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SprewellSleeve

Registered: 03/16/09
Posts: 6,340
Loc: USA
Last seen: 22 days, 22 hours

Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

#17391049 - 12/14/12 12:57 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

I want one for Christmas. I'm not gonna ask for an expensive one, all I want is it to do the simple job. What's the best one?

Target has a nice looking RCA one that's not a lot:

http://www.target.com/p/rca-blu-ray-dvd-player-with-bd-live-black-brc11082/-/A-12876350#prodSlot=dlp_medium_1_1&term=rca blu ray player

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millzy

Registered: 05/12/10
Posts: 12,431

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: SprewellSleeve]
#17391114 - 12/14/12 01:06 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

i know they aren't cheap, but i would get a ps3. you can do everything with it. i barely game on mine.

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I'm up to my ears in unwritten words. - J.D. Salinger

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abltsandwich
JFK = Jelly Donut

Registered: 06/16/09
Posts: 11,537
Loc: Dildoville

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: SprewellSleeve]
#17391116 - 12/14/12 01:07 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

Inexpensive BD players tend to crap out quickly, depending on who manufactured it. LG and Funai tend to be the base players that are sold in bulk to store/off brands. If it's LG-based it will be good to go.

I would know; I was in the business for like 4 years.

In general I recommend LG and Panasonic BDPs. Sony isn't bad, but tend to cost too much. Samsung makes garbage, unless they've changed over the past year. You'd be amazed at how many Samsung BDPs were returned to my store when I worked there. My customers were always thrilled with the Panasonics and LGs I recommended.

Also consider connectivity with existing equipment. You don't want to buy a BDP only to find out it doesn't have an optical audio out (for example), which may be the only input type your surround sound supports.

Edited by abltsandwich (12/14/12 01:15 PM)

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migraineur
Geezer

Registered: 02/15/10
Posts: 1,642
Last seen: 3 years, 2 months

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: abltsandwich]
#17391156 - 12/14/12 01:14 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

Yeah, get a PS3. You can use it as a media centre as well as a blue ray player and gaming system.

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psi
TOAST N' JAM

Registered: 09/06/99
Posts: 31,746
Loc: 613

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: migraineur]
#17391186 - 12/14/12 01:20 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

I went the route of just getting an inexpensive blu ray drive for my computer (I think it's an Asus.) I didn't bother with a burner because I'm not sure if I'll ever have a reason to use it.

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abltsandwich
JFK = Jelly Donut

Registered: 06/16/09
Posts: 11,537
Loc: Dildoville

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: migraineur]
#17391188 - 12/14/12 01:21 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

PS3 used to be a great recommendation before BDPs dropped in price. Unless OP wants to game on it, there are much more economical options for Blu-ray. Controlling the PS3 without the remote is a pain in the fucking ass, especially for the uninitiated (trying to remember which button on the controller does which thing). So tack on another $25 for the remote to make the PS3 user friendly for BD playback. It's overall not a good deal unless OP wants to game on it.

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SprewellSleeve

Registered: 03/16/09
Posts: 6,340
Loc: USA
Last seen: 22 days, 22 hours

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: abltsandwich]
#17391191 - 12/14/12 01:22 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

abltsandwich said:

Inexpensive BD players tend to crap out quickly, depending on who manufactured it. LG and Funai tend to be the base players that are sold in bulk to store/off brands. If it's LG-based it will be good to go.

I would know; I was in the business for like 4 years.

In general I recommend LG and Panasonic BDPs. Sony isn't bad, but tend to cost too much. Samsung makes garbage, unless they've changed over the past year. You'd be amazed at how many Samsung BDPs were returned to my store when I worked there. My customers were always thrilled with the Panasonics and LGs I recommended.

Also consider connectivity with existing equipment. You don't want to buy a BDP only to find out it doesn't have an optical audio out (for example), which may be the only input type your surround sound supports.

Thanks. Very helpful.

I just looked at a few reviews for one of the RCA ones, don't know if it's the same one. One person said it was light and felt cheap and is cheap, which it did feel to me when I held it in Target, didn't know if that meant anything bad.

Is the PS3 blu-ray player top-notch for non-games though? I don't want to ask for something that's that much unless I paid for part of it.

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Edited by SprewellSleeve (12/14/12 01:23 PM)

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SprewellSleeve

Registered: 03/16/09
Posts: 6,340
Loc: USA
Last seen: 22 days, 22 hours

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: abltsandwich]
#17391216 - 12/14/12 01:28 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

abltsandwich said:

PS3 used to be a great recommendation before BDPs dropped in price. Unless OP wants to game on it, there are much more economical options for Blu-ray. Controlling the PS3 without the remote is a pain in the fucking ass, especially for the uninitiated (trying to remember which button on the controller does which thing). So tack on another $25 for the remote to make the PS3 user friendly for BD playback. It's overall not a good deal unless OP wants to game on it.

Don't care for games much, especially because they're so expensive. I'd like it, but yeah.

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abltsandwich
JFK = Jelly Donut

Registered: 06/16/09
Posts: 11,537
Loc: Dildoville

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: SprewellSleeve]
#17391232 - 12/14/12 01:31 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

BD playback is going to be equal amongst all players regarding image and sound quality. What it boils down to is user interface, HDMI-CEC (the feature that links your BDP to your TV, so if you turn off the TV it turns off the BDP, for example. This is a brand thing, so Panasonic will only work with Panasonic TVs, Samsung with Samsung TVs, etc.) and reliability. I'm guessing that HDMI-CEC doesn't matter too much since you're considering RCA, unless by chance you have an RCA brand TV.
Reliability is really what it boils down to more than anything. I've been out of the loop for about a year as far as which models are good and which aren't, but RCA was never ranked highly. I'd read some reviews and see what the overall reliability is like. Keep in mind that people are more inclined to write about a negative experience than a positive one so look for trends, not isolated instances.

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SprewellSleeve

Registered: 03/16/09
Posts: 6,340
Loc: USA
Last seen: 22 days, 22 hours

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: abltsandwich]
#17391333 - 12/14/12 01:48 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

With RCA, I like it for the look :lol:

:lol:

.

We have a Panasonic TV. I have no idea what BDP is.

I'm going to Wal*Mart in a little bit. Should I go with Panasonic then? Anyone in particular (I know you haven't been up to date, but maybe you can suggest something, such as features).

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Edited by SprewellSleeve (12/14/12 01:49 PM)

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abltsandwich
JFK = Jelly Donut

Registered: 06/16/09
Posts: 11,537
Loc: Dildoville

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: SprewellSleeve]
#17391347 - 12/14/12 01:51 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

BDP = Blu-ray Disc Player.

If you have a Panasonic TV you're already ahead of the game since they make the absolute best TV on the market--assuming you got their plasma.
Either way, if your TV is Panasonic I'd recommend a Panasonic BDP because they link via HDMI-CEC and because Panasonic makes a great BDP. It's what I own and recommend. Panasonic isn't behind the curve on anything of which I'm aware and their hardware is as reliable as it gets. If you need Wi-Fi connectivity for the player, since many are internet capable and do occasionally need firmware updates, then make sure you get a model with Wi-Fi built in. Buying the Wi-Fi dongle separately is expensive.

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SprewellSleeve

Registered: 03/16/09
Posts: 6,340
Loc: USA
Last seen: 22 days, 22 hours

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: abltsandwich]
#17391380 - 12/14/12 01:55 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

abltsandwich said:

BDP = Blu-ray Disc Player.

If you have a Panasonic TV you're already ahead of the game since they make the absolute best TV on the market--assuming you got their plasma.
Either way, if your TV is Panasonic I'd recommend a Panasonic BDP because they link via HDMI-CEC and because Panasonic makes a great BDP. It's what I own and recommend. Panasonic isn't behind the curve on anything of which I'm aware and their hardware is as reliable as it gets. If you need Wi-Fi connectivity for the player, since many are internet capable and do occasionally need firmware updates, then make sure you get a model with Wi-Fi built in.

Thanks a lot, man. I think it's plasma. I don't need Wi-Fi, now anyway, but I'll look into that one in case for the future.

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abltsandwich
JFK = Jelly Donut

Registered: 06/16/09
Posts: 11,537
Loc: Dildoville

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: SprewellSleeve]
#17391392 - 12/14/12 01:59 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

No problem homie. I love giving AV advice.

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tospace

Registered: 12/27/09
Posts: 2,585
Last seen: 13 years, 9 months

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: abltsandwich]
#17391435 - 12/14/12 02:08 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

This one for $45 has internet streaming and looks sorda like a ps3 cuz its sony. they also said it works :shrug:

:shrug:

.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SONY-BDP-BX18-1080p-HDMI-USB-BLU-RAY-DISC-PLAYER-WITH-INTERNET-STREAMING-/300833809850?pt=DVD_Players_Recorders&hash=item460b17a5ba

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a teenage girl looking for guidance

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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,388

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: SprewellSleeve]
#17391446 - 12/14/12 02:11 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

For basic movie playback, they're all about the same.

If you were into leading edge tech, you'd want to make sure it had the latest codecs (like Dolby Digital plus and True HD), and some fancier options like 24p playback, but it sounds like you need basics. Amazon has an LG for $59.99 that would probably fulfill your needs.

--------------------
...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did.

Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27.

...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely.

Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436

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abltsandwich
JFK = Jelly Donut

Registered: 06/16/09
Posts: 11,537
Loc: Dildoville

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: badchad]
#17391459 - 12/14/12 02:14 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

badchad said:

For basic movie playback, they're all about the same.

If you were into leading edge tech, you'd want to make sure it had the latest codecs (like Dolby Digital plus and True HD), and some fancier options like 24p playback, but it sounds like you need basics. Amazon has an LG for $59.99 that would probably fulfill your needs.

I'm not aware of a BDP that doesn't offer Dolby True-HD/DTS-HD. OP didn't mention a sound system so the Dolby True-HD/DTS-HD is inconsequential, and if OP knew of 24p and what it does (no offense to OP) he probably wouldn't have made this thread in the first place. Just assumptions on my part but probably relevant.

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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,388

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: abltsandwich]
#17391500 - 12/14/12 02:26 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

Agreed, I just noted it for the OP's own info.

The newer codecs can be sparse on receivers, so I wasn't sure what was on BDPs, although I'd assume most have them.

--------------------
...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did.

Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27.

...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely.

Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436

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abltsandwich
JFK = Jelly Donut

Registered: 06/16/09
Posts: 11,537
Loc: Dildoville

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: badchad]
#17391533 - 12/14/12 02:32 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

If your receiver accepts HDMI audio input then it likely decodes Dolby True-HD and DTS-HD. HDMI audio input is the key factor, which only affected like 2 years' worth of receivers before the standard was widely adopted. HTIB (home theater in a box) on the other hand lag far behind and only the best of them accept HDMI audio input. The rest accept optical audio input, which doesn't support Dolby True-HD/DTS-HD. None of which matters if OP doesn't have a surround sound system.

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badchad
Mad Scientist

Registered: 03/02/05
Posts: 13,388

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: abltsandwich]
#17391568 - 12/14/12 02:40 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

Yes, it's likely. Some of us have been doing home theater well before the advent of HDMI, when things like "DTS sound" and a single optical input were cutting edge. :smile:

:smile:

Now I think I have 8 HDMI inputs, two outputs, 4 optical inputs, and best of all... 4k pass through. It's all come a long way.

--------------------
...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did.

Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27.

...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely.

Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436

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abltsandwich
JFK = Jelly Donut

Registered: 06/16/09
Posts: 11,537
Loc: Dildoville

Re: Recommend an inexpensive blu-ray player for Christmas

[Re: badchad]
#17391591 - 12/14/12 02:45 PM (13 years, 10 months ago)

Yup I've been doing home theater/hi-fi since I was 13 and that was 14 years ago. I saved up birthday and Christmas money to buy my first set of tower speakers and receiver. Trust me when I say I know what it's like to see optical audio as bleeding edge. :lol:

:lol:

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