Comments on: Review: Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray Player

By: Eduardo

Eduardo — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 18:01:09 +0000

Sony says the BDP-S300 will be Dolby True-HD compatible, after version 4.50 firmware update, available at

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-download.pl?mdl=BDPS300&upd_id=4320&os_id=28

By: S O'Mara

S O'Mara — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:12:07 +0000

I have a BDP-S300. i was very impressed at fisrt but my first purchased disc tells me that to play one of its special features I need Bonusview or Blue Live.

I know Blue Live will be available oon the 2.0 models and bonusview will be available on 1.1

Does anyone know if Sony wil update the BDP-S300 to make it 1.1?

As it currently stamds I am thinking of returning the machine for a PS3 or replaceit with the 350.

By: gaz

gaz — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:09:29 +0000

i have sony bdp s300, it only plays dvd zone 4 does any one known the code to open so it will play also zone 1 dvd or make it multy zone

By: Phil B

Phil B — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 07:47:23 +0000

Sorry to have to ask such a basic question, but in comparison, is the PS3 better, or the standalone S300?

I’m about to buy a new hi def TV and I’ve been offered a free PS3 or S300. I wouldn’t use the PS3 for games, just the blu ray capabilities, so which would you recommend?

Thanks.

By: B.Greenway

B.Greenway — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:19:32 +0000

That would be tough with this particular player Richard

By: richard_lichenfelt

richard_lichenfelt — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 09:36:59 +0000

You probably just need to hook the player up to the internet and download the latest firmware updates. It’s been a while since it was produced, oredered, shipped from overseas, then in a warehouse somewhere before being trucked to its final destination.

By: LC

LC — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:16:48 +0000

Any comments/feedback on how the S-300 compares to the S-1?

Thanks.

By: B.Greenway

B.Greenway — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:53:16 +0000

Hi Michael, the SiI9030’s product page clearly states the chipset is only capable of HDMI 1.1, as to whether this is a limitation, that would really boil down to whether you want to send lossless audio as a bitstream to one of the new HDMI 1.3 receivers.

The S300 can still decode that audio internally and send it as PCM, so no real “loss” there, just really a matter of which piece of gear handles the decoding.

By: michael foster

michael foster — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:36:57 +0000

Were you able to verify with Silicon Image that the SiI9030 chipset used by Sony does limit it to HDMI 1.1 only? Could it be that they have a special chip? If not, does this limit the player in sound, video or both?

By: jyzz

jyzz — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 08:37:40 +0000

RE: BD-R / BD-RE.
the s300 PDF manual states that it is NOT compatible with BD-R/BD-RE, in contrast to the S-1, which is compatible after firmware update. However, the S300 was able to play mpeg2 ts/ps streams burnt on a dvd. Interesteing.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:44:41 +0000

One question I never see answered in reviews of BD players: will they play BD-R or BD-RE disks?
I operate a video production company now working in HD. We have begun to author and burn our productions on BD. Initially, the BDP-S1 would not play our BD-R and BD-RE disks, but after a firmware update, it did. We also have two Samsung BD players, one of which does not consistently handle these home-burned disks. I realize this is not an issue that affects many consumers, but it would be nice to know; over time, it will become more important. In the manufacturer’s specs for the BDPS300, the BD-R and BD-RE disks are not listed, but that may be an inadvertent error.

By: Garry H

Garry H — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 11:47:53 +0000

Hi…I had a question taht I was hoping someone might be able to answer. I just bought a BDP-300S. I also bought the series “Planet Earth” on Blu-ray and I have to say it just blows me away. One problem I have is that when i stop a movie and then turn the machine off and come back later to pick up the show again, the machine doesn’t remember where it left off and starts from the beginning. Memory Stop is a pretty standard feature on every other DVD player I have ever owned (as a matter of fact, I have a Sony DVD player than can even resume play from where you left off even if you remove the disc from teh machine). I’m wondering why this basic feature has not been included in a $500 player. Anyone know???

By: B.Greenway

B.Greenway — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 10:43:33 +0000

Mike, thats a tough one, at the moment I’m hard pressed for an answer although the new Samsung would at least on paper appear to be worth a look, hoping to get my hands on one in the near future.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 18:51:56 +0000

Hi DKonda. I registered my BDP-S1 online with Sony when I bought it (April) and they have sent me firmware update DVDs automatically. I recently updated to 2.00 and it has dramatically improved load times and navigation on Pirates of the Caribbean (both I and II).

By: mike

mike — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:12:13 +0000

I would like to throw in a peeve unrelated to this machine, which I just purchased (although I swore after buying an SACD, I would not enter into a format war):

The nice blu boxes that contain the media are typically sealed on three sides. The addhesive used on the bottom and side “security” seals adhere to the box when the seal is removed. The result is a glue that sticks to your hands and when the box is set on anything or next to anything, it sticks to it. What is wrong with these people? I would like the manufacturers of the stickers to provide me with clean boxes. I already regret my purchase–is that what Sony would like to hear?