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[Dan Turner]

As far as I'm concerned any streaming is in its infancy - well for hi-res/video anyway. Wired streaming is just an abomination for Joe Blogg's average home. I take my hat off to Sonos - at least they developed proprietary technology where vanilla wifi is not good enough.

You have standards for home entertainment installations like Cedia, so why the hell not develop technology standards too. This is my beef with Linn, and to a lesser extent with Naim et al.

Manicm - wireless streaming of HD video is certainly possible if you're got the right gear and infrastructure. I can do it without any bandwidth or interface-ralated issues using my Macbook pro connected via wireless N and using Plex software. The only trouble is a) it's a pain having to plug/un-plug my Mac each time I want to do it, which puts my girlfriend off using it if i'm not there and b) there is a slight juddering on slow panning scenes, which I narrowed down not to bandwidth (same thing happens when connected via ethernet), but to an issue with the Mac changing the 24p video to match it's monitor refresh rate and try as i might I can't fix it. A mac mini with a proper HDMI output shouldn't suffer from the issue as it can 'negotiate' the right frame rate with the TV.

I think it's just having these features integrated into other devices that's lagging behind a bit.

 

[bigboss]

All I need is DVD-only MR for my reg. 1 DVDs, I had a long chat with a guy from avland.co.uk (they sell both BDP-440 and LX-55 DVD MR straight away), he tried to convince me about how difficult is to get it done by some software and stuff like that, when I asked him to take my own player so he can do it himself, he stopped responding...

Email this dealer & ask if the remote works for your model. I got mine multiregioned from it.

 

[Anonymous]

You`re not gonna believe it but I have this very remote here...

Unfortunately it didn`t work for BDP-440...I tried it 30 times, the player just didn`t want to switch off and never turned region free..

I suspect that new Pio 3D BD players have somewhat different software so it`s a tricky one to make them DVD MR...

This is what the AVLand guy told me:

"The remote you need is discontinued and the kit to programme it costs £200"

when I asked him why they sell DVD MR Pioneers for a regular price then, he said:

"We’ve had the remote 10 years, it’s paid for itself several times over in the 1000’s of players we have sold.
The codes are in the specialist software to reprogram the remotes flash memory. It can’t be done without the remote, you can’t get the remote and you need the hardward+ software to reprogram it… which you can’t get anymore.

It can’t be done!"

 

[Anonymous]

All I need is DVD-only MR for my reg. 1 DVDs, I had a long chat with a guy from avland.co.uk (they sell both BDP-440 and LX-55 DVD MR straight away), he tried to convince me about how difficult is to get it done by some software and stuff like that, when I asked him to take my own player so he can do it himself, he stopped responding...

Email this dealer & ask if the remote works for your model. I got mine multiregioned from it.

Can you please tell me what was the procedure with the remote? Did the player turn itself off with no disc inside?

THX

 

[Dan Turner]

So I've had a good look at which blu-ray players might fulfil my streaming needs (which I think are pretty modest), and the results are quite frustrating.

I had high hopes for the Pioneer BDPLX55 - MKV files with 1280*720 max resolution

Also looked at the Marantz UD7006 - MKV max file size 2gb

Denon DBP-2012UD - no MKV playback

Oppo '95 - describes it's own networking features as 'experimental' in the manual and provides very little detail

A veritable bunch of chocolate teapots as far as streaming goes!

So i'm left looking at the Cambridge BD75, (which is possibly only still in the frame because it's manual is less specific about what sort of MKVs it can handle than the others) - I've pretty much given up on any aspirations of having a decent UI and right now would settle for something that can simply play back a 1080p MKV file with a DTS soundtrack and display Jpegs over a network, and without a purpose-defeating file size limit.....

Has anyone tried 1080p MKVs on the Cambridge?

 

[DandyCobalt]

Can I suggest you load up a portable hard drive with all your file types, and visit your local Richer Sounds to properly try out the CA BD750?

 

[Dan Turner]

I think that's what i'm going to do. Is it safe to assume that if it can play them from a USB drive then it will be able to play them over a network?

 

[John Duncan]

Has anyone tried 1080p MKVs on the Cambridge?

No but I could. How would I do that?

You're not local are you, so you could try it chez JD?

 

[Dan Turner]

Has anyone tried 1080p MKVs on the Cambridge?

No but I could. How would I do that?

You're not local are you, so you could try it chez JD?

That's a very kind offer. I'm in Bournemouth, is that local to you by any chance?

If you're up for giving a 1080p MKV a bash then that's great (you don't have one with a DTS soundtrack by any chance do you )

No worries if not.

Not sure the exact procedure on the Cambridge, but i guess if you've got an MKV file on a NAS or computer with a upnp server running on it, then i guess you'll be able to find and select it on the Cambridge?

 

[John Duncan]

Not especially, is a bit of a hike up to South West London - Richers with your own files might be a better bet :-D

I've found some samples on the internet, will have a dig to see if there's one that meets your spec.

The Cambridge can either access a UPnP server (whch may actually introduce its own format limitations, or make them go away by doing transcoding, depending on which one) or can navigate directly to network shares and play files directly.

 

[Dan Turner]

Not especially, is a bit of a hike up to South West London - Richers with your own files might be a better bet :-D

I've found some samples on the internet, will have a dig to see if there's one that meets your spec.

The Cambridge can either access a UPnP server (whch may actually introduce its own format limitations, or make them go away by doing transcoding, depending on which one) or can navigate directly to network shares and play files directly.

OK thanks. I have booked in a demo at my local RS for Saturday. If it can play them off a USB stick, then i'll take the chance that it will be able to play them either via upnp, or like you say (and I think i prefer this option as there are less variables to potentially mess things up) navigating directly to the network share.

I will report back after Sat. It would be good to know how you get on with the sample files you've found in the meantime though.

Cheers

 

[manicm]

Dan, seriously, what I would do in your case is to assume streaming via Blu-ray players is a load of dog poop - at least for now. And assuming you don't need SACD or DVD-A, get a 500 quid Onkyo BD-809 Blu-ray player, and get a video streaming solution like Popcorn hour or suchlike.

 

[Dan Turner]

Dan, seriously, what I would do in your case is to assume streaming via Blu-ray players is a load of dog poop - at least for now. And assuming you don't need SACD or DVD-A, get a 500 quid Onkyo BD-809 Blu-ray player, and get a video streaming solution like Popcorn hour or suchlike.

Well I certainly am tempted! I think i'm going to see if the cambridge can play back MKVs and 5GB+ JPEGs in the shop and then if it does, i'll get one as long as they're prepared to let me return it if any compatibility issues arise during a more extensive test at home. If that doesn't work, then I'll look into a separate media player, but I really don't want another box!

 

[Dan Turner]

BD751 works perfectly. Got it on a 14 day home trial, the only thing left to check is embedded VOB subtitles

 

[John Duncan]

Cool. I mamaged to run a 1080p mkv file earlier on, though I have doubts about running NTFS drives with big files...

 

[Dan Turner]

Cool. I mamaged to run a 1080p mkv file earlier on, though I have doubts about running NTFS drives with big files...

Speaking of which, as a Mac user I had to format a drive with the FAT file system and find a 1080p/DTS MKV under 4 gig (max allowed by that file system) to take the shop with me.

I've streamed some considerably bigger ones via upnp since getting it set-up at home though. I am really impressed. There is something so satisfying about a piece of technology that just does what it should without any fuss. The only test remaining is the subtitles test, fingers crossed.....

Excellent picture and sond quality too - definitely a step-up over the Sony

 

[John Duncan]

I found that with upscaling DVDs, certainly, which look fantastic. BD not so much.

 

[Dan Turner]

I found that with upscaling DVDs, certainly, which look fantastic. BD not so much.

Just tried a DVD - very impressive - markedly better than the old Sony.

I'm very pleased with the CA

 

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to get some things clear about 2011 Pio BDPs:

I´m not an employee or anything, just a simple user and enthusiast.

All the features you guys are looking for can be had on all three 2011 Pio BDPs, even the 150ish BDP-140...

I have the BDP-440, got it for 180 GBP back in October and I can play 1080p MKVs, MP4s, .m2ts, .m4v without ANY problems whatsoever...the processing is just fantastic...

there´s some troubles in Pioneer manuals, though...they simply state something, which is not completely true...

HD audio on .m2ts as well...the best test is to play some HD trailer from this site...http://www.demo-world.eu/trailers/high-definition-trailers.php

also, you have 2 USB ports, so you can easily plug your 500gb SATA on NTFS full of such media to the rear one and shoot ahead...

speaking of DLNA, I´ve never experienced such seamless wireless playback of media before...you just need WMP 11 or any functional DLNA server in your PC...music, photos, video...all work instantly

so as a reminder, don´t pay for overpriced products if you can have the same features for much less...:wave:

 

[Dan Turner]

CA 751BD is very impressive, but i've found one thing it can't do - PGS subtitles within an MKV file...it's only one small omission but it is a rather annoying one.

I've raised a support query with CA who have said they are aware of it and would pass on the request for including that functionality - although obviously made no committment.

I can still return it if I wish, but i don't really want to do that because I've been so pleased in every other regard, and from the research I did before buying I'm pretty sure that any other player at this level is going to have more compromises. I'm tempted to keep it and hope that CA will add the subtitle support for MKV at some point via a firmware update.