In Reply to: Cheap Blu-ray players: $$ vs. Quality... posted by Redbook on June 18, 2009 at 09:46:04:
The best thing about Sony BD players, I'd say, is their timely firmware updates. This isn't a minor thing, because you never know what some new BD release might have on it, they're a moving target still. Best is if you never need an update, but we can't count on that at this point.
Other than that, I haven't heard that any currently-sold cheaper models are particularly unreliable...a bit too soon to tell though. Choose one that has the outputs you need to match the gear you have (i.e. if you need mch analog outputs, or component video outs)...that may drastically limit your choices.
Another big diff between models is the quality of upscaled DVD output. And their speed of handling BDs. Other than that, the BD video output over HDMI is fairly similar among models, certainly close enough to get a good taste of the format for cheap.
I got a Sony S350 for under $200 last year, it was a generally solid basic player. Replaced by the 360 which is new so no huge discounts yet. There should be a lot of good choice under $250. I see some soon-to-be-replaced "brand name" models going for ~US$125 locally.
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Follow Ups
- RE: Cheap Blu-ray players: $$ vs. Quality... - cfraser 11:47:44 06/18/09 (16)
- I really want analog multi-channel out. - Prisoners 12:52:16 06/19/09 (15)
- Look at Oppo (now on general release), Sony & Panasonic. - ppopp 08:10:06 06/28/09 (0)
- Try Panasonic at midrange and Denon at higher. [nt] - chris.redmond2@bushinternet.com 15:09:06 06/20/09 (0)
- At any price point? - Kal Rubinson 14:19:59 06/19/09 (11)
- I was looking at the Sony BDP-550 - Prisoners 16:50:30 06/19/09 (10)
- The BDP-550 is a stopgap... - oscar 14:21:55 06/23/09 (6)
- Do you mean sound via the analog outputs? - cfraser 18:49:59 06/23/09 (5)
- "I prefer to keep my analog source signals totally out of any digital processor box. " - oscar 05:33:00 06/24/09 (4)
- I think you and cfraser are saying pretty much the same thing - racerguy 06:34:09 06/24/09 (3)
- Yes, I think so - cfraser 10:44:54 06/24/09 (2)
- So if you use HDMI for your sound, don't you wind up going through the pre/pro's preamp anyway ? nt - oscar 08:53:24 06/28/09 (1)
- RE: So if you use HDMI for your sound, don't you wind up going through the pre/pro's preamp anyway ? nt - cfraser 14:33:33 06/29/09 (0)
- RE: I was looking at the Sony BDP-550 - cfraser 21:08:58 06/19/09 (2)
- I did not consider the sync issue. - Prisoners 22:33:44 06/19/09 (1)
- RE: I did not consider the sync issue. - cfraser 13:18:20 06/20/09 (0)
- There are approx 30 different player models currently available... - racerguy 14:19:16 06/19/09 (0)