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Where To Import A Blu Ray Player From?

ELK007
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ELK007 Proficient

ELK007

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Posted

Hi Guys

I am looking at importing a Blu-Ray Player from the US. I'm looking at a couple - Pana BD50, Sony S-550, Pioneer 05FD or Pioneer 51FD.

Just wondering where the best place would be to import them? I know a few of you have. Is there any other factors I have to take into consideration when considering importing a player?

Cheers

tonyjg Veteran

tonyjg

Posted
Posted

there's a few other threads about importing players both here in the Blu section and also in the Games (PS3) sections

here's one company that I've bookmarked (but not used - so you may need others for any feedback)

http://www.priceusa.com.au/about.html

note of course that the falling $A of 20% in the past month will severly impact your buying capacity - and add to the overall costs. but you will already know that !!! :)

Guest FreeView NZ

Guest FreeView NZ

Posted
Posted

Be interested to know how that goes . I imported a zone 1 dvd player in the early days It came from Circuitcity .

Check that it can operate on 230 volts . The DVD player I imported was 120v only so had to run external 230 / 120 transformer . But operated perfectly .

weff Collaborator

weff

Posted
Posted

I bought a multi-region multi-zone Panasonic BD30 player from http://www.bluraymods.com/default.asp earlier this year. Including postage this ended up costing $AU903-.

I had considered buying a Region A player through priceusa.com.au - but decided I would prefer one not also DVD zone locked to Zone 1.

At the time the BD30 mod was the only one that supported Regions A, B, C for Bluray as well as all DVD zones 1-6 - however the BD50 player (being bluray profile 2.0) would now be the better buy, and the latest mod supports Region A, B & C as well as Zone 1-6.

If you go to the bluraymods.com website and look at their distributors page - it lists the sites that sell modded players (by default it will use the sweden dvdirect.net site) - the USA distributor sells the 240V version of the BD50 (via the netherlands) - $US1156 + $US350 shipping(approx) - somewhat expensive considering.

See http://www.jvbdigital.nl/jvb.asp?cur=2&amp...e&title=480 for details.

Alternatively buy the 110V BD50 player (using priceusa.com.au) from amazon.com (or similar) ($US520- ..probably around $AU800 delivered ) + buy a step-down transformer from Dick Smith/Jaycar for $AU100- & have it locally modded via http://www.gattiweb.com/bluraymod.html for $AU200- if you decide you need all Region support.

curious1 Enthusiast

curious1

Posted
Posted
there's a few other threads about importing players both here in the Blu section and also in the Games (PS3) sections

here's one company that I've bookmarked (but not used - so you may need others for any feedback)

http://www.priceusa.com.au/about.html

note of course that the falling $A of 20% in the past month will severly impact your buying capacity - and add to the overall costs. but you will already know that !!! :)

I used Priceusa about 2 months ago to buy my BH200 HDDVD/BR combo player while the $ was good, was pretty painless. Although I nearly had a heart attack when the delivery guy carried the big box in holding it with one hand against his hip, when he got to the front door he practically threw it on the ground it from about 1.5 metres, I felt like knocking the PDA out of his other hand. After opening the main box I was relieved to see it was double boxed with about 7-10cm of space all around with plenty of foam packing beads, if using them again I'll try to get them to put a "fragile" or equivalent sticker on the box.

They charged $78us for shipping, and ~$38au for the agents fee, all up cost me ~$660au. I had to pay $12au more shipping after the original purchase & payment due to freight price rise (quote was an estimate).

Also bought an isolated 100watt (torroidal) stepdown transformer from ebay for $80 HERE. 

Sticky Keyboard Collaborator

Sticky Keyboard

Posted
Posted
I bought a multi-region multi-zone Panasonic BD30 player from http://www.bluraymods.com/default.asp earlier this year. Including postage this ended up costing $AU903-.

I had considered buying a Region A player through priceusa.com.au - but decided I would prefer one not also DVD zone locked to Zone 1.

At the time the BD30 mod was the only one that supported Regions A, B, C for Bluray as well as all DVD zones 1-6 - however the BD50 player (being bluray profile 2.0) would now be the better buy, and the latest mod supports Region A, B & C as well as Zone 1-6.

If you go to the bluraymods.com website and look at their distributors page - it lists the sites that sell modded players (by default it will use the sweden dvdirect.net site) - the USA distributor sells the 240V version of the BD50 (via the netherlands) - $US1156 + $US350 shipping(approx) - somewhat expensive considering.

See http://www.jvbdigital.nl/jvb.asp?cur=2&amp...e&title=480 for details.

Alternatively buy the 110V BD50 player (using priceusa.com.au) from amazon.com (or similar) ($US520- ..probably around $AU800 delivered ) + buy a step-down transformer from Dick Smith/Jaycar for $AU100- & have it locally modded via http://www.gattiweb.com/bluraymod.html for $AU200- if you decide you need all Region support.

Wow I didn't know there was multi Region Blu ray support!

Thanks for the info weff :lol:

What are the negatives to buying these players?

I guess there you don't get pana warranty..? :P

Also, is it possible for the manufacturers detect the mod and brick your player?

mm... sounds interesting.

xrcist007 Proficient

xrcist007

Posted
Posted

B And H Photo are brilliant i have ordered 3 blu ray players from them in the past and in all 3 cases they were on my door step within 3 days of the purchase, always prompt with e-mails and well priced, and they will replace or give a full refund if the item is faulty (and they will pay for the return postage too)

curious1 Enthusiast

curious1

Posted
Posted
Wow I didn't know there was multi Region Blu ray support!

Thanks for the info weff :lol:

What are the negatives to buying these players?

I guess there you don't get pana warranty..? :P

Also, is it possible for the manufacturers detect the mod and brick your player?

mm... sounds interesting.

BH200 is also multi-region Blu 'out of the box' (no mod-chip), if that's ur thing, selectable via a remote code.

jutta Champion

jutta

Posted
Posted

Searching threads for Japan - Hong Kong info on buying a Region A player so as to avoid the stepdown converter.

Anyone list a site or two?????

momaw Grand Master

momaw

Posted
Posted
Searching threads for Japan - Hong Kong info on buying a Region A player so as to avoid the stepdown converter.

Anyone list a site or two?????

for brand new PS3's from Japan/Hong Kong (ie Region A - no stepdown required) try yesasia or playasia.

jutta Champion

jutta

Posted
Posted
Lazy mans answer for Region A Player:

http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=71343

Already seen that one.

Looking for stand only player.

The more I read the more I don't know what to do.

You can land a US Pana BD30 or Sony s350 for Aud$550ish at the moment from BHPhoto. Plus $100 for stepdown converter

Do you go this way or mod a local BD30 (one on ebay for $740)

Sick of missing all the good RegionA titles in the sales (disregarding amazons excellent effort earlier in the week)

momaw Grand Master

momaw

Posted
Posted
Already seen that one.

Looking for stand only player.

The more I read the more I don't know what to do.

You can land a US Pana BD30 or Sony s350 for Aud$550ish at the moment from BHPhoto. Plus $100 for stepdown converter

Do you go this way or mod a local BD30 (one on ebay for $740)

Sick of missing all the good RegionA titles in the sales (disregarding amazons excellent effort earlier in the week)

Well the benefit of the local BD30 with mod is no step down required and it is Region A and B (for those few titles that grace our shores first or you want to impulse buy).

ELK007 Proficient

ELK007

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I'm thinking of getting the Sony S550, for what it has and the features included at that price, its a great buy!

Couple things concern me tho:

1) Stepdown Transformer - Pain in butt, but 'do-able'

2) Does anyone know if it is region 1 locked for SD DVDS - that would be a major pain in butt!!

momaw Grand Master

momaw

Posted
Posted
2) Does anyone know if it is region 1 locked for SD DVDS - that would be a major pain in butt!!

If you get a US model when they are released it will be. Usually they can't play PAL discs at all even if the disc isn't region coded.

Guest FreeView NZ

Guest FreeView NZ

Posted
Posted

My Old Zone 1 Toshiba and Panasonic players would not play PAL zone free discs either .

Re Fragile stickers well over here is you use that it will most certainly be damaged !! an invitation for it to be used as a rugby ball !! lol

theslydog Rising Star

theslydog

Posted
Posted
Hi Guys

I am looking at importing a Blu-Ray Player from the US. I'm looking at a couple - Pana BD50, Sony S-550, Pioneer 05FD or Pioneer 51FD.

Just wondering where the best place would be to import them? I know a few of you have. Is there any other factors I have to take into consideration when considering importing a player?

Cheers

You should pick up ajm's zone A PS3 http://www.dtvforum.info/index.php?showtopic=71343 that's a great price. I have a PS3 from Japan and am real happy with it.

Aside from blu-rays, I love being able to stream from a DLNA NAS server to it and also stream with TVersity (or similar) set up for HD. Use GOTSent to convert any mkv files (one click and works flawlessly) and your laughing. The PS3 remote makes operation much easier as well.

ELK007 Proficient

ELK007

Posted
  • Author
Posted
If you get a US model when they are released it will be. Usually they can't play PAL discs at all even if the disc isn't region coded.

Really!?! I didn't realise that. Thanks for the heads up! Looks like I might just hang on to my P1400 and wait a year or so for more players to be released here. Maybe they might eventually drop region coding from them.

I also heard Oppo were making a blu-ray player, released sometime in the next 6 months. I might wait for that one. Do you think that will have the same problem with the NTSC / PAL playback issue??

jutta Champion

jutta

Posted
Posted
Well the benefit of the local BD30 with mod is no step down required and it is Region A and B (for those few titles that grace our shores first or you want to impulse buy).

what's the best way to go about modding a local player. no options here in Tas really. have seen a few BD30's for sale

momaw Grand Master

momaw

Posted
Posted (edited)
Really!?! I didn't realise that. Thanks for the heads up! Looks like I might just hang on to my P1400 and wait a year or so for more players to be released here. Maybe they might eventually drop region coding from them.

I also heard Oppo were making a blu-ray player, released sometime in the next 6 months. I might wait for that one. Do you think that will have the same problem with the NTSC / PAL playback issue??

Until they release it I can only guess. I think t all comes down to what they do region wise. If they stick to region A only, they may not see a point in region freeing it for DVD meaning no PAL. Or they could just throw the BD capability on top of what they already have. to many if's.

They have also said that the cedia display was a mock up meaning not a functional prototype so 6 months may be optimistic :unsure:

I want one though :D

what's the best way to go about modding a local player. no options here in Tas really. have seen a few BD30's for sale

PM scanspeak. He does them in melbourne (just across the pond from you). Shipping from melbourne wouldn't be a prob (I bought mine while in melbourne and some friends shipped it back to me after after it was modded).

Edited by momaw
momaw Grand Master

momaw

Posted
Posted
Thus far Oppo have hinted their first BD player will be Region A and free for SD, this has not been stated via their website just via reliable sources overseas, given their history it would be worth a long hard look

In other words we don't know. Didn't I just say that :P

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