http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/sony...ay-disc-player/


Although Sony has announced its next generation Blu-ray player, the BDP-S350 as early as February, it is only now that the player has started arriving in US retail stores. For those who have been waiting for the BDP-S350, the wait may well be worth it after all since like we reported before this player is fully compatible with various disc formats including BD-R/RE, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, CD, CD-R/RW and JPEG on DVD or CD recordable media.

In addition, the BDP-S350 also features BonusView (Profile v1.1), BD-Live (Profile v2.0) and Sony’s Precision Cinema HD Upscale feature which is a technology that converts standard-definition signals (4801) to 1080p. These signals are then outputted in full HD equivalent resolution signal to 1080p TVs through HDMI port. The player also has an Ethernet port and can handle up to 70.1 channels decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DD+ along with 7.1 channels bitstream output that includes DTS-Ma.

Finally, Sony has added an environmental footprint on the BDP-S350 to make the product a little more environmentally friendly. Sony has reduced the overall unit size of the player by 55 percent, reduced the packing material by 52 percent and reduced its total weight by 38 percent. With this, Sony was able to reduce the CO2 emissions when shipping the BDP-S350. Likewise, Sony has also made the player’s energy consumption a little less than the usual.

The BDP-S350 is available now in Sony retail and various online stores for around $399.99.

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Added on July 20, 2008, 2:00 ampls take note that this baby does not support DTS HD Master that all universal BD titles seem to have.

it does LCPM and TrueHD via bitstream. Both tracks are not available in Universal titles.

This post has been edited by g5sim: Jul 20 2008, 02:00 AM

If I'm not wrong, it does bistream DTS-MA.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1046952

they say it does 'bitstream dts-hd and dts-hd ma because their receiver's hd-ma light is on. i am arguing that the light is on because the hd-ma's Core track was bitstreamed to the receiver not the lossless hd-ma track entirely.

if the S350 can do 100% hd-ma lossless why doesnt it just include the hd-ma logo, instead it has the dts-hd (advanced audio out) logo?

furthermore, S350 manual says ' its hd-ma Core only

universal uses dts hdma? i tot it was fox who uses it?

When you bitstream DTS core, the DTS-HD MA logo WILL NOT light up on your AVR. Instead you'll only see the normal DTS logo.


Yes, in their first BD releases ever, The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and The Scorpion King.

Other than Fox, Lionsgate (except for old titles, which used PCM) and New Line also use DTS-HD MA.

How do I know if that particular movie got DTS-MA? Can I see it written on the back cover? Any list for movies with DTS-MA so far?

Yup, that's one way. The best way is just by checking out blu-ray.com.

Basically all BDs from Fox and New Line uses DTS-HD MA, Lionsgate for new releases, and probably most of the coming Universal titles.

If you have PS3 and any multi-channel PCM capabled HDMI AVR, you'll get to hear this already, as the PS3 decodes the track internally.

Can I bypass PS3 internal decoding and let my 663 do the decoding part? Is it possible for PS3 to do that?

arremie, kenot

So what's the point of getting PS3 if I can't let my 663 do the decoding. Standalone player can do that I presume.

This post has been edited by arremie: Jul 21 2008, 01:21 PM

Good luck getting a standalone. By right bitstreaming (can't decode internally) players should be cheaper. Honestly I also want a standalone player and see the DTS-HD MA logo lights up on my AVR. But if only I can get it at RM1.3k.

Anyway, can you hear and tell the difference between bitstream and PCM? This has been discussed the millionth times.

This post has been edited by aiman04: Jul 21 2008, 01:40 PM

Bitstream HD audio means pass through the audio to be processed by external decoder. Is that right?
So bitstream only player means you won't get audio unless you have external decoder like AV amp to process it right?

That is correct sir.

Thanks dude. You answer my question even before I posted it
You Jedi or something?

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Added on July 21, 2008, 1:46 pmAnyway, looks like I'm ok if I go with player that can bitstream only since my 663 can decode them all.

This post has been edited by arremie: Jul 21 2008, 01:46 PM

Like I said, by right it should be cheaper. But only cheaper than internally decoding standalone players.

Bitstreaming standalone, like Panasonic BD30, retails at RM2999. That's more than twice the price of a PS3 which can decode internally.

This post has been edited by aiman04: Jul 21 2008, 01:52 PM

I can see the logic why aiman say it should be cheaper because the lack of internal decoding engine. No engine less hardware = cheaper price..... but noooooooo in boleh land everything with hd logo is expansive

arremie hold your balls 1st, currnet players still not worth it, the loading time itself qould kill u, if u really desperate, then get the panny bd 30

Ok I'm holding my balls even the girls are watching

I want to get PS3 but now I can't since PS3 can't bitstream. I wan't my 663 to do the decoding part and not the player. So my choice now is a standalone player. I can get the Panny 30 or maybe just wait n see what's the selling price of Sony 350 when it comes here. If not to much different than I'll get Sony for sure.

S350 shud be rm 3999
panny 30 in spore sellin for 799 sgd

My 1800 also can decode lossless audio ma...

That's the most important, at least your AVR is prepared for it. I just can't afford standalone BD player, PS3 will do for now.

So in future when standalone prices are reasonable, with faster disc loading time, I can buy without worrying about the AVR. And at that time I can still keep my PS3 as an HD entertainment centre, my MKV and mp3 file collection are already growing again now. And oh, my kid can still play the games in HD with surround audio.