Why is it so Bl##dy hard for Blu ray to get their act together and give us a fully compliant player with 7.1 analog outs and region free dvd??? [region free would be a nice bonus] and no I don't want to sell my kidney

Getting sick of waiting for the Blu side to get it together, I am thinking the studios backed the wrong format when we still don't have a fully compliant! player from the Blu ray camp.

7.1 over analog? Probably not going to have a lot of luck yet as far as I know. Everything is 7.1 over HDMI and only 5.1 over analog. The PS3 still reigns supreme as the Blu-ray player to have, especially here where pickings are slim compared to the US for players, its got it all......except analog outs for those that need it.

If you dont care about profile 2.0 AGP ; the pio lx71a will decode[with a promised firmware upgrade]/bitstream everything and has 7.1 analog out ;unlike the new pana bd50.

I think profile 1.1 is fine as 2.0 requires an ethernet connection and possible drm consequences..

"Why No Fully Compliant Blu Ray Player, Talk about draging it out".

Of course the reason is...... it takes time to reverse engineer the XE1.....

C.M

"Why No Fully Compliant Blu Ray Player, Talk about draging it out".

Of course the reason is...... it takes time to reverse engineer the XE1.....

C.M

Why is it so Bl##dy hard for Blu ray to get their act together and give us a fully compliant player with 7.1 analog outs and region free dvd??? [region free would be a nice bonus] and no I don't want to sell my kidney

Getting sick of waiting for the Blu side to get it together, I am thinking the studios backed the wrong format when we still don't have a fully compliant! player from the Blu ray camp.

fully in agreement with you !

After stepping into HDDVD at the bargain prices - I've been looking at the Blu side - only to read posts about new profiles, region coding etc etc.

Firstly - I don't want a PS3 as I don't want a games machine (for that is what it basically is). The games are expensive and I'm no gamer. Then there's the small point of it's price (quite high) - and the somewhat 'need' of getting a remote control for it (another expense on top of the price) - someone's bound to tell me about some other option - however it can't be used on a universal remote like a Harmony.

Then there's supposedly fan noise on the PS3.

So - that leaves the current range of available players - all currently with OLDER profiles (I'm sure that there will be someone who will say that there is nothing wrong with that) - however you read about new 'profiles' (read : inability to add the correct version the first time around) and NEEDING them IF you wish to use future Blu applications. And that these current machines can't be 'upgraded' to the new profile/s.

I could mention Region Coding - but that's a sore point - as many people on here have purchased PS3s from around the globe to get over that hump.

I'm not pointing out anything that we don't already know or read.

I'm just expressing my POV on this format - the same as the original poster - and probably many others.

Is the JUMP to Blu now... or wait ?????????????

and EDIT - $1400 for a Pioneer as in some other posts is way too much money for just a Blu-ray ROM drive and a few pieces in a box

Edited June 6, 200817 yr by tonyjg

Writing the PS3 off as simply "a games machine" is a mistake. You can keep waiting for a better option, but at a comparable price to the PS3 for what it offers.....you wont find one.

Writing the PS3 off as simply "a games machine" is a mistake. You can keep waiting for a better option, but at a comparable price to the PS3 for what it offers.....you wont find one.

They're two different issues though. Firstly, the PS3 is a primarily games machine, it comes with a games controller, the remote is extra, ins't backlit and uses Bluetooth instead of anything sensible or useful. It's shaped like a console and in every way, acts like a console. It also plays Blu-ray discs.

The fact that the games console is the best value Blu-ray player is probably due to the fact that Sony have been willing to take a loss on each unit, expecting to make the rest up in the sale of game software (being that it's a games console). Other CE manufacturers don't have that luxury.

I have seen deals for the PS3 where you get a remote (without the controls I believe, or as well as) and some movies, though haven't seen one in the past few weeks.

You can get a wireless USB dongle to use a harmony remote (or so I've read), though it's still more cost for an already relatively expensive unit.

Though I'd agree, it isn't the best out there, it is a games machine, but I don't think it's terrible at playing the movies either.

I have seen deals for the PS3 where you get a remote (without the controls I believe, or as well as) and some movies, though haven't seen one in the past few weeks.

You can get a wireless USB dongle to use a harmony remote (or so I've read), though it's still more cost for an already relatively expensive unit.

Though I'd agree, it isn't the best out there, it is a games machine, but I don't think it's terrible at playing the movies either.

It's a great BD player which is both a blessing and a curse. Great for Sony gaming department and great for the studios who want people to buy premium priced product. Not so great for the Sony CE department and all the other CE manufacturers who're trying to compete the hardware side of things. Also, not great for consumers who want choice.

FWIW my "games console" has never had a game disc in it and the only gaming done on it is to download and play 3 or 4 demos. But it's still a games console .

and EDIT - $1400 for a Pioneer as in some other posts is way too much money for just a Blu-ray ROM drive and a few pieces in a box

Dont get me wrong tonyjg ; AGP lives in Dubai so money is not a problem If the new pio is not cheaper[expecting around $1000]; will be very disapointed

Region coding is an insidious attack on free trade and incomplete profiles is a gyp to make us upgrade. I am insulated against this crap as I went mad on the run out hd dvd sales

for nearly 2 years i have been reading this question being asked

it says a lot about this great next generation format

dont let the door hit your arse on the way out

Dont get me wrong tonyjg ; AGP lives in Dubai so money is not a problem If the new pio is not cheaper[expecting around $1000]; will be very disapointed

Region coding is an insidious attack on free trade and incomplete profiles is a gyp to make us upgrade. I am insulated against this crap as I went mad on the run out hd dvd sales

Hi CWT you are close I Live in Muscat a much nicer place to live then Dubai, Dubai is only a short drive for me.

As for Blu ray players there is only a few first generation ones available thats why I gave in and picked up a Ps3.

I own a Bryston Sp2 and have no intention of replacing it soon I have been waiting for the right player that will decode all the

sound formats before I upgrade.

As for pricing all are about the same as oz except the 40g PS3 that sells for $500 au new release discs are $59 au so Amazon is my saving grace there.

As for money not being a problem let me say this I am MARRIED, Its hard to get past the financial controller some times

for nearly 2 years i have been reading this question being asked

it says a lot about this great next generation format

dont let the door hit your arse on the way out

All the movie studios hoodwinked buy Sony.

I am still dumbfounded why the Studios backed an incomplete format?? What has it been 4 months since the battle was one and the only next gen player partly compliant is Ps3

IF Microsoft are smart they could release the new Xbox with Blu ray and 7.1 analog

All the movie studios hoodwinked buy Sony.

I am still dumbfounded why the Studios backed an incomplete format?? What has it been 4 months since the battle was one and the only next gen player partly compliant is Ps3

IF Microsoft are smart they could release the new Xbox with Blu ray and 7.1 analog

You should ask the consumers, an "incomplete" format outsold a "complete" one comprehensively for over a year. It takes time to design and build a player, they are coming, everyone should either wait it out for them, buy the best player available (PS3), or buy a 1.0 or 1.1 standalone player.

You should ask the consumers, an "incomplete" format outsold a "complete" one comprehensively for over a year. It takes time to design and build a player, they are coming, everyone should either wait it out for them, buy the best player available (PS3), or buy a 1.0 or 1.1 standalone player.

Well I built myself a HTPC and although I have not added the LG HD/BR drive ( $189) yet, the upscaled DVD picture quality I get from it using Power DVD Ultra and the Nvidia tweaks associated with the video card runs rings around the upscaled PQ of the XE1. So if you want a versatile machine for both HD formats build yourself a HTPC.

C.M

Well I built myself a HTPC and although I have not added the LG HD/BR drive ( $189) yet, the upscaled DVD picture quality I get from it using Power DVD Ultra and the Nvidia tweaks associated with the video card runs rings around the upscaled PQ of the XE1. So if you want a versatile machine for both HD formats build yourself a HTPC.

C.M

Hi Chicken Man Is it possable to get 7.1 analog with all the decoded sound formats out of a HTPC???

Hi Chicken Man Is it possable to get 7.1 analog with all the decoded sound formats out of a HTPC???

Well, this looks promising..

ASUS made another interesting product announcement at Computex 2008 today. The company gave a preview of its upcoming Xonar HDAV1.3 HDMI-ready sound card.

The card is HDMI 1.3a compliant and offloads audio processing from high-definition video.

The Xonar HDAV1.3 can decode lossless audio formats from Blu-ray films including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio at 24-bit, 96-192 Khz.

The card runs on a PCI Express x1 slot and can deliver up to 7.1 surround sound.

Cheers...

Well, this looks promising..

Cheers...

You can get other Asus audio cards from here .....under 'Audio/ PCI Sound Cards' ......also under 'CD/ DVD BURNER/BLU-RAY READER' the LG HD/BR drive is for $189 along with other BR drives for around the same price.

http://www.gamedude.com.au/

(at Slacks Creek, QLD...... there is a website map for store location available.)

In regards to 7.1 channel sound, my Asus mother board ( Asus P5E-V HDMI ) is supposed to provide for that but I might go for the ASUS XONAR D2 High Definition Sound 7.1 Channel Audio Card PCI (EN7900GTX/2PHT/512M) at $199 in order to eliminate audio noise from the motherboard's data bus, something I discovered on installation. The noise appears to be related to the Sata drives and possibly an earthing problem. With the S/PDIF, it is completely noise free but would supposedly be limited to 5.1 channels.

No doubt I will resolve the problem in time .....but apart from that, it is still a HTPC in the making.

C.M

You should ask the consumers, an "incomplete" format outsold a "complete" one comprehensively for over a year. It takes time to design and build a player, they are coming, everyone should either wait it out for them, buy the best player available (PS3), or buy a 1.0 or 1.1 standalone player.

I think the split in the studios and the PS3 might have had a lot to do with that. Perhaps it happened despite being an incomplete format.

And the spec is finished, has been for a while, but we're still waiting. Why?

I think the split in the studios and the PS3 might have had a lot to do with that. Perhaps it happened despite being an incomplete format.

And the spec is finished, has been for a while, but we're still waiting. Why?

Not sure who's waiting, all 2.0 profile titles and their respective extras work great for me, and I can listen to any audio track. Standalone 2.0 players from Sony and Panasonic are due later this year, maybe they will be suitable for anybody who can't find a player that currently meets their needs.

Not sure who's waiting, all 2.0 profile titles and their respective extras work great for me, and I can listen to any audio track. Standalone 2.0 players from Sony and Panasonic are due later this year, maybe they will be suitable for anybody who can't find a player that currently meets their needs.

Anyone who wants a machine that has the complete spec and isn't a games console maybe?

MY wife thinks the Ps3 is a joke! She is not happy with it because you cannot just press play and it starts playing.

And I am looking forward to being able too get the 7.1 analog outs working to get the best out of my system then I will sell my Ps3 as it really looks ugly and will not fit in the rack.

In my view if its not capable of covering everyones setup its not complete spec, If I have to pay between $1000 and $2000 dollars for a player it should cover all my needs its not as if I am getting a cheep $49 dvd player for the kids.

You don't even have to push play to play a disc, set it to autoplay. Hit enter on the remote to log onto any account, put the disc in, and the disc plays itself. You're wife will be pissed about any standalone player available if the PS3 is too tough to figure out. It's the quickest, simplest, and best value for money Blu-ray player around.

Good news for the anti-PS3 crowd though because Samsung have also got a profile 2.0 player on the way this year with 7.1 analog outs.

It's the quickest, simplest, and best value for money Blu-ray player around.

Doesn't that just sum up perfectly the dilema with Blu-ray at the moment though? If you were talking about a standalone machine this conversation would be void. As it is the fact that a games console is king of the hill (by a big margin) is a little bit of a concern.