All-Region DVD and Blu-ray Player Advice

[criterionsnob]

The Seiki 660 is a great region free player, but I had to return the unit twice before I got one that worked. I found that some R2 PAL discs just did not play.

[manicsounds]

That Panasonic 'trick' supposedly doesn't work on all discs. Also, the Panasonic player can't convert PAL or 1080i50hz to US signals.

[Scott Nye]

Potentially dumb question, but here goes.

I'm looking at the Toshiba BDX1200, but the firmware hack for that seems to require that my TV convert PAL signals, which I don't believe it does. But I was under the impression that HD was my design a region-free format, so those sort of PAL compatibility issues didn't apply. Any help here would be appreciated.

[Anthony]

Potentially dumb question, but here goes.

I'm looking at the Toshiba BDX1200, but the firmware hack for that seems to require that my TV convert PAL signals, which I don't believe it does. But I was under the impression that HD was my design a region-free format, so those sort of PAL compatibility issues didn't apply. Any help here would be appreciated.

Some Region B Blu-ray discs also have SD PAL video files in 560p on them. So if your player or TV can't read them you might have a problem with the disc.

[BigMack3000]

I'm looking to get my first blu ray player. The Insignia NS-BRDVD4 seems to be reliable, cheap (under $50), and region-free capable. But some questions:

Do I need to input the code every time I use it, or can it be set to all region?

After I install the firmware, that means I can never update it again, right?

Will this prevent me from watching newer blu-rays?

Having never owned a blu ray player, the updating is what worries me the most. Is it mostly for those BD-live extra features? If so, I can live without them.

Are there better options for region free around the same price?

[domino harvey]

I have the much-discussed NS-WBRDVD2 with the region-free specs (still available if anyone needs 'em). The code is only four digits and sometimes it needs to be entered and sometimes it's still set up-- you'll know based on whether its in the wheel on the main screen. I've only had trouble with two Blus since using the player-- Deadwood and the Roots of Heaven-- and both were because of compatibility probs with Isignia itself and not the update. So yeah, you won't need to stress about newer Blus playing. And yes, you can't update again.

[BigMack3000]

Ok, great. Thanks. And the main difference with the WBRDVD2 is wifi, right?

[mfunk9786]

Basically, yes.

[domino harvey]

Be aware that you'll need to up specific "old" software to your player, so you'll need a working link to said file for your player. Like I said, I have a working firmware file for the model I mentioned but I don't think it'll work on other models (and could possibly brick them)

[BigMack3000]

I found a link for the old firmware at blu-ray.com, so I just picked one up off ebay for under $50. It's cheap enough to at least test how it works.

If I leave it connected to the internet, do I have to worry about automatic updating?

If a film needs to download something to play special features, does that count as a firmware update or is that separate? (Does that kind of update even exist?) Basically, I'm trying to figure out if it's similar to xbox or ps3 where games have updates, and the systems have their own updates. Thanks.

[domino harvey]

It does not automatically update

[starmanof51]

I'm looking to get my first blu ray player. The Insignia NS-BRDVD4 seems to be reliable, cheap (under $50), and region-free capable. But some questions:

Do I need to input the code every time I use it, or can it be set to all region?

After I install the firmware, that means I can never update it again, right?

Will this prevent me from watching newer blu-rays?

Having never owned a blu ray player, the updating is what worries me the most. Is it mostly for those BD-live extra features? If so, I can live without them.

Are there better options for region free around the same price?

I have this as well, and the only BD I haven't been able to play is the Buena Vista The Rocketeer. I don't seem to be alone on that, and if commenters in other forums are to be believed, it would work if I updated the firmware, which of course defeats the purpose of having this model.

[mfunk9786]

When I had an Insignia, I also had an issue with Deadwood, and it also couldn't handle the seamless branching on Anchorman.

[manicsounds]

I have an Insignia BRD3 and I have Deadwood. I don't remember any specific issues... I just put in a disc to check and it played fine.

[mfunk9786]

I had an issue with the menu coming on but the menu portion of the menu (if that makes any sense) never popping in

[domino harvey]

I had similar issues-- it was weird, I'd have to load the entire disc and I'd be able to select one episode and after it played through, I'd have to full-stop the disc and reload it to move on. Hitting "Play All" didn't work. The internet helpfully told me it was the player, not the discs, but it was still a hassle

[BigMack3000]

Thanks everyone. It arrived today and was extremely easy to make region free. At first I was thrown for a loop because I was actually sent the NS-BRDVD4-CA model, but I guess when it was refurbished it was made a NS-BRDVD4.

Question. Is it possible that the firmware update for region free also granted me access to free Netflix? Or is this something I should keep silent on?

When it's hooked up to the internet, there's a box in the lower right corner that says to press the "red" button to start updating to the latest version. Knowing me, I'll end up hitting it by accident. Is there a way to get that off the screen?

If I run into a problem, like Deadwood or The Rocketeer, couldn't I update to the latest version to watch the film, and then revert back to the old firmware again afterward? Would this work?

Thanks.

[domino harvey]

If it's refurbished you probably are just logged in to the prior owner's account. It won't hurt 'em any, I'd enjoy it while it lasts!

[lady wakasa]

Quick question, which may not be showing up in my searches because it's pretty basic.

I love my sister dearly, but she likes to buy me non-all-region-compatible equipment. (And yes, this is a first-world problem; I'm just giving background, here.) She also likes Sony. As a result, I have a Sony Bravia KDL-26M3000 and a Sony BDP-S185 Blu Ray player.

I'd like to get a copy of a German Blu-Ray, with the following specs:

BluRay Edition: 1*BluRay50
Frame Rate: 20 f/s
Resolution: PAL, 720×576 (DVD) | NTSC, 720×480 (DVD) | HD 1920×1080 (BD)

Does the 1*BluRay50 refer to the disk running at 50hz, so I should either save it until I upgrade my machine, or just get the DVD (I have a separate multi-region DVD player)? How the heck does that terminology parse? I haven't seen it anywhere else to compare.

More generally, is there a good one-stop source of "this is how Blu Ray works"? Part of my problem is that I'm seeing everything in bits and pieces, and this time around it's difficult to put it all together.

[fdm]

Quick question, which may not be showing up in my searches because it's pretty basic.

I love my sister dearly, but she likes to buy me non-all-region-compatible equipment. (And yes, this is a first-world problem; I'm just giving background, here.) She also likes Sony. As a result, I have a Sony Bravia KDL-26M3000 and a Sony BDP-S185 Blu Ray player.

I'd like to get a copy of a German Blu-Ray, with the following specs:

BluRay Edition: 1*BluRay50
Frame Rate: 20 f/s
Resolution: PAL, 720×576 (DVD) | NTSC, 720×480 (DVD) | HD 1920×1080 (BD)

Does the 1*BluRay50 refer to the disk running at 50hz, so I should either save it until I upgrade my machine, or just get the DVD (I have a separate multi-region DVD player)? How the heck does that terminology parse? I haven't seen it anywhere else to compare.

More generally, is there a good one-stop source of "this is how Blu Ray works"? Part of my problem is that I'm seeing everything in bits and pieces, and this time around it's difficult to put it all together.

I would imagine the first line of gobbledygook means 1 disc that is a 50 GB dual layer blu-ray disc. With a frame rate of 20 frames/sec, however, since it is a non-standard frame rate, perhaps that indicates that the discs are interlaced. A good place to possibly find out more about a disc is to check it on blu-ray.com, it's usually pretty good with which blu-rays are region free.

Usually wikipedia is good for such things, here's an entry for Blu-ray Disc. Also, one about 1080p. Google will guide you to other options.

[David M.]

20fps isn't a valid frame rate in the BD spec (or any HD system that I know of).

[fdm]

20fps isn't a valid frame rate in the BD spec (or any HD system that I know of).

I was thinking of some silent films that had slower frame rates, but are captured at "i" rather than "p". "p" being what would be used for 24 fps, "i" otherwise. Anyway recall a discussion about this somewhere on these boards.

[lady wakasa]

Yes, it's a silent film, The Loves of Pharaoh. The stated frame rate is correct, and it should be a 1080i (though not stated specifically in the specs).

(I have no independent confirmation of whether it was the frame rate the film was shot at - but given some other info, I'm pretty confident the restoration speed is correct or very close to it).

Thanks for the info; seems the best thing is to email the restoration company and check. And hopefully I can get a block of time to better educate myself on Blu-Rays in general.

[hearthesilence]

I'm thinking of getting this Sharp BD-HP24u which is on sale for $260 until midnight tomorrow. It's been modified to be region-free across the board - for DVD's and Blu-Rays, and compatible with NTSC and PAL discs. Free shipping, free HDMI cord...

Main reason for getting it is that my PS3 Slim won't turn on anymore, a common issue identified with the "blinking red light" that accompanies the console's inability to turn on. Long story short, it's out of warranty - so I can send it to Sony to get it fixed for $150, or try to repair it myself which is easily done BUT most people say the problem will come up over and over again. Since it's not a region free console, I figure I might as well buy a new one.

With that in mind, has anyone had this Sharp console for a while? Does it hold up?

[Gregory]

I've had that model (from the same retailer) for going on 2 years, and it's had defects from the beginning. I missed their 30-day return period while I was traveling after the purchase and then trying to troubleshoot, so rather than ship the player back to them at my own expense so they could perform tests on it and if they couldn't replicate the problems I was having then send it back to me, I've kept it and worked around the problems (switching back and forth from the player's menu eventually fixes the display glitch I often get, and on occasions when the player freezes up after playing the first 20 second of the disc, I unplug it, plug it back in and it's fine).
Another member, Mathew2468, had a problem with another Sharp model from the same dealer a couple pages back, where it wouldn't play the blu of A Man Escapes. That could have been firmware related (maybe Mathew2468 worked the problem out or otherwise has an opinion on all this), but I also wonder if their process of modifying the players can sometimes cause more erratic performance.

Also, if it helps your decision, I'm pretty sure I've seen "sales" on that site that say "THIS WEEK ONLY!" but in fact their price never changes. I'm not sure why they would do that, except to rush people into making a decision to buy.