Aug 28 Popular Options for Blu-ray Players: Podcast #388
Podcast Tags: Blu-ray, OPPO, PS3, Playstation 
Now that you can find Blu-ray players at Wal*Mart for less than $150 we thought it would be a good idea to present five slightly more expensive options that you may want to consider. Spending a little more can get you a more capable player that won't feel obsolete by Christmas.
Listen to the show
Today's Show:
News:
- Which HDTV feature are you least concerned about?
- PlayOn for Wii in beta
- Amazon, iTunes price downloads aggressively
- Major studios sign deals for movie burning
- USC at Ohio State game to be shown in 3-D
- Paramount signs trial deal with Redbox
Other:
- Kicker Hits HD Screen At New Cowboys Stadium
- FIOS new features next month
- $1,299.99 Sharp Aquos 52" 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV
- PS3 Slim supports high-end audio bitstreaming
- Upgrade your Warner Bros. HD-DVDs for new Blu-ray discs
- Mike's Home Theater Photos
Popular Options for Blu-ray Players
Now that you can find Blu-ray players at Wal*Mart for less than $150 we thought it would be a good idea to present five slightly more expensive options that you may want to consider. Spending a little more can get you a more capable player that won't feel obsolete by Christmas.
PlayStation 3 120 GB ($300 Street Price)
The PS3 120GB system is a Blu-ray player and more. You get free PlayStation Network membership, built-in Wi-Fi and 120GB of hard disk drive storage for games, music, videos and photos. And now the PS3 has support for bitstream Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio tracks.
Features
- HDMI + Bravia Sync functionality that provides both 1080p output resolution, and instant in-sync connectivity between your PS3 and other Sony HDMI enabled products without the use of multiple remote controls.
- A new 33% slimmer, 36% lighter PlayStation 3 entertainment system that is also more energy efficient.
- Includes a Dualshock 3 wireless controller and a built-in 120GB HDD for storing games, music, videos, and photos.
- Built-in Wi-Fi for connectivity anywhere and multiple media format compatibility, including Blu-ray for crystal clear video on High-Definition TVs, CD-ROM, DVD, and others.
- Free membership and access to all the events, as well as game, movie, TV and other media content available on the PlayStation Network (PSN).
Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray Disc Player ($195 Street Price)
A capable sub $200 player that supports profile 2.0, Next Generation Audio, and Panasonic's VieraCast. It has great performance but load times are a little slow. You'll also need to add a 1GB or larger SD card for BD Live support.
Features
- Viera Cast connecting you with YouTube, Picasa, Weather.
- BD-Live
- SD Card Slot and USB slot
- 1080P Upconvert
- Film makers version with PHL Chip for accurate color
Sony BDP-S360 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player ($210 Street Price)
The Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray Disc player supports BD-Live technology, Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD audio codecs. Unfortunately the player has slow load times, no Internet streaming and no Wifi Support.
Features
- Blu-ray Disc player with Full HD 1080p output for Blu-ray Discs and upconversion of standard DVD video to 1080p
- BD Live capable for accessing bonus content from BD-Live Blu-ray Discs via Ethernet port connected to your home network
- 24p True Cinema capable lets you watch films at their intended 24 fps (frames per second); Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD
LG BD 390 Network Blu-ray Disc Player ($320 Street Price)
- Networked Blu-ray Disc player connects to Netflix and YouTube streaming video without a computer via Ethernet and Wi-Fi (802.11n)
- Full HD 1080p output for Blu-ray Discs and upconversion of standard DVD video to 1080p
- BD Live capable for accessing bonus content from BD-Live Blu-ray Discs; Dolby TrueHD/Digital Plus and DTS-HD; 1 GB built-in memory
OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player with SACD & DVD-Audio ($500 Street Price)
The Oppo is a high quality Blu-ray player that supports the complete Blu-ray specification and plays SACD or DVD Audio discs. It has the best upconversion of any Blu-ray player we have seen. It is also the most expensive Blu-ray player on the list.
- Universal Blu-ray disc player providing playback for a myriad of video formats
- Supports Blu-ray, SACD, DVD-Audio, DVDs, and CDs
- Two USB ports allow for playback of media stored on a flash drive
- Uses award-winning video processing chip for a clear, true picture
Reader Comments (20)
I saw a Magnavox BluRay player at WalMart the other day for $98. I guess we don't have to wait until Black Friday.
Hey guys
I'm not that big of an AV guy and I just wonder what does that new audio feature on the PS3 means for the regular gamer like me...
I gotta mention that my PS3 is sending audio via "Optical cable" so would that change anything or should I just not worry about it?
Thnkx and great show!!
Does the PS3 connect with an HDMI cable? My understanding is that optical cables can not carry all of the new HD audio, only HDMI is capable of the necessary bandwidth for Dolby TrueHD and DTS Mater Audio. So, my assumption is that you had to connect analog connections for true HD 7.1 with the old PS3 and the new PS3 does this all through HDMI. Is this correct?
One other questions, I was planning on getting a URC universal remote for my new home theater; but it sounds like the PS3 bluetooth adapter may only work with the harmony. I want an RF remote, so I can hide all the components. Any thoughts?
Thanks! Love the show
Eric from Michigan
For the guy who is going to OTA and Netflix and looking for a digital converter coupon:
In May, my wife and I went from Dish to OTA and Netflix and couldn’t be happier. If you make this change, I would suggest that you consider getting a TiVo box rather than a converter box. Though it may not matter to you, one important difference for us is the converter boxes that are eligible for the coupon are not allowed to be HD.
Another important consideration for us is the fact that we have limited channels means that we have fewer vieiwing options at any given time. The TiVo box let’s us record what we like and watch it at our convenience. The TiVo also allows us to watch the NetFlix on Demand movies and content. TiVo also has a ton of video on demand available. Check out the TiVo site for more info.
If you don’t go with the TiVo, I suggest a Roku box or something similar to get the NetFlix on demand content. If you do not have access to NetFlix on Demand, then you are missing out on a large portion of what you are paying for with your subscription.
When I did my cost analysis spreadsheet to help us with making our decision, I factored in the two out at a time NetFlix program. Due to the Netflix on Demand and the TiVo we have never moved up from the one out at a time program. Our total monthly cost is around $22 for the TiVo subscription and the NetFlix. We were paying over $60 per month and did not have HD or movies.
The download link is wrong - it is pointing to the Aug 21 episode.
Brian
I have one of the Black-Friday Blu-Ray players from last year. I have absolutely no interest in BD-live.
Hi Brian,
The link is now fixed. Thanks for the info!
Ara
For George: The new "bitstream" TrueHD/DTS-HD MA output of the PS3 Slim only affects the HDMI output. If you are using the optical audio output, nothing changes for you. You will still hear regular Dolby Digital and regular DTS surround sound for both Blu-ray movies and games.
If you want to experience the higher quality audio offered by TrueHD, DTS-HD MA and uncompressed multi-channel PCM, you will need to use the PS3's HDMI output and connect it to a compatible receiver.
It's important to know that with TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, there are really only two options:
Either
A) The PS3 does the decoding (this was the only option with the original PS3). If the PS3 does the decoding, you can have it send the resulting multi-channel PCM out of the HDMI port. Or...
B) The PS3 sends the TrueHD/DTS-HD MA "bitstream" via HDMI to your reciever (this is the new option offered by the Slim), and then the receiver has to do the decoding.
There is no audio quality difference either way. But if you send the "bitstream", you can only listen to the primary audio track. If you want to listen to something with a secondary audio track (like a Picture-in-Picture feature or a Director's commentary) you have to let the PS3 do the decoding.
In other words, you are probably better off just letting the PS3 do the decoding. So why even offer the new "bitstream" option? Because people like to see the little logo lights on the fronts of their receivers! Honestly, there is no advantage and there is a possible disadvantage, so really, it's nothing to worry about!
And in your case, George, it is REALLY nothing to worry about because - with your optical connection - none of this TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, PCM, bitstream, HDMI stuff even applies!
For Eric:
You've got some of it right and some of it not quite right :)
Optical (or coax digital) cannot carry TrueHD, DTS-HD or more than 2-channels of uncompressed PCM - you've got that right.
HDMI is necessary for the new "HD Audio" formats.
But you do not need 7.1 analogue ouptuts. This is not even an option with the PS3.
As I said in the post above, there are the two options. If the PS3 does the TrueHD/DTS-HD decoding (which is what the old player did and the Slim can still do as an option), then what you get is multi-channel PCM.
Any time any type of digital audio is "decoded", PCM is the result. Dolby Digital, DTS, TrueHD and DTS-HD are all just different forms of compression. The audio starts as PCM. It gets "coded" into DD, DTS, TrueHD, what-have-you. And then it needs to get "decoded" back into PCM before your receiver can play it back.
So the PS3 can do the decoding. It can take the TrueHD or DTS-HD soundtracks and decode them back into uncompressed, 5.1 or 7.1 PCM. Then it can use the HDMI output to send that uncompressed 5.1/7.1 PCM signal to your receiver. The most it could send over optical would be 2-channel PCM - that's just due to the bandwidth limitations of the optical connection.
The Slim now gives the option of sending the TrueHD or DTS-HD "bitstream". So the audio is still "coded" when it leaves the Slim. But it still has to be "decoded" before your receiver can do anything with it! So now, with "bitstream" output, it's up to your receiver to handle the decoding - that's all.
The TrueHD/DTS-HD "bitstreams" - even though they are a form of compression - are still to large in size to pass over an optical audio connection, so HDMI is still necessary.
For Eric, Re: Remotes
The "Harmony Bluetooth adapter for PS3" just takes IR commands and translates them into Bluetooth. It happens to be already set up to understand the IR commands that are in the Harmony Remote database (naturally), but you can program a URC remote to send those same commands - you just have to do it manually is all.
Head on over to AVS Forum or Remote Central and I'm sure you can find the IR codes that you need in order to make a URC remote work with the Harmony Bluetooth adapter for PS3.
Keep in mind though, the Harmony adapter is an IR-to-Bluetooth adapter, so it still needs to "see" IR commands for it to work. If you want to use an RF setup, you'll just need to make sure that the Harmony Bluetooth adapter has a clear line-of-sight to the IR blaster that sits near your gear.
So you would have your URC remote send a RF signal. The RF receiver near your gear would take that RF signal and translate it into IR and send that to the IR blaster. The IR blaster would send out the commands and the Harmony adapter would "see" those and turn them into Bluetooth for the PS3.
Seems complex, but it should work fine. I happen to LOVE the new Harmony 900 though - you might want to consider it! The 900 is basically the same as the Harmony One, but it is the RF version (and it has a few extra buttons). You can do a heck of a lot with a Harmony remote if you are willing to dig into the software a little bit. I don't agree at all that the Harmony software setup makes things easy. I take hours to tweak everything! But it's still a more robust system and, IMO, a better system than manually programming a URC remote. I came from using a URC MX500 - and while that was a great remote in many ways, my current Harmony One is substantially better. Just food for thought :)
Thanks Rob
I'll check out the Harmony 900. Are there any IR repeaters you or anyone else would recommend?
EriC
Ara and Braden, my husband just had me listen to a section of your podcast. Specifically, the part of the "wife friendly" product. I was dying . . . and so was my husband, Vance. It is so true that as women we just don't want to have to "figure it out"! I'm glad to know that I'm not the only wife around that relies on her husband, and yes, even children to manage the technology!
Technophobe,
Marilyn
I think you got Viera Link and Viera Cast mixed up in your description of the Panasonic BD-60.
Viera Cast is not Panasonic's flavor of HDMI-CEC (that would be Viera Link), but it provides access to certain internet services, like YouTube, via the player.
Ah, I just noticed you corrected that on the website already.
Hi Dave,
Thanks for keeping me honest!
Ara
As far as I know, the Redbox free rental codes are tied to your credit card number. I've used the same free code in the past with different cards, so juice it for all it's worth.
Eric IR Repeaters
Take a look at http://www.hot-link.com/
Netflix and no Saturday Delivery:
I usually receive 2 discs per week. Return Monday AM, receive disc on Wednesday. Return disc Thursday AM, receive disk on Saturday.
If the post office drops to 5 days per week, I would probably be down to one disc per week.
At $11 / month, I don't think it is worth it.
Now that you can find Blu-ray players at WalMart for less than $150 we thought it would be a good idea to present five slightly more expensive options that you may want to consider. Spending a little more can get you a more capable player that won't feel obsolete by Christmas.av
freelance writer