaling doesn't work for a non-HD TV right? But with the 24 bit processor of the S301, any improvement to be noticed? I mean it is newer and better technology right?

You will notice a much better picture as the source material is usually pristine on Bluray. But don't expect water turning into wine.

2. Playing Blu Rays. I am sure I would notice some difference vs DVDs right? Even minute, maybe the colour reproductuion would be better, with less pixilization that you sometimes see. I do see occasional blockiness when watching DVDs. Even on my 480i set, I see awful pixilization on those dark scenes/shadows. I am sure Blu Ray will solve those problems on my set up right?

well, I think a new tv would help you with your problems

...but a Bluray player would definitely be improvement.

3. All Blu Ray films are released in wide screen right? But do some films have an option for 4:3 or 16:9 as some DVDs had in the menu, or not in Blu Ray.

Yes bluray is mainly widescreen, while some extras could be 4:3. No, sorry there is no option button to fill the 4:3 screen on a disc.

4. Does the player itself have an option to output films in 4:3 mode, in essence cutting off the edges, so it will fill up my TV screen in full screen mode?

yes,You can tell the Bluray player to output in 4:3 Letterbox or pan-scan

5. I have a collection of maybe 20-30 Video CDs. Lots of them hare home movies. I see no mention of VCDs in the players specs, will it play them?

sorry, I do not know answer to this, I have never tried.

6. I notice support for MP3 discs, but I have seen only if its recoreded on a DVD???

Ive played MP3's burned on a data cd...but im using the PS3, not sure of the s300 ability.

7. Can 5 or 6 be added via firmware updates?

probably.

Robert Franklin · 12-26-2007, 05:43 AM

too, have this player hooked up to an old 4:3 Tv too! All of the answers that are in the previous post are correct for the most part. The only exceptions are 4,5 & 7.

In (4) the player will NOT cut off the edges or zoom to fill the screen.
In (5) the player will NOT play Video CDs. That was part of the DVD spec when it was introduced, but NOT included in the BD spec.
In (6) the player will ONLY play MP3s on DVD; not CD. ONLY CD Audio.
In (7) No to VCD.

12-24-2007, 04:01 AM	#1
viiv Member Member since:Jun 2007	BDP-S301 and an SD TV Hi, with my last DVD player just dying after 6 years (purchased in 2001), I am in the market for a new one. However, with the new redicously low price of the BDP-S301 at my local Costco (same as S300 but with HDMI cable), I am thinking it would be smart to purchace that instead of a decent quality DVD player (which would cost like $150) so for a little more than an additional $100 I can get my self a Blu Ray machine. However, I currently have a 27" Sony CRT I purchased on clearence for $450 when it was discontinued in early 2005. It is a KV-27FS320. A 4:3 480i 27" analog CRT set. Now this was Sony's last top line 27" non-HD TV, it even has a Memory Stick drive, something I hardly see in even expensive Sony Bravias. Much more convenient than burning JPEG CDs/DVDs. Doesn't lack inputs either, it has one composite only input, two S-Video/composite inputs and two component inputs. Anyways, my point is (after you calibrate it) it still has excellent PQ, and very good colour reproduction, with nice true deep blacks that are better than any black level I have seen on any LCD or plasma. My point is, I am against buying a new TV for environmental and other reasons, with this one still working and, its not like I am embarresed by it, it still is a very modern and expensive looking TV. Anyways, I would still like to buy a Blu Ray machine, and would even like to buy Blu Ray movies instead of DVD versions when available, since I would rather not keep buying an obsolete format, and that way when I do end up getting a new HD TV in 5 years or so, I would already have a decent collection of HD movies to enjoy, since from now to then I would have purchased Blu-Ray when possible. Although I refuse to repurchase movies I already own on DVD on Blu Ray, but movies I do not own, prefer on Blu Ray. Anyways, assuming I connect the S301 to my TV via component, my questions: 1: How would standard DVDs look vs my old player? Any improvement? I know upscaling doesn't work for a non-HD TV right? But with the 24 bit processor of the S301, any improvement to be noticed? I mean it is newer and better technology right? 2. Playing Blu Rays. I am sure I would notice some difference vs DVDs right? Even minute, maybe the colour reproductuion would be better, with less pixilization that you sometimes see. I do see occasional blockiness when watching DVDs. Even on my 480i set, I see awful pixilization on those dark scenes/shadows. I am sure Blu Ray will solve those problems on my set up right? 3. All Blu Ray films are released in wide screen right? But do some films have an option for 4:3 or 16:9 as some DVDs had in the menu, or not in Blu Ray. 4. Does the player itself have an option to output films in 4:3 mode, in essence cutting off the edges, so it will fill up my TV screen in full screen mode? 5. I have a collection of maybe 20-30 Video CDs. Lots of them hare home movies. I see no mention of VCDs in the players specs, will it play them? It seems silly not to include support for VCDs since it can read the CD format since it can play audio CDs. I mean they went through the trouble from the S1 to make it's successor able to read CDs, but they only allow it to decode Audio CDs? Adding support for the MPEG1 codec wouldn't cost Sony a thing, espetially since I imagine this player is much more powerful than my old DVD player which could play them. This player could probably play Video CDs while it it's asleep (okay well maybe not when its off, but using like less than 5% of its CPU power). I see NO REASON to not include support for it, no matter how old it is is. I can draw a comparison to the PS3 here. Its like a PS3 that can't play Playstation 1 games. Video CDs and PS1 games were CD based. DVD Video and PS2 games were DVD based. BD Video and PS3 games are Blu Ray based. But the PS3 can go back and play it old CD based ancestor. Its not like the PS3 is only backwards compatible with its PS2 based DVD games. Why can't Blu Ray players go back and play their CD based equivelent? It should be full backwards compatability, not just going back one level. 6. I notice support for MP3 discs, but I have seen only if its recoreded on a DVD??? Once again a stupid oversight by Sony. I don't know of anyone who records MP3 discs on DVDs, since car decks, home stereos, CD Walkmans that can read MP3s, all read them off CDs. I dont know of any that can read DVD MP3 discs. Once again, stupid, if one has to burn MP3 discs on CDs for all his devices, and burn a second copy on DVDs just for ONE device. 7. Can 5 or 6 be added via firmware updates? Thanks alot,

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12-24-2007, 05:43 AM	#2
crackinhedz Super Moderator Member since:Feb 2007 Home Theater Gallery:10 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:19	1: How would standard DVDs look vs my old player? Any improvement? I know upscaling doesn't work for a non-HD TV right? But with the 24 bit processor of the S301, any improvement to be noticed? I mean it is newer and better technology right? You will notice a much better picture as the source material is usually pristine on Bluray. But don't expect water turning into wine. 2. Playing Blu Rays. I am sure I would notice some difference vs DVDs right? Even minute, maybe the colour reproductuion would be better, with less pixilization that you sometimes see. I do see occasional blockiness when watching DVDs. Even on my 480i set, I see awful pixilization on those dark scenes/shadows. I am sure Blu Ray will solve those problems on my set up right? well, I think a new tv would help you with your problems ...but a Bluray player would definitely be improvement. 3. All Blu Ray films are released in wide screen right? But do some films have an option for 4:3 or 16:9 as some DVDs had in the menu, or not in Blu Ray. Yes bluray is mainly widescreen, while some extras could be 4:3. No, sorry there is no option button to fill the 4:3 screen on a disc. 4. Does the player itself have an option to output films in 4:3 mode, in essence cutting off the edges, so it will fill up my TV screen in full screen mode? yes,You can tell the Bluray player to output in 4:3 Letterbox or pan-scan 5. I have a collection of maybe 20-30 Video CDs. Lots of them hare home movies. I see no mention of VCDs in the players specs, will it play them? sorry, I do not know answer to this, I have never tried. 6. I notice support for MP3 discs, but I have seen only if its recoreded on a DVD??? Ive played MP3's burned on a data cd...but im using the PS3, not sure of the s300 ability. 7. Can 5 or 6 be added via firmware updates? probably.

12-26-2007, 05:43 AM	#3
Robert Franklin Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Baltimore, MD 4K collection:128 Blu-ray collection:363	too, have this player hooked up to an old 4:3 Tv too! All of the answers that are in the previous post are correct for the most part. The only exceptions are 4,5 & 7. In (4) the player will NOT cut off the edges or zoom to fill the screen. In (5) the player will NOT play Video CDs. That was part of the DVD spec when it was introduced, but NOT included in the BD spec. In (6) the player will ONLY play MP3s on DVD; not CD. ONLY CD Audio. In (7) No to VCD.

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