Which standard bluray player with decent file format support/ UI etc?

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Jaxson

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#115087 13-Mar-2013 12:32

Hi all,

I'm after a standalone bluray player for the parents. I want one with a simple user interface / remote and one that you can easily navigate to an external USB drive. Needs to have good file format compatibility/capability on that front as I'm looking to use this as a media player as much as a bluray player (given they're about the same price and all...). PS3 for instance is a bit picky, so is this common to their bluray players as well sort of thing?

Any ideas, good or bad? Budget models required really, say up to $150 ish.

Wifi a bonus as there's no wired ethernet currently to this location. Could possibly be nice if you could stream from a computer to the device via wifi, but USB is intended to be the main source, plus actual bluray discs.

Cheers,
Jackson.

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#781685 14-Mar-2013 14:55

I've a Panasonic DMP-BDT220 which at standard retail is out of your budget if you wait for a 20% off at Easter it will fall within budget.

I found navigation pretty easy. You just follow the icons up or down to where you want to go.

It plays blu ray and DVD - obviously

It plays files through USB. USB just plugs in the front and you navigate to USB/File name

BUT - it plays most files but some containers it won’t. For example it won’t play MKV files.

Most of my files are either AVI for video (stereo and 5.1) and MP3 / FLAC for Audio. It plays these through USB as well as wirelessly.

I stream using Serviio. I don't know how large a file Servioo will wirelessly stream but it can take a 7.0gb file and play it while others are on the Internet.

To save hassles I'm converting non-AVI files into that format. I've learnt its less grief to have a standard playable format rather ready to go rather than try to get other untested formats to work.

I think it has some internet apps but I use my TV as the main streamed internet source as it has a much better browser.

It will do 3D but I really haven’t used this feature. I’ve a couple of blu rays waiting to give it a bash. One day I’ll get my video convert the AVI movies into 3D. I suspect its not going to be a great result – but I’l give it a go one day. The option is there in the unlikely chance your folks are looking for it.

As for quality I love it. The standard Apocpalypse Now, Black Hawk Down, Corraline, Avatar and Blade Runner are fantastic. And between that and the TV it does a great job of scaling DVD’s

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fahrenheit

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#781689 14-Mar-2013 15:09

minimoke:
As for quality I love it.

How well does yours cope with scratched discs? Mine is terrible. It has been very frustrating, especially when I pop the disc out and put it in the PS3 and it plays right through the same problem area.

chiefie

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#781703 14-Mar-2013 15:41

I got this from Toshiba BluRay BDX-3200KY from JBHiFi: http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/tv-lcd-led-plasma/media-players/toshiba/blu-ray-player-sku-25924/

And my post about it: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=112994

You can switch BD region easily.

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Jaxson

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#781724 14-Mar-2013 16:02

Awesome comments guys, appreciate the feedback.

Yes, sales are a commin' ...

minimoke

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#781897 14-Mar-2013 19:48

fahrenheit:
minimoke:
As for quality I love it.

How well does yours cope with scratched discs? Mine is terrible. It has been very frustrating, especially when I pop the disc out and put it in the PS3 and it plays right through the same problem area.

Haven't really thought about it. But now I do it plays all my own discs and all the ones (Cd's and DVD's) we get from the library.

fahrenheit

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#781965 14-Mar-2013 22:12

Thanks. I think mine needs to go back.

networkn

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#781974 14-Mar-2013 22:26

PS3 on a budget, or the Oppo BDP-93 (or 105) if you have a bigger budget.

chiefie

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#781983 14-Mar-2013 22:35

networkn: PS3 on a budget, or the Oppo BDP-93 (or 105) if you have a bigger budget.

PS3 is on special for $349 for God of War 500GB bundle. Or Dick Smith for 12GB for $299. Then use Serviio and it will transcode to the right DLNA profile for PS3.

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Dunnersfella

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#781999 14-Mar-2013 22:51

A PS3 won't be a great solution for most parents... the lack of a remote control will drive them nuts (typically). I'd stay with one of the main brands if possible, plus Wifi so it can stay on top of firmware updates.

Jaxson

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#782004 14-Mar-2013 23:07

Dunnersfella: A PS3 won't be a great solution for most parents...

Yeah, hopefully no offence to any others, but I've found the PS3 to be a pain in the a$$ that I don't want to inflict upon my parents. Big points are the lack of a real remote or native IR port, and the sheer frustration of what file formats it will play natively. Streaming gets around the file format side of things, but it's just not for parents in my experience. So I'm not saying it's bad, (I have one), but it just doesn't fit the bill in this case.

(Technically I just wish you could download apps to the PS3, so I wasn't stuck with the stock media player etc. You know, so I could download the weather app and trademe etc. In my opinion that's where Sony should have been headed with the PS4, but instead we've got a huge focus on social networking...)

Are Sony's standalone bluray players any more lenient to file formats that may stray from their strict interpretation/expectations? I have a $50 supermarket equivalent Sanyo DVD player I think it is, that plays every file type I throw at it when the PS3 doesn't natively play it. I'd like any standalone player to be able to handle file formats in a friendly manner.

chiefie

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#782036 15-Mar-2013 00:43

Jaxson:
Dunnersfella: A PS3 won't be a great solution for most parents...

Yeah, hopefully no offence to any others, but I've found the PS3 to be a pain in the a$$ that I don't want to inflict upon my parents. Big points are the lack of a real remote or native IR port, and the sheer frustration of what file formats it will play natively. Streaming gets around the file format side of things, but it's just not for parents in my experience. So I'm not saying it's bad, (I have one), but it just doesn't fit the bill in this case.

(Technically I just wish you could download apps to the PS3, so I wasn't stuck with the stock media player etc. You know, so I could download the weather app and trademe etc. In my opinion that's where Sony should have been headed with the PS4, but instead we've got a huge focus on social networking...)

Are Sony's standalone bluray players any more lenient to file formats that may stray from their strict interpretation/expectations? I have a $50 supermarket equivalent Sanyo DVD player I think it is, that plays every file type I throw at it when the PS3 doesn't natively play it. I'd like any standalone player to be able to handle file formats in a friendly manner.

Then definitely recommend Toshiba one i mentioned.

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#782037 15-Mar-2013 00:49

chiefie:

Then definitely recommend Toshiba one i mentioned.

Just read your post, seems pretty sweet.

Will keep an eye out for the sales...

Skolink

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#782046 15-Mar-2013 06:52

Just bought a Samsung. AVOID. When playing files over the network (via DLNA) it can't RW/FF, and also incorporates Cinavia so forget format-shifting or backing up your disks.

Works well with CEC on the Samsung TV though, so good for kids (and parents?) just being able to put in a disk and it turns the TV on and plays the movie (at least as far as the disk menu). And was only $99

Deev8

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#782384 15-Mar-2013 16:52

networkn: PS3 on a budget, or the Oppo BDP-93 (or 105) if you have a bigger budget.

I don't think that a PS3 or Oppo will be available for anywhere close to the stated budget

Jaxson:Budget models required really, say up to $150 ish

The Toshiba would be a good bet if you can wait for someone to offer it at a sale price.

Jaxson

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#782386 15-Mar-2013 16:59

Yeah initially this started as a 'how can I play usb stored video files on my parents older gear?'... but when I looked at the prices of say the WD TV units etc, they seemed awfully close to what you might get a bluray player for, which could maybe also do the media player stuff too.

I've also now got a few TV series on bluray from Amazon/Zavvi, so really bluray capability would now be quite useful in it's own right. Basically I just don't want to go down this route and find some 'exact file standards only' type picky player (like I find the PS3 to be) whereby it won't play half the intended AVI type files anyway.

Appreciating all the comments by the way, nothing beats an 'I've got this and it's...' or an 'I was all set to buy that when I just happened to notice this massive issue...' etc

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