Why aren't we seeing BRD player price drops in the UK?

[ndenbow]

Morning all,

I have noticed over the past two weeks that both Samsung (1400) and Sony (S300) have reduced the cost of their BRD players to around $300 (£150).

Why aren't we seeing this kind of activity over in the UK or Europe?

I am very tempted to get one of my colleagues or friends, who work/live in the US, to bring one back in their pocket. It looks like the choice and cost of BRD films in the US is better anyway.

Any opinions?

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by ndenbow

Morning all,

I have noticed over the past two weeks that both Samsung (1400) and Sony (S300) have reduced the cost of their BRD players to around $300 (£150).

Why aren't we seeing this kind of activity over in the UK or Europe?

I am very tempted to get one of my colleagues or friends, who work/live in the US, to bring one back in their pocket. It looks like the choice and cost of BRD films in the US is better anyway.

Any opinions?

Hi ndenbow
You can pick up a 40GB Ps3 quite cheap,i don't think price is an issue if you want to get into Blu-ray.

[ndenbow]

But nothing is coming down to the magic £200-£250 (ideally less than £200) mark.

Is a PS/3 actually as good as either of those players? Obviously I'm going to make a parallel comparison with Xbox360/HD-DVD addon.

I just want to settle on a HD-DVD player and a BRD player so I can get my boomin' plasma ISF'd!!!

I probably won't need HD audio support until I upgrade my reciever, which won't be for at least a couple more years.

[kingfats]

Originally Posted by ndenbow

But nothing is coming down to the magic £200-£250 (ideally less than £200) mark.

Is a PS/3 actually as good as either of those players? Obviously I'm going to make a parallel comparison with Xbox360/HD-DVD addon.

.

Prices will come down even more in time.
Yes,the Ps3 is as good as it's gets for the price and can match any other Blu-ray player PQ wise.
More info:
http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=663301

PS3 vs dedicated blu ray player

[Pecker]

I think that both the studios and CEMs see a format war that needs to be won, and that whoever wins in America will win worldwide.

Subsequently they spend a disproportionately large amount of their promotional budget subsidising discs and players in the US.

I might be wrong, but that's my guess.

Steve W

[tausifs]

The Sharp HP20 BluRay player is going for £250 on Amazon, I bought one yesterday , awaiting delivery. This is a relatively new player. I don' t think its profile 1.1 though.

This player will output 1080/24p and has internal decoding for True HD, but I don't think it passes HD audio over HDMI. Still , price and performance otherwise good for a branded BluRay player IMO. And it has analog outs which the PS3 doesn't have.

[andythescientis]

My personal opinion is that the Sammy and the sony are being cleared in the US for new 1.1 profile players which will be announced at CES.

Once 1.1 discs begin to appear, i don't think anyone will touch the 1.0 players with a 10 foot barge pole.

The UK market is still IMO a chancers market, by that i mean they are hoping folks who've heard a tiny bit about HD, but not enough to make an informed decision might splash out on a BD player, totally unaware about profile compliance etc.

You only have to look at the threads on here the last few weeks, everyone is asking is the PS3 a good BD player? When the truth is it's only BD player you should really consider buying at this time. By easter things in the UK might be different, but for now it's the only option IMO.

[nikonkid]

Why dont you look at the Panasonic BD30 thread. This model is now 1.1 profile and it bitstreams DTS HD MA via HDMI into any good amp.


You can buy it from B&H Photo USA for $499 (£260) plus £50 delivery.

It wont hit the UK until summer next year. It will probably sell for around £500.

[Nic Rhodes]

Not very region B though!!

I think it will be a while yet beore we see what I call cheap prices routinely (<£180), particularly on BD. On a rare day in the shops yesterday, PS3 £280, 300 was £350 and HD DVD started at £149 (with 5 discs). Your best bet for a cheapie is a 1.0 player being cleared out in Q1 2008.

I am a region A man, better alround in my book.

[ndenbow]

Guys - thanks for the responses. Some good stuff here. This is probably the first thread in ages that has stayed on topic and been very informative.

I think I'm going to wait into Q1 '08 and see what happens. The region coding aspect is slightly annoying but can't be helped at the moment. I like the fact that the PS3 will continue to receive software updates in support of enhancing the Blu-Ray experience, therefore avoiding all the mess surrounding non-1.1 compliant players (true?). I don't have a HD audio amp at the moment either, but I do have a gorgeous Fuji 42" 58 series plasma waiting to show off HD material.

Maybe you BRD guys are ok after all

[nikonkid]

If your gonna wait till 08 (it rhymes well that) why not wait till the Panny BD 30 UK version arrives on the market,Feb/Mar time.

Dont know what the prices will be like,but this machine gets some decent right ups here and on the US sites.

[peterweg]

Originally Posted by Pecker

I think that both the studios and CEMs see a format war that needs to be won, and that whoever wins in America will win worldwide.

Subsequently they spend a disproportionately large amount of their promotional budget subsidising discs and players in the US.

I might be wrong, but that's my guess.

Steve W

The US is only 20% of the worldwide economy. The format war exists in the US, however its over or not started elsewhere where Blu-ray completely dominates. So prices are not coming down here because there is no competition from HD-DVD.
Other than that, I don't think retailers are particularly inclined to discount, as long as they make a profit they don't care.

[Pecker]

Originally Posted by peterweg

The US is only 20% of the worldwide economy.

And what %age of the world's HDM economy?

Steve W

[bumtious]

Originally Posted by ndenbow

Morning all,

I have noticed over the past two weeks that both Samsung (1400) and Sony (S300) have reduced the cost of their BRD players to around $300 (£150).

Why aren't we seeing this kind of activity over in the UK or Europe?

I am very tempted to get one of my colleagues or friends, who work/live in the US, to bring one back in their pocket. It looks like the choice and cost of BRD films in the US is better anyway.

Any opinions?

You are, but hey will never be US pricesover here.

The Sony s300 started off at £399

Look at the link of offers at the top available for £234 now and that is forum paid advertisers.

[peterweg]

Originally Posted by Pecker

And what %age of the world's HDM economy?

Steve W

I don't know exactly but per capita, when I last had solid figures, more HDM is sold in the UK than the US.