All-Region DVD and Blu-ray Player Advice

[mfunk9786]

I just got an Insignia NS-BRDVD2 and need the old firmware. Does anyone know where to find that one? The file name would help too. I would really appreciate the help. Thanks!

Check your PMs. If anyone else reading this needs the file, just shoot me a PM

Make sure you don't send him the firmware for your player, sounds like he doesn't have the wireless model and it could brick his player.

[domino harvey]

Well, I did just that. Whoops! For future reference, NS-WBRDVD2 is the model I have the .iso file for

[mfunk9786]

I really wanted to just try to install wireless firmware onto mine but everything I read warned me against it.

[domino harvey]

Those model numbers are almost identical, I didn't even realize he was asking about a different model-- surely Insignia's warranty would cover any accidental damage with good faith? This is why you should never trust anyone on the internet

[PerfectDepth]

I made a typo on my previous post. Domino and I indeed have the same player. Thanks for the help guys!

[Alphonse Doinel]

Wowow! Whats that!? I'm totally getting this player as soon as I see a walmart!

It's not always 49.99, I got it on sale right around the time MoC released Metropolis last year. I think Regular price is 88.00. It can't be set Region Free, but the region code can be easily changed. I just have it as my B player. My has worked great since day one, but some other people got lemons, however, they just exchanged them and got one that worked. Walmart's pretty good that way.

+1

I've had mine for over a year and I've had no problems. Just make sure you try different region discs on it as soon as possible. Some people (including me) got players that mysteriously wouldn't read anything but region A/1 discs.

Aside from the fact that it's region free, it also has usb port, plays divx, is nice and small. Upscales pretty nicely too.

[Minkin]

For those of you that somehow have Anydvd HD (or some other Blu decrypting software) but not any playback software, you can download (free) the ongoing beta of VSO's Blu enabled media player. I gave it a test and it indeed works (though I ran into some audio issues, which are being worked on- though ymmv on the issue). Certainly looks to be a fairly promising player.

It can at least tide you over until VLC 1.2 is eventually released or you decide to get PowerDVd (if you do, just skip anydvd HD altogether and get Doom 9's Blu region tray tool (mind you it only works on Power Dvd 10 or older and also Total Media Theater).

I'd suggest the second option since Anydvd HD is much more expensive (plus you have to pay to maintain updates) than Powerdvd (about $50 on Amazon). If you only care about playing other regions (not ripping/other encryption breaking), there isn't really any reason to get Anydvd HD over Powerdvd + Doom9's solution.

[matrixschmatrix]

One of the really nice aspects of AnyDVD is that it lets you take Blu screenshots, which is generally locked out otherwise- but yeah, the updating is kind of a bitch.

[jp4151]

Hoping you guys can give me advice.

I'm moving across country next week (Mass to California) and, since the move might not be permanent, I am leaving my DVDs behind and backing them up to a hard drive. I have a lot of PAL formatted discs, and was looking for a Blu-ray player that is readily available at Walmar/Target/Best Buy, etc, that is affordable and can play the PAL format right out of the box.

I'm bringing my Sherwood region free player with me, but since the player is very finicky I'd like to save it for non-Region A Blu-rays.

Do you guys know and can you recommend a Blu-ray player that can handle PAL without any hacking?

[Hail_Cesar]

Hoping you guys can give me advice.

I'm moving across country next week (Mass to California) and, since the move might not be permanent, I am leaving my DVDs behind and backing them up to a hard drive. I have a lot of PAL formatted discs, and was looking for a Blu-ray player that is readily available at Walmar/Target/Best Buy, etc, that is affordable and can play the PAL format right out of the box.

I'm bringing my Sherwood region free player with me, but since the player is very finicky I'd like to save it for non-Region A Blu-rays.

Do you guys know and can you recommend a Blu-ray player that can handle PAL without any hacking?

I think you're mixing up a couple of things there...

1. You can hack a player so it can play other regions, but the PAL/NTSC thing is a very common function which will be written in the specs (as pal/nstc conversion) on any dvd player with the BR players it seems that they don't mention it very often...

2. Maybe someone should confirm this but I think that for Blu-ray films the PAL/NTSC thing isn't an issue (except for some SD extras?) because they all play the same amout of FPS. I see that you are specifically talking about dvd so maybe you already know that...

3. Normally, if your dvds are ripped, you don't have to bother anymore about the region code as the ripper generally removes the region lock so no need to hack anything.

Having a quick look at the specs, I see there isn't many details on blu-ray player about Pal reading but since they are really putting emphasis on multi-format playing (DVD - AVI - BR even some that read MKV and many more format) maybe most of the players can easily read PAL although I never tried...

[manicsounds]

The Best Buy Insignias play PAL fine.

[htshell]

Just wanted to say thanks to those who gave the info about that Insignia player... works like a charm! Definitely a much less expensive solution to what I was looking for for a while.

[rwaits]

I just purchased a lightly used Oppo BDP-83 on ebay for $285. I search for these occasionally and was lucky enough to find one that was about 15 minutes into a 10 day listing with a very nice "Buy it Now" price. I bit.

I don't believe it's been modified. Has anyone here had luck modifying their unit themselves?

After reading through the last couple pages just now, I'm wondering if I made the right choice or, like Domino, gone with the Insignia. Domino, how long did you use your Oppo? If the Insignia's really that great maybe I'll just sell this thing and pick one up

[perkizitore]

I bought a mod kit from Ebay for $30 a few months ago, it's very easy to install.

[rwaits]

Will the mod kit work regardless of which firmware update the seller has?

[Donald Brown]

Yes.

[Caligula]

I recently bought a blu-ray player, and thought some of my experiences whilst going throught the exercise might be of interest to fellow board members.

My intention was to replace my Denon DVD-2900, which I used to play DVD's, SACD's, DVD-Audio's and CD's (I listen to a lot of classical & jazz) with something that wouldn't represent a backwards step in terms of CD (or SACD or DVD-Audio) quality, and something that would give me multi-region capability for both DVD's and Blu-ray's.

Living in a country that to some extent is the back of beyond has its disadvantages, but also some upsides. On the downside the import duties hit you heavily (the Oppo 95 sells in South Africa for ZAR16 300 - more than 2 000USD) and you are limited as to the finish you can get (in general only black - even though silver or champagne might be available overseas). On the other hand it apears that local agents are more willing to bend the rules when it comes to the multi-region rules.

I wound up looking at players that sold in the UK for approximately 800GBP. My departure point was the recent group test in the What Hifi magazine, adding to that one or two players that for some reason or another were not available or just not considered for the test. My initial experience when enquiring about multi-region capability for Blu-rays from retail agents was the response that multi-region capability for Blu-ray's was simply not available. I then started phoning the distributing agents for the relevant companies in South Africa (making it clear that a regionbound-machine was of no use to me) and eventually wound up with three choices for players that would give me multi-region capability for DVD's and Blu-ray's (a fourth company told me their player was BD-multiregion, but couldn't guarantee that future firmware updates wouldn't change this). All three would be supplied to me as multi-region for BD's and DVD's (already modded by the local agents, thus not affecting my warranty). Yes, the Oppo was one of the three choices, although not the one I eventually picked. To cover myself I got a letter from the dealer confirming that the machine was multi-region for both DVD's and BD's and that this wouldn't be changed by future firmware updates.

Very happy with the machine I bought, by the way (because I don't want to land the agents in trouble I'd prefer not to disclose the brand, suffice to say that in audiophile terms it's a household name). Sound is significantly better on BD's, image is marginally better (because of my component video screen connection I'm currently watching - I think - 576i - will probably upgrade next year) and sound on CD's and the like are better as well.

[mfunk9786]

My Sherwood has begun to skip, and it's made all the more frustrating because I haven't even had much of an opportunity to get use out of it at this point. Watching both Don't Look Now and Lost Highway today, there were major skipping problems, as if the player can't keep up with the movie. The video briefly freezes then speeds up to catch up with the audio, and it's obviously very distracting.

I finally bit the bullet and bought a refurbished Insignia NS-WBRDVD2 from eBay, so Domino, I hope you kept that firmware file!

[Perkins Cobb]

Anyone have any opinions on the Pioneer BDP-330 as a region-free Blu player? I'm looking to replace a Sherwood that finally conked out all of a sudden, and this one has the minor advantage of being available locally.

[manicsounds]

I don't know how their BD player is, but I know that Pioneer is not very good with PAL to NTSC from the experience I had with their DVD players. Motion is jerky up and down, and color especially reds bleed through. (good for horror?)

I don't know if this is on their BD players as well, but looking at reviews online, the 330 doesn't seem to be all that great...

[Perkins Cobb]

Hmmm. Thanks, manic. Anybody have any strong recommendations other than the Oppo + mod kit?

[Cash Flagg]

Is anyone else having difficulties with the remote hack for the Insignia player? It takes me a couple of dozen tries before it works, and compounding my frustration, the code ends with the 'enter' button, so I always have to click out of whatever setup function I've unintentionally selected.

No one else has this problem? I have to deal with it every damn time I turn the machine on.

[mfunk9786]

I'm having a problem with my Insignia performing very unreliably, freezing during most discs after about a half hour to an hour of playback.

[Cash Flagg]

Making all of this even stranger, sometimes the 'configure player' option appears on its own, without me having to enter the code.

[Der Spieler]

I have an Insignia too, and the Configure Player option appears right after I enter the code, without having to press Enter. It works on first try most of the time too. As for the player itself, I sometimes (but rarely) experience some noise during playback and the odd black screen now and then when I pop a disc in (nothing happens), but 95% of the time it plays perfectly. It does look pretty fragile though and makes awful noises when loading a disc. I don't think it will last many years, but we'll see.