All-Region DVD and Blu-ray Player Advice

[matrixschmatrix]

I bring this up a lot, but you can buy a pc and a Blu-ray drive- or even a laptop with one- for a lot under $650. It's really easy to work around region restrictions on a computer.

[Gregory]

I've thought about an Oppo, but any that I see listed as region free go for around $650-700 which is way too steep. I'd prefer spending no more than $350-400 if possible, but I don't know if that's possible for a quality all region player. Also, are the Oppo players manufactured region free or are those prices for modded machines as well?

I reported this a couple pages back, but someone at Oppo told me about 6 months ago that they plan to release a new lower-priced Blu-ray player to replace the older BDP-80 model, which sold for $250-290, so it may be worth waiting for that. It also may be worth calling their customer service number to ask if there are plans for a player at a lower price point, just to see if there is any news. There may not be, but their CS has been helpful and friendly every time I've called, so it couldn't hurt to try.

[Grand Wazoo]

So I found a used, modded Oppo bdp-83 from a seemingly very reliable seller on amazon for $400 and I bit. Here's hoping for the best. If it works flawlessly, it'll be worth it if only so I no longer feel the dread I did turning on my Sherwood knowing THIS could be the time it stops working.

[knives]

My stupid goddamned Sherwood sherwooded on me just now. It ate my copy of The World and the worst thing is that it wasn't even the feature that caused it to melt down like this, but one of the extras. Anybody know how I could at least get it to spit out my disc?

[David M.]

When my Laserdisc player died, I had to use a combination of screwdrivers and hammers.

[skeets kelly]

don't buy a pioneer bdp-330. it's clunky as hell (i mean, noticeable layer changes?? what the fuck?) and struggles with a lot of blu's i put into it. although, it seems to play everything else just fine.

gar, i can see myself buying another stupid player in a year or two.

[ArchCarrier]

To avoid all the hassle that obviously comes with a region-free solution, I've decided to build myself a decent HTPC. I'm going to use older or used components so that the total price won't be higher than a new Blu-ray player.

[triodelover]

To avoid all the hassle that obviously comes with a region-free solution, I've decided to build myself a decent HTPC. I'm going to use older or used components so that the total price won't be higher than a new Blu-ray player.

I agree that HTPC is the way to go, but it's not bulletproof. Be aware that some software packages can have problems. See my post here.

[ArchCarrier]

Thanks for that, I must have missed your earlier post. I'll probably go with Media Player Classic HC (using this setup), and install another software player as backup.

[triodelover]

Thanks for that, I must have missed your earlier post. I'll probably go with Media Player Classic HC (using this setup), and install another software player as backup.

Post was in Blu-ray, in General thread. Having two packages to choose from is a good idea if the budget permits. I think part of the problem is the TMT/AnyDVD HD interface, but I can't do without AnyDVD (there are other region free solutions if you can) because of the lack of HDCP compliance with some of the Mac components.

[Perkins Cobb]

My stupid goddamned Sherwood sherwooded on me just now. It ate my copy of The World and the worst thing is that it wasn't even the feature that caused it to melt down like this, but one of the extras. Anybody know how I could at least get it to spit out my disc?

Maybe I'm giving you false optimism, but don't take the hammer and tongs to it before giving it a cooling off period and trying to restart. Mine sherwooded last year for long enough to convince me to buy a more reliable Region A player ... and then it suddenly started working again a few days after I'd pronounced it dead.

[knives]

I should've updated, but after manually turning it off for about two hours I switched it on again and manually told it to open so I've got my disc back that way.

[Perkins Cobb]

I know I'm living on borrowed time with my Sherwood, but it's actually making less noise now. Maybe it's like those terminal patients that suddenly seem almost well again for a day or two right before they die.

[knives]

That fix was really temporary. Is there any comp program I can use to play my discs until I can afford a replacement. I don't want The Hole to just gather dust.

[AALFW]

If anybody wants to try to make their Playstation 3 region free for Blu-ray, it looks like there may be a patching solution now: http://www.ps3news.com/PS3-Guides-Tutor ... ray-drive/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Any of the more tech-savvy around here want to give this a try?

[Oedipax]

If anybody wants to try to make their Playstation 3 region free for Blu-ray, it looks like there may be a patching solution now: http://www.ps3news.com/PS3-Guides-Tutor ... ray-drive/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Any of the more tech-savvy around here want to give this a try?

Interesting. I would try this but I've already updated my PS3's firmware to a version newer than when the last jailbreak occurred (or was released, anyway) so I can't make use of this.

[Drucker]

Hey I just read through the posts for the last 6 months, but didn't find any answers that were as straight-forward as I need, so sorry if I'm kind of re-asking a question that's been asked/answered...

But can you guys recommend a good Blu-Ray Multi-Region player? That will play multi-region for both regular and Blu-Ray DVDs? I'm prepared to spend 200-300 dollars...as I'd really rather get a good machine that will last, as in my experience cheap DVD players tend to not last and be ridiculously frustrating.

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMP-BD6 ... addTwoStar" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Do people still recommend this one? Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

[domino harvey]

Anyone know how to turn off that stupid 30 minute automatic shutdown on the Insignia Blu-ray player? My Sherwood just bit the dust this morning for all DVDs, so now this thing has to be my default region-free and regular DVD player in addition to DVDs. Technology can suck a disk, &c

[Michael Kerpan]

http://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-DMP-BD6 ... addTwoStar

Do people still recommend this one? Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

You will need a PAL or multi-systtem TV to play PAL DVDs. Niot sure where you live -- buit if it is in the US, you aren't likely to have one of these. ;~}

[manicsounds]

Anyone know how to turn off that stupid 30 minute automatic shutdown on the Insignia Blu-ray player? My Sherwood just bit the dust this morning for all DVDs, so now this thing has to be my default region-free and regular DVD player in addition to DVDs. Technology can suck a disk, &c

You're not talking about the screensaver are you? That can be changed on the main menu. Why do you need the BD player to be on for so long doing nothing for 30 minutes?

You will need a PAL or multi-systtem TV to play PAL DVDs. Niot sure where you live -- buit if it is in the US, you aren't likely to have one of these. ;~}

Typing with only one hand, Michael?

[Michael Kerpan]

You will need a PAL or multi-systtem TV to play PAL DVDs. Niot sure where you live -- buit if it is in the US, you aren't likely to have one of these.

Typing with only one hand, Michael?

Typing on horse-pill size (think Day at the Races) antibiotics -- on a computer without automatic browser spell-check. ;~} (No point in fixing things now)

[swo17]

Anyone know how to turn off that stupid 30 minute automatic shutdown on the Insignia Blu-ray player?

You're not talking about the screensaver are you?

No, the Insignia automatically powers down if you have something paused for more than a certain period of time. I believe you can change this amount of time in the settings (to be either 15 minutes or 30 minutes IIRC) but I'm not aware of any way to disable it completely. This means that if you are in the middle of a movie and you get a phone call that might take a while, you had better write down where you are in your movie.

[zedz]

Crikey! You guys are getting by with players that don't have an auto-resume function? That would drive me crazy. Criterion's disabling of this technology for their BluRays is one of the most frustrating and inexplicable things I've encountered. (Which goes back to my old complaint: if you want people to adopt a new format, why deliberately give it less functionality than the old one?)

[mfunk9786]

Eh, I've always found it to be an unpleasant feature, especially on players that store like, the last 50 discs you had in them. I find that if I'm away from the television for a while, going to the chapter you're on and having a few minutes of overlapping catch-up is more beneficial than just jumping right back in to the second you were at when you paused the film is more beneficial, anyway. Although I can certainly respect that most people don't share my viewpoint on this.

[Mark Metcalf]

I already regret my recent purchase of the Pioneer BDP-330 region free blu-ray player, even though it works pretty well. But the Pioneer wireless adapter (for streaming and firmware updates) for this model is no longer available.