Let's Discuss HD Combo Players!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 17 Apr 2008, 23:30

Give me £500 Salty and I'll buy a Combo today.

I equally said I cannot afford one until I'm employed, that's a pretty big reason if you ask me. If I could afford one I'd have bought one last month (and not before). Until then I'll continue to update this thread, tough! 8)

p.s - Which btw is nothing compared to what is going on over at the AVS Forum. I'm only posting the big news any more.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Apr 2008, 20:49

LG confirms the BH200 in the UK, but only in limited number:

http://whathifi.com/home-cinema/archive ... mbers.aspx

Well that was a month ago and contrary to the article it's not listed on Argos's website (not that I can see anyway). A King Size Mars Bar to the first person who actually find it for sale in the UK

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 21 Apr 2008, 16:46

bradavon wrote: A King Size Mars Bar to the first person who actually find it for sale in the UK

the numbers were so limited they didn't put it on the website.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 21 Apr 2008, 17:05

So the rumour of it being in the catalogue is true. Any idea how you can check stock status? It's not on their website to be able to check.

Just like the What Hifi link that's cheeky of them to say it support DTS-HD when it only officially supported that last week. It's also cheeky to say it supports TrueHD 7.1 when again up until last week it could only officially do TrueHD in 2 Channel. It's also wrong to say it "internally decodes" DTS-HD, when it doesn't. If we were in America someone would probably sue them

That price is ridiculous

. You've got to love Argos telling you it has 1 HDMI port, like other HD Players have more. They really should have 2 but they never do.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 21 Apr 2008, 22:07

£700

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 21 Apr 2008, 22:17

it looks very clunky,a bit like a ps3

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 21 Apr 2008, 23:27

I understand both up close the Samsung Combo wins for looks, as the LG BH200 looks like a VCR

. I personally doubt that's true.

I've read talk over at AVS saying the LG BH200 is $450 in Sales. Obviously that's not the normal price but £227 is a stonkingly good price, especially as the product has matured greatly since it's original release.

I wouldn't touch one if I wanted BD only but as a Combo it looks great. I expect to pay about £500 taking into account postage and customs. It's not like we could get it for $450 as those companies don't export out of North America. I'm happy to pay £500 but £700 is a joke. I should hopefully get between £200-300 for my old DVD Player, which will help, possibly nearer £200.

Sales tend to work in two factors:

1. Sell loads cheaply - CD WOW of old / Toshiba HD-DVD Players
2. Sell a few at an expensive price

Clearly Argos don't expect to sell many so have marked the price up accordingly. Fair enough I guess. The market for Combos is now very small indeed.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 28 Apr 2008, 02:43

Following on from the discovery of a BH200 SD DVD MR Hack a few weeks back, three more hacks have been discovered:

1. A BH100 SD DVD MR Hack
2. Enable PAL & NTSC Support on a USA BH100
3. Enable PAL & NTSC Support on a USA BH200

Someone over at AVS Forum worked out how to access a hidden EEPROM menu (using the remote) after he tried all the "generic" LG Hacks and from there people worked out how to enable SD DVD MR, then came PAL & NTSC support.

I posted in the equivalent BH200 thread asking if the same hidden EEPROM hack would work on the BH200 and it turns out it does.

Here's the start of the BH100 discussion:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthre ... st13714189

And here is confirmation of PAL support in the USA BH100:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthre ... st13740323

Here's the start of the BH200 discussion:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthre ... st13740378

And here is confirmation of PAL support in the USA BH200 (including instructions):

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthre ... st13742415

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 02 May 2008, 17:57

Argos Liverpool had one of these on a manager's special at £425 the other day.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 02 May 2008, 18:14

Bloody hell! That's a very good price, considering importing with TAX and Customs on top would be "about" that.

Did you physically see one? It's such a shame it's Region B. I'd be so interested otherwise.

I hope the UK stock has the April firmware pre-loaded. Joe public isn't going to know this and it really needs the April firmware. Still most people who'd buy one are likely to be Techie types who read forums.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 02 May 2008, 20:57

yep,on the managers special display of tv's,stereos etc.almost certainly a return i'd have thought.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 03 May 2008, 00:01

Interesting. I thought it was a general special not a returned special.

I've just spotted this interesting poll asking Toshiba EP30/35 users how many problem discs they've had:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/poll.php ... ollid=2616

I also hear the Panasonic DMP-BD30 BD Player has audio drop out problems, an LFE bug (now fixed) and "some" users have had to get the drive replaced in 2-4 months:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost ... count=1528

Clearly the LG BH200 is no better or worse than separate HD-DVD and BD Players.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 May 2008, 14:25

Further interesting developments:

On a UK BH100 (so BD Region B by default), it seems changing the fourth value from 00 (USA/CA default), 82 (UK/DE default), 8D (AU default) to 80 changes it from BD Region B to BD Region A.

Where you change this value is discussed in the links above and seeing as so far the BH100 and BH200 have been identical in how you access the EEPROM menu and what you alter, this is a good sign.

This then annoyingly also makes it SD DVD Region 2. It's definitely development though.

It sounds like it's the same field (fourth value) that controls PAL/NTSC, SD DVD MR and BD MR, and we just need to find the right value. Finding the value that changes it from BD Region A to Region B would be a start.

See here, from the AVS BH100 thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthre ... st13790886

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is particularly interesting news for me as I would prefer owning a BH200 with a 240v power supply (instead of the USA 100v) and could mean I should be able to buy a European BH200 and make it BD Region A.

That said I did love the idea of being able to play BD Region A and all my SD DVDs.

That said again I could use my DVD Recorder to play them (as I originally intended) and doing this would mean I effectively have a BD Region Free player, NOT that I'd want to alter the EEPROM value "too" often.

It sounds like it definitely means you'd have a Region A compatible player with a 240v power supply. I could possibly forgo SD DVD Region Free for a BH200 with a 240v power adapter and Region A. That would be really, really useful.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 04 May 2008, 17:42

PS3 has a multi-voltage PSU.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 May 2008, 17:44

It doesn't play HD-DVDs though.

Things are looking good that there will be a way to make any BH100 and BH200:

* Support PAL
* SD DVD Region Free
* BD Region A and maybe even Region Free

I'm not expecting BD Region Free. That would be a massive bonus.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 04 May 2008, 17:52

bradavon wrote:It doesn't play HD-DVDs though.

I also doesn't cost anywhere near £400.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 May 2008, 17:57

I'd happily pay £400 for a machine that could do:

1. HD-DVD
2. BD
3. DVD
4. BD Profile 1.1
5. PAL Support
6. DVD Region Free
7. BD Region Free

All except the last one is confirmed. You cannot make a USA PS3 support PAL or SD DVD Region Free. You cannot also make it BD Region Free. I'll reserve that one though until (if) it's confirmed on the BH100/BH200.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 04 May 2008, 17:57

Page 23 and counting....the wait goes on....

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 May 2008, 18:01

Is that all you have to say?

Not "WOW we may have a Region Free BD Player". I'd have thought that was the important bit, it shows promise for other BD Players.

No offence but it amazes me you think I'm the only annoying one. Your constant pessimism gets really annoying. You know why I cannot afford one so why keep bringing it up again and again?

You really are just as annoying as I can be!

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 04 May 2008, 18:13

Don't flatter yourself Brad, i'm laughing at you buddy.But this thread is nothing compared to the legendary brilliance of your presence over at AVS, where you've appointed yourself resident expert on this combo machine despite having never owned a HD machine in your life

it's pure comedy gold and brightens up my days no end. Keep taking the happy pills.and btw maybe if you put your savings into buying a machine instead of using it to buy coasters you can't play you'd own the cherry by now

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 04 May 2008, 18:27

bradavon wrote:
Not "WOW we may have a Region Free BD Player".

I Can already play BD from region A & B, My hd-dvd player is multi-region for SD so please forgive me for not shooting my load over my monitor at this latest stunning development

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 May 2008, 18:40

saltysam wrote:But this thread is nothing compared to the legendary brilliance of your presence over at AVS, where you've appointed yourself resident expert on this combo machine despite having never owned a HD machine in your life

Honestly I haven't appointed myself anything. I've had to correct a far few people who've assumed I own a LG Combo Player. I've just provided information and because of it lots of people have assumed I own a Player.

I make no secret of the fact all my info is sourced third party. I have been speaking to an LG Third Party Engineer a fair amount too. I was pretty chuffed when he decided to PM me one day.

That said many people are finding the couple of threads I've been maintaining useful so where's the harm in that? I presumed you've glossed over all the thanks members are giving to it?

. That's not me trying to be big headed just what users are posting.

All I'm doing is consolidating the information about PAL support, Firmware etc . . . and a separate thread about BH200 Disc problems into a useful and readable form. Much like I did for the e-tailors vouchers awhile back. Most people cannot be bothered to be that helpful, that's there problem.

Again where is the harm in that? If it's useful info it's useful info. If you look you'll see I avoid discussion on the BH200 I don't know anything about. Such as how to setup the Ethernet connection.

There's no point running such threads here as I'll just be ridiculed and no one over at AV Forums has bought a Combo Player. I've said it before and I'll say it again "it's really easy to ridicule and belittle someone for making the effort to post useful information for other members when you don't do it yourself".

Do you post there or are you just lurking?

saltysam wrote:and btw maybe if you put put your savings into buying a machine instead of using it to buy coasters you can't play you'd own the cherry by now

How much do you spend on HD Discs? I've spent nowhere near £400-500.

saltysam wrote:I Can already play BD from region A & B, My hd-dvd player is multi-region for SD so please forgive me for not shooting my load over my monitor at this latest stunning development

As long as you've got what you want screw everyone else

. In three different machines! I'm sure there are many on this forum who'd love a Region Free BD Player.

Just remind yourself of this thread next time you're annoyed at me! It works both ways!

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 04 May 2008, 18:49

3 machines Brad yep.if you can count that'll be 3 more hd machines than you own

how much have i spent on hd discs.? i don't know,i have over 100 hd-dvds and about 90 BD.do the math.i think i've made one post at avs forums,i'm a dedicated lurker there.Did you ask for the LG engineer's autograph

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 May 2008, 18:58

saltysam wrote:Did you ask for the LG engineer's autograph

Okay now that's witty

Seriously I've not tried to appoint myself anything. It just sorted of happened when I started posting "like I do".

Both the threads I'm maintaining are mighty good if I do say so myself though

. I won't be posting there forever, this is my home

. 773 posts since the 3rd of March has got to be some record though

Check them out for yourself:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1009104
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1002769

They're both full of very useful info for BH200 people.

p.s - I own 22 HD-DVDs and 9 BDs. Not many at all.