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Best or very good region free blu ray player??

post #1 of 20
7/20/11 at 9:14pm
Thread Starter 
Hello - I am looking for some help on finding a blu ray player in region A (US) that will play all region Blu ray discs.

I have read that Oppo's blu ray players will play other region blu ray's if a mod kit is installed.

Are there any other players that are good quality, but a bit more affordable?

I currently have a Panasonic BD55 and was looking to upgrade at some point.

Thanks for the help and advice! I appreciate it!
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post #2 of 20
7/25/11 at 7:07pm
Thread Starter 
Just to clarify. I am looking for a player that will play Region A, B and C blu ray discs.

Thanks.
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post #3 of 20
7/26/11 at 4:13pm

Tim,

 

I don't know if the Sherwood 5400 BRD player is still available, but it has given me great service and does a wonderful job playing other region DVDs and BRDs.

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post #4 of 20
7/26/11 at 4:23pm
Have never purchased from these guys, don't know anything about their track record, but when I searched for region-free players, this site pops near the top of the list.

http://www.220-electronics.com/dvd/multi_region_blu_ray_dvd_player.htm

Their prices seem pretty good. Maybe if you e-mailed them, you could get a better idea of prices, choices, after-sales service, etc etc.
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post #5 of 20
7/27/11 at 7:29pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the feedback!
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post #6 of 20
8/16/11 at 9:12am
Hi guys,

I'm also after a region free blu-ray player. I've read here http://www.reviewmaze.com/2011/08/region-free-blu-ray-player-software.html that there are some cheaper alternatives of Oppo like Sherwood or LGs. But I'm more inteested has someone tried the software alternatives mentioned there? It seems really cheap to have 2 or even 3 different software players or to use a program that easily change region codes. Any experience with these is welcomed.
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post #7 of 20
8/19/11 at 7:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Haxton View Post


I have read that Oppo's blu ray players will play other region blu ray's if a mod kit is installed.

Are there any other players that are good quality, but a bit more affordable?

I don't know if you can still get the ones that can play all regions; but I bought a Best Buy Insignia player earlier this year. They had two models-NS-WBRDVD4 and NS-BRDVD4 that could be adapted to region free use via a code on the remote. However, I believe later firmware updates overrode that option, so I left mine unconnected to the internet so the firmware would not update. Look around; you may still find one. Mine was around $100. Quite a decent player, and did good upconverting. I used it only for foreign discs as I did not want to wear it out with everyday use.

I recently bit the bullet and bought an Oppo BDP93. I've had two Panasonics that went bad (BD60 had to have the entire drive replaced under warranty; LAN connection no longer works on BD65 out of warranty). Rather than pay to have the BD65 repaired, I bought the Oppo.

Yesterday, I installed the region-free mod that connects outside the machine. So far, works great. Considering that I have a fair number of SACDs and DVD-A discs; the Oppo has turned out to be a great purchase. I just wish it offered Amazon VOD streaming.
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post #8 of 20
8/19/11 at 12:56pm
Hi David,
Does this mean you have now 2 region free players? Is the Insignia Ok or something has gone wrong with it and that's why you've bought the Oppo?
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post #9 of 20
8/19/11 at 2:47pm
Cassie, the Insignia still works. I had been eying an Oppo for some time so that I could use it to play my SACDs and DVD-Audio discs in addition to DVDs and BDs. Being able to convert the Oppo BDP93 to region-free was the final thing that sold me on it.

I think I read somewhere that there is a way to roll back the firmware on the Insignias to keep them region-free. I do not know which models of the Insignias worked for the region fix other than the ones I mentioned in my post. Basically, if you enter "9113" while in the setup menu, it adds an item to the menu that says "Configure Player". Once you click on Configure Player, you can set Blu-ray and DVD regions. I believe the later firmwares nuked that option.
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post #10 of 20
8/23/11 at 6:27am
Thanks for the info, David! I have not taken a final decision yet so it could be a helpful information.
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post #11 of 20
2/22/12 at 10:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by theonemacduff View Post

Have never purchased from these guys, don't know anything about their track record, but when I searched for region-free players, this site pops near the top of the list.
http://www.220-electronics.com/dvd/multi_region_blu_ray_dvd_player.htm
Their prices seem pretty good. Maybe if you e-mailed them, you could get a better idea of prices, choices, after-sales service, etc etc.

Wow! Just looked at link and found out this is at a warehouse a few blocks down from my old office. I'm gonna check them out.
I guess I could say they are legit because use to drive by the warehouse during workdays and it looks like they've been around for a long time.
They got some very competitive deals, prices and sales too.
Thanks for bringing them up.
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post #12 of 20
2/23/12 at 6:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by theonemacduff View Post

Have never purchased from these guys, don't know anything about their track record, but when I searched for region-free players, this site pops near the top of the list.
http://www.220-electronics.com/dvd/multi_region_blu_ray_dvd_player.htm
Their prices seem pretty good. Maybe if you e-mailed them, you could get a better idea of prices, choices, after-sales service, etc etc.


My boss purchased the Region A/B/C verison of the player from them around Christmas (present for his daughter), so they're plenty legit. I, personally, have bought from World Gift Center (world-import.com) in the past (over 10 years ago) and they're legit, too. They have the same player, but it's a little more expensive.

These are hardware-modified, but so are the Oppos. At least the hardware mods will survive firmware updates.

My boss said that player works great, by the way.
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post #13 of 20
2/26/12 at 7:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyMcKinney View Post

My boss purchased the Region A/B/C verison of the player from them around Christmas (present for his daughter), so they're plenty legit. I, personally, have bought from World Gift Center (world-import.com) in the past (over 10 years ago) and they're legit, too. They have the same player, but it's a little more expensive.
These are hardware-modified, but so are the Oppos. At least the hardware mods will survive firmware updates.
My boss said that player works great, by the way.

Just went to 220-electronics, a.k.a. International Video & Electroncis, and picked up the LG BD640 multiregion blu ray player. You're right! They are hardware modded for all regions (easy to use too). Luckily I caught them before the sale was over for this item. They ran out of the 110V so I just picked up the 110+V which was $10 more for $220. Works fine so far. Just ran the Akira (UK version in steelbook case)....runs good so far no problems. Awesome!
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post #14 of 20
3/6/12 at 7:46am
I bought the BD640 from Amazon - I live in the UK - it doesn't work in the UK and won't play Regio B BluRays, Anyone know of a software fix for this to make it multi-region? Cheers
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post #15 of 20
3/7/12 at 9:26am

I live in German (PAL region 2/Region B9 What is available here for region free DVD and BluRay

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post #16 of 20
3/7/12 at 9:51am
Hallo Sumnernor. Wie geht's dir? All Region B BD players will play PAL. Most new onews will do a live translation from PAL to NTSC so that you can watch on your TV. Make sure the player is a Region B for playing, a lot say Region A + B + C but then they say Plays Region whatever only. Check that last bit. If you are not sure go to www.Amazon.DE and buy from them. They have an excellent returns policy and their Customer Services is second to none so if you buy the wrong unit they will swap it within 28 days. I just did. No issue and nice and easy and you get your money back into your account immediately.
Good lusk, John
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post #17 of 20
3/7/12 at 11:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cazal View Post

 All Region B BD players will play PAL. Most new onews will do a live translation from PAL to NTSC so that you can watch on your TV. Make sure the player is a Region B for playing, a lot say Region A + B + C but then they say Plays Region whatever only. Check that last bit. If you are not sure go to www.Amazon.DE and buy from them. They have an excellent returns policy and their Customer Services is second to none so if you buy the wrong unit they will swap it within 28 days. I just did. No issue and nice and easy and you get your money back into your account immediately.
 

I did not understand the above. I want a Blue Ray player that will play A and B BRs at least and  for DVDs will play at least region codes 1 and 2.
 

 

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post #18 of 20
3/20/12 at 7:56am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sumnernor View Post

I did not understand the above. I want a Blue Ray player that will play A and B BRs at least and  for DVDs will play at least region codes 1 and 2.

 

Oppo blu ray player is one way to go. You will need a special Mod to play other region blu rays. There should be a hack code for DVD playback.
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post #19 of 20
3/20/12 at 10:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Osato View Post

Oppo blu ray player is one way to go. You will need a special Mod to play other region blu rays. There should be a hack code for DVD playback.

Not really a "hack code" (that got broken with firmware upgrades a long time ago), but there is a download called "SuperDisk" (do a google search with Superdisk and Oppo in the name, as I'm not sure if I'm allowed to put the link here or not) if all you need out of an Oppo is region-free for DVD (or if you don't want to use a mod for it).

I'd never even heard of it until Oppo Service told me about it when I was troubleshooting my hardware mod against a difficult-to-play region 2 DVD (turned out my issue was fixed with a player firmware update).
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post #20 of 20
3/21/12 at 5:50pm
Thread Starter 
I know Oppo is highly recommended for multi region blu ray.

Is there another player on the market that could easily have an add on mod to make it region free? Essentially could I do the work myself or buy the add on and have it installed easily?
I'm thinking of the Oppo mod add on which just plugs into one of the ports.

I'd like to pick up the Oppo, but the $500 price tag is a bit hard to swallow at the moment. Plus the mod cost on top of that..

I see the LG BD640 is around $200. That may be the best way to go. I saw 220 Electronics guarantees the region free as well.

*****
If I had a proper AC converter, this player would work on my tv to play blu rays from Region B..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DMP-BD75EB-K-Booting-Blu-Ray-Player/dp/tech-data/B004MPQR4M/ref=de_a_smtd

Or would I have another issue on playback?
Edited by Osato - 3/21/12 at 6:10pm
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