Picked up a BDP-S300: Anything I should know?

[Centauri]

Well, I swore it would never happen. But I did it... I bought a Blu-ray player. And not only that... I bought a Sony.

Anyways, reality is setting in and after such an exposure to HD movies through , I really don't know if I can go back to SD DVD for my most favorite titles. And while I wont be buying Blu-ray titles anywhere near as quickly as I've picked up HD DVDs, the time has come to pick up one or two.

Anyways, I just snagged the S300 on eBay for $135. It was a $150 Buy It Now and I had a 10% off code for use with PayPal. Pretty damn good deal if the other 300 auctions are any indication. The seller describes it as having only been used a few times too.

Anyways, I know next to nothing about Blu-ray hardware aside from Profile compliance. But since I have no intention of making use of online content, 2.0 means very little to me.

That said; Is the 300 Profile 1.1 or 1.0? And is there anything I should know about the player? Quirks, which firmware is best... etc, etc.

Thanks in advance guys.

[chris gerhard]

The BDP-S300 is Profile 1.0. The latest firmware is best based on what I have read, 3.95. I just downloaded it for a friend, I don't own the player. It should play all discs but doesn't handle DTS-HD MA nor Dolby TrueHD. It should be capable of Dolby TrueHD so I don't understand why that hasn't been added. Other than slow loading, it is solid.

Chris

[CaptainCanuck]

Yeah just update the firmware and you're good to go.Right now it's my most dependable player .Slow but whatever.Works great.

[Centauri]

What's required to be 1.1 capable? Is it something the S300 may see in a firmware update?

As for the HD audio; So the player can't decode it, but can it still be sent to my receiver? My receiver isn't HD capable either but the approximation of HD it comes up with is appreciably better than DD+.

Thanks guys.

[chris gerhard]

Originally Posted by Centauri

What's required to be 1.1 capable? Is it something the S300 may see in a firmware update?

As for the HD audio; So the player can't decode it, but can it still be sent to my receiver? My receiver isn't HD capable either but the approximation of HD it comes up with is appreciably better than DD+.

Thanks guys.

It is Profile 1.0 now and forever. The player does not decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA and does not send bitstream for either over HDMI for decoding by an external decoder. I have the older BDP-S1 which can decode Dolby TrueHD and have no idea why the BDP-S300 can't. Neither player has hardware capable of bitstreaming the advanced codecs. Maybe somebody else can explain why there hasn't been an update for Dolby TrueHD decoding.

Chris

[Centauri]

Thanks.

Other than PIP, what am I missing out on with 1.0 player?

And is there any risk of future titles not working with 1.0 players? I seem to recall reading something to that effect.

[chris gerhard]

Originally Posted by Centauri

Thanks.

Other than PIP, what am I missing out on with 1.0 player?

And is there any risk of future titles not working with 1.0 players? I seem to recall reading something to that effect.

Compared to Profile 1.1, only PIP, compared to Profile 2.0 add BD-Live to the missing features. My BDP-S1 plays all discs I have tried and as far as I know the BDP-S300 plays all discs as well. There is no reason to believe that Sony won't be able to keep the BDP-S300 able to play all new releases. It may very well be that no further updates are needed, but if an update is needed, I expect Sony to provide it timely.

Chris

[Yog-Sothoth]

I had one for a few days, and other than being slow with loading discs, it was a good player. After reading information on this site about profiles and such, I grabbed a PS3 (same price—so even swap). But for $135, you shouldn't have much to complain about; you can use that for now and upgrade later.

[blurayisking]

An unpublished feature of the BDP-S300 is that it does decode Dolby TrueHD

BUT

In order to playback Dolby TrueHD, you must set the blu-ray player to PCM output and connect via HDMI. (also, be sure to select the proper sound option on the disc).

The player will also bitstream uncompressed PCM via HDMI or you can send uncompressed PCM via the 5.1 analog outputs providing your receiver has 5.1 analog inputs.

The player does NOT decode or bitstream DTS Master Audio but will bitstream the core DTS.

you cannot send the multi-channel PCM or decoded Dolby TrueHD via optical connection. You must use HDMI.

[chris gerhard]

Originally Posted by blurayisking

An unpublished feature of the BDP-S300 is that it does decode Dolby TrueHD

BUT

In order to playback Dolby TrueHD, you must set the blu-ray player to PCM output and connect via HDMI. (also, be sure to select the proper sound option on the disc).

The player will also bitstream uncompressed PCM via HDMI or you can send uncompressed PCM via the 5.1 analog outputs providing your receiver has 5.1 analog inputs.

The player does NOT decode or bitstream DTS Master Audio but will bitstream the core DTS.

you cannot send the multi-channel PCM or decoded Dolby TrueHD via optical connection. You must use HDMI.

All Blu-ray players handle uncompressed PCM, it is required. It is good to hear that this player is now able to decode Dolby TrueHD, I believed it should have been able to based on the hardware. This list of players and functions excludes that firmware update to enable Dolby TrueHD and Sony hasn't indicated that in the firmware when I read about it all recently when downloading ver. 3.95.

Does anybody know who updates this list?

http://www.idoblu.co.uk/page2%20Blu-ray%20Players.html

We need to notify whoever it is to update the Dolby TrueHD decoding, in otherwords blu with PCM under Dolby TrueHD.

Chris

[Centauri]

Well, it's here. And it's absolutely mint. Not a scratch on the entire unit. The guy also threw in Ratatouille on BD.

Not bad at all for $135...

Seems really well built too. And it's very quiet.

The machine came with firmware 3.20. Updating to the latest now.

[bfellow]

Where does it say it decodes Dolby-TrueHD? The offically Sony BDP-S300 FAQ says it doesn't.

[Centauri]

Ratatouille plays fine. But the copy of Casino Royale that arrived today from Blockbuster wont.

The player spends about two minutes trying to load it and then tells me that the disc can't be played?

[Brad1963]

I had the player I liked it alot. My only firmware upgrade was 3.9 and that was needed almost a year into owning it. The only reason I sold it was to purchase the new Sony 350. Enjoy!

[Centauri]

Yeah, I'm definitely impressed with it.

On Casino Royale; Went by a Blockbuster store and swapped out the disc. The one I got plays fine.

Kinda weird since the disc that wouldn't play looked perfect. Hmm.