All-Region DVD and Blu-ray Player Advice

[pashalifi]

RE Oppo BDP-83 Leopard playback problem

Not sure if anyone else has posted about this, sorry if I'm duplicating. The previously reported playback problem with The Leopard disc, on the multi region hardware modified BDP-83, has been fixed. Not by the new disc released by the BFI to address the black levels issue (it was still displaying the breakup), but by installing the March 29 Beta firmware release from the Oppo website (here: http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 0323b.aspx)

Oppo support came through. I can now go back to gazing at the Oppo in awe, sorry I meant gazing at The Leopard in awe..

[Feego]

Has anyone had an issue with the audio dropping out on the Sherwood 5004? I've had mine a couple of days, and so far everything seems to be working fine. But occasionally the audio will just drop out completely if one of the following occurs: I pause and then unpause the disc; I rewind, fastforward, or skip to the next or previous chapter; the player shifts to the disc's second layer. The problem is easily solved by simply rewinding again, but it's a little annoying. I haven't noticed this issue mentioned in other reviews, so I'm wondering if I'm the only one having this problem.

As for the humming/whining noise, I noticed it, and it's a bit bothersome, but for the most part I can live with it. I will not be using this as my primary Blu-ray player, opting instead for my Panasonic, which is absolutely silent during playback, for when I watch Region 1/A discs. I don't have any Region B blu-rays yet, but I noticed that I was able to play Region 2 DVDs without entering the special code.

[Svevan]

Having used two different models of the Sherwood 5004, I find the humming is louder out-of-the-box than it is after a mere week of use. Your audio problem sounds more severe; if it happens EVERY time you do those things, that's a major defect. I've been leaving my Sherwood paused for a few minutes at a time, and having no problems whatsoever. I have had sound drop out once in the middle of a film (on my first model, the defective one) - it was followed by a full system crash. No such problems with the new one.

Also, side note: don't upgrade the firmware. Like the Momitsus, you will lose multi-region capability.

[domino harvey]

I guess I'm just lucky, but I haven't had any problems with my 5004, it plays quietly, and plays PAL discs better than my Oppo ever did. The only annoying things about the player is that it doesn't remember where you stopped watching a disc once you eject it and there isn't any zoom functionality. Otherwise though, a great player.

[Feego]

Having used two different models of the Sherwood 5004, I find the humming is louder out-of-the-box than it is after a mere week of use. Your audio problem sounds more severe; if it happens EVERY time you do those things, that's a major defect. I've been leaving my Sherwood paused for a few minutes at a time, and having no problems whatsoever. I have had sound drop out once in the middle of a film (on my first model, the defective one) - it was followed by a full system crash. No such problems with the new one.

Also, side note: don't upgrade the firmware. Like the Momitsus, you will lose multi-region capability.

This doesn't happen every time I do those things. In fact, more often than not, it doesn't happen. But I have noticed it a few times, so I'm wondering if I should get a replacement. To give a specific example, I watched my MoC edition of Kwaidan last night (beautiful), and the audio dropped out when the dual layer kicked in, but otherwise there were no issues. After the movie ended and it returned to the main menu, the menu's audio dropped out. I watched all three trailers on the disc as bonus features, and only after watching the third trailer did the menu's audio come back. After that, there were no more issues. I have had no problems with the machine crashing, freezing, or the door jamming, so I'm going to play around with it a little more before I make a decision. Hopefully this is not a big thing.

I guess I'm just lucky, but I haven't had any problems with my 5004, it plays quietly, and plays PAL discs better than my Oppo ever did. The only annoying things about the player is that it doesn't remember where you stopped watching a disc once you eject it and there isn't any zoom functionality. Otherwise though, a great player.

My Panasonic Blu-ray also does not remember where the disc was once you eject it, and I'm not sure if any Blu-ray players do (although I'm no expert). And yes, my PAL discs look much better than they did on my old Philips region-free player. All in all, I'm pleased with my Sherwood.

[med]

I've not had any problems thus far with my 5004, either, though there was some screen flickering on two of my MOC Blus when I would switch back to the main menu during the course of a supplemental feature. The flickering would only happen on the menu—never while I played anything—and so far has only happened with those two discs. If this is the worst that occurs, I can live with it.

[Minkin]

I haven't had any issues either... except: When on the main (no disc) menu screen, if I decide to stop on the languages tab, the menu freezes and requires a restart to get going once more. It isn't really an issue since I won't have a need to change the language but I wonder if it's a sign for things to come.

[med]

Yeah, I do wonder if that we've had all these niggling, yet different, problems, it means every one of our machines will experience a total meltdown within the year. Until then, happy viewing!

[zedz]

My Panasonic Blu-ray also does not remember where the disc was once you eject it, and I'm not sure if any Blu-ray players do (although I'm no expert).

The Oppo does, but not for all discs. All BFI and MoC BluRays work just fine, but all Criterions reload to the top menu - you need to bookmark if you want to resume viewing at a particular point. Still, this suggests that it might be an authoring rather than a player issue. If you have any MoC or BFI discs, try them. I must say, this is a really useful element of functionality that it's a shame to lose on Criterion BluRays.

[gyorgys]

My Panasonic Blu-ray also does not remember where the disc was once you eject it, and I'm not sure if any Blu-ray players do (although I'm no expert).

The Oppo does, but not for all discs. All BFI and MoC BluRays work just fine, but all Criterions reload to the top menu - you need to bookmark if you want to resume viewing at a particular point. Still, this suggests that it might be an authoring rather than a player issue. If you have any MoC or BFI discs, try them. I must say, this is a really useful element of functionality that it's a shame to lose on Criterion BluRays.

The resume function is disc and not player dependent and indeed an authoring question (Java BD).

[manicsounds]

For everyone else out there with a Momitsu or clone model, see if you have any playback problems with "Sherlock Holmes" 2009. Some skipping during the movie at various points and Maximum Movie Mode won't load on mine. I know Samsungs are having this problem, but also on my machine...

[Norbie]

To: billy98

It's great to see that someone in oz with a Kogan Player at this forum. Am i right to assume that you play your Criterion Blurays on the Kogan?

If so, i have a question.

I got Kagemusha on br and playing it on the Kogan i notice a lot of graining in the picture....would that be normal? The same thing with 400 blows.

[Anthony]

Turn the sharpness level down or off.

[perkizitore]

Now down to 58£, grab yourself a bargain!

[Feego]

Has anyone had an issue with the audio dropping out on the Sherwood 5004? I've had mine a couple of days, and so far everything seems to be working fine. But occasionally the audio will just drop out completely if one of the following occurs: I pause and then unpause the disc; I rewind, fastforward, or skip to the next or previous chapter; the player shifts to the disc's second layer. The problem is easily solved by simply rewinding again, but it's a little annoying. I haven't noticed this issue mentioned in other reviews, so I'm wondering if I'm the only one having this problem.

So I just received a replacement player from Amazon, and it's doing the exact same thing. It surprises me that I have not read any reviews mentioning this problem, and yet I have now had two players that do it. Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? Could it have anything to do with the way it's connected? Mind you, the audio does not drop out EVERY TIME I pause, skip, etc. Just every now and then.

[Michael Kerpan]

How is the audio portion of your system set up?

[Feego]

How is the audio portion of your system set up?

I have the machine hooked up to an LCD with two speakers. I have no surround speakers, so I followed the instruction manual's recommendations for two speakers:

PCM Downsampling: Off (the manual says this is no effect for HDMI digital audio output)
Digital Output: PCM Stereo
Dynamic Range Control: Off

As for the Speaker settings, I have the Front R and Front L set to "Large" and everything else set to Off.

[Feego]

Okay, I think I may have figured this out. I unhooked the HDMI cable and just hooked up the Blu-ray player using the red, yellow, and white AV cables the player comes with. Lo and behold, no audio problems. So, I have come to the conclusion that my HDMI cable (which I use for my Panasonic Blu-ray without issue) may not be compatible with the Sherwood, for some reason. I was planning on buying a new one anyway, so I guess everything's fine. I'll keep an eye out to see if the problem continues.

[swo17]

For this and all your other cable needs, I cannot recommend Monoprice more highly.

[Perkins Cobb]

Has anyone had an issue with the audio dropping out on the Sherwood 5004? I've had mine a couple of days, and so far everything seems to be working fine. But occasionally the audio will just drop out completely if one of the following occurs: I pause and then unpause the disc; I rewind, fastforward, or skip to the next or previous chapter; the player shifts to the disc's second layer. The problem is easily solved by simply rewinding again, but it's a little annoying. I haven't noticed this issue mentioned in other reviews, so I'm wondering if I'm the only one having this problem.

So I just received a replacement player from Amazon, and it's doing the exact same thing. It surprises me that I have not read any reviews mentioning this problem, and yet I have now had two players that do it. Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? Could it have anything to do with the way it's connected? Mind you, the audio does not drop out EVERY TIME I pause, skip, etc. Just every now and then.

Don't bother buying a new cable. Mine does the same thing. The reason for this is that the Sherwood is a piece of shit.

Just pause it and unpause it and the audio should come back. Trust me, it's far from the most irritating habit your Sherwood will develop over the coming months.

The next post will be someone telling me I should've bought an Oppo instead of a Sherwood. Thanks in advance.

[Ahti]

What about using only the audio connectors (red and white) for audio, and your hdmi cable for video?

[perkizitore]

Now down to 58£, grab yourself a bargain!

It seems the price drop made it quite popular, here is the Whathifi review

[Michael Kerpan]

Has anyone found a good inexpensive Region B that can be gotten in the US (and will work here)? I already have a decent Region A BR player and an Oppo DVD player that can handle DVDs from anywhere beautifully.

[manicsounds]

Has anyone found a good inexpensive Region B that can be gotten in the US (and will work here)? I already have a decent Region A BR player and an Oppo DVD player that can handle DVDs from anywhere beautifully.

Region B player? I'd think it would be easier to find a Region Free BD player instead of looking for a B-locked player.

[Michael Kerpan]

I am _certain_ that it is easier to find a region free BR player -- but the only capacity I lack is region B playing. and I was hoping maybe there was a good basic (and cheap) Region B player. (Not sure I would feel secure relying on one of the Momitsu clones).