Need some advice on selecting a blu-ray player

[Steve-B]

My wife and I want to be able to stream movies and TV episodes from the internet to our television. I'm thinking about an internet-ready (if that's the correct term) blu-ray player instead of any kind of game console. Plus, I want it to be wireless. I pretty much want to be able to watch the same things on the TV that I can watch on my computer. Price range +/- $200.

Also, where can I find a list of sites for TV and movies (Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc)?

I did a search and came up with this thread from 2008: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=307624. There is favorable talk about game consoles, but I don't really want one of those.

Thanks!

 

[trr1]

what about this

Philips Blu-ray Player.
This Wi-fi Blu-ray player provides certified wireless access to video on demand favorites like Vudu, Netflix, Blockbuster, FilmFresh, as well as social networking and Internet radio.
for about 110 dollars
Key Features:

Full-HD 1080p resolution at 24 fps true cinema video output
BD Live 2.0
Blu-ray disc player is designed for BD/DVD/CD playback
Dolby TrueHD and Digital Plus sound
Key Philips Blu-ray Player Technologies:

BD-ROM playback
CD-R/CD-RW, DVD-Video, DVD-R/-RW, CD, DVD playback
MP3 and JPEG formats
DTS, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby True HD sound
Stream movies on the Philips Blu-ray player using wireless access
BD Live 2.0
Parental control


or

Sony BDP-S480 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
Enjoy full-HD Blu-ray disc movies — even in 3D — with the BDP-S480 Sony 3D Blu-ray player. Connect to the Internet and stream a wide variety of online entertainment. Stream movies, TV episodes, videos, music, and live sports from Vudu, Netflix, YouTube, HuluPlus, Pandora and more. Download the free Media Remote app and turn your iPhone, iPad or compatible Android phone into a versatile remote control with a full keyboard so you can search and instantly access detailed movie information.
for about 110 dollars

Key Features:

Instantly stream multimedia from Vudu, Netflix, Youtube, HuluPlus, Pandora and more
Enjoy 3D Blu-ray Disc movies in brilliant high-definition resolution
Upscale the quality of your DVDs to near HD on the Sony 3D Blu-ray player
Turn your iPhone, iPad or compatible Android phone into a remote with the free Media Remote app
Use PartyStreaming to stream music throughout your home to compatible Sony Network speakers (sold separately)
With DLNA technology, you can wirelessly connect to your PC and stream music, videos and photos straight to your Sony Blu-ray Disc player
Connect to your wireless broadband network with a USB WiFi adapter (sold separately)
Quick Start/Quick Load lets you start watching faster than ever
Get instant access to info about your multimedia with Gracenote Metadata Service
Enjoy improved picture quality of Internet media with I/P Noise Reduction
Key Technologies:

Blu-ray Disc Full-HD 1080p playback
WiFi adapter ready
Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD (Master Audio and High Resolution Audio) codecs
Compatible with Blu-ray Disc, BD-R/RE, CD, CD-R/RW, CD-DA, DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R DL, DVD+R DL
Compatible with AAC, DTS, LPCM, MP3, WMA9 audio formats
Compatible with GIF, JPEG, PNG image formats
Compatible with AVCHD, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9 video formats
BRAVIA Sync compatible
Deep Color and x.v.Color technologies

 

[Master Yoda]

Regardless of which blu-ray player you select, do not make a decision without getting some hands on time with internet video interface. I have a Sony BDP-BX57 and while it will do 3d, Netflix, Hulu, etc the interface is almost painful to use. I typically stream all of my video through my Xbox 360 simply because the interface is light years better.

 

[Steve-B]

Regardless of which blu-ray player you select, do not make a decision without getting some hands on time with internet video interface.

Very good advice, but I'm not sure how I can accomplish this. Not too many stores let you test-drive their products without paying for them first. Sorry - I didn't intend to sound like a smarta__. I guess Best Buy or Circuit City will have some set-ups that we can try out?

And trr1: Thank you for the info, but it's almost too much for me to comprehend. But I'll take it into consideration when we go shopping.

 

[Master Yoda]

Very good advice, but I'm not sure how I can accomplish this. Not too many stores let you test-drive their products without paying for them first. Sorry - I didn't intend to sound like a smarta__. I guess Best Buy or Circuit City will have some set-ups that we can try out?

And trr1: Thank you for the info, but it's almost too much for me to comprehend. But I'll take it into consideration when we go shopping.

Best Buy, Hhgreg and Fry's are a good place to shop and, sometimes a good place to buy. You should be able to get some hands on time with at least some of the players you are looking at. For the ones you can't get hands on time with, hit the internet. Look for customer reviews on amazon, newegg, etc. What I have found to work is to look at the negative reviews for a common thread. More than likely, that common thread is a legit issue and not just some dolt who thinks is $79 blu-ray player should work as well as a $300 model.

Another thing you will want to do is to cross reference model numbers. This is especially useful when shopping at places like Sam's or Costco. Quite frequently different stores will have different model numbers making comparing apples to apples a bit difficult. Once you know that a Sony BDP-BX57 at Sam's is the same as a Sony BDP-S570 everywhere else it gets a little easier.

 

[trr1]

you could also use consumer reports

http://web.consumerreports.org/test...ts&HBX_OU=52&EXTKEY=SM72CR0&CMP=KNC-CROBRANDM

 

[wdwmagic]

I went with a mac mini on my lounge TV. That gives me a full blown computer on the TV that I can use a proper internet browser on, and pretty much anything else, EXCEPT Blu-Ray discs.

 

[Steve-B]

What I have found to work is to look at the negative reviews for a common thread. More than likely, that common thread is a legit issue and not just some dolt who thinks is $79 blu-ray player should work as well as a $300 model.

Good point.

Another thing you will want to do is to cross reference model numbers.

Where do I find this information?

you could also use consumer reports

http://web.consumerreports.org/test...ts&HBX_OU=52&EXTKEY=SM72CR0&CMP=KNC-CROBRANDM

I can't believe I didn't think of this myself.

 

[prberk]

I went with a mac mini on my lounge TV. That gives me a full blown computer on the TV that I can use a proper internet browser on, and pretty much anything else, EXCEPT Blu-Ray discs.

Now see, that has been the whole problem to me. I want to start using Blu-Ray, but that just adds one more input to my TV, which already has a lot, and especially to my surround sound, which is ancient but still sounds great. So, not only do I have to have another TV input, but another audio one as well....

Sigh.

 

[Steve-B]

you could also use consumer reports

They owe you a commission check. I renewed my subscription yesterday after following the link.

 

[Steve-B]

I went with a mac mini on my lounge TV. That gives me a full blown computer on the TV that I can use a proper internet browser on, and pretty much anything else, EXCEPT Blu-Ray discs.

Whereas that sounds good, I can't justify having a computer chained to my TV. That would completely blow my wife's mind. :hammer:
Plus, I'm sure we'll still rent discs.

 

[wdwmagic]

Now see, that has been the whole problem to me. I want to start using Blu-Ray, but that just adds one more input to my TV, which already has a lot, and especially to my surround sound, which is ancient but still sounds great. So, not only do I have to have another TV input, but another audio one as well....

Sigh.

The Mac mini now does audio and video over a single HDMI, so cable-wise, it is very clean. I have one HDMI going from the AV receiver to the TV, and then the Mac, PS3, Satellite box going via individual HDMIs to the AV receiver.

 

[wdwmagic]

Whereas that sounds good, I can't justify having a computer chained to my TV. That would completely blow my wife's mind. :hammer:
Plus, I'm sure we'll still rent discs.

LOL don't tell her! it is a very small box!

 

[prberk]

The Mac mini now does audio and video over a single HDMI, so cable-wise, it is very clean. I have one HDMI going from the AV receiver to the TV, and then the Mac, PS3, Satellite box going via individual HDMIs to the AV receiver.

Thanks. Actually sounds like a good idea, once I get a more modern AV receiver! I guess I will have to do that sometime, but I really still like the sound of the one that I have -- although I will admit that it is getting old (about 20 years old -- a good old Technics receiver with about eight inputs). It actually has one of them labeled "VCR" and "Phono" and "Video CD"! :lol:

But still awesome Dolby Surround, with a couple of BIG speakers up front, into which I chose to split the center speaker sound. (I still use the little surround speakers, but I love having the center speaker split into the large left and right speakers along the wall beside the TV. Feels like a movie theater!)

OK, my eighties audiophile geek just came out!!

 

[Steve-B]

Thanks everybody!

Thanks for all the great advice. We ended up getting a Sony player from Best Buy. We may regret it, but it's done.

 

[trr1]

tell us what you think.I still have a regular dvd/vhs player that records dvd's either from vhs or tv

 

[Steve-B]

. . .I still have a regular dvd/vhs player that records dvd's either from vhs or tv

We have a DVD recorder too. That was fine until Comcast/Xfinity decided we had to have a cable box to watch TV. Now the TV has to stay on the channel to be recorded. One reason I wanted an internet-enabled device was to be able to watch any episode we happen to miss if we're out of the house for some reason.

And Yoda - the interface is pretty painful, unless I use the magic Netflix button.

 

[flynnibus]

Just buy from a place with a decent return policy (Best Buy is ok for local retail) - buy both types of equipment and try them out and figure out which you like best, and take the other one back.

Just because you bought the Sony, you aren't stuck with it as long as you are within the return window and kept the proper materials.

Samsung is another popular brand for this purpose

 

[trr1]

We have a DVD recorder too. That was fine until Comcast/Xfinity decided we had to have a cable box to watch TV. Now the TV has to stay on the channel to be recorded. One reason I wanted an internet-enabled device was to be able to watch any episode we happen to miss if we're out of the house for some reason.

And Yoda - the interface is pretty painful, unless I use the magic Netflix button.

same here but at least I can tranfer myvhs tapes to dvd

 

[NemoRocks78]

I'm assuming you went with the S580. Not bad for the price (I'm a video supervisor at a Fry's Electronics and our store sells a ton of 'em), but yeah, Sony's interface is awful. If you still have the box and feel up to it, I'd return it for one of the new Samsung players - particularly the E5900. Samsung's interface is great, the device itself is smaller than last year's Blu-ray players, and it even has a full web browser. Great lil player.