pls recommend a blu-ray player for a hard case

Micah Cohen · July 2010

Time to buy a new DVD player. I figure I'll upgrade to a Blu-Ray player, even tho I have no plans to even rent BR discs at all. I'd use it to merely upconvert my standard def DVDs.

Please recommend a moderately priced Blu-Ray player for me.

- I have a Sony KDS-A3000 series SXRD Projection TV w/HDMI inputs (which I'd like to start using)
- As mentioned, I plan to watch mostly standard def DVDs, not BR discs
- I'd like to stay under $200 (way under, if possible)

What should I buy?

Thanks!

MC

FTGV · July 2010

You might still be able to snag a Sony S360 for $100ish.It's a very capable budget player.

Grimster74 · July 2010

If it were me and you were looking for a decent Blu-Ray player for the price, I'd go with the Sony ES BDP-S1000. Unit comes with a 5 year warranty and built-in WiFi and is one hell of a player for the price. The wife and I got this player a couple of months ago in exchange for our S1 that couldn't be fixed and we love it.

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_158BDPS1KE/Sony-ES-BDP-S1000ES.html?tp=171

packetjones · July 2010

I am also in the market for a budget friendly BDP. Iam looking for the same type of system. Mainly used for DVD not BR and cheap. I would also love to have one that loads fast. If anyone has any more recommendations let me know. I have been looking at the pioneer 120 and 320. They look pretty sharp.

The Sony ES BDP-S1000ES mentioned above looks interesting. It has built in wifi and 4gb storage as ell as the 5 year warranty. The only thing it is at the top of my price range. For another $100 I could get an Oppo. the Sony 360 looks like a cheap compromise, may have to go that route.

dane_peterson · July 2010

The 120 and 320 will not load quickly. That ES player is a nice value.

disneyjoe7 · July 2010

FYI....

I own a Samsung BD-P1600 blu disk player which upgrades SD DVD's and IP streaming for Nexflix. I works I like it for streaming thing, but I'm not happy with it for DVD upgrades.

spock 2054 · July 2010

Micah Cohen wrote: »

Time to buy a new DVD player. I figure I'll upgrade to a Blu-Ray player, even tho I have no plans to even rent BR discs at all. I'd use it to merely upconvert my standard def DVDs.

Please recommend a moderately priced Blu-Ray player for me.

- I have a Sony KDS-A3000 series SXRD Projection TV w/HDMI inputs (which I'd like to start using)
- As mentioned, I plan to watch mostly standard def DVDs, not BR discs
- I'd like to stay under $200 (way under, if possible)

What should I buy?

Thanks!

MC

Panasonic Blu-ray Disc Player DMP-BD65K
Ultra Fast 0.5 Sec Booting (so they say)
It's fast and inexpensive. About $130

dane_peterson · July 2010

.5 seconds has nothing to do with loading a BD. That's just how quickly it powers up. Still slow for loading discs.

Fastest loading are going to be the PS3, Oppo, and new Denon players.

packetjones · July 2010

I was reading some reviews for the pioneer 320 I mentioned earlier. It loads slow but other than that appears to be a great player in the $150 range.

apphd · July 2010

Not sure what level you are looking for, but on pure price you might be able to find one of these still around;

link

My local Walmart still has them at $78. I'm slow to adapt to new tech, this is outdated for many, but when my DVD player started to act up, it fills the void until my Blu-ray disc collection increases it will do. Then I will invest in an Oppo if they're stll available. Did I mention I'm slow to adapt:D

leroyjr1 · July 2010

Micah Cohen wrote: »

Time to buy a new DVD player. I figure I'll upgrade to a Blu-Ray player, even tho I have no plans to even rent BR discs at all. I'd use it to merely upconvert my standard def DVDs.

Please recommend a moderately priced Blu-Ray player for me.

- I have a Sony KDS-A3000 series SXRD Projection TV w/HDMI inputs (which I'd like to start using)
- As mentioned, I plan to watch mostly standard def DVDs, not BR discs
- I'd like to stay under $200 (way under, if possible)

What should I buy?

Thanks!

MC

Once you go blu ray you'll never go back.:) Picture and sound quality is so much better than SD-DVD's. Give it a try.

Gulfstrings · July 2010

The Pioneeer 320 is a great player with strong upconvert capability and when you do pop in that first BluRay disc, you won't be disappointed. I have no other player so can't tell you if it's slow to load a BluRay disc.

If me ory serves they sell for about $170 today.

FTGV · July 2010

Grimster74 wrote: »

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_158BDPS1KE/Sony-ES-BDP-S1000ES.html?tp=171

I would be jumping all over that one.Thats a sweet deal on great BR.

hoosier21 · July 2010

why would you not want BR? you want less than the best picture you can get?

renowilliams · July 2010

I just purchased the Sony BDP-S470 and have been very impressed at its all around performance. It is at the top of your price range but worth every penny IMHO.

Here is a link http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921666104167a link

Micah Cohen · July 2010

Once you go blu ray you'll never go back.

Forget it. I bought into DVD. I'm not rebuying. Tough luck, entertainment industry. Find another sucker. (But I'll buy the machine that makes my SD DVDs look best, ok?)

That said, lots of great suggestions here. QUESTION: What is this about "slow load times"? I pop a DVD into my DVD player and it spins up like a CD. What's different in a BR player? What is a "slow load time"?

Thanks!

MC

dane_peterson · July 2010

The difference is there is a LOT more information on a Bluray... it varies from title to title, but some are heavily Java-based or automatically access your network for downloadable content, extras, etc. Your computer takes longer to open Photoshop than it does Paint...

IMO, Bluray is as much a leap in technology as VHS was to DVD. Others won't jump on board, but it's not like this is NEW either. Been out for several years in full-force.

Micah Cohen · July 2010

So, if I'm using my new BR player (whichever one it is) as a dedicated film media player playing SD-DVDs and only connected via HDMI to my TV & via optical audio to my processor (no networking, no nothing else), the player will take how much longer to spin up the SD-DVD that I put in it? Is this an annoying thing?

MC

Conradicles · July 2010

It won't be annoying. The "slow load time" is kind of overated. They have to find somthing bad to say about them.

dane_peterson · July 2010

It's not as much an issue with DVDs anyway. Condradicles is right... not a huge deal. Just sometimes a tad annoying for us impatient, instant-gratifying Americans.

grif32 · July 2010

Check out JVC BP players. I have one and it loads faster My fat 60g and my new slim 250g PS3. Great Upscale for SD DVD's as well and better then the PS3. I have two PS3's but now only use the one in the living room for netflix and games. I grabbed the JVC for my main BD player...

JVC XV-BP1 - Great BD player and I bought mine brand new for $100 shipped.

Mine has played everything thrown at it with Zero issue's

This has got to be one of the all time bang for buck players out there. No, it is not fancy with streaming, wifi, 3D, and all of that other fun stuff, but what it does is perform flawlessly and does so at a great price point

Roy Munson · July 2010

Micah, if you're not going watch BD then I suggest you look for a used Oppo 981 which has HDMI or a 971 which has DVI. These are great upconverting players that can be found for very little used [they are both dqed] but will out perform most new SD DVD players.

Micah Cohen · July 2010

Why get an upconverting DVD player (the OPPO ferinstance)? Why not get a Blu-Ray player and just play SD discs on it? Doesn't it do something special and different with a different laser or something? What's the difference between upconverting SD and playing the SD on a BD player?

MC

dane_peterson · July 2010

There is no difference. It comes down to the media, not the player. Roy is right... a SD DVD player will do just as well.

vc69 · July 2010

Micah Cohen wrote: »

Why get an upconverting DVD player (the OPPO ferinstance)? Why not get a Blu-Ray player and just play SD discs on it? Doesn't it do something special and different with a different laser or something? What's the difference between upconverting SD and playing the SD on a BD player?

MC

Sigh...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_scaler

Scaling and de-interlacing are not easy to do right. Cheap players of any variety (DVD Upscaler or BR) have crappy scalers. Period. Ya get what you pay for.

packetjones · July 2010

Some BDP's do not upscale the SD-DVD very well at all. They play BR fine but the DVD playback is not very good. While there are dedicated DVD players that upscale very well. I am in the same boat myself Micah. I want to get a BDP but will probably watch more standard DVD than BR. From what I have seen the pio 320 and the Sony 1000ES listed above are on my short list.

disneyjoe7 · July 2010

Even though I can watch a SD-DVD with my Samsung BD-P1600 player, I prefer my Pioneer Elite 79AVi to do this task. Much better picture and sound over the Samsung player.

Micah Cohen · July 2010

Ok, so maybe I go back and think about getting the upscaling OPPO 981 (with HDMI) DVD player and forget about getting a BD player. I might have to start another thread about how to balance this player's upscaling with my TV's (supposedly stellar) upscaler. I guess maybe you connect the two via HDMI and they sort it out amongst themselves?

MC

Micah Cohen · July 2010

Is it me, or did I just find out that on the OPPO website you can only get their BD players now?

Uh oh. Am I too late to get a 981 SD-DVD player from them?

MC

Micah Cohen · July 2010

Found some 981s on amazon, but they are upwards of $400. Way out of my price range for this. Back to square one?

MC

vc69 · July 2010

Micah,

There are some good players out there that will serve as a transport if you believe your TV has a worthy scaler. Some of the Denon/Pio players come to mind. You can pick up discontinued models NIB for a bargain. Otherwise, bite the bullet and buy an -83. If it's excellent SD DVD playback you want, it's the ticket.

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-DVD-2910-player/dp/B000CMGUV4/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1279036212&sr=1-1

pls recommend a blu-ray player for a hard case

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