What kind of standalone Blu Ray player am I looking for?

U

uOpt

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Mar 29, 2006
Messages
1,626
What do you guys use? Fed up with that p.o.s. LG.

Need:
  • Region independent
  • Reasonable memory wrt which disk played at what position last

Want:
  • USB, ideally able to play DVD disk trees, or else at least have a plan to play > 2 GB files
  • Play from LAN, ideally SMB or NFS, and must support rewind and pause (yes the LG fails here)
  • Amazon prime video
  • Ignore no-skip instructions and/or go to disk menu immediately (no enforced previews)

Any suggestions?
 
I use a combination of a 2011 model Panasonic for physical disks (and is capable of Amazon prime) and I have a Roku 3 that's used for all network duties (Plex + Amazon Prime).
 
Hey David.

Would you mind posting a specific model designation? I am still looking.

Do you have that funky remote with the touchpad?
 
uOpt said:
Hey David.

Would you mind posting a specific model designation? I am still looking.

Do you have that funky remote with the touchpad?
Click to expand...

I have the long since discontinued Panasonic DMP-BDT110. The remote did not have a touchpad on it, however, I haven't really used it as I have Harmony remotes that handle all of my remote duties.
 
i am in this same boat, i ditched my main htpc, wasn't using it much, use a WDLive Plus,so now i want a dedicated BR player for the disks i do have...
 
Not sure if this is still relevant, but I have the Samsung BD-F5900 and it does Amazon prime video. Don't know about the other stuff you listed, but I like the unit. I'm setting up a Plex server right now and it plays the movies I have in Plex just fine as well.
 
Can all these panasonics be made to ignore region for the DVD part?
 
mm Amazon prime is a nice option since i have that and could use a U.S proxy to get it here in CR>..
 
that oppo looks sexy!

But one thing wife may kill me over if i got it, working for a new TV first in the $1500+ range, see how that goes!
 
I have the Sony BDP 3100 or 5100...can't remember specifically but there are minimal differences. Works well as a media server with either Windows or the PS3 media server program.

They have Amazon prime, Netflix and Hulu Plus.

I'm not sure about the rewind/pause stuff but it's a decent player.
 
I decided to try this one out from Sony, since it has the side app which seems cool and most other features the samesung has for 3rd party stuff


http://store.sony.com/3d-blu-ray-di...5100/cat-27-catid-All-Blu-ray-and-DVD-Players

Product Specifications
Limited Warranty
Audio Features
Audio Features Coaxial
Dolby Digital bit-stream out : Yes
LPCM 2ch (~96kHz/~24bit) out : Yes
DTS bit-stream out : Yes
DTS Neo 6 : Yes
Audio Features Coaxial, Optical
Dolby Digital bit-stream out : Yes
LPCM 2ch (~96kHz/~24bit) out : Yes
DTS bit-stream out : Yes
DTS Neo 6 : Yes
Audio Features Decodability
dts : DTS-HD Master Audio decoding (MA)
AV Sync : Yes
Dolby® : Dolby True HD decoding (2Ch)
Audio Features HDMI
LPCM 6ch (5.1) out : Yes (192kHz/96kHz/48kHz)
LPCM 2ch out : Yes (192kHz/96kHz/48kHz)
LPCM 8ch (7.1) out : Yes (96kHz/48kHz)
Dolby TrueHD bit-stream out : Yes
DTS HD Master Audio bit-stream out : Yes
DSD output : Yes
DSD to LPCM conversion out : Yes (176.4kHz/88.2kHz/44.1kHz)
Audio Features HDMI Audio Out
LPCM 6ch (5.1) out : Yes (192kHz/96kHz/48kHz)
LPCM 2ch out : Yes (192kHz/96kHz/48kHz)
LPCM 8ch (7.1) out : Yes (96kHz/48kHz)
Dolby TrueHD bit-stream out : Yes
DTS HD Master Audio bit-stream out : Yes
DSD output : Yes
DSD to LPCM conversion out : Yes (176.4kHz/88.2kHz/44.1kHz)
Color : Black
Convenience Features
USB Keyboard : Yes (101 only)
DEMO mode - Tray Lock : Yes
Bit Rate Indicator : Yes (Video, Audio, BIV)
Screen Saver : Yes
Multiple Language Display : English French Spanish Portugese
BRAVIA® Sync™ : Yes
Easy Setup : Yes
Parental Control : Yes
Child Lock : Yes
Auto Power Off (Auto Stand-by) : Yes
Convenience Features
Convenience Features 2nd Display
TV Companion : Yes (TV SideView)
Device : Yes (iPhone, Android, PC)
TV Companion : Yes (TV SideView)
Device : Yes (iPhone, Android, PC)
Convenience Features GUI
XMB (Xross Media Bar) : Yes
Slow Playback (FWD/REV) : Yes
STEP Playback (FWD/REV) : Yes
PREV/NEXT : Yes
Play/Stop/Pause : Yes
REV/FWD : Yes
All : Yes
Chapter : Yes
Title : Yes
Track : Yes
General Features
TV System Default Setting : 60Hz
Region Code (DVD) : 1
Region Code (BD) : A
Disc Drive : Yes (Precision Drive HD)
General
General FW Update
Disc (CD-R) : Yes
Network : Yes
Inputs and Outputs
Ethernet Connection(s) : 1 (Rear), 1 (Rear) Coaxial Audio Ouput
USB Input(s) : 2 (1 Rear/ 1 Front)
Coaxial Audio Output(s) : 1 (Rear)
HDMI Output(s) : 1 (Rear)
Party Mode : Yes
Wake on LAN : Yes (Quick Start Mode needs to be set on)
Network Features/SEN BIVL
Live Streaming : Yes
Subtitle : Yes
Recom. : Yes
Network Features/SEN Entertainment DB Browser (Gracenote
Related Information : Yes(BD, DVD, CD, BIV)
Information Browse (within Gracenote) : Yes
Qriocity Recommendation : Yes
Information Browse (with Web Browser) : Yes
Information Display : Yes
Search Contents : Yes
History Browse : Yes
Cover Art : Yes
DMR (Dgital Media Renderer) : Yes (Video, Audio, Photo)
DMP (Dgital Media Player) : Yes (Video, Audio, Photo)
Network Features/SEN Home Share (DLNA)
DMR (Dgital Media Renderer) : Yes (Video, Audio, Photo)
DMP (Digital Media Player) : Yes (Video, Audio, Photo)
Network Features/SEN Sony Entertainment Network
3D Streaming : Yes
Live Streaming : Yes
Network Features/SEN Web Browser
Java : Yes
Streaming : Yes
Search : Yes
Network Features/SEN Wi-fi
Wi-Fi Built in : Yes (2.4GHz)
Photo
Photo Slide Show with Music
CD : Yes
USB : Yes
Playback Features
Playback Features Playback Control
Slow Playback (FWD/REV) : Yes
STEP Playback (FWD/REV) : Yes
PREV/NEXT : Yes
Play/Stop/Pause : Yes
REV/FWD : Yes
Playback Features Repeat
All : Yes
Chapter : Yes
Title : Yes
Track : Yes
Power
Power Consumption (in Operation) : 14W
Power Consumption (in Standby) : 0.15W
Power Requirements (frequency) : 60Hz
Power Requirements (voltage) : 120V
Supported Media
BD-R/RE : Yes (ver.3.0, SL/DL)
DVD-R : Video, VR (w/o CPRM)
DVD-Video : Yes
DVD-RW : Video, VR (w/o CPRM)
DVD+R : Yes
DVD-R Dual Layer : Video, VR (w/o CPRM)
DVD+RW : Yes
DVD Camcorder 8cm DVD : 8cm DVD-R/-RW; 8cm DVD+RW
DVD+R Double Layer : Yes
USB Memory : Yes (FAT32,NTSF)
External HDD (Read/Write/Copy/Move) : Yes (Read)
Supported Media
Supported Media BD-ROM
Bonus View (Profile1.1) : Yes
BD-Live (Profile2.0) : Yes
BD-ROM (SL/DL) : Yes
Supported Media BDAV
BD-RE : Yes (ver.2.0, SL/DL)
Supported Media BDMV
BD-RE : Yes (ver.2.0, SL/DL)
BD-R : Yes (ver.1.0, SL/DL)
Supported Media CD
SA-CD (SA-CD/CD) : Yes
CD (CD-DA) : Yes
CD-R/-RW : Yes
Supported Media Hybrid Disc
BD/DVD : Yes (select in set-up menu)
BD/CD : Yes (select in set-up menu)
HDDVD/DVD : Yes (DVD only)
Supported Media Mixed Disc
BDAV/BDMV : Yes (BDMV)
Supported Media Music
Dolby Digital (.ac3, .mka) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB)
FLAC (.flac, .fla) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB)
LPCM (.mka) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB)
AAC (.aac, .mka) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB)
MP3 (.mka) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB)
WMA9 Standard (.wma) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA)
AAC (.m4a) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB)
MP3 (.mp3) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA)
LPCM (.wav) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA)
Supported Media Photo
MPO MPF 3D (.mpo) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB)
JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA)
GIF (.gif) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA)
PNG (.png) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA)
Supported Media Video
XVID : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA)
Motion JPEG (.mov, .avi) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB)
VC1 (.m2ts, .mts, .mkv) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB)
MPEG-4/AVC (.mov, 3gp, .3g2, .3gpp, .3gpp2, .flv) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB)
MPEG-1 Video/PS (.mpg .mpeg, .m2ts, .mts) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA)
AVCHD Disc Format Folder : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA)
WMV9 (.wmv, .asf) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA)
MPEG-4 AVC (.mkv, .mp4, .m4v, .m2ts, .mts) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA)
MPEG-2 Video/PS, TS ( .mpg.mpeg, .m2ts, .mts) : Yes (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA)
Video Features
BD-ROM : Yes (480i/ 480p/ 720p/ 1080i/ 1080p (60Hz)) Yes (1080p (24Hz))
PhotoTV HD : Yes
Preset Picture mode Cinema Tuned : Yes (Standard/Brighter room/Theater Room)
Simulated 3D : Yes
x.v.Color : Yes
Super Scaler (Precision CinemaHD upscale) : Yes
Deep Color : Yes (16bit)
Upscaling : Yes (720p/ 1080i/ 1080p) Yes (1080p (24Hz))
Video Features
Video Features Noise Reduction
BNR : Yes
MNR : Yes
Weights (Approx )
Unit : 2.8 lbs. (1.3kg)
Weights and Measurements
Dimensions (Approx.) : 14 1/4 × 7 7/8 × 1 3/4 in (360 mm × 199 mm × 43 mm) (width/depth/height incl. projecting parts)
Click to expand...
 
I am retracting my recommendation of the Samsung BD-F5900. While it plays Amazon Prime video which is good, it has a flaw I found recently playing back my mkv disk backups. It has the cinavia audio thing where every modern movie that is backed up gets these errors about every 10 minutes where it cuts the audio out for 60 seconds or so. I have stopped using these boxes for plex playback and just using chromecasts now.
 
So I got the Panasonic 89 now. No chance to region unlock so I give up and keep an unlocked player separately. Sigh.

One thing drives me nuts, though: this one lacks both a dedicated subtitle button on the remote (requiring a menu dive to activate them) and it also doesn't have a setting to just default to always have english subtitles. I also isn't smart enough to play one file after another on USB.

Any solutions for this?
 
i had an HTPC myself, but all i ever used it for was steaming movies from my main computer or playing over the network, was total overkill for me, used power, took up more room and made more noise.

i figured i would use it for gaming and web access but my Sony LCD was jjust not clear for use as a computer.
 
Unfortunately the Panasonic doesn't do it either. Problems include:
  • Doesn't remember subtitle choice, even forgets it one episode to the next, and does not have a subtitle button on the remote. You have to go through a full-screen menu. Every time
  • Does not play one file after another in a directory on SMB or USB. I thought this is not a big deal but when combined with filesystems that limit filesize to 2 GB it is. Also turns subtitles off every file.
  • You cannot pull up the DVD/BR menu without going through the fullscreen player UI. No button. No, I'm not making this up.
  • Does random formats on SMB but you cannot seek backwards except to the beginning of the file :mad:
  • I knew that before but it refuses hard to do region 2 even for DVD so I had to keep the Phillips.

Any hope to find a unit that doesn't have the problems?

Willing to spend whatever now.
 
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