What US Blue-Ray Player Should I Get to upgrade Sony S300?

[deerhunter09]

Going To Las Vegas on Boxing Day and i have been looking at buying a new Blu-Ray to update the S300 to support Bitstream Audio For DTS-MA. I only need it for Blu-Ray playback as i have an XA2 HD-DVD for upscaling all my other SD-DVD's. Looking at the Panasonic BD30 or Samsung 1400? Not sure if the extra £100 ish is worth it for the Panasonic or anyone recommend something else?

[jon smith]

The Panasonic seems to be getting decent reviews. Looking at the other threads you won't need a transformer either, which is nice.

The Samsung should be dead cheap though...

[deerhunter09]

That the Prob! circuit city has the Panasonic For £250 ($500) or The Samsung for £150 ($300) an absolute bargain! , just dont know which way to go!

[CyBeRkId2002]

hate to be presumptious but does this mean you will be getting rid of the s300? looking to take my first steps into HD at the minute and may be interested in taking it off your hands. If so drop me a line.

Cheers,
Michael

[deerhunter09]

sorry moving it to spain along with a cheap HD-DVD player and My Old Pioneer Amp to accompany my old plasma already there..

[svendawgg]

I dont mean to hijack the thread, but I just got the s300 and was wondering what "Bitstream Audio For DTS-MA" mean. Ive got an older model sony 5.1 channel receiver with DTS, do I even need to worry about this new audio format?

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by svendawgg

I dont mean to hijack the thread, but I just got the s300 and was wondering what "Bitstream Audio For DTS-MA" mean. Ive got an older model sony 5.1 channel receiver with DTS, do I even need to worry about this new audio format?

Hi svendawgg
Bitstream is when the player sends the audio to the receiver to decode.
So to send DTS-MA Bitstream,you would have to have a 1.3 HDMI amp to be able to decode this audio format. :
The new HD audio tracks sound great and there is another way of hearing them by letting the player decode.....................what model Sony do you have and does it have multi analog inputs.

[svendawgg]

The unit that I have is a sony bd-s300. I do not think it has the 1.3 hdmi outputs. New tv is a 40" Sony Bravia v3000. The amplifier is a Sony STR-DE845 5.1 channel receiver. The speakers are assorted brands that I put together. Athena center, panasonic left and right, and Acoustech labs rear speakers. The brains of the setup are as follows:

XBOX 360 Core, 20 gig hd. The xbox is wired to the tv using a vga adapter, and then wired to the amplifier using a fiber optics wire. Just wondering if the bd 300 will be able to sound alright on the amp seeing as how it is an older amp anyhow and I do not need the newer audio formats.

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by svendawgg

. Just wondering if the bd 300 will be able to sound alright on the amp seeing as how it is an older amp anyhow and I do not need the newer audio formats.

Hi svendawgg
The Sony will still sound great using optical with your amp,is this what you will be using?

[svendawgg]

yes I will be using optical cables, thank you!

[svendawgg]

one last question. Apparently the Blu-ray player isnt HDMI 1.3 compatible but my tv is. Does this even matter or can I still play all my blu ray dvd's without the 1.3. What difference does it make?? Will it affect the video or audio?

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by svendawgg

one last question. Apparently the Blu-ray player isnt HDMI 1.3 compatible but my tv is. Does this even matter or can I still play all my blu ray dvd's without the 1.3. What difference does it make?? Will it affect the video or audio?

Hi svendawgg
This will not affect you in anyway at all,mate
Your Blu-ray discs will play unaffected (audio/video) on your set-up.
HDMI 1.3 is only somehting to consider if you upgrade your receiver in the future.