Page 1 of Best cheap Blu-ray player atm?

So I need a Blu-ray player to go with my new HD projector. Help! No idea of what makes a good one, so I figured I'd ask those who have more experience. :)

Ideally multi-region, really good DVD upscaling, and able to play a wide range of AVI/MKV based files via USB without throwing a wobbly.

Don't care about anything else, certainly have no plans to watch iPlayer, YouTube, any internet Blu-ray stuff, just want the best picture for the minimum amount of money.

I'm guessing for Blu-ray playback, HDMI connections have pretty much made the whole experience a reasonably level playing field?


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Do you need/want 3D? That makes a difference. Also need to know if you mean multi-region for DVD and BD or just the former. If it`s both then `cheap` goes out of the window, unless you can find one of the few remaining Toshiba BDX1200s doing the rounds. They can be made multi-region for both with Aussie firmware, but the deck is not without its `issues`.

If you`re just after a decent, cheap player with good 2D performance I would look at the Sony BDP-S390. I have the 590, which possibly has features you aren`t after, but the core performance is the same across the line. It has built-in wireless, should play everything you throw at it via USB (mine 590 does), will stream using DLNA with something like PS3 Media Server, is pretty quick to load even Java titles (although not up therw with the fastest), handles discs with surface defects well (better than the Pannys I trialled), and has great video as long as you don`t turn on any of the additional processing crap. You can get one of those for £80 - £90 if you want multi-region DVD.







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Not interested in 3D, my projector doesn't support it. I was considering that Sony actually, don't need the wireless though.

Multi-region for the DVD playback is all I need atm I think, seems no need for multi-region Blu-ray these days.

Thanks for the advice! (Any from others is also still welcomed)

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I`m happy with my Panny from Richer Sounds, although tbh the PS3 does better DVD upscaling, but AFAIK is not multi regionsable. The Panny is DVD but not blu  ray multi region, it does avi but not mkv, but newer models do.

I think some-one here at dvd reviewer has an LG and was happy with mkv playback on that, an dI think like most things they make they`re generally v good value for money.

for mkv I just use a Cyclone Micro II device, cheap and cheerful but does an outstanding job, but does mean another, but tiny, box and more cables by the TV :)

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Al - I mean this in the nicest possible way, but get lost and go and enjoy the new babies! :D

The reason I opted for the Sony over the current generation of Panasonics is because the transport is better in the former.

I have an Aussie copy of The Running Man that I got from eBay ages ago for a steal. The first time I watched it the film got almost all the way to the end (when Arnie and co invade the studio and all hell brakes loose), but then locked up and refused to play on my old Sony player. It was the same story on the PS3 and a Samsung BD player. It worked fine on my PC BD-Rom drive, but that`s to be expected. When I examined the closely I found a tiny dimple in the playing surface through which the label was visible.

When I got the Toshiba player for the bedroom I was very surprised that it didn`t lock up and skipped over the error with only the slightest of visual hiccups. I assumed it was down to modern decks having better transports and error correction, but when I tested the Pannys in store at Richer they locked up on the defect. However, the Sonys played over it without even so much as a glitch - they were better than the Toshiba and on a par with the BD-Rom drives in my PC. That alone sold me.







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I decided in the end to plump for the Sony BDPS185, figuring it'll share much with the 390 (which I think was What Hi-fi's best budget buy?) minus the wireless and display.

Plus it was £50 from ebay, and multi-region.

Talking of What Hi-fi magazine, reading some of their reviews made me wonder a few things, in particular when it comes to Blu-ray, are they seeing differences which aren't there?

I mean, here we have a format which is digital, there is really only one way to correctly decode the video from compressed Mpeg4, and the result of that is sent down cable as a digital signal, so other than the tolerance to dirty discs, what difference can there possibly be beyond it works or it doesn't work?

I know there was a lot of differences with DVD players, because the resulting signal had to be converted into analogue, and there is a lot that can go wrong with digital to analogue.

Also I know there is a lot that can be done with upscaling DVD to 1080p, and compatibility with AVI/MKV files, but when I read some of these What Hi-fi reviews, they talk about the Blu-ray pictures being vibrant and detailed, as if there is some way they can't be that?


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LG was me I fink.
Reasonable playback from almost everything thrown at it but anything above that profile 4.1 thing it won`t run (see previous threads where I was advised for the MKV changer thing... thanks to those who helped again)

BD playback.... I think there are differences as some players can alter the picture settings.
DVD upscaling on my PS3 is great, on my sumvision Phoenix it`s good but on my LG it`s excellent.

Can`t get it MR though hence still got the Phoenix :-/

For problem MKV type stuff Mr S, why not use yer Pi? 
Which reminds me... I really must get that plugged in and tested to see if it works... still in the bag it was delivered in :o

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Rob, What Hi-Fi are crap. They`re totally irrelevant in a word where you have dedicated AV sites like AVFoums, whose reviews are far more comprehensive and, let`s face it, honest. At the end of the day they`re in the business of selling mags and there are only so many ways of saying the same thing, so they flower it up a bit. They also have a check-list of stock phrases, some of which you`ve used.

Also, in their forums their editor once claimed that Close Encounters on Blu-ray had terrible picture quality and that Gladiator (the original release) was awesome. This is the editor of a magazine that reviews Blu-rays and Blu-ray hardware...

BTW, that Sony is last gen I think, but it looks to handle most stuff (and crucially it has NTFS support). Surprisingly detailed specs on Sony`s site actually.







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This item was edited on Thursday, 6th December 2012, 18:34

Quote:
Jimbo :oÞ says...
"For problem MKV type stuff Mr S, why not use yer Pi?
Which reminds me... I really must get that plugged in and tested to see if it works... still in the bag it was delivered in :o"Now that, is a great idea! I haven't touched mine for a fair bit, because I've not really managed to get it working properly, been waiting for the various distros to mature. Maybe time to give it another go!

It can be my projector PC!

Quote:
Chris Gould says...
"Also, in their forums their editor once claimed that Close Encounters on Blu-ray had terrible picture quality and that Gladiator (the original release) was awesome. "I'm guessing Close Encounters is great on Blu-ray?

Ah the Gladiator DVD fiasco, happy memories. :)


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