Region free Bluray player

[hech54]

We are all aware of the Australia/New Zealand "law" that apparently requires manufacturers to supply a work-around for consumers who inquire about region/zone issues......and all PAL devices (VHS, DVD, televisions and Blu Ray) are "multi-system".

[Chopmeister]

Ummm:

1. There is no such "law". At least in NZ, it doesn't exist.

2. Not all manufacturers supply a work around for blu-ray regions. Sony and Panasonic don't for instance (Panasonic will, for DVD only)

3. I was trying to help the guy and point out that what he was asking for did exist when he was being told it didn't. Why such a grumpy reaction to this?

4. Apparently if he buys the Toshiba BDX1200 or BDX3200 (american models) and updates with the appropriate Australian ("KY") firmware which can be found on the net, he will (according to some other posts I have read) have what he wants. Although his TV will obviously need to handle PAL for PAL disks to work. Or he could import a system from Australia/NZ and use a voltage transformer if he wanted.

[hech54]

3. I was trying to help the guy and point out that what he was asking for did exist when he was being told it didn't. Why such a grumpy reaction to this?

Because I read his first post and his location that he is in the U.S. and I know that he has yet another hurdle to cross....that being PAL video.

4. Apparently if he buys the Toshiba BDX1200 or BDX3200 (american models) and updates with the appropriate Australian ("KY") firmware which can be found on the net, he will (according to some other posts I have read) have what he wants. Although his TV will obviously need to handle PAL for PAL disks to work. Or he could import a system from Australia/NZ and use a voltage transformer if he wanted.

Is that all?!?

I rest my case.

[wulf109]

I notice that even Sony Pictures is releasing region free disks. Isn't that counter to the hardware side on insisting on region locked players.

[usually_quiet]

I notice that even Sony Pictures is releasing region free disks. Isn't that counter to the hardware side on insisting on region locked players.

What a truly worthless argument. Individual content providers and distributors have always decided what region codes will be used for their releases. If they opted to release region-free discs, then their intent is to allow those titles to be playable on all players, otherwise no. Sony can decide for itself whether a title they release is region free, but it isn't up to them to make that decision for everyone else.

As long region coded discs exist, (there are already a ton of them in circulation, plus new ones still being released) and region coding is part of the BD and DVD spec, players will enforce it. There may well be licensing agreements that require players to enforce region coding too.

[hech54]

I notice that even Sony Pictures is releasing region free disks. Isn't that counter to the hardware side on insisting on region locked players.

What a truly worthless argument.

That and the fact that a region free, PAL format DVD doesn't do anyone in America any good.

[jman98]

I notice that even Sony Pictures is releasing region free disks. Isn't that counter to the hardware side on insisting on region locked players.

On Blu Ray yes, but not on DVD. And I found some movies that are listed as still being locked by Sony, although based on a quick search it does seem that locking is the exception rather than the rule.

But anyway it depends on what you like to watch. As I deliberately watch little Sony content, their whole catalog can be unlocked and it means very little to me. It does mean something to me when BFI in the UK puts out region locked Blu Ray discs that I want to watch, but I have a region free player to get around that.

[Peppino]

I love my OPPO BDP-93 Blu-ray Player. I highly recommend it. I paid $499 for it, expensive but very well worth it.
http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-93/





It can play anything you throw at it and can switch between NTSC, PAL or MULTI.
I purchased a hardware modding kit for it that fits internally to turn it into
full multi-region compatible for both Blu rays and DVDs.

BD-Video, Blu-ray 3D, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, AVCHD, SACD, CD, HDCD,
Kodak Picture CD, CD-R/RW, DVD±R/RW, DVD±R DL, BD-R/RE, BD-R/RE DL

It has a USB Port so you can play digital media as well:

Video
MPEG, MKV, AVI, ASF/WMV, TSF, MP4, OGM, MOV, DAT, VOB, AVCHD
MPEG-PS, MTS, M2TS/M2T

Audio
FLAC, APE, WMA, MP3, M4A, AAC, AC3, WAV, MKA, PCM, OGG

Images
JPEG, PNG, GIF, Active GIF, Picture CD

Subtitles
SRT, SUB, TXT, SMI, SSA, ASS, IDX+SUB

[usually_quiet]

The OPPO BDP-93 Blu-ray Player is long out of production. Good luck finding one at a price that is not outrageous, especially for a used item. I just checked Amazon. The cheapest used unit was $575. Some sellers want around $1000 a refurbished unit or $1800 for a new one. They are selling for around $400 used on ebay.


On the other hand one can buy a current model Blu-ray player from another maker that has already been modified for region-free playback which will meet the needs of most people for $200-$300 from a place like 220 electronics.

[hech54]

On the other hand one can buy a current model Blu-ray player from another maker that has already been modified for region-free playback which will meet the needs of most people for $200-$300 from a place like 220 electronics.

Of the 4 Blu Ray players on 220's website.....you will still need to buy an extra external PAL to NTSC converter for 2 of the models. In other words....half of them are useless.

[usually_quiet]

On the other hand one can buy a current model Blu-ray player from another maker that has already been modified for region-free playback which will meet the needs of most people for $200-$300 from a place like 220 electronics.

Of the 4 Blu Ray players on 220's website.....you will still need to buy an extra external PAL to NTSC converter for 2 of the models. In other words....half of them are useless.

True, one does have to shop carefully (See post #6), but they disclose the limitations of the models they sell. Also, places like 220-electronics tend to have some customers with TVs capable of displaying both NTSC and PAL who prefer to use a player that does not convert from PAL to NTSC.

[techiejustin]

3. I was trying to help the guy and point out that what he was asking for did exist when he was being told it didn't. Why such a grumpy reaction to this?

Because I read his first post and his location that he is in the U.S. and I know that he has yet another hurdle to cross....that being PAL video.

What a completely useless argument.

Because somebody has a technical hurdle to overcome that's reason to get your panties in a bunch? People come here for help, because they don't understand something. It doesn't make them stupid, they simply don't know. As an accountant how would you react if I got all pissy at you for not understanding capital gains taxation?

Take a pill.

[hech54]

3. I was trying to help the guy and point out that what he was asking for did exist when he was being told it didn't. Why such a grumpy reaction to this?

Because I read his first post and his location that he is in the U.S. and I know that he has yet another hurdle to cross....that being PAL video.

What a completely useless argument.

Because somebody has a technical hurdle to overcome that's reason to get your panties in a bunch? People come here for help, because they don't understand something. It doesn't make them stupid, they simply don't know. As an accountant how would you react if I got all pissy at you for not understanding capital gains taxation?

Take a pill.

When you stop confusing region codes with video format(PAL and NTSC).....give us a call.
When it starts to sink in that the rest of the world can easily play NTSC video....and that it is America
that virtually cannot play PAL video(which means you are wasting your time with your "PALize" nonsense).....give us a call.

[Chopmeister]

On the other hand one can buy a current model Blu-ray player from another maker that has already been modified for region-free playback which will meet the needs of most people for $200-$300 from a place like 220 electronics.

Of the 4 Blu Ray players on 220's website.....you will still need to buy an extra external PAL to NTSC converter for 2 of the models. In other words....half of them are useless.

No they aren't. PAL to NTSC converters are neither hard to find or expensive. A quick Amazon search shows that they can be had from $25 (composite video) or $55 (HDMI). If he is a movie buff, and I suspect he is if he cares so much about out of region and PAL films, then in the scheme of things a $55 investment to go between the player and his TV doesn't seem complicated, difficult to obtain, or expensive.

I also know (from NZ friends who moved there) that you can get TVs in the US that will handle PAL. You apparently have to hunt a wee bit, but there are suppliers who stock them.

So, all in all, I think the OP is getting pretty good and even-handed advice around "If you really want to do this, here is what you have to do and here are the fishhooks". Not sure why you want to snipe at the people offering it?

[hech54]

On the other hand one can buy a current model Blu-ray player from another maker that has already been modified for region-free playback which will meet the needs of most people for $200-$300 from a place like 220 electronics.

Of the 4 Blu Ray players on 220's website.....you will still need to buy an extra external PAL to NTSC converter for 2 of the models. In other words....half of them are useless.

No they aren't. PAL to NTSC converters are neither hard to find or expensive.

It doesn't matter. The point is(always has been, always will be) that "Region Free" and "PAL & NTSC(video format)" have NOTHING to do with each other. Telling an American to "just go to 220.com and buy a region free machine" without also explaining video format is just plain idiotic. When an American buys a disc from another region....seeing that virtually all of the rest of the world also uses a different video format(that being PAL)...he or she also must contend with PAL video....and PAL video is NOT welcome on the vast majority of American televisions.

The playback of NTSC video is universal.....the playback of PAL video is most certainly NOT universal.

Some people may get their jollies seeing a person come back here saying "I bought a region free player like you guys said but I still can't watch my DVD that I imported from Germany, England, Australia, etc etc etc".....I don't.

[usually_quiet]

It doesn't matter. The point is(always has been, always will be) that "Region Free" and "PAL & NTSC(video format)" have NOTHING to do with each other. Telling an American to "just go to 220.com and buy a region free machine" without also explaining video format is just plain idiotic. When an American buys a disc from another region....seeing that virtually all of the rest of the world also uses a different video format(that being PAL)...he or she also must contend with PAL video....and PAL video is NOT welcome on the vast majority of American televisions.

I explained what people who shop at a place like 220-electronics.com should look for in post #6, so stop acting like the problem of displaying PAL video on N. American TVs was not addressed early in this thread.

Plus, 220-electroncs has a chart further down on their Blu-Ray player page where they list 10 models that they carry which are region free for both DVD and Blu-Ray and convert from PAL to NTSC. I remember one or two others not listed in the chart. It is not hard to find something there that will work without buying a converter or a multi-system TV.

Time to stop digging a deeper hole for yourself.

[hech54]

It doesn't matter. The point is(always has been, always will be) that "Region Free" and "PAL & NTSC(video format)" have NOTHING to do with each other. Telling an American to "just go to 220.com and buy a region free machine" without also explaining video format is just plain idiotic. When an American buys a disc from another region....seeing that virtually all of the rest of the world also uses a different video format(that being PAL)...he or she also must contend with PAL video....and PAL video is NOT welcome on the vast majority of American televisions.

I explained what people who shop at a place like 220-electronics.com should look for in post #6, so stop acting like the problem of displaying PAL video on N. American TVs was not addressed early in this thread.

And by post #15 it all went downhill all over again. It appears, as usual, the guy who showed up at post #15 didn't get your memo.

[usually_quiet]

It doesn't matter. The point is(always has been, always will be) that "Region Free" and "PAL & NTSC(video format)" have NOTHING to do with each other. Telling an American to "just go to 220.com and buy a region free machine" without also explaining video format is just plain idiotic. When an American buys a disc from another region....seeing that virtually all of the rest of the world also uses a different video format(that being PAL)...he or she also must contend with PAL video....and PAL video is NOT welcome on the vast majority of American televisions.

I explained what people who shop at a place like 220-electronics.com should look for in post #6, so stop acting like the problem of displaying PAL video on N. American TVs was not addressed early in this thread.

And by post #15 it all went downhill all over again. It appears, as usual, the guy who showed up at post #15 didn't get your memo.

The author of post #15 is the OP, jtrinc. He ought to have read my post. I can't tell from post #15 if he understood it. The only conclusion I can draw from post #15 is that he wanted additional suggestions for region free Blu-Ray players not made by Sony that he could buy at a regular electronics store and easily make region free by himself. (Probably an unrealistic hope since such models are rare. Even the Seiki model from Sears or Kmart that was eventually suggested to him is becoming difficult to obtain now.)

[yelkenli]

Thanks to everyone replying to this thread. Several threads on this forum and another state that there are no multi-region players, or state this for US but not other countries, etc, and at the same time also state there are plenty of multi-region players. (my definition of multi-region is it can play all the discs in my library; I have some from Region 1, some from Region 2,etc.).

Very confusing. Let me know if this is correct:

• Blue Ray and DVD player manufacturers do not sell multi-region players.
• Exception being OPPO, etc.
• Consumers can purchase players and modify them (hardware or hacks maybe)
• Consumers can purchase from a company like 220-electronics.com which modifies the players and resells

Do I have it right?

The reason I ask is

• I just purchased an HDTV. It has one component/composite input and several HDMI inputs.
• My old VCR and DVD players cannot share this one component input.
• best plan: replace the DVD player with one that has HDMI out (freeing up the TV's component inputs for my aged VCR)
• I am thinking a Blue Ray player that plays DVDs would be the way to go
• I would like to play Region 1 & 2 DVDs as I have discs from EU in my library (I am in US)
• Not sure, but maybe later I would want to play Blue Ray discs from multiple BD regions.

Do I have options?
How do I find the player with the really good up-conversion capability (for those DVDs)?
Under $200?

Is this one real, or is there really no such thing as a player that can play discs from different regions?
http://www.220-electronics.com/blu-ray-dvd/region-free-blu-ray-player/lg-bp33-region-f...vd-player.html

Thanks,
Ted

[hech54]

Is this one real, or is there really no such thing as a player that can play discs from different regions?
http://www.220-electronics.com/blu-ray-dvd/region-free-blu-ray-player/lg-bp33-region-f...vd-player.html

Thanks,
Ted

This one should work for you. Since you are in the US you need to pay attention to this statement in the specs of that player:

Built-in PAL/NTSC Conversion

As long as you see that.....you should be good to go.

[usually_quiet]

Thanks to everyone replying to this thread. Several threads on this forum and another state that there are no multi-region players, or state this for US but not other countries, etc, and at the same time also state there are plenty of multi-region players. (my definition of multi-region is it can play all the discs in my library; I have some from Region 1, some from Region 2,etc.).

Very confusing. Let me know if this is correct:

• Blue Ray and DVD player manufacturers do not sell multi-region players.
• Exception being OPPO, etc.
• Consumers can purchase players and modify them (hardware or hacks maybe)
• Consumers can purchase from a company like 220-electronics.com which modifies the players and resells

Do I have it right?

The reason I ask is

• I just purchased an HDTV. It has one component/composite input and several HDMI inputs.
• My old VCR and DVD players cannot share this one component input.
• best plan: replace the DVD player with one that has HDMI out (freeing up the TV's component inputs for my aged VCR)
• I am thinking a Blue Ray player that plays DVDs would be the way to go
• I would like to play Region 1 & 2 DVDs as I have discs from EU in my library (I am in US)
• Not sure, but maybe later I would want to play Blue Ray discs from multiple BD regions.

Do I have options?
How do I find the player with the really good up-conversion capability (for those DVDs)?
Under $200?

Is this one real, or is there really no such thing as a player that can play discs from different regions?
http://www.220-electronics.com/blu-ray-dvd/region-free-blu-ray-player/lg-bp33-region-f...vd-player.html

Thanks,
Ted

OPPO does not currently manufacture players that are region free. OPPO does not currently make it easy to hack their players. At the present time, OPPO does not appear to sell hardware modification kits or custom firmware that consumers can install to make their players region free. There are third parties selling these things on ebay and perhaps other places. I have no idea which of them are trustworthy. It is rare to find a Blu-Ray or DVD player today that consumers can hack or modify on their own. Most of the hackable models are no longer in production.

I couldn't find a reference to an LG model number BP33 elsewhere. Perhap's the model number listed in the 220-electronics.com catalog is a typo and the actual model number is BP330. The LG BP33 player from 220-electronics that you linked to has hardware modifications installed by or for the seller to make it region free. It looks like it converts from PAL to NTSC to work with a normal US TV.

LG makes decent Blu-Ray players. I bought a standard US (DVD Region-1/Blu-Ray Region A) LG BP220 for my parents last year, and it has been a satisfactory budget player.

[yelkenli]

This one should work for you. Since you are in the US you need to pay attention to this statement in the specs of that player:

Built-in PAL/NTSC Conversion

What does PAL/NTSC Conversion do? I understand the formats and the differences (lines, scan rate, etc), and know that a DVD disc or player will put out PAL or NTSC standard definition signal, expecting the old style TV to be the right one.

But do HDTVs receiving an HDMI signal care about PAL and NTSC? or is this conversion from those formats to the HD format?

LG makes decent Blu-Ray players.

Any recommendations for better than decent?

Thanks for clearing this up.

[hech54]

What does PAL/NTSC Conversion do?

It allows you to watch an overseas PAL DVD on your American NTSC television.

expecting the old style TV to be the right one.

I have no idea what you are trying to say with this.

But do HDTVs receiving an HDMI signal care about PAL and NTSC? or is this conversion from those formats to the HD format?

Jury is still out on that one. I live in a PAL country and can play anything so I have no way of testing this. PAL-country televisions have been able to view NTSC for decades.....all the way back to VHS days(which were also almost always able to handle NTSC tapes as well).

Long story short....watching an overseas DVD in America does not have an easy, one-button, one-answer solution.
Beggars can't be choosers. The LG in the earlier link has all the specs and the right boxes checked(Region free plus format conversion). That does not happen often these days.

[usually_quiet]

LG makes decent Blu-Ray players.

Any recommendations for better than decent?

Thanks for clearing this up.

If your budget is $200, you can't afford top-of-the line. Chances are you will be perfectly happy with an LG player. A lot of people are, including myself.

[yelkenli]

expecting the old style TV to be the right one.

Simply that if you have a PAL TV you are using PAL inputs to that TV, and same for NTSC. That is all.

the earlier link has all the specs and the right boxes checked(Region free plus format conversion). That does not happen often these days.

Reading through the threads, I see this comment and then see all of the offerings on 220-electronics and I thought I ran across another vendor, so I wonder if these players are truly rare.
Maybe to clarify, there are multiple offerings, but compared to the volume of non-modified players, this is a small percent of the market? Is that what you mean?

Example, and competitor offering is this Sony (which gets higher praise by reviewers; though I see usually_quiet's positive remark for LG):
http://www.220-electronics.com/sony-bdp-s5100-region-free-blu-ray-dvd-player.html

Question here goes back to some comments in this and other threads that Sony cannot be modified (period, or maybe that is just firmware hack). True/False?
Also, does anyone know if the hardware modification impairs or impacts the functionality (DVD upscaling/upconverting, processing BD information, compatibility with HDTVs, etc.)?

[hech54]

Question here goes back to some comments in this and other threads that Sony cannot be modified (period, or maybe that is just firmware hack). True/False?

So the Sony BDP-S5100 can be made region free and multi system for Blu-ray, correct?

By YOU....at home?
No.

The main things you need to look for are:
Region Free
Convert between PAL and NTSC
....the rest is just noise/how much you are willing to spend/added option that already existed on the player before it was made region free.
That's it. Your choices are limited......VERY limited when it comes to Blu Ray.

[jman98]

No Sony DVD or BD player sold in the USA/Canada is currently able to become region free, not even for DVD only, via any type of hack. Period.A small number of Sony players have had customer hardware modifications done to them that enable them to become region free. But no straight out of the box Sony can be region free in North America without a hardware modification.


If you (yelkenli) are married to Sony and still foolishly believe that "Sony = quality" we're probably not going to be able to talk you out of buying one. But I wouldn't buy one. You would have to give me a modified Sony for free before I would use it. Sony is VERY consumer hostile and I question whether giving your money to such a company is really in your best interests, but each person must do what they feel is best.


Hardware modifications should not impact the functionality at all of the players.


No currently manufactured BD player sold in North America ships out of the box as being able to become region free for BD playback. A few years ago a few models did indeed ship that way (NONE were by major manufacturers though) and Philips may or may not still make a model that can be made region free but CANNOT convert between PAL and NTSC (making it useless for many of us). The fact that a few specialized vendors sell region free models in no way implies that they are common. Hell, just talk to random people at work and ask them "What's the difference between PAL and NTSC?" and you will get blank stares and "I have no idea what you are even talking about" in return. Honestly, the vast majority of Americans have no interest in region free players or video converting players.


The situation for region free DVD players in North America is marginally better, although not great. I'm not up to date on current models, but typically Philips has always had a few North American models that can be made region free via entering a code. Again, these are DVD players and not BluRay players. A few other manufacturers may also still make a few DVD players like this for North America, but Samsung and Sony do NOT.


I suppose since you have a million questions you should be aware that the BluRay licensing agreement actually forbids the manufacture of players that are region free even for just DVD. This is why hardware modifications are almost always required. A few Chinese companies in the past "accidentally" (wink wink) shipped some players that actually came off the assembly line with the right hardware inside to be region free for BD and DVD playback, but such players are rare now. Keep in mind too that Australia and New Zealand have laws that allow (but do not require) that DVD and BD players sold there be allowed to be made region free. Even there it's hard to find region free BD players, but there are a good number of players that can be made region free just for DVD playback by entering a code. It's only in the US and Canada that Hollywood flexes its muscle to prevent region free players from being made at all. Even Philips has to officially claim that NONE of their players can be made region free in North America, implying that any that can be made region free are simply accidents.

[usually_quiet]

the earlier link has all the specs and the right boxes checked(Region free plus format conversion). That does not happen often these days.

Reading through the threads, I see this comment and then see all of the offerings on 220-electronics and I thought I ran across another vendor, so I wonder if these players are truly rare.
Maybe to clarify, there are multiple offerings, but compared to the volume of non-modified players, this is a small percent of the market? Is that what you mean?

Example, and competitor offering is this Sony (which gets higher praise by reviewers; though I see usually_quiet's positive remark for LG):
http://www.220-electronics.com/sony-bdp-s5100-region-free-blu-ray-dvd-player.html

Question here goes back to some comments in this and other threads that Sony cannot be modified (period, or maybe that is just firmware hack). True/False?
Also, does anyone know if the hardware modification impairs or impacts the functionality (DVD upscaling/upconverting, processing BD information, compatibility with HDTVs, etc.)?

Players that are region-free from the manufacturer are non-existent in the US market, and the percentage of DVD and Blu-Ray players sold in the US that can be converted by consumers for region-free playback is tiny. Sony players made for the US can't be modified by consumers.

That is why 220-electronics.com and their competitors exist. They have the means to physically modify the hardware and/or install custom firmware to make the Blu-Ray players and DVD players they sell region-free. PAL-to-NTSC conversion has to be built-in. Some items these places sell may even be imported from PAL countries and retrofitted to be suitable for the US.

The hardware and firmware modification performed by these multi-system specialty retailers to make DVD and Blu-ray players region free don't affect functionality otherwise. If it did, they could not stay in business.

[yelkenli]

I do have a Sony DVD and a Sony VCR (both ancient), and am sure I have had a camera by them, but all of my other electronics are something else. I am more driven by reviews such as CNET, consumer reports, forums, etc.

One of the reviews came up positive for Sony, hence my citation. http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-blu-ray-player/

CR gives the nod to Samsung and Panasonic; Sony and Toshiba get some good comments. LG gets an OK (the DVD play quality)

So what are your recommendations for a brand name (assuming models in a brand share similar quality)?
If I could only pick LG or Sony(due to limited region free offerings), what are your thoughts?

[Brad]

The guy who wrote that review does know his stuff. Here is the in-depth one he mentioned, with measurements on page 4: http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/blu-ray-players/blu-ray-players-reviews/sony-bdp-s5100-...ay-player.html

Of course it's tough to say whether it's worth the extra money without a similar review of the LG.

I couldn't find a reference to an LG model number BP33 elsewhere. Perhap's the model number listed in the 220-electronics.com catalog is a typo and the actual model number is BP330.

They have the BP330 on a different page for more money. Hmm.

http://www.220-electronics.com/lg-bp33-region-free-blu-ray-dvd-player.html
http://www.220-electronics.com/lg-bp-330-region-free-blu-ray-dvd-player.html

There is a Wal-Mart model labelled as BPM33.