[DJDiggler]

I've been reading up on BD players and it's getting me confused... is there an easy way to tell if a player will stream MKV's from my NAS and is netflix canada ready? Netflix site just lists samsung and toshiba but no actual model #'s.

Can anyone recommend a player with this capability? I'll be using wired network and am hoping to keep it around $150 or lower if thats even possible.

 

[David Susilo]

Don't know about mkv streaming but Insignia can also do Netflix streaming.

 

[MrBizi]

I have the Samsung BD-C6500T, it has Netflix Canada (I am now on their 1-month free trial promo). Purchased it for around $160 at Future Shop.

The wireless connectivity can be at times flaky, if you're not tech-savvy this could be a PITA.

 

[wm_cheng]

The PS3 can do all that. It's Netflicks ready with its own app in the XMB. I stream MKVs from my desktop and Windows Home Server (Acer Aspire Easystore H340) via PS3 Media Server to my PS3 in the basement. Plus it's a BluRay / DVD player too. Although at $299, its at the high end of BluRay players, but it does have built-in Wifi (although I use a wired ethernet to stream 1080p stuff).

 

[MitchPope]

Just remember that MKV is only a container type, so you could have MKV files that may not play depending on how you encoded them even though your player supports MKV. For example, the OPPO BDP-93 won't play variable frame rate encoded H.264 files from Handbrake (the default for 0.9.5), but if you just set a frame rate (23.974 or 29.97) they work fine. So you may need to do a bit of testing, unless your NAS will transcode them for you.

(I second the vote for a PS3, it is more expensive, but if you plan on a lot of Netflix watching, until their exclusive deal with Sony ends, it's the only way to get 5.1 audio for movies.)

 

[JohnnyCanuck]

As a media centre, the PS3 is excellent, but it's a poor upconverter. If part of your scenario includes watching standard DVD's, many stand-alone BD players will be vastly superior to the PS3.

Also, many .mkv files do not play on a PS3 and need to be converted to a different container such as .m2ts. As well, PS3 cannot properly handle a .mkv file with multi-channel DTS. You need to trick the PS3 into playing it and the resulting file will not be playable on any other device.

In other words, sort out your exact needs before deciding. It's unlikely that a single player will meet all your requirements so you'll have to figure out the relative importance of each.

As for Netflix, take a very good look at their selection before deciding that it's a make or break item for your BD player purchase. I found their selection to be pathetic. I realize it depends on taste and that others have a different view. I wouldn't use Netflix if it $1.99/month, others think it's a great deal at $8.99. Take a good look at content and assess its value to you before deciding that it's a must have for a BD player. It very well might be, but make the assessment based on your own research into what Netflix actually offers.

 

[storywizard]

blu ray or streaming

I was thinking the same thing about Netflix content, it is a little thin and old...but on the other hand is the future of TV, movies etc online anyway. So in the end some service like Netflix will/maybe what we use, with no physical medium like a dvd to use at all. What do you think??

Storywizard

 

[David Susilo]

I hope streaming is NOT the wave of the future if the picture and audio quality are as abysmal as Netflix and AppleTV streaming

 

[ScaryBob]

The abysmal video quality probably reflects the abysmal network quality we have in North America. I find that HD streams from Netflix cannot be sustained with a 5Mb/s connection, even though the required bandwidth is much lower. I don't expect perfect video quality but a choice between sustainable bad quality or intermittent good quality is not what Canadians should settle for. OTOH, it appears to be what Canada's ISPs are willing to offer.

 

[DJDiggler]

I see many are recommending a PS3 and I will be getting one eventually, (was going to buy one Saturday for only $100 after using my shoppers Optimum points but the wife took the card with her out of town ).

My problem is I'll want to put it downstairs on the 100" projector! And I already have the 360 down there which I'm using for netflix now. I just need a cheap BD player for the wife upstairs.

Just remember that MKV is only a container type, so you could have MKV files that may not play depending on how you encoded them even though your player supports MKV...)

This is part of the reason for my trouble... I reencoded all my DVD ISO's to H264 Mkv to save a ton of drive space. I did them all (3days encoding!) before thinking to test them . Luckily they play fine on my WDTV Live on the projector but the old xboxes running XBMC I use upstairs can't handle them.

I actually was impressed with the quality of netflix... though I have a very good 15mbps connection if that helps. I know the movie selection is a bit old but we really like the tons of kids shows on there. (The boys have a thing for vegitales ). I still haven't decided if it's something I'll keep but for we're getting our $9 out of it.

 

[David Susilo]

Well, the sound is low bitrate lossy, and even with AppleTV the PQ is not acceptable even on a 50" viewed from a distance of double-screen-height.

Streaming is OK for documentaries and old TV series, but for movie and newer TV series, they are just not worth my electricity and the wear and tear of my plasma.

I am hopeful, however, for one day codecs can be efficient enough to yield good enough PQ and AQ.

 

[Davee]

Quality via local wireless network

I test as about 4MB/s download & have no trouble with any visible dropouts . My biggest problem is sound level . My built in HP laptop cannot deliver enough for quiet discussions . Even with a small booster headphone amp I miss stuff. Only true on some movies. I have been on netflix since the beginning & always find something once a day to watch,

 

[DJDiggler]

I recently have noticed my netflix video looked like crap, I found out even with my fast 25mbps internet I wasen't getting ANY HD! With no options to look at on the xbox I went to the netflix.com site and eventually found out under "Your account" and "manage video quality" the option was set to disable all HD to save bandwidth! I know I had HD before so it must have automatically switched after the free month was up.

Something to check if you are getting very crappy "HD" picture. There was no notification or mention of this option anywhere during sign up that I can remember.

 

[habskilla]

Beware of the PS3 and the new Cinavia DRM. The PS3 is Cinavia DRM enabled so any movie you download that has this new DRM will not play on the PS3. I'd give a link to it, but this forum is a bit touchy on what you can link and what you can't. So google is your friend..

 

[Eclipsed]

The new 2011 LG 3D Bluray players are supposed to be able to do Netflix.ca and network stream from DNLA devices and via CIFS.
LG BD660 (wired LAN) and BD670 (wireless.) I cannot confirm this but would be grateful if someone could. I stream my video from a DNS-323 NAS and don't want to run a DLNA server as MKV support is hit and miss.

 

[xbacala]

rename the file from .mkv to .mp4 to play

 

[hugh]

To my knowledge the PS3 will NOT play .MKV.

In the past, and I didn't think it had changed, you had to convert an .mkv using something like mkv2vob in order to play on the PS3..

Since when has the PS3 been able to play .mkv?

 

[DdDave]

I have the Samsung BD-C6500T, it has Netflix Canada (I am now on their 1-month free trial promo). Purchased it for around $160 at Future Shop.

The "D" series of Samsung players are out now, the BD-D5300 series can do both Netflicks and MKV files, according to the Samsung website. I'm looking at getting one of these, but I'm still a couple weeks away from purchasing. You have to get a higher model for wireless and/or 3D capability.