Region-Free BD Player: Momitsu BDP-899?

[cine]

Has anyone tried out the Momitsu BD-899? According to HKFlix's Ad the player is region-free for both Blu-Ray and SD.

[westvillage31]

+1 on DYING to know if anyone has tried it yet. Seems odd that they're advertising it as region-free, when I thought the Blu-Ray technology had to be licensed (and therefore locked).

Anyone? Bueller?

Kirby

[toddly6666]

Did this just come out? Because I searched google and yahoo, and there are barely any information about this DVD player, and that it's just sold by maybe 4 other online dvd stores..

[cine]

FWIW, I got this email from HKFlix today:

...
You are receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in
Oppo's upcoming Blu-Ray player.

This machine is still unreleased, although we expect to start shipping
within 6 weeks.

Oppo has recently reconfirmed that this player will locked to Region
1/Blu-Ray Region-A, and there will be no way to circumvent this setting
through a remote code, or firmware fix.

However, we are pleased to announce the immediate availability of the
Momitsu BDP-899. This is the most versatile player in the world, and will
play any region DVD, and any region Blu-Ray, and well as incorporating
features such as a USB port, excellent support of downloadable file formats,
and advanced upconversion support of standard definition formats to HD.
...
Best Regards,
George Yuen
HKFLIX.com

[Easy]

Originally Posted by cine

FWIW, I got this email from HKFlix today:
Oppo has recently reconfirmed that this player will locked to Region
1/Blu-Ray Region-A, and there will be no way to circumvent this setting
through a remote code, or firmware fix.

Maybe someone can enlighten me. This player converts PAL. What the hell is the point of that when Oppo states they will not market in UK or Europe and there will be no region "hack" ? I was set to buy until they announced it would not be region free. Now, I don't see the value.

[cine]

Originally Posted by Easy

Maybe someone can enlighten me. This player converts PAL. What the hell is the point of that when Oppo states they will not market in UK or Europe and there will be no region "hack" ? I was set to buy until they announced it would not be region free. Now, I don't see the value.

Presumably the value is in being able to play all-region coded discs including R0 PAL SD.

[Easy]

Originally Posted by cine

Presumably the value is in being able to play all-region coded discs including R0 PAL SD.

I've never seen one. Are there any legitimate sources or are r0 discs all bootlegs?

[emachine12]

Not all R0 discs are bootlegs.

Early Criterions are R0, a majority of Hong Kong, Korean, and Thai DVDs are R0. Even European titlesa like Battle Royale are R0.

Some titles even share Region Codes. Serenity Australia is Region 2 and Region 4. Casino Royale '06 Thailand is Region 3 and Region 1.

Oh, and a nice batch of the Superbit titles from Sony US are Region 1 and Region 3.

[Easy]

Originally Posted by emachine12

Not all R0 discs are bootlegs.

Thanks for the info. Still, they seem rather rare... better to get a region free player than seek region free discs I think.

[cine]

FWIW you can find the region coding of Blu Ray discs here. The number of region-free discs is surprisingly fairly substantial.

[manicsounds]

True that many major BluRays are region free, but currently Region A players can only play R1 NTSC DVDs, and Region B players can only play PAL

Also, studios like Disney, Fox (Mostly), Criterion, BFI, etc continue to region code their discs

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by manicsounds

Also, studios like Disney, Fox (Mostly), Criterion, BFI, etc continue to region code their discs

Though BFI has released two region-free Blu-rays: the upcoming Nighthawks/Strip Jack Naked, and GAZWRX - The Films Of Jeff Keen.

[NoirFan]

Positive review from DVD Beaver. At $349 plus shipping, I might have to bite on this one.

[utopianz14]

DVD Beaver has posted some impressions of the Momitsu BDP-899:

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/hardwa...su_bdp-899.htm

It's a bit annoying to have to manually switch between regions through the remote, but I welcome any device that can play pretty much anything thrown at it.

Edit: Wow, what are the odds that NoirFan and I both bump a ten-day-old thread within five minutes of each other?

[Subgeniusguy]

This may be unrelated but can anyone tell me their experience using AnyDVD to play an other region BD from their computer. I have a laptop with a BD-ROM drive and HDMI output. I would sure like to have the region B NOTLD disc. So far I've only bought region free releases from overseas.

[cine]

Originally Posted by utopianz14

...
It's a bit annoying to have to manually switch between regions through the remote ...

I too wish the player could simply be set into multi-region mode once for all, eliminating the dependency on having the remote-control forever handy and functioning.

[asianxcore]

I want one

If I didn't rely so much on my PS3 (I use it for gaming as well), I'd order one of these.

[cracksky]

If I knew for sure this handled DVD+R DL discs then I would grab one.

[dleedlee]

Originally Posted by cracksky

If I knew for sure this handled DVD+R DL discs then I would grab one.

Momitsu's site doesn't list it, only -R
http://www.momitsu.com/bdp_899_spec.html

Compatible with BD-R/RE, BD-ROM, DVD, DVD-R DL, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, VCD, SVCD, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA, CDI-digital, MP3 ISO, MP4 ISO

[seymouru]

Another review at VideoHelp.com...

http://www.videohelp.com/forum/archi...r-t366312.html

I think I'm gonna go for it...

[cracksky]

Originally Posted by dleedlee

Momitsu's site doesn't list it, only -R
http://www.momitsu.com/bdp_899_spec.html

Compatible with BD-R/RE, BD-ROM, DVD, DVD-R DL, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, VCD, SVCD, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-DA, CDI-digital, MP3 ISO, MP4 ISO

Yes, that's why the question was asked by me. Almost no one uses DVD-R DL discs. Nearly everyone uses DVD+R DL discs. I would like to know from someone who has used the machine if it handles +R DL's like Verbatim which are the best out there.

[Harlock415]

I know my old Momitsu had problems sometimes with DVD+R DL. I had to replace the loader once and shortly after that, it always had a loud high pitched whine whenever I played a DVD-R.

I hope they improved on some of the 880-DX's quirky failings. Don't get me wrong, it was the best DVD player I ever had, when it worked fine.

This new player looks promising, lacks some features that were in the 880 like xy scaling and step zoom. Also having to change the region code by remote every time can be annoying. I've got about 50 Hong Kong Legends R2 PAL discs and as many or more R3 Asian films.

[Tutut]

Originally Posted by cracksky

Yes, that's why the question was asked by me. Almost no one uses DVD-R DL discs. Nearly everyone uses DVD+R DL discs. I would like to know from someone who has used the machine if it handles +R DL's like Verbatim which are the best out there.

If you couldn't find the answer, this player is a rebadged Sigmatek SBR-1000, maybe you'll find more answers by searching on this model.

[SomethingMore]

Originally Posted by Subgeniusguy

This may be unrelated but can anyone tell me their experience using AnyDVD to play an other region BD from their computer. I have a laptop with a BD-ROM drive and HDMI output. I would sure like to have the region B NOTLD disc. So far I've only bought region free releases from overseas.

The only disc I've tried is Taken from the UK. It plays flawlessly, although AnyDVD came up with a pop-up screen that asked what region the disc was. I selected B (it's B & C, but definitely not A), and it loaded fine.

[Giles]

anyone else buy one? thought's?? I'm about to make the jump since I'm moving my home theatre upstairs and I can retire my Apex region free player.