Need a rec for solid budget/simple BD Player

[BoredSysAdmin]

Need something for mother in law - Budget around $50-150
The only two simple requirement -
a) it must be able to play burned DVDs - like events videos etc..
b) have at least some analog video/audio - no need for surround analog or even component video

no need for ANY other features. Just more or less solid device.

 

[afterlife2]

Bought a BD player about a year ago from this seller and a couple of others things and so far so good: Sony BDP BX18 1080p HDMI Blu Ray DVD Player Netflix Internet Apps Wired Ethernet 027242836471 | eBay

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

thx AF, also looking now at Amazon.com: Buying Choices: Panasonic DMP-BD85K WiFi Enabled Blu-Ray Disc Player (Black)
It's an older model which having some issues with streaming content (according to reviews), but I don't care about these for this case. Also slow loading disk is not a problem for same reasons.
I like it has full 5.1 analog out and a analog component video out . It will have to connect to very old tv for a while so these features will come handy

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

bump, any more suggestions?

 

[markw]

Nnot really, just a word of caution, While I have (and love) Sonys from previous years (BDP 580 & 390), I was chagrined to find that the new ones don't have red/white analog outputs. These "features" are, apparantly, no longer a given anymore. Check whatever you're considering carefully.

I had three Panny 85s about two years ago and sent 'em all back with problems.

 

[3db]

Nnot really, just a word of caution, While I have (and love) Sonys from previous years (BDP 580 & 390), I was chagrined to find that the new ones don't have red/white analog outputs. These "features" are, apparantly, no longer a given anymore. Check whatever you're considering carefully.

I had three Panny 85s about two years ago and sent 'em all back with problems.

Include Samsung and LG in that fray. I'm not sure about Panny.

 

[TLS Guy]

thx AF, also looking now at Amazon.com: Buying Choices: Panasonic DMP-BD85K WiFi Enabled Blu-Ray Disc Player (Black)
It's an older model which having some issues with streaming content (according to reviews), but I don't care about these for this case. Also slow loading disk is not a problem for same reasons.
I like it has full 5.1 analog out and a analog component video out . It will have to connect to very old tv for a while so these features will come handy

Only old players will have 5,1 analog outs, as it is now forbidden by the HTPC police.

I have had a couple of DMP-BDT220 Panasonic players. One at Eagan, the other in our lower great room. I paid $84 for them. I see they are a lot higher in price now, and I suspect they are no longer made. I think it is superseded by the BDT320, which seems the same to me.

 

[j_garcia]

If the 85 is the right price, I'd get that. The replacement is the BDT500 that a few people here have with similar features, but I think it costs more. Amazon.com: Panasonic DMP-BDT500 Integrated Wi-Fi 3D Blu-ray DVD Player: Electronics

AFAIK, only analog video was banned, not analog audio.

 

[TLS Guy]

If the 85 is the right price, I'd get that. The replacement is the BDT500 that a few people here have with similar features, but I think it costs more. Amazon.com: Panasonic DMP-BDT500 Integrated Wi-Fi 3D Blu-ray DVD Player: Electronics

AFAIK, only analog video was banned, not analog audio.

Only 2 channel analog audio is allowed.

 

[GO-NAD!]

I've had the Panny 85 for a couple of years now and haven't had a single problem with it. It does seem a bit slow to load discs, but I don't know if it's slower than average, as it's the only BD player that I have experience with.

 

[Pyrrho]

Only 2 channel analog audio is allowed.

I don't think that is right. Oppo got rid of the video outputs prematurely due to the announcement that they would be prohibited in the future and they did not want to come out with a model that they would soon have to discontinue, but they still give the full set of multichannel analog outputs.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I don't think that is right. Oppo got rid of the video outputs prematurely due to the announcement that they would be prohibited in the future and they did not want to come out with a model that they would soon have to discontinue, but they still give the full set of multichannel analog outputs.

Ether analog audio or video is an issue, but seems like most modern BD player got rid of both - see any samsung ....

This is really annoying... but the other hand - I might finally convince them to change tv furniture, get a small flat screen and then this discussion about analog connections becomes much less relevant...

p.s: Thanks for all suggestions !

 

[Pyrrho]

Ether analog audio or video is an issue, but seems like most modern BD player got rid of both - see any samsung ....

This is really annoying... but the other hand - I might finally convince them to change tv furniture, get a small flat screen and then this discussion about analog connections becomes much less relevant...

p.s: Thanks for all suggestions !

Here is some information regarding the video outputs:

2010: The Year AACS and HDMI Kill Off Component Video | Audioholics

It may seem like "old news," but it was still the reference at the beginning of the year when the new Oppo was reviewed:

Oppo BDP-103 Universal 3D 4K Blu-ray Player Review | Audioholics

So, basically, if you want analog video outputs, you need to buy right away, and it isn't going to be a new model that they plan on selling into next year. And given that they will not be allowed to sell them next year at all, most manufacturers stopped making them a while back, so there are likely to be few available at this time.

As for eliminating analog audio, since everyone will have to have HDMI capable equipment (or they will see nothing), there isn't a need for analog audio outputs, and most people probably use the HDMI for the audio anyway, so it is an extra expense that is wasted with most people.

 

[j_garcia]

Samsung isn't a good example Their players have been average all along, and at this point in the media game, most companies are coming out with more than one model that is super inexpensive. Yes, we've reached the point where the average consumer has most or all HDMI capable gear (if they don't they soon will have little choice), so companies can do this. The Panny BD79 that I just bought this week has only one output at all: HDMI. My TV, that I also just bought this week, has stereo analog outs though The BD79 is the least expensive and smallest BD player that I've bought so far and it works just fine.

 

[markw]

FWIW, I just bought for a very low-tech friend, a Sony BDP 2100 at Walmarts Black Friday Blowout for $48 and the ONLY thing it has on the back is one lonely HDMI connector. For her use that's perfect since all audio can come from the old TV's two-channel analog outputs. ...which she'll only use when either myself or another tech savvy friend is there. Yeah, she's one of those I recommended a Sherwood 4105 a few years ago and for her, it's perfect too.

 

[Pyrrho]

FWIW, I just bought for a very low-tech friend, a Sony BDP 2100 at Walmarts Black Friday Blowout for $48 and the ONLY thing it has on the back is one lonely HDMI connector. For her use that's perfect since all audio can come from the old TV's two-channel analog outputs. ...which she'll only use when either myself or another tech savvy friend is there. Yeah, she's one of those I recommended a Sherwood 4105 a few years ago and for her, it's perfect too.

Honestly, all I want to pay for is HDMI connections in a BD player. There is no sense in paying for digital to analog convertors in EVERY piece of gear one has. It is wasteful and pointless to have everything able to do everything. That said, if one has an old TV without HDMI, then one is going to be out of luck with a new BD player very soon. But why would one want to use an old TV with a BD player? If one is a rich early adopter (having purchased an HDTV before HDMI), one already replaced that long ago. And if one does not have an HDTV, one may as well just stick to DVD. If one is too poor for an HDTV these days, one is too poor for BD. One can get an HDTV for just a couple of hundred dollars.

 

[markw]

It's not so much the TV issue. It's a given that for HD you need HDMI.

And, with only that lonely HDMI output, unless someone is committed to going through a receiver, they are goingto be limited to what their TV speakers can produce. since hnewer TV's are becomng less and less "Audio output" friendly, they totally destroy any upgrade path they might have in mind.

Also, some of us are still making do with ancient audio tech where having a digital output, say coax or toslink, can provide a great boost in it's usefullness with todays tech. It may not do the latest Blu-ray only sound but plain old DD and DTS still works pretty well. My Denon 2802 certainly does. MC analog* is even better for some of us that's really a dying feature.

Heck, even an old two channel stereo can sound pretty good when it's fed a good ole two channel red/white analog feed and it's speakers are flanking a fairly new HDTV. And, my lady friend I mentioned in a previous post admittedly is no "audiophile" (Gawd, I hate that word) but she gets some pretty decent sould from her "scuzzy" two-channel Sherwood, fed by a red/white analog feed from the TV, and Advent speakers.

Why limit peoples choices? What can these simple things cost to keep?

*Does anyone else think MC Analog would make a great name for a rapper?

 

[j_garcia]

MC DAC

I thought this was funny - the Panny I just got has only the one HDMI output as well. They actually took the time to write in the manual how to connect it... "Plug HDMI cable from TV to player and plug in the power." LOL.

I would have preferred to have the analog outs on the player, but I am getting the stereo analog from the TV instead and it works. Since the system is stereo, I don't need the latest formats decoded. Most TVs these days have an optical digital out as well, though again, you won't get the latest formats, but you usually can get DD/DTS from it, but that's only if you have a receiver that lacks HDMI.

 

[sterling shoote]

I wish today's latest was more compatible with yesterday's equipment. For example the Sony 5400ES SACD will output multi channel DSD via HDMI cable but I do not have a D/A converter for such. It appears I will need a new Sony receiver to enjoy multi channel, unless there's a DSD to analog multi channel converter out there I have not yet disovered.

 

[Pyrrho]

I wish today's latest was more compatible with yesterday's equipment. For example the Sony 5400ES SACD will output multi channel DSD via HDMI cable but I do not have a D/A converter for such. It appears I will need a new Sony receiver to enjoy multi channel, unless there's a DSD to analog multi channel converter out there I have not yet disovered.

It would be nice. However, you can get new BD players that have multichannel analog, like the Oppo BD players. They are superb players in other regards, too. The only downside is that they start at about $500 and go on up (though I would go with the bottom model). Given your budget, you might want to go for the top model.

As for the general point (which does not apply to the specific model with which you are concerned, but is very relevant to this thread), given the fact that so many people try to buy the cheapest player they can get, it is totally understandable that manufacturers would cut out things to make their players cheaper. If people are too cheap to pay for analog audio outputs, they ought not expect to get them. Having analog outputs is more than just having jacks; it requires digital to analog converters and analog circuitry that otherwise would not be present. So it is something that could easily make a difference in the price of the player, and consequently one ought not expect it on the cheapest players.