Momitsu BDP-899 all region BD player

[slee915]

http://www.hkflix.com/hardware/xq/as...qx/details.htm

region free for all BDs and DVD

[samper1]

Promising!

[FreddyvsJasonvsAsh]

Yes indeed!!! sounds like a winner!!

[gekke henkie]

Anybody got some more details? (like DTS-HD MA decoding, HDMI-version, etc)

[slee915]

There is really a lack of info and review on this player. That's why I posted it here to see if any members have additional info.

http://www.xpcgear.com/momitsu-bdp-8...-usb-host.html

the site here says DTS-HD and HDMI 1.3

[ryoohki]

On Momitsu web site the spec are there

It bitstream everything and decode TrueHD , but not DTS HD.

[kinemax]

Momitsu can do themselves a big favor by posting on their web site a more detailed spec sheet or, better yet, a downloadable user manual.

[digitalbabe]

My 2 LG BH200's already dothis (simple remote hack-check AVS forum). Pass for me

[slee915]

Originally Posted by digitalbabe

My 2 LG BH200's already dothis (simple remote hack-check AVS forum). Pass for me

I didn't know this, thanks for sharing. I'm glad to see there are other region free BD players out there.

[Eastcoaster]

Originally Posted by digitalbabe

My 2 LG BH200's already dothis (simple remote hack-check AVS forum). Pass for me

I just discovered that recently, so I checked ebay... those BH200's are going for $600-900 now! And apparently LG fixed the backdoor that you do the remote region-free hack, so later models don't work the same way.

Sigh.

If this year sees me going to Europe for a vacay, I'm coming back with a Region-B player. $200 was never better spent!

[Paulo Elias]

Originally Posted by kinemax

Momitsu can do themselves a big favor by posting on their web site a more detailed spec sheet or, better yet, a downloadable user manual.

http://www.hkflix.com/firmware/momit...899_manual.pdf

And, yes, it does pass DTS-HD and all other codecs to multiple output formats, via HDMI!

[bhampton]

I loved my momitsu DVD player back in the day.

I would consider replacing my PS3 with a Momitsu Blu Ray player depending on it's cost and capabilities.

-Brian

[kinemax]

Originally Posted by Paulo Elias

http://www.hkflix.com/firmware/momit...899_manual.pdf

And, yes, it does pass DTS-HD and all other codecs to multiple output formats, via HDMI!

Excerpt from page 6 of the manual:

Both the Blu-ray Disc Player and the discs are coded by region. These regional codes must match in
order to play the disc. If the codes do not match, the disc will not play. The Region Number for this Blu-ray Disc Player is described on the rear panel of the Blu-ray Disc Player.

Huh???

[DigitalfreakNYC]

Does it play AVC-HD discs?

[digitalbabe]

Eastcoaster-if you're willing to have an open box (I have one from BB), it works flawlessly-check your local Best Buy. They may still have a unit. I had a few RZ certs, and mine was $60 after all was said and done. Enjoy!

[TedK]

Originally Posted by Paulo Elias

http://www.hkflix.com/firmware/momit...899_manual.pdf

And, yes, it does pass DTS-HD and all other codecs to multiple output formats, via HDMI!

To clarify, it will internally decode and send the lossless codecs via PCM? Or only via bitstreaming?

Do you have one? If so, what are your thoughts on it?

Thanks,
Ted

[garlad]

After seeing a few threads regarding multi region BD players that are now available, would you buy one? Do you own one? I get SO frustrated when a new release is not region free (the latest being 'Bolt')

Is it worth spending the money to avoid this frustration? There isnt even a release date on play.com or amazon for the region B release of 'Bolt'.

Does anyone else suffer the same constant annoyance??? Should I just take the plunge with a multi region player?

[Paulo Elias]

Originally Posted by TedK

To clarify, it will internally decode and send the lossless codecs via PCM? Or only via bitstreaming?

Do you have one? If so, what are your thoughts on it?

Thanks,
Ted

Ted,

I wish I could have one!...

But I read the manual as carefully as possible, and this is what it means to me:

In the Digital Output section, the manual says:

PCM Stereo: Mixed digital audio sent over HDMI and SPDIF in two-channel PCM
format.
PCM 5.1CH: Mixed digital audio sent over HDMI in 5.1CH PCM (if supported by
HDMI device) format and SPDIF in two-channel PCM format.
PCM 7.1CH: Mixed digital audio sent over HDMI in 7.1CH PCM (if supported by
HDMI device) and SPDIF in two-channel PCM format.
Bitstream HD: Original bitstream from disc is passed over HDMI and SPDIF using
highest quality possible. HDMI has higher quality capabilities with
advanced audio codecs like DD+, TrueHD, and DTS-HD. BD audio
limited to soundtrack for main movie (i.e. no PiP audio, no effects audio).
Bitstream Legacy: Original bitstream from disc is passed over HDMI and SPDIF
using legacy audio formats. BD audio limited to soundtrack for
main movie (i.e. no PiP audio, no effects audio).
Bitstream Mixed: BD audio streams are mixed and encoded into a single bitstream.
Note: Primarily intended for customers with SPDIF 5.1CH receivers who want to
enjoy mixed BD audio in surround sound.


The Bitstream HD option clearly sends the original codecs via HDMI and their cores via SPDIF. So, this would be the preferred option for those who already have new external processors, with Dolby TrueHD ou DTS-HD capabilities.

The player goes beyond that by converting those codecs to either 5.1 or 7.1 LPCM and sending them over HDMI. This is something that has been done in almost first generation players. Some of those would not decode one particular codec from their native bitstream but from their cores. Apparently, this is not the case for the Momitsu.

In the Bitstream Legacy option there is a separate setting for conventional Dolby and DTS processors, but there is also a complement that says Bitstream Mixed, which allows for a single bistream output (it doesn't say which, though). I am not sure of that means. I am aware of systems where one particular codec is transcoded into another, but the Momitsu seems to use this resource as a means to output every codec in surround sound. At any rate, this part is not clear enough to what the final effect would be.

In most players I got in touch with there is normally an option for PCM or bitstream, and in that regard, it seems that the Momitsu has gone one step beyond, by placing specific options and possibly inducing users to make a clearer choice.

The Momitsu has grown quite a reputation, but regrettably I never saw one in front of me. I am an Oppo owner though, not so much for the codefree specs but for its audio performance and versatility. I don't recall the Momitsu ever being an universal player, like the Oppo, but for releasing the DRM constraints of 1080i playback via components.

Excerpt from page 6 of the manual:

Both the Blu-ray Disc Player and the discs are coded by region. These regional codes must match in
order to play the disc. If the codes do not match, the disc will not play. The Region Number for this Blu-ray Disc Player is described on the rear panel of the Blu-ray Disc Player.

Huh???

Kinemax,

Every single manual that I have read has something written to that effect.

I live in a country where codefree DVD players became the norm as soon as they were manufactured here. We take that now for granted, but many years ago, we could talk to a Philips rep over the phone and she would say that their DVD players were for region 4 use only. At the same time, Philips promoters would come into store warehouses with a special remote, programmed to make their players codefree (and free of RCE too). I had one of my Philips players made codefree in front of me!

Philips was not the first to release codefree players in this country. Nowadays, players come codefree as soon as they leave the factory or are readily modded with their own remotes.

Manufacturers are obliged to comply with certain agreements, that apparently dictate that their player must leave the factory adjusted to play discs from specific regions only. And that's why this region number is printed on the back of each player.

In my opinion, reinforcing region codes on BD media is a huge mistake, something that most of us film lovers would never like to see repeated.

In that regard, like many others here, I was having high hopes for the new Oppo, but it seems that it will be not a true, codefree, universal machine, after all.

[TedK]

Thanks, Paulo.

I'm an Oppo user myself (971 and now 983), but I'll be passing on the 83 BD player specifically due to the lack of multi-region capability, on the SD side especially. I have a substantial collection of foreign imported SD titles that play wonderfully on my 983. If I can't eliminate that machine AND my PS3 by buying an 83, then I'm not interested. My personal feeling is that there is not that substantial a difference in most of the major BD players to warrant buying an 83 for a BD PQ/AQ "upgrade".

On the other hand, the Momitsu looks like a potential dream player....

[Eastcoaster]

Originally Posted by TedK

Thanks, Paulo.

I'm an Oppo user myself (971 and now 983), but I'll be passing on the 83 BD player specifically due to the lack of multi-region capability, on the SD side especially. I have a substantial collection of foreign imported SD titles that play wonderfully on my 983. If I can't eliminate that machine AND my PS3 by buying an 83, then I'm not interested. My personal feeling is that there is not that substantial a difference in most of the major BD players to warrant buying an 83 for a BD PQ/AQ "upgrade".

On the other hand, the Momitsu looks like a potential dream player....

I'm right there with you. My 983 does a great job on upconverting Region-2 DVDs, so without the multi-region Blu-Ray capability on the new Oppo BD83, it doesn't have any value to me... my Panasonic BD35 does a pretty stunning job. I, too, am going to splurge on the Momitsu as a Region-B player... and it's waaaay cheaper than buying a modified American BD player!