I need an inexpensive (<75) blu-ray player (1 Viewer)

sidburyjr · Nov 28, 2014

My wife has come to prefer watching stuff on our 60" Viera Plasma, so I need to buy a player for our bedroom. The TV is a 32" (LCD) and the main thing I need (that most players don't seem to have) is the ability to stream from my computer directly to my TV. I have both mac and windows machines so I'm somewhat flexible.

Any suggestions are appreciated. I'm hoping that black friday/cyber monday deals somewhere might give me something suitable. Sam's / Costco memberships usable.

Dick

schan1269 · Nov 28, 2014

LG BP540 Amazon WHD for less than $60. $85 otherwise.Caveat...I have a BP 530 multi-region that has decided to quit using the internet(connects, but everything that needs an update says "check network condition")...so all its apps(other than, for the moment, Netflix) are bricked.Worked fine till this came up.So far, no discs give it fits. Not even the latest two Fox.

atfree · Nov 28, 2014

Sony for $48 with free shipping...no idea how good it is, deal popped up this afternoon.Sony BDP-S3200 Blu-ray Disc Player with Wi-Fi, Full HD 1080p, Dolby TrueHD & DTS-HD Master Audio, Front USB Porthttp://www.adorama.com/SOBDPS3200.html?utm_term=Other&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=Other&utm_source=cj_806314&cvosrc=affiliate.cj.806314

vidiot33 · Nov 28, 2014

Whatever you decide on, I'd recommend sticking to a major brand: Panasonic, Sony, etc. and try to avoid the cheaply made Korean or Taiwanese players.

schan1269 · Nov 29, 2014

vidiot33 said:
Whatever you decide on, I'd recommend sticking to a major brand: Panasonic, Sony, etc. and try to avoid the cheaply made Korean or Taiwanese players.

So Malaysian made is better?

DaveF · Nov 29, 2014

Piggybacking

My current blu-Ray player is a 2009 Panasonic DMP-BD60, which is otherwise fine but feels very slow loading Blu-Rays and navigating their menus. To the point that the wife is demanding a new and faster blu-Ray player.Will the LG BP540 be faster for Blu-Rays? (I don't care about apps or streaming services.) Assuming so, it's my first choice.Budget is

atfree · Nov 29, 2014

DaveF said:
Piggybacking My current blu-Ray player is a 2009 Panasonic DMP-BD60, which is otherwise fine but feels very slow loading Blu-Rays and navigating their menus. To the point that the wife is demanding a new and faster blu-Ray player.Will the LG BP540 be faster for Blu-Rays? (I don't care about apps or streaming services.) Assuming so, it's my first choice.Budget is

schan1269 · Nov 29, 2014

DaveF said:
Piggybacking My current blu-Ray player is a 2009 Panasonic DMP-BD60, which is otherwise fine but feels very slow loading Blu-Rays and navigating their menus. To the point that the wife is demanding a new and faster blu-Ray player.Will the LG BP540 be faster for Blu-Rays? (I don't care about apps or streaming services.) Assuming so, it's my first choice.Budget is

DaveF · Nov 29, 2014

Is LG good or bad at providing online updates to its players?I will never use the apps. I will never use Netflix on the blu-Ray. (I have a Tivo) I want good, or fast, blu-Ray loading and a good UI.

and Ethernet port for online updates.

DaveF · Nov 29, 2014

schan1269 said:
I'd recommend the 340. $50 most places.

The 340 looks good. I don't need 3D, and seems otherwise equal to the 540. Wirecutter also says it's ok.I've asked at avs, but that crowd only talks about Sony. I'm not reading much to recommend Panasonic in 2014.

schan1269 · Nov 29, 2014

Can't use mine, really, as an example...Mine was last updated before this current update that shows on LG's site.Apparently...the new update (googled the version number) addresses the "it lost the internet" issues(which were apparently caused by missing the prior update...go figure).My Sony 350 missed an update somewhere and I had to reboot it to "fresh from the box". Sony kept their updates in order...so it was able to download them all in about an hour(still didn't address its lack of "center channel audio" on some, ironically, Sony titles...Midnight in Paris).LG and Samsung "stack" theirs. So if you miss one...you need to USB update to catch up(auto updating and constant use mitigate the problem. Plus my 530 goes without internet for weeks at a time).(Lastly, LG advices using the "auto off". So in essence...never turn it off yourself. Let it do its thing...cause apparently "auto off"...allows the internal wifi to remain live...so it knows when updates are needed and will prompt you. Multi-region, like mine, you have to turn off..."auto off", or you can't switch regions).

DaveF · Nov 29, 2014

Can they update via internet, or does it take a USB? My older panasonic would sometimes download updates from the network. I've never connected a USB drive to do any sort of update. Maybe these are disc-specific patches, vs an actual "firmware" update?

Ok, I think we're talking the same language. And the LG website says it does online updating.
http://www.lg.com/us/support/answers/blu-ray-players/updating-your-firmware

I like the $50 option. Seems good. Cheap enough I won't stay awake at night wondering if I didn't get the optimal device

schan1269 · Nov 29, 2014

Yes they update over the net. Both have wifi(530 being "certified". Don't know if the 540 is).My 530 issue pertains to being multi-region.(Although there are several wonky things unrelated to being M-R...like the "lg personal audio" feature not working...which I don't think the 340 has anyway)But...the 530 has never had any issue with any disc. It is the peripherals giving me fits(but this player is used where I also have a Netgear nettv 300(sl?), ChromeCast and a laptop...plus the Pad/G3 via slimport).

DaveF · Nov 29, 2014

Does the LG340 have an ethernet port? I assume it does, but it's not explicitly stated at LG.com or Amazon.

This random website says it does.
http://www.brandsmartusa.com/LG/174773/Internet+Ready+Blu+ray+Player+With+Built+In+Wi+Fi.htm

But BestBuy says it doesn't!
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-smart-wi-fi-built-in-blu-ray-player/4092002.p?id=1219096316813&skuId=4092002

Confirmed with photos:
http://www.a4c.com/product/lg-bp340-blu-ray-disc-player-w-original-remote-bulk.html

Looks like I have to get the 540 for ethernet
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-3d-smart-wi-fi-built-in-blu-ray-player/3849003.p?id=1219093975216&skuId=3849003

Photo confirmation
http://www.a4c.com/product/lg-bp540-3d-blu-ray-disc-player-w-original-remote-refurbished.html

DaveF · Nov 29, 2014

That brings me to a new option to split the cost different, minor sacrifice DVD quality.
Samsung BD-H5900
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-smart-3d-wi-fi-built-in-blu-ray-player/3814056.p?id=1219093528421&skuId=3814056&productCategoryId=pcmcat205900050012

Never mind. Bought the LG. The Wirecutter has some issues with the Samsung.

Used some BB RZ points to reduce out of pocket cost.

Thanks for the help and input!

schan1269 · Nov 29, 2014

What is wrong with WiFi?(curious)

schan1269 · Nov 29, 2014

Best Buy shows the 5900 had a HDMI input...Shocking how inconsistent specs are repeated.

Dennis Nicholls · Nov 29, 2014

My two Blu-Ray players are so old I've updated their firmware by burning a CD-R with the updates. They are Funai-built Motorola-branded units from 2008 still going strong albeit slow at loading discs. I wonder whether the newer cheaper units are built to last as long.

schan1269 · Nov 29, 2014

Dennis Nicholls said:
My two Blu-Ray players are so old I've updated their firmware by burning a CD-R with the updates. They are Funai-built Motorola-branded units from 2008 still going strong albeit slow at loading discs. I wonder whether the newer cheaper units are built to last as long.

Alco stores are closing and I walked into ours...They had 4 GPX DVD/BD players...DVD with and w/o HDMI.BD with and w/o apps.$20/30/38/45(MSRP) respectively. The $45 BD player, no joke, felt like a large Roku with a drawer...

DaveF · Nov 29, 2014

schan1269 said:
What is wrong with WiFi?(curious)

Ethernet is easier and more reliable. No password to enter with clumsy remote. Don't have to remember to update password if I change it.

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