Question on blu-ray player

dromunds

Thinking of picking up a blu-ray player, have no experience with them. Recently got a Samsung plasma TV and thinking it may be advisable to get a wi-fi streaming blu-ray player. Any suggestions, don't have a large budget to work with. Thanks in advance.

whgarrett1394

I would say Sony or maybe Panasonic before LG and Samsung.

Do you have surround sound and are you using a modern receiver?

If you are just hooking up to plasma then i'm sure all four of those brands will give you a good picture and have models available that have wireless capability.

This was a used Samsung plasma?

EndersShadow

What apps are you looking for it to have? Netflix, Hulu, Pandora? If you dont want the apps, then you really dont need the wireless part at all just to play a disc.

Just about any sub 100 player will have those apps and "maybe" wireless. The one I just bought off Rick88 (Panasonic DMP-BT361) has all of that and new was like 120 IIRC.....

I'd suggest if at ALL possible to hardwire it. My player is in the bedroom with our router so I hardwired it. I'm not a huge fan of wireless and avoid it if at all possible.

Id throw out Sony, Panasonic, LG, as brands to look at. Basically anything with name recognition in that price range will be about the same as far as features and longevity.

polkfarmboy

Sony bdp s790, a great high end chip board thrown into a cheap plastic case. Its has amazing streaming video for hd and 3d vids with dual hdmi and does sacd.

dromunds

Thanks fellas. Yeah, I was thinking of running Nexflix, Hulu, Pandora, or maybe Tidal, etc., that's why the thought of wi-fi streaming. Doesn't have to be wireless, but my laptop is currently wireless and I like that alot but like I said no experience with blu-ray players. I bought the 60" Samsung plasma a few weeks ago when a freak deal popped up for a day or two on slickdeal.

D_M

Dromunds,

A PS3 is the most versatile player you can get. You can probably find one on your local craigslist for under a $100. It's always updated, so you won't have the issue of some titles not playing. It can access a number of the streaming services.

teekay0007

I got a Sony BDP-S590 that plays Blu Rays, DVDs, CDs and SACDs - and does 3D too - that I have hooked up to a Panasonic plasma TV. It has Wi-Fi built in that we stream Netflix, some YouTube and Pandora on. It's all connected to my Onkyo TX-SR805 AVR and the Panasonic via some very inexpensive HDMI cables.

The Wi-Fi couldn't have been easier to get set up and has given us no problems even though the player is on the other side of the house and one floor away from the router. As far as playing Blu-Ray discs, I really can't imagine the picture being any better or lifelike than it is - superb! It also does a great job on the DVDs. I've only checked that it can, in fact, play CDs and SACDs as advertised and it does so very nicely. However, I use my other SACD player for that duty. Have no need for 3D capability, so have never tried that.

Overall, the unit has been very impressive. I really have no complaints about it for over the year that I've had it. It loads very quickly, much faster than my previous Panasonic BDP. The remote is small, easy to use and very responsive from any position in the room. It even has a 'Netflix' button on it to take you directly there.

I got it shipped to the house for about $55. I think it was a refurbished one. A family member was so impressed with it - especially at that price - that they got one too and have been equally as happy with theirs.

Polkie2009

Before I ended up with the Oppo 103, I ran a PS3 for blu rays. The only blu ray discs the PS3 wouldn't run was my Sherlock from BBC. They wouldn't play on a Sony bdp s790 either, no matter how many updates. It had to do with something Sony did to their players back then to block playing some_ of the BBC blu rays. The PS4 will play Sherlock discs fine. I never_ had a problem with the PS3 playing Doctor Who blu rays.

dromunds

Thanks much everyone, appreciate the advise.

trj

Sony BDP S5100 or S5200 would meet your needs if you need 3D.
If you don't need 3D then sony BDP S3100 or S3200. Both have wifi/ethernet and apps like hulu, netflix, youtube, pandora etc. But it wont have HBO GO or you wont have any ability to install additional apps unless sony pushes the updates.
The iPhone app that comes with it is pretty useful too.

Sherardp

S790 gets another vote, and it performs right up there with the Oppo. Had both in my HT, S790 is awesome.

Nightfall

Playstation 3 will do everything you want to do and everything you didn't know you wanted it to do. The early ones will even play SACD's.

dromunds

How much difference between the S590 and S790 in terms of sound quality? IIRC, the S790 has two HDMI but do they use the same chip?

Sherardp

S790 has the better chip. Also does upscaling to 4k. You'll love it.

cnh

Sherardp wrote: »

S790 has the better chip. Also does upscaling to 4k. You'll love it.

On a budget, this is a hard player (Sony S790) to beat. If you want a Universal and have lots of money, there's always the OPPO (I won't pay that much, but they're GOOD).

Actually, I also use the PS3 for SMART streaming (bought new for $150, one may wonder how but that's another story!)

deronb1

teekay0007 wrote: »

I got a Sony BDP-S590 that plays Blu Rays, DVDs, CDs and SACDs - and does 3D too - that I have hooked up to a Panasonic plasma TV. It has Wi-Fi built in that we stream Netflix, some YouTube and Pandora on. It's all connected to my Onkyo TX-SR805 AVR and the Panasonic via some very inexpensive HDMI cables.

The Wi-Fi couldn't have been easier to get set up and has given us no problems even though the player is on the other side of the house and one floor away from the router. As far as playing Blu-Ray discs, I really can't imagine the picture being any better or lifelike than it is - superb! It also does a great job on the DVDs. I've only checked that it can, in fact, play CDs and SACDs as advertised and it does so very nicely. However, I use my other SACD player for that duty. Have no need for 3D capability, so have never tried that.

Overall, the unit has been very impressive. I really have no complaints about it for over the year that I've had it. It loads very quickly, much faster than my previous Panasonic BDP. The remote is small, easy to use and very responsive from any position in the room. It even has a 'Netflix' button on it to take you directly there.

I got it shipped to the house for about $55. I think it was a refurbished one. A family member was so impressed with it - especially at that price - that they got one too and have been equally as happy with theirs.

I have the same player and have been very happy with it. The only complaint I have is that, when I plug my ext hard drive for music, it starts at R. Reads the recycle bin as a file and that's where it starts. Can't access A thru Q. And I'm a huge Queen fan!

That didn't sound too good did it.

dromunds

I picked up a 590 for a little over $50 new, and was just wondering if it made sense to keep looking for a good deal on a 790 or if the 590 was 90% of the way there chip-wise. Sounds like the 790 is a decent step up, plus it has two HDMIs, so I'll be keeping my eyes peeled. Just have to make sure the external hard drive has nothing before R on it. No comment on the Queen thing ... Lol