brother coming from US should I get...

[cavallino]

Have two things on the list

1. Bluray disk drive/bluray player

2. Onkyo NR609

regarding 2
Given the weight/duty/110v issues is it worth getting NR609? The price online I can see for NR609 is USD 400.

regarding 1

disc drive would be easier to carry and since I already have my htpc connected to tv, I was thinking of going for it. Are there any distinct advantages/disadvantages in getting say a panasonic 110/210 over the blu ray drive. (I want 3D playing capability)

 

[haisaikat]

I would say since you already own HTPC go for the drive as it wil give you the capablity of ripping BD in future which would not be possible using the BDP. Keep an eye on the Lookout for the region-code of the drive over the net. I would recommnd always having a region free player / drive unless you buy / rent all BDs from India. Also drive would give you the capability to wwrite BDs for backup. As for the 3D part, I have limited knowledge in that area so cannot help you much

 

[vj_box]

Have two things on the list

1. Bluray disk drive/bluray player

2. Onkyo NR609

regarding 2
Given the weight/duty/110v issues is it worth getting NR609? The price online I can see for NR609 is USD 400.

regarding 1

disc drive would be easier to carry and since I already have my htpc connected to tv, I was thinking of going for it. Are there any distinct advantages/disadvantages in getting say a panasonic 110/210 over the blu ray drive. (I want 3D playing capability)

Getting the AVR is a bulky job and needs a large luggage. These AVRs are quite heavy!!

 

[GeorgeO]

You need to be aware that many airlines coming frfom the US nowadays allow only one checked in bag of 23 kgs. LH/AF/Emirates/Etihad etc all fall into this category. THey normally charge around $75-100 for the second bag.

 

[cavallino]

Getting the AVR is a bulky job and needs a large luggage. These AVRs are quite heavy!!

You need to be aware that many airlines coming frfom the US nowadays allow only one checked in bag of 23 kgs. LH/AF/Emirates/Etihad etc all fall into this category. THey normally charge around $75-100 for the second bag.

Thanks for those pointers.
He is flying Air France and the weight of NR609 is about 12 kgs. But I guess what you guys are saying is right, AVR is going to be a tough call.

By the way, can anyone tell me what is the limit for duty free now days and are electronics included in that?

Any other suggestions?

 

[cavallino]

I would say since you already own HTPC go for the drive as it wil give you the capablity of ripping BD in future which would not be possible using the BDP. Keep an eye on the Lookout for the region-code of the drive over the net. I would recommnd always having a region free player / drive unless you buy / rent all BDs from India. Also drive would give you the capability to wwrite BDs for backup. As for the 3D part, I have limited knowledge in that area so cannot help you much

Thanks, that is exactly what I have in mind too. Hence the question - do the stand-alone players have any advantages over drives?

About region codes, my limited knowledge says that most blurays in India (Indian movies) are sold as region free. Am I right there? But yes a region free drive would be great if not I want a region A.

 

[venkatcr]

Thanks, that is exactly what I have in mind too. Hence the question - do the stand-alone players have any advantages over drives?

The answer to this depends on a lot of issues. So let us look at some scenarios.

1. If you get an Oppo 93, it will be very hard for any other system to come close. At the same time, an Oppo may not play all media. An Oppo 95 is a kind of universal player that is even further up the curve.

2. An HTPC with a good graphics card, PowerDVD 11 and a good internal drive will beat the pants off all other players for Blu-Ray. The only thing an HTPC may not be able to play is a SACD. It is also capable of 3D as long as you ensure that the drive is capable. You just need to buy the glasses separately.

3. An HTPC is no good for music. A dedicated CD player is always better unless you take the effort of assembling an audio PC. If you are very particular about music, again, an Oppo will be a better choice.

About region codes, my limited knowledge says that most blurays in India (Indian movies) are sold as region free. Am I right there? But yes a region free drive would be great if not I want a region A.

Blu-Ray region codes are an issue with all units - player or HTPC. In an HTPC, BR region codes can be very easily taken care of with an $50 investment - it is called AnyDVD.

In player, you have to install a small board inside that will beat region codes.

Cheers

 

[GeorgeO]

An good option to what Venkat mentioned is to get a media player-it will play all files if your music is digitized. You can either go for one like a Sq Box or a Popcorn Hour type which will accomodate a HDD internally. In addition these also stream internet radio stations-no DVD player does that.

 

[trittya]

All the Oppos are good, but do consider this if you are a blu-ray and video media type
http://dune-hd.com/hd_players/111-dune-bd-prime-3.0.html

and this if you are a DVD and video media type

http://dune-hd.com/hd_players/current/110-dune-hd-base-3.0.html.

I know this is not an American product but neither are the OPPOs nor ONKYOs actually made in the US. Go thru their other products here

http://dune-hd.com/index.php?do=players

These are the guys who sell this in the US

Digital Connection
RGB Canada Inc.
DunePlayer.com
A Digital Store
JVB Digital
NGN Consulting
Digital Panacea
TechStudio
Rosenthal Discovery & Invention, LLC
Chris White Entertainment Consulting
Timeer Networking Services
GizmoDaddy.com
Systems Atlanta, Inc.
Home Theater and Beyond
KMB Enterprisesllc
Decibel Audio/Video/Automation
Abukarina Trading
diamond design, LLC
The Audio/Video Specialists, LLC
Home Integration Technicians, Inc.
CCS Inc
Lots of Electronics
Experience AV
Century Entertainment & Furnishings
Quick Silver Audio LTD
Steiner Electronics
Nerve Custom Integrators
Audio Video Extremes
Fox Audio Visual
AVIT Technology
Sigma Sound Technology inc
HomeTroniX
AVARA LLC
Home Theater Group
Home Synthesis, Inc.
Digitech Custom Audio & Video, Inc.
Beyond Hi-Fi
Front & Center Technologies
TechScapes by NCI
Running Solutions
SuperStore Electronics
Atlanta Audio Video Solutions,LLC
Signal Audio Visual
Signal Audio Visual
Smart Homes
Wanderlogic
Phoenix Unequaled Home Entertainment
X1 Systems, Inc.
Vanden Berg Stereo Inc.
BrightSky
The Automated House
Certified connection
Digiark 360 Inc
Music & Technology Wizards Inc
Network Cabling Services, Inc.
Tennessee Home Theater by HomeSecure LLC
Alpine Vista Home Cinema & Automation, Inc
Monolith Systems, Inc.
Sight and Sound
J/A/V Integrated Systems, LLC d.b.a. A/V Logix

Compare with rates in India from these guys
KEI
AVXellence
Gega Acoustics
deciBels Inc.
NEON HOME THEATER
Boom Audio
Acoustic Reference

Links to all these dealers' conact details here
http://dune-hd.com/where_to_buy

IMO, one of the very few all-in-one products with 7.1 ch individual analog sound outputs which I feel is a BIG PLUS later, when you want, not just an AVR but a separate digi processor and discrete amplification for each channel. Even otherwise, it offers you almost everything under the sun and more (you may need a DAC).

The best thing is the price it comes at, usd 450 and 350 respectively, (not to mention firmware support for it) as also the 2 TB capacity HDD and inbuilt BDP/DVDP.

I say, you will be much better off with either of these and a DAC doing all the digital jing-bang for video and audio and simply hook up the 7 channels thru disrete amplification (4 budget stereo amps should do great, if u cant get a 6 channel amp like the NAD 906 multi which is actually 3 amps in a common chassis). ALSO, I do believe that 5.1 channel is good enough for now as not many movies in 7.1 are available. Feeding a 5.1 signal thru a 7.1 channel sound mode takes away the charm/effect of both. SO, you can make do with 3 amps for now.

Just my two phooti kaudis.
Hope it helps.

An good option to what Venkat mentioned is to get a media player-it will play all files if your music is digitized. You can either go for one like a Sq Box or a Popcorn Hour type which will accomodate a HDD internally. In addition these also stream internet radio stations-no DVD player does that.

Methinx, this does that, too, besides playing all popular video and audio formats incl multi-channel FLAC, AC3 (Dolby Digital), DTS, MPEG, AAC, LPCM, WMA, WMAPro, EAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), Dolby True HD, DTS HD High Resolution Audio, DTS HD Master Audio and of course stereo FLAC.

A steal of a deal IMHO. The rest is upto you, Cavallino as your money it is. . .
Regards as ever

 

[cavallino]

sorry double post

 

[cavallino]

Thanks both of you. Trittya and George O


Excuse me if this sounds silly, but since I already have an HTPC isn't Doom and other similar produdcts an over kill?

Also

since I am also looking for a receiver, my question is how am I placed if I go for something as low end as onkyo 3400 vs going for Doom HD in terms of processing.

To put it more clearly so my options are

(1) HTPC (which I already have) + Bluray drive + onkyo 3400

OR

(2) Doom + ? + ?

Also if I go for the first combo which Bluray drive?

 

[manoj.p]

The advantages of standalone players vs HTPC
1. No fiddling with different softwares to get the playback right.
2. No updates/drivers issues.
3. No noise (HTPCs do lots of noise)
4. Lower power consumption and heat (which again raises noise)
5. Easier usage, navigation.
6. Faster start, WAF and family friendly.

If price is concern, then I would suggest looking for a Panasonic 110/210 bluray player and a media streamer box like Patriot Box office, WDTV live, PlayonHd etc. Both would be around $100 each. For around $200, you would get playbility and two players.

As for adding the Bluray drive, drive is just one part. Think about software to play the media and that also is around $40 or so (unless you want to go underground)

 

[GeorgeO]

Manoj has summarized it well

 

[spirovious]

3. An HTPC is no good for music. A dedicated CD player is always better unless you take the effort of assembling an audio PC. If you are very particular about music, again, an Oppo will be a better choice.
Cheers

a HTPC with soundcard can do the job for music & again one can play almost any music format unlike CDP.