ASUS WiCast EW2000 Wireless HD Video Transmitter and Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm looking for wireless HD solutions for a while to meet my needs : 1. to work with my DirectTV receiver DIRECTV Plus® HR24 High Definition MPEG-4 DVR (HR-24-500) HD DVRand wirelessly transmit the HD A/V signals to my 2nd TV in other room; 2. to wirelessly send signals to the projector from my laptop with HDMI output. Recently I found Amimon's WHDI solution is the most latest and advanced technology and here comes two products using this technology which can fulfill my requests and I got both of them. They are ASUS WiCast EW2000 Wireless HD Video Transmitter and Receiver (from my laptlop) and brite-View Air SyncHD New Arrival! brite-View "Air SyncHD" (BV-2322) Wireless 1080p HD Video/ Audio Transmission Kit(for my DirectTV receiver) and I'm satisfied with both of them so far though with limited time of ownership.
Asus WiCast is pretty straight forward to set up, I only need to connect the transmitter to my laptop and connect the receiver to the projector and it's done, it wirelessly streams everything on my laptop screen to the projector and then on the projection screen. The quality of signals and transmission are great (but probably it's designed for in-room usage only so there's limitation of the distance and the penetration. I tried to connect it to the DirecTV receiver but the signal got choppy after the wall in between even it's within 30 feet).
brite-View Air SyncHD works just like it should be, I connect the transmitter to DirectTV receiver (and connect the HDMI output of the transmitter with HDTV to pass through the signals) and also connect the receiver to my 2nd TV in other room within 30 feet. The quality of HD A/V signals and transmission are great too, only it takes a bit longer to synchronize. The penetration is great without any delay and I can control the DirectTV receiver in other room with its IR sensor/extender.
I really like these two products and the WHDI technology really works great. I review both of them is to provide information and reference for those who are also looking for wireless HD solutions and you can decide which one is most suitable for your situation. Hopefully it helps!

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Stream HD, Wirelessly ASUS WiCast transforms your PC into a wireless media center. Using the latest Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI) Technology, easily connect, stream, and enjoy picture-perfect Full HD visuals and high-quality audio streaming from your PC to a compatible HDTV or other external display. Setup is streamlined so you can power the WiCast transmitter with just your PC's USB ports. Its small, compact design makes it a nice fit to any home or meeting room environment. And with up to 3Gb/s transfer rate, ASUS WiCast can stream any content with up to Full HD quality, less than 1 ms latency, and up to 8 channel audio playback.

Key Features
Full 1080p HD video wireless playback with up to 1920 x 1080 resolution for pristine HDquality visuals (Learn more)
Up to 8 channelaudio playback delivers incredible detail and surround sound support (Learn more)
1ms latency for seamless,stutter-free playback
Wireless Home Digital Interface Technology is the only standard that enables uncompressedFull HD video and audio streaming without wires (Learn more)
3Gb/sdata transfer speed for reliable, smooth Full 1080p HD media playback (Learn more)
WirelessBlu-ray playback to enjoy your favorite movies in Full HD quality (Learn more)
Plugand play setup lets you connect and stream without complicated wires (Learn more)

Learn More
At Home Multimedia HD Enjoyment
Secure Conference Room Presentations
What's in the Box
ASUSWiCast Transmitter: 1 HDMI Cable, 1 mini USB Cable, 1 Adapter
ASUSWiCast Receiver: 1 HDMI Cable, 1 Adapter
Travel Pouch
WarrantyCard
Manual

Specifications
Interface: HDMI
Video: Up to 1080p 60Hz, under 1 ms latency
Audio: Up to 8 channels
Wireless HDMI Technology: Wireless Home Digital Interface (WHDI) v1.4
Transmission Distance: Up to 33 feet
Operation Frequency: 5.15 ~ 5.85 GHz
Data Rate: 3Gb/s
Power Supply: Transmitter: 5V, 2A 10W Adapter (if USB power is not available) Receiver: 5V, 2A 10W Adapter
Power Consumption: Transmitter: 4.75W (powered by USB), Receiver: 10W
Input / Output: Transmitter: 1 x HDMI port, 1 x Mini USB, 1 x DC in, Receiver: 1 x HDMI port ,1 x DC in
Accessories: Transmitter: 1 x mini USB Cable, 1 x HDMI Cable , 1 x Adapter, Receiver: 1 x HDMI Cable, 1x Adapter
Weight: Transmitter: 0.242 lb., Receiver: 0.352 lb.
Color: Black
Dimensions: Transmitter: 4.05 inches, (L) x 2.67 inches (W) x 1.12 inches (H), Receiver: 4.13 inches (L) x 0.98 inches (W) x 4.9 inches (H)
© 2010 ASUS Computer International. All Rights Reserved. ASUS is a registered trademark of ASUSTeK Computer. All specifications are subject to change without notice and features are only in select models. Products may not be available in all markets. Brand and product names mentioned are trademarks of their respective companies. ASUS shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. ASUS WiCast transmission speed may vary on system specification and location.

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OPPO BDP-83SE - Blu-ray disc player - upscaling - black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Update February 16, 2011 - A new and important Firmware Upgrade has been released as of February 1, 2011 in a Beta version. This version, Main Version: BDP83-54-0130B, Loader Version: BE2731 or BT0431, Sub Version: MCU83-27-0326 is presently only available directly from OPPO by download; if you try and update the player directly it will not include this Beta version and will say you're up to date.
You must go to the OPPO website, download the upgrade and the instructions and use either the CD or USB option. I've tried it and it solved the problem I was having with the special versions on the Alien Anthology Blu-ray discs. This upgrade applies to both the BDP-83 and BDP-83SE.
Original review:
The preamp/processor I use is manufactured by Krell and does a fine job except it was not upgradable to HDMI. Having to face that fact required I work around its limitations with switches and alternative connections and utilize the analog connections for multichannel SACD, DVD-A, Dolby True HD, and DTS Master Audio.
When the BDP-83 came out last summer I ordered one and used the analog outputs to connect the audio signal to my Krell HTS; that worked satisfactorily although I had to route the signal through a Zektor MAS 7.1 audio switch as I already had a Pioneer DV-47A Universal player which was connected using the multi-audio output and the Krell had only one multi-channel audio input. I had no observable problem with the BDP-83 on any of the media that I played. I have an extensive collection of CD's, SACD's, and DVD-A's to which I enjoy listening and experienced no problems.
When I became aware of the BDP-83SE I was excited at the prospect of improving the quality of sound that I enjoyed from my system. The reviews I read were generally glowing so I ordered one for my system. The player arrived around the end of February and I immediately installed it in my main system and moved the BDP-83 to a secondary system.
By and large I was pleased with the quality of both music and video and was impressed by what it did for the stereo CD soundstage. My Krell permitted me to instantly switch between analog multi-channel and stereo as well as digital coaxial. I found the musicality of the CD's to actually be superior on the stereo connection because of the quality of sound and the superb soundstage created on the stereo analog connection. This was exactly what I had hoped for and was delighted with the results.
Then a problem developed; the music would suddenly drop out at unexpected times on various CD's, the sound would suddenly be completely gone. I started experimenting and discovered that when the sound dropped out (complete silence) the signal would have dropped out on stereo and multichannel analog as well as on the coaxial digital output; interesting to note that I never had this problem on SACD, DVD-A or any of the Blu-ray audio formats, but only on CD's.
I contacted OPPO and was gratified by the interest and concern expressed by technical support. After trying everything they could think of it was decided that I had to ship it back to OPPO so they could try and diagnose the problem. The player is now in transit to OPPO and I look forward with great curiosity to what they may or may not find.
I have now moved my BDP-83 back to my main system and it continues to work flawlessly. When I commented on the reliability of the BDP-83 they responded that the BDP-83SE was a significantly different platform and no real comparison could be made.
I will update this review when I hear back from OPPO. I told them that I really hoped they could find and repair the defect that was causing the problem and was told by tech support that they would run diagnostics on the player and let me know what they found.
For the record the OPPO BDP-83SE was purchased from OPPO and is not the region-free version sold by Amazon.
Update 3-17-2010
I just got a phone call from OPPO technical support; they told me they had received the BDP-83SE and experienced the same problem with the sound dropping out. The unit I had gotten was defective; I asked them if they had experienced this problem with anyone else and they said this was the first time this problem had ever surfaced.
They told me they were shipping me a new BDP-83SE today, needless to say I am pleased and excited. I'll update this review after I've received the new player and given it a chance to settle down.
Update 3-23-2010
This morning I received the replacement BDP-83SE, a new player with a different serial number. I connected it to my system and put in the CD that had given the problem and the same dropout phenomena happened again. Needles to say I was very disappointed when that happened. I tried it several times and got the same dropout on stereo, multichannel, and digital audio outputs.
At that point I decided to call OPPO technical support and see what they might suggest. The man I talked with offered to refund my money, but as I explained to him I really wanted to try and make this work for my system. He then provided some new information which shed significant light on the situation for me; he told me that OPPO now recognized it had a software problem playing back some CD's but other formats were not affected. That was reassuring to me as it confirmed I was not having a unique problem with CD playback. He also said OPPO was looking for a software fix but could not promise success in finding one.
He told me the unit they had shipped to me had been checked out before it shipped and performed perfectly for them and that the problem might be related to a particular CD. The fact that the problem was limited to certain CD's encouraged me to tell him I would keep the player and try a variety of discs and see what happened.
My initial concern was that the problem might spread to other media but felt reassured when he told me it was unique to CD's. This afternoon I've played a variety of media including a number of CD's with no problem. I'll keep checking and update this review if I have new information.
I was reminded again why the BDP-83SE is worth the trouble as I heard music I had not heard before when discs were played on other players.
The excitement is back.
Update April 7, 2010
I have discovered at this point that only two Telarc discs seem to be causing the dropout problem and both are rather old recordings. Everything else I've tried to play has performed successfully and I have specifically tried as wide a variety of discs as possible. For more information on this you can check my reply in comments.
As a result of my research I have upgraded my rating to five stars.
Update June 24, 2010
Oppo sent out an update on May 5th which made a number of changes. For some reason I had not gone back to try the two Telarc problem discs mentioned above. This morning a comment came in from MacGuffin and I decided to try the two discs again to see if the update had made a difference.
I'm very pleased to report the update solved the problem completely; the two discs played as if there had never even been a problem. Congratulations to OPPO for their persistence.
Update 7-2-2010
This morning I was trying to play an SACD but no sound would come out of the speakers on either stereo or multi-channel analog. This was very surprising as I had been playing some other formats with no problem.
I went to the Settings and checked things out and saw no obvious problems; I had set SACD output to use the DSD option so I decided to try the PCM option and the discs played perfectly on both outputs. Being puzzled by that I decided to go back to settings and try the DSD output again and it then worked perfectly.
I have no idea what that was all about, but if you experience a similar problem with DSD, switching momentarily to PCM may fix your problem too.

Click Here to see more reviews about: OPPO BDP-83SE - Blu-ray disc player - upscaling - black

Special Audiophile Edition Blu-ray PlayerThe OPPO BDP-83 Special Edition Blu-ray Disc Player is an exciting upgrade based on the highly acclaimed BDP-83. Already well known for its exceptional audio and video performance, the BDP-83 is upgraded with an all new analog audio stage and improved power supply to become the Special Edition.Designed for the discerning audio enthusiast, the OPPO BDP-83 Special Edition Blu-ray Disc Player delivers an exceptionally wide dynamic range, ultra low distortion, accurate sound stage and jitter-free music clarity via its dedicated stereo and 7.1ch analog audio output.The OPPO BDP-83 Special Edition uses the state-of-the-art Sabre32 family of Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC) from ESS Technology. The Sabre32 family is known as one of the industry's highest performance audio DACs and are often found in high-end audiophile and professional equipments. The OPPO BDP-83 Special Edition uses an 8-channel Sabre Premier (ES9006) DAC chip for its 7.1 multi-channel output. The dedicated stereo output uses another 8-channel Sabre32 Ultra (ES9016) DAC chip by stacking 4 DACs for each of the Left and Right channels to achieve even greater audio performance.Just like the BDP-83 it is based on, the OPPO BDP-83 Special Edition is a Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player featuring bit-stream and full decoding capability for high resolution audio tracks such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Designed for both home theater viewers and music listeners, it plays DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD (SACD) and standard CD with excellent video and audio performance in addition to Blu-ray Discs. For a detailed list of features, please refer to the BDP-83 Features and Specifications page.OPPO Digital recommends the BDP-83 Special Edition to enthusiasts who primarily use the analog audio output to connect to either a dedicated stereo or a multi-channel surround system.

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Memorex 32020013358 25GB 4X Write-Once BD-R Blu-ray Discs (15pk Spindle) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Started buying these in Jan 2009 when they were $79.00 / 15pk. I made 30 disks at that time. No coasters. They seemed to work great. I always burn at a slower than the rated speed & I do a verify afterwards.
I needed to get data off of one of the disks in December 2009. I found all the disks burned in January were completely unreadable. One disk that was made in Feb was partially readable using recovery tools. I made 2 disks in March that were fully readable. Altogether I lost 27 Blu-ray data disks that cost me over $150.00. I bought Memorex because I trusted the brand name. Some manager at Memorex figured out how to cut costs on these disks and I'm sure he got a large bonus for improving profits. To the management at Memorex - may the fleas of a thousand stag deer infest your armpits.

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GoVideo D2740 Network DVD Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First and foremost, this is a good sturdy player with a solid chassis; so it's by no means cheap like many other players out there.
2. The network and software was a piece of cake to setup and start using. Although there are no updates at the time of this writing, I like the idea the software and firmware can be updated if it needs to be.
3. I'm using a Linksys Wireless-G setup so I have yet to experience any lag or network slow-downs, even while using my full bandwidth on my computer and watching a file over the network simultaneously. There really isn't any waiting for communication sync either while browsing files.
4. The DVD player is awesome and really does read both DVD+R and DVD-R discs. I had previously purchased a Sony which said it did do just that, but didn't when I took it home and tried to use it.
5. The server software runs great on my Windows 2003 server installation (I use the server for my intranet including web development and now file serving).
6. The photo gallery and playing audio playlists worked flawlessly.
About Video Formats
- DivX plays but looks awful (audio came through fine)
- SVCD plays well, but will get choppy on fast motion scenes (I think its the stream having a hard time keeping up... the file is crystal clear on my PC and scenes with little motion).
- VCD plays the best (no choppiness), but is a little grainy... only because of the format
Now for the negative stuff which isn't really negative... just informative:
- The software does take an abnormal amount of time to launch on the intital boot. However, if you have a dedicated server/computer for this program, you shouldn't be rebooting all too often anyhow. Both when idle and being used, the software itself consistantly used about 5000k of memory (about the same as windows explorer).
- If you have lots of media, you'll spend a lot of time fixing your ID3 tags and creating playlists to make your overall experience better.
- On that note, ID3 tags are limited to title, album, artist and genre for audio files (you can only edit the title on video files which is frustrating, but wouldn't show up on the tv screen anyhow so I guess it doesn't matter). I highly recommend having a seperate ID3 tag editor onhand such as "tag & rename" just to make life simpler.
- You can't "lock out" playlists (ie - I don't exactly want my 5-year-old watching my "Sex and the City" playlist.
- It'd be nice if I could custom skin or style the network interface. It's not that it's bad, I just like to do that sort of thing.
- Only uses WEP security... would be nice if it used WPA as well. The GoVideo FAQs clearly state that the D2740 won't be supporting WPA.
- I've found that the player doesn't like to switch between the DVD player and the network. I often find myself powering off the machine after a DVD before switching to the network.
- The remote control isn't as sensitive as I'd like it to be. It needs to be pointed directly at the machine.
- The tray isn't as sensitive as I'd like it either. It doesn't instantly pop out when you push the button like other players. The tray does instantly come open when using the remote though.
- Similar to the D2730, getting the S-Video working is weird (its not auto-sensing like most DVD players; its manual), but it's clear how to do it in the instructions.
The main advantage to this player is that you get everything for your home media network in one package that isn't gonna break the bank. The Microsoft setup cost me for a dedicated computer, a custom OS and then $250 a pop for each set-top box and you can't really customize as much as you'd like to (in my experience anyway). This particular setup will only set you back about $200.00 and you don't need anything else other then an already existing wired or wireless network. I had mine setup and operable in only about ten minutes.
Despite its few minor flaws, I love this product! I suspect some firmware and software upgrades will resolve most of these very minor issues. I'll definitely be buying another one for my other television.

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GoVideo's slim D2740 is a true 21st-century entertainment device: it will play your commercial and homemade DVDs, sure, but it also spins MP3 music and JPEG image CDs and--as if that weren't enough--it'll stream audio, images, and video files from your PC right to your TV at the touch of a button. Streams may include JPEG, TIFF, and BMP images; MP3 and WMA audio formats; and MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 video formats. Compatible physical media includes DVD-R/DVD-RW, video CD, Kodak Picture CD, and MP3 and WMA CDs.The Wi-Fi 802.11g-capable D2740 is compatible with existing wireless home networks, allowing instant out-of-the-box set-up and use. Just open the box, install the D2740's server software (PC only), hook it up to the TV, and start enjoying its innovative capabilities. If your home isn't networked yet, the unit still operates as a full-function DVD player.Besides routing content from your hard drive to your home theater, the player also offers the ability to stream audio from RealNetworks' Rhapsody music service to any TV or stereo system in your home. This means you can enjoy any of more than 650,000 songs at the touch of a button and view your personal Rhapsody library right there on your television. With Rhapsody, you'll be able to browse by artist, album, and song title in a library of more than 50,000 albums. (D2740 owners can sign up for a free 30-day Rhapsody trial by visiting www.listen.com/govideo; the Rhapsody music service is available from RealNetworks for $9.95 per month).An intuitive graphical user interface simplifies operation. User-upgradeable onscreen "skins" give operation a personalized look and feel, and the unit's upgradeable firmware ensures that you'll be ready for future DVD formats, too. A headphone output with a dedicated volume control facilitates private listening--perfect for tuning into Internet radio in your living room while the rest of the family reads or sleeps.Top-of-the-line component-video outputs (switchable between progressive-scan and interlaced) help minimize digital and line-scan artifacts on compatible advanced televisions, while composite- and S-video outputs bring compatibility with nearly any television. Whether your living room is currently home to an HDTV or you're merely thinking of "someday," the D2740 stands ready to deliver the full potential of your DVDs. Progressive scanning, referred to as 480p for the number of horizontal lines that compose the video image, creates a picture using twice the scan lines of a conventional DVD picture, giving you higher resolution and sharper images while eliminating nearly all motion artifacts.A set of left/right analog-audio outputs channel audio to Dolby Pro Logic receivers and stereo televisions. Both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1-channel surround-sound signals can be routed through the player's digital-audio outputs (one each of RCA coaxial and Toslink optical) for direct connection to a full-featured audio/video receiver, and--in case your existing receiver is merely "Dolby Digital ready" (with multichannel RCA analog inputs), the D2740 decodes Dolby Digital 5.1 to six discrete analog signals (left, center, right, left/right surround, and subwoofer).What's in the Box DVD player, remote control, remote batteries, an installation CD-ROM (PC software), a user's manual, onscreen user interface skins, a stereo analog audio interconnect/composite-video cable, and warranty information.

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OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player with SACD, DVD-Audio, and VRS Technology Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is my second high definition player. I bought a Samsung BD-UP5000 when they were first released since it played both HD DVD and Blu-Ray discs. Poor support, lack-luster performance and the end of HD DVDs left me wanting something "better". I found what I was looking for in the Oppo BDP-83.
Oppo is a customer-driven company and conducted an extended beta test to uncover bugs. The beta testers had to accept the state of the player before it could be released! I've emailed Oppo support a few times and they are prompt to respond with real answers not just an automated or canned response - usually the same day. I can't say enough good things about the company.
The '83 is rock solid. It has not frozen or even hiccuped once. It plays all the discs I've put in. (The 5000 had trouble with some and often required the discs to be fingerprint free and occationally locked up requiring restart to even eject a disc.)
To me, one of the important features of a disc player is SD DVD upscaling. Standard definition can look pretty bad on a HDTV. Even the networks and cable channels often do a marginal job up-converting. My 5000 had a very good upconverter (Reon) but the '83 is better - something you'd expect from a company that focused on SD DVD players long after the introduction of HD DVD and Blu-Ray. Sometimes I forget I'm watching SD material!
Most high def players are sluggish, acting more like underpowered computers than audio/video gear. Boot and disc load times often exceed 30 seconds. Not the '83 - it's responds more like a DVD player than a computer. The tray opens in under 3 seconds from pressing the eject button (with power off) and playback begins in under 10 seconds (for SD DVD). For Blu-Ray, play start does depend on what enhancements the content provider loads before playback can begin (custom menus, etc.). (Remember Blu-Ray discs allow the content provider lots of control over the player and playback of the content.)
The '83 decodes all advanced audio formats: Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD Master Audio, etc. So the lossless audio is available via 7.1 analog outs as well as PCM over HDMI. You don't need an A/V receiver that includes decoders for these formats - the player does the work. Speaker management provided by the '83 makes the 7.1 analog outputs usable, but with some limitations: The bass management frequency is fixed at 80 Hz, and there are limitations to speaker distance delays.
The user manual explains things so that the user/installer can make important setup and usage decisions. For example, there is a section that explains the various output resolutions and which is best for various scenarios; and another that helps choose the correct "zoom" for various disc and TV aspect combinations.
So often, modern computer-based A/V gear is released without a complete set of features with the promise of adding them later. Again the '83 was released fully featured so there's little to wait for. But Oppo realizes there will be bugs to fix and new features to add as well as new disc behavior to support. They've provided THREE separate ways to upgrade firmware: via a network connection, via CD/DVD or USB memory.
I use a universal remote to control all my A/V gear and thanks to a document provided by Oppo, I was able to program my remote prior to receiving the unit. Most of the commands use the same data as their previous players so I was able to start with the configuration for an older mode. Oppo provided an Excel file with all the control codes in a format that can be imported into Universal Remote Control and Pronto remotes (maybe others). I've never seen this level of support from any other consumer electronics company and this material existed BEFORE product release. Where documentation was lacking, customer support provided the missing information.
There's been one (public beta) firmware update and a user manual update since the '83 was released at the beginning of June 2009. The firmware update was fast and painless (via USB memory).
My one compliant of the BDP-83 is it's power cord. It uses a 2-pin connector resembling an IEC connector found on many pro and prosumer equipment, however there is not sufficient holding tension and the cord has unplugged itself from the unit twice. I had to wrap the cord around one of the feet to prevent it from happening again.

Click Here to see more reviews about: OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player with SACD, DVD-Audio, and VRS Technology

Complete Media Support: Blu-ray Disc; BD-Live; DVD Up-Conversion; DVD-Audio; SACD; Additional Media Formats - Additional disc and file formats, such as audio CD, HDCD, Kodak Picture CD, AVCHD, MKV, and other audio/video/picture files on recorded discs or USB drives can be played back on the BDP-83. Unparalleled Video Quality: VRS by Anchor Bay; Full HD 1080p Output ; True 24 Video ; Source Direct Mode; Multiple Zoom Modes; HDMI; High Fidelity Audio: Dolby TrueHD; DTS-HD; 7.1-Channel Analog Output; Dedicated Stereo Output; Digital Optical and Coaxial Outputs; Ultimate Convenience: Dual USB Ports ; PAL/NTSC Conversion ; Back-lit Remote Control; Universal Power Supply ; External IR ; RS232 Control (optional) ; HDMI CEC

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Sony BDV-E770W Blu-ray Player Home Entertainment System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a really a great Home Theater/BluRay combo unit. I hate clutter and went for it as this would be a single unit for Music, DVD/BluRay and Internet streaming (Netflix etc). Blu-Ray discs with 3-D surround sound are really amazing as I expected, DVD up conversion is great and sound quality of wireless S-AIR rear speaker is as good as wired (beware, they are wireless just with respect to main base/amp unit. The rear speakers have their own receiver unit that requires power plug and is wired to rear speakers. However, it serves my purpose as I don't need to run wires across my living room.). I was apprehensive that I am paying $100 extra and probably compromising on the sound quality just for little compromise of running wires across room. I did not find any compromise on sound quality (and I am quite picky). I did separate my WiFi router away from S-AIR, after reading about the possible cross-interference. That created another logistics problem: I sometimes watch movies on Netflix streamed through Internet and for best quality like to hook up the wire. Keeping router away meant that I ended up running cable across. Netflix streaming quality was awesome with wire and as good I had observed with PS3 (It's just a shade worse than DVD but way better than connecting via computer). The surprise was that WiFi connection worked almost as well as wired. So I ended up getting rid of this wire too. I have Sharp Aquos 52' LED TV and it seamlessly detects sound from this Sony unit whenever I switch to TV or switch on TV. One more tip that I discovered by chance. I have cheap $2, 6 ft generic HDMI cable and ~$10 mediabridge 6 ft and 15 ft (to connect my laptop to use TV as external monitor). While DVD and Blu-Ray disc quality was same on all 3 cables, Netflix streaming quality was way better with 6 ft mediabridge cable than other two. Probably one needs to buy decent quality shortest cable for limited signal/information relay via streaming. And don't believe in the crap that is floating on Internet. I know digital is 0 and 1. However, those morons forget that it's not just one 0 and 1; there is a stream of millions of 0s and 1s getting across. So it matters how many of those are faithfully transmitted. If input is great it does not matter, even crappiest of cable would do. However, if input is limiting, it does seem to make a difference. I did blind test with monstrously overpriced Monster cables and did not find any improvement over Mediabridge; so just the shortest and decent ones would do. I read one user complaining about lack of headphone jack on the system in reviews somewhere. IT EXISTS. Sony actually did one better. It put it on one of the rear speakers so that it's close to your couch. They just did a poor job of highlighting it. Not so detail oriented people might start crying it does not exist after not finding it on the main unit. Finally, I played tons of music from my iPhone using 3.5 mm to RCA connection (this unit can also play iPod/Phone via USB cable; I just had a very good quality 3.5 mm to RCA with me) and quality was good. It also has Pandora and other links that are suppose to become functional in next update. I tried Pandora via iPhone and it was great. I really can't see any problems with the system.
Bottom-line: It may not be the system for extreme music lovers who want to push sound quality to ultimate purity and can hear notes that pass through 99% of the people. It is indeed a very good composite unit to hook up with your TV (for improved sound) and watch movies on BluRay/DVD/Netflix and avoid clutter of equipments without compromising on the quality of either of the individual functions. I am not into gaming but Sony should come up with PS3-BluRay-home theater combo too. If I have to find fault, my only disappointment is the unfriendly user manual, hard to navigate Sony website (locating information before deciding to buy was pain) and Sony customer care (or lack of it). Also, its website use to describe iPhone app that would let you use your iPhone as a remote for this system. They have pulled it from promos and descriptions. I was indeed looking forward to it and I hope they revive it.
Note: Sony has acknowledged on their website (on eSupport page of this unit) that some of their units are prone to freeze upon software update. I was lucky that mine did not ask for any software update. Its shame that they are not paying to ship the units back to them for repair (as reported by other reviewer). It's enough hassle that you have to pack and ship the unit for something that is clearly their problem. Its not surprise to me as I have heard from many friends that their customer care has always sucked big time. Looks like, they are slipping. They are bit like Apple on making big money via accessories/support. However, apple is quick to suck up when they screw something. It's a tip for Sony management if they want to survive Apple's dominance in consumer electronics.
Update 07-19-10: I did both the software updates provided so far. It added Pandora and improved quality of HD movies available via Netflix streaming among many other small things. Software updates were easy. Only things one needs to be careful about is having wired internet for update, removing discs from the system and not switching the power off while update is in progress. This is a very good system that would take you movie or music experience to another level esp if you have a good TV. All my friends were blown away by its features and quality. We have used it extensively for playing BR discs, Netflix streaming, and music from Pandora, ipod/iphone and experience couldn't be better. It pains me to see that it has just 3.5 star rating, thanks to users who does not want to do more than clicking "add to cart" and switching on the power switch. Just reading the specs before buying and user manual after buying would address almost all of the the issues.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony BDV-E770W Blu-ray Player Home Entertainment System

Experience movies in full HD 1080p resolution and powerful 5.1-channel HD surround sound including wireless rear speakers with the BDV-E770W 3D Blu-ray Disc home theater system. This great system minimizes movie wait times so you can begin watching faster than ever. You can also wirelessly stream Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, Slacker, YouTube and more.

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Sony BDV-E570 Blu-ray Player Home Entertainment System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Where to start...
Nerd's notes:
First of all, for those that get the Sony BDV-E570 that was manufactured earlier in the year, it may have been before they fixed the issues with the software upgrade. I believe I received such a model. Being the overly concerned nerd that I am, I read the manual. It is not very specific, but does tell you to plug in the network cable to perform the upgrade. Read into this and you must assume to NOT PERFORM THE UPGRADE OVER WIFI. Well, you can take that a step further, (which of course I did), and you can download the update directly from Sony, place the files on a blank CD-R, then place the disk in the player and perform the update that way (it auto detects that the disk contains update files very nicely). This worked perfectly. No issues like the horror stories I have been hearing about this model (earlier this year), and the next model up the BDV-E770W. Due to the age of the model I received, there were two updates to perform, which I did, using two separate disks for each update. They take a while, so don't start one if you have somewhere to be. You do have to perform both, and the latter update is the more important one that enables the features that make this platform what most people are looking for, a 3D capable Blu-Ray HTIB with DLNA Features (both of these are why I got this model).
Now on to the good stuff.
Wiring: The room I placed it in is wired for 7.1, so connecting the rear speakers was not an issue. The speakers themselves have standard pinch connectors, so insert the wire and you are all set. At the reciever end, there is a custom connector, so you will have to splice it to your jack wires if you don't use the wire they provide (which looks a bit short for a larger room).
Network: Ok, I did manage to get this onto my dual band Wireless N network, although all of the settings had to be set manually, it did not seem to like the WPS (Wifi Protected Setup), which configures the wireless settings automatically. After the updates, all the network features work fine, Netflicks, YouTube, Pandora, Slacker, and so on.
Sound: Have a vaulted cieling in the room it is set up in, and it fills the room with plenty of sound. I am not cranking it and it is more than enough sound to provide a enjoyable home movie experience.
Video: Not much to say here other than....WOW. The upscaling is very good. BD is awsome.
Connections: If you are looking for a simple HTIB with a lot of features, this is the system for you. If you are looking for the HTIB to double as a receiver, look elsewhere, or make sure your TV has plenty of inputs/outputs. It does take audio inputs from digital coax from your settop box/satellite reciever, and optical audio from your TV (which is good if you have game systems, etc. plugged into your TV. NO HDMI IN. Bravia Sync works great. The TV and Player can be off, insert a disk, and it fires up the TV, kills the TV speakers, selects the correct input for the player, and you are off and running without having to monkey with the TV remote to select the correct input. The wife appreciates this feature more than anything else. USB works great, plays music on a usb thumb drive with no issues at all.
System Menu: Since we do have a Sony LCD, I became addicted to the XMB menu interface (Cross Media Bar), the same interface on the PS3. It looks great and is easy to navigate. This system has the same menu interface, and makes finding the extra internet content very easy.
Cons: There are not many, but aside from the lack of video inputs (does not affect me, but could be a serious issues for others), there are only a few things I would mention. First being a network feature that I selected this model/line for: DLNA. For some reason, it cannot see the DLNA server that I have setup on the network. I am looking into the reasons, and will repost if I find a solution. Speakers, while 1/2 the weight of my previous HTIB, they seem flimsy. The Sub is a passive sub, while that may disappoint others, it does not seem to punch any less than my last system that had a powered sub. The exterior of the system is a very plain shiny black (kid fingerprint magnet) on the front, although with a lack of knobs, and visible buttons, there is little in the way to attract their attention to twist/press etc.
Overall, this is an ideal system for those that are looking for an 'all-in-one' solution that also has all the internet content. It is powerful enough for a midsized room, and is simple to operate. It has a low profile receiver, and those that are space constrained will certainly appreciate that. The cost is very good (under 400), and for a system I don't see replacing for at least 3 years, it has all the features and functions I see myself wanting for some time.
Amazon: WOW. I ordered this system at 3:30AM on Wednesday with free supersaver shipping. The system was delivered THE NEXT DAY (Thursday).
UPDATE 7/25/10: Got DLNA working, my server just showed up one day, it was probably due to a reboot I did on the DLNA server. Streams music flawlessly across the network, Pictures as well. Still trying to figure out what digital HD file format it will play for movies, it will probably do DIVX files, but have to move those files to the server to see how they work. Very nice feature! Makes it very convenient when you want to play your digital library and dont want to plug in your iPod/iPhone or change CD's constantly.
Still very pleased with this system! I find myself watching more online movies and content from it than from my own collection or rentals.
I did some research, and this system looks identical to the BDV-770W, with the exception of the wireless S-Air rear speakers, which adds almost $200 to the price I paid.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony BDV-E570 Blu-ray Player Home Entertainment System

Bring your movies to life with this 3D Blu-ray Disc home theater system, which features pristine 5.1-channel surround sound and wireless streaming capabilities.Experience full HD 1080p and powerful 5.1-channel HD surround sound, and enjoy expanded entertainment options as you wirelessly stream Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, Slacker, YouTube and more.

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