Make sure you have a stopwatch to get the disc loading time and report here.

Hi Anfieldude, nice to see you here. Thanks for the link, will read it now.

I'm eyeing the S350 now. Heard the loading time is much faster than BD30, and on some titles almost the same as PS3.

There was a promotionat the PC Fair for RM 1999, and around that time bro Htkaki also been selling it for lower than that. Not sure the current price, but the official retail price is RM2999.

The S300 (and any other old models actually) is known for that.

The S350 got encouraging reviews not only for loading time, but even PQ and AQ. And unlike BD30, it's got ethernet port and firmware upgradable to Profile 2.0 (BD-Live).

It's not a must, but if you can have it why not? With BD30 it's almost certain you'll not have it.

BD-Live is a feature where you can access extra contents from the internet. Your player will need to be connected to the internet. Again, I only tried once with my MIB BD on the PS3, just to see how it works. Not a must, that's for sure. As I am more into the movie itself than extra features.

PQ is a must la, why go for HD if the PQ is bad.

Still depends on amp, different amp got different DAC right?

I think he meant bitstream. And I agree (but PS3 can't bitstream, maybe compared between S350 and BD30).

PS3 [all formats internal decoding ~ PCM] =====> (HDMI ~ Digital) =====> AVR (DAC, amp) =====> Speakers (Analogue)

BD30/S350 [DTS-HD MA ~ Bitstream] =====> (HDMI ~ Digital) =====> AVR (Decode, DAC, amp) =====> Speakers (Analogue)

BD30/S350 [Dolby True HD internal decoding ~ PCM (DAC)] =====> (RCA analogue outs ~ Analogue) =====> AVR (amp) =====> Speakers (Analogue)

This post has been edited by aiman04: Aug 12 2008, 07:06 PM

That's another story bro, I also prefer bitstream. The flow diagram just to show how it works from the player to the speakers and where DAC is involved, bitstream or otherwise.

This post has been edited by aiman04: Aug 12 2008, 08:17 PM

Still depends on a lot of things, the combinations of equipment, etc, even same player could sound differently with different decoding (not equipment) setups. But between the three flow diagrams, there could be slight difference to each of them. Also depends if you ears can hear the difference or not.

Usually analgue inputs to the AVR, there can't be anymore processing by the AVR, only amplifying to power up the speakers.

Theoretically, S.A.M.A.

Should be the same, it's the AVR that's doing the job.

The only different should be the PQ, because both were done by the players.

I never said that. My flow diagram again just to show how it works. If you bitstream to same AVR, should sound the same la, because whatever player you use, they're not the one that do the decoding.

But this true to bitstream only. If PCM it's the player that does the decoding.

Oh, OK.

You mean the player doing the decoding? It's possible to be different, because each player got their own decoding/unzipping chip, if it's the same chip, could be the same.

Another thing, for the same one internally decoding player, it could sound differently between sending via HDMI or RCA analogue. This because if you use HDMI, the player sends in digital, so the the DAC is done by the AVR. If you use the analogue outs, the DAC already done by the player, and for analogues, the cable quality also play an important role. Good or bad DAC will produce sound differently.

This post has been edited by aiman04: Aug 13 2008, 10:29 AM

Correct.

For audio quality, through bitstreaming, any player should just be the same with the same HT setup (AVR/speakers/cables/etc).

Internal decoding players are more expensive, so if you have AVR with onboard HD audio decoding, don't buy those players.

And yup, PQ and loading time.

This post has been edited by aiman04: Aug 13 2008, 10:30 AM

I thought, with all these questions, you also buying? Kena tipu!

I got an A!!!

Always my pleasure to share. Some I learned here also, so many thanks to the sifus!

I'm also eyeing S350. But that will probably come at least a few more months.

Yeah, had thought of buying from US. It's selling for $347.88 at Amazon. Will only costs around RM1.5k tax included, but need to get that transformer stepdown thingy lar.

Wait a minute, I will not fall, you'll need stronger poison!

This post has been edited by aiman04: Aug 14 2008, 08:19 AM

Of course got lobang... Only money no got.

If you have Maybank Amex card, you can use the service from ComGateway. They will provide a US address for you, and then they will ship it back to you. You only pay them the shipping cost, I believe the shipping to US address is free.

http://www.comgateway.com/COMGATEWAY/secur...Registration.do

I've calculated this last week, if with free Amazon shipping to US, total cost including cheapest shipping method back to here, and 15% + 10% tax, it will cost around RM1.5k. But with current USD rate, could be little bit higher.

RX, can I borrow your card?