Requirements:

- Supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master codecs
- Has 5.1 discrete output (internal decoding)
- Will upconvert DVDs to 1080p

11/27/2008 10:31:47 AM

I want sony to hurry up and release the blu ray equivalent to my sony 400 dvd changer.

11/27/2008 11:13:01 AM

are you looking to get one very soon? I have the same requirements as you, but I've decided to put blu-ray on hold for another few months after reading this and the corresponding comments:

"Blu-Ray is Dead":http://blogs.zdnet.com/storage/?p=365

I just don't want to "jump the gun" on relatively new technology/formats like i have before...

11/27/2008 12:08:37 PM

^ good read. thanks. not out to purchase very soon.

11/27/2008 12:56:56 PM

There are some cheap ones out there, though they probably won't have discrete output. That $128 Magnavox at Walmart is the cheapest around. It was rated highly by Consumer Reports (yes, I know, but it's something). Also a Samsung BD-P1500 for $200 at Amazon and elsewhere. Even if Blu-ray is relegated to a niche market it's hard to go wrong for that little $. HD on-demand will probably take over, but meanwhile blu-ray has better quality and much better selection.

11/28/2008 12:04:30 PM

Don't even bother with blu-ray.

Waste of money, especially now that digital delivery is catching on.

11/28/2008 1:46:06 PM

i dont know about all you guys saying blu-ray is dead. It hasn't been that long since they won the format war over HD-DVD and since they won the economy has been in a downward spiral.


The samsung BDP1500 is a low cost player and I've loved it. If you're concerned about the future of blu-ray then just get a ps3, and if nothing else it will be worth more in a couple years than any blu-ray player.

Blu-ray is cost effective if you want it to be. You can buy a player for ~200 or less, then just spend ~$20 a month to get either blockbuster or netflix and watch all the movies you want. Blu-ray is too expensive to be investing in a large movie collection

11/28/2008 3:55:35 PM

spending $2 more at Blockbuster for the blu-ray is totally worth it to me

People that equate upconverted movies with blu-rays drive me nuts, it's a night and day difference to me

Watching a movie in 1080P is so much more captivating imo

11/28/2008 4:29:55 PM

i wouldnt pay a 2$ premium to rent a blu ray and im fucking anal with video.

resolution is about 3rd on my list.

11/28/2008 7:34:36 PM

On the one hand, I fully believe it will be relegated to niche status.

On the other hand, I just bought a Sony BDP-S350 for ~$150.

I figure it'll look nice next to my HD-DVD player in the coming years.

[Edited on November 28, 2008 at 10:19 PM. Reason : .]

11/28/2008 10:19:43 PM

^ winner

11/29/2008 12:39:21 AM

i paid $90 for my HD-DVD/Blu-ray drive for my HTPC

for $1/month more on netflix i can get all my movies in blu-ray, and i watch probably 4 to 5 movies a month.

also i can pick up HD-DVD's like Transformers for $2

to me, i have the best of both worlds and for cheap.

11/29/2008 1:45:34 AM

ps3

11/29/2008 1:49:19 AM

i just use BB's monthly pass where it's $20 to have either a game or movie out at a time.. that way i watch all the blu-ray movies i want as well as get games for my 360 and it's the cost of one blu-ray a month (or less)

11/29/2008 2:50:33 AM

Thanks all, but none of the following meet my requirements (no discrete audio outputs).

BDP-S350
BDP-1500
PS3

11/29/2008 7:37:28 AM

there is a 400$ panasonic model that will decode the "HIGH END" audio formats to analog outs.

it's probably what I'll end up with because I already have a nice marantz reciever.

11/29/2008 8:05:13 AM