Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat Anyone used a Sony S790?

Guys,

More and more I'm watching a LOT of Netflix, in fact at the moment it's my main source of TV and movies.

While I love my Oppo BDP-93, as far as I'm aware it's capped out at 720p [with Netflix], with no intention to update to 1080p?

I could of course consider one of the newer Oppos, but is there any real benefit of the extra cost over a Sony S790, which are supposed to be excellent and have Netflix and Lovefilm at 1080p built in?

I'd be using it digital audio only, into an 818, or 568.2mm so it doesn't matter about analogue out.

Can it still decode HD multichannel and SACD to PCM so that, with an HD621 I can get them into the 568.2mm? Is the SQ as good as the Oppo 93 used this way?

If anyone has one, I'd appreciate thoughts, or comments?

Cheers,

James

I used an S490 briefly and its firmware was (at the time) extremely flakey. FWIW.

Hmm, OK that's good to know, thanks - all the features in the world are no good if they're always on the blink!

Alternatively, buy a refurbished AppleTV from the Apple Refurb store for �75 (to get Netflix at 1080p) and save yourself �100 on the cost of buying the Sony S790 from Richer Sounds.

Hang on, surely Netflix doesn't work in the UK anyway?

No, it works. �5.99 a month I believe.

I replaced my Oppo BDP 83 with a Sony S790 when the draw stopped opening and the firmware updates dried up. The picture quality is on a par, maybe slightly better. Netflix works fine, I haven't tried Lovefilm though.

It plays SACDs, although I haven't done a direct comparison I don't think it sounds quite as good as the Oppo did. The build quality is a bit plasticky, but for the money I guess it's alright.

I've come to regard Blu-ray players as disposable anyway, as soon as new models come out the firmware updates stop and you find you can't play certain films for one reason or another.

It just doesn't seem worthwhile investing in higher end models when the whole format is a moving target.

Yep one of the best �5.99 a month I've ever spent.

OK, this is useful guys, sounds like the sony is a bit plasticky/flakey, whereas my Oppo has been great. I think the suggestion of Apple TV is a great one - I can keep the Oppo and it will tide me over til the next big Bluray player update, whatever that may be.

Does Apple TV do DD/DTS or similar? I'm starting to build a multichannel system...

Cheers,

James

The AppleTV does Dolby Digital...

...but hold on until the Apple event on Tuesday, just in case there's a new AppleTV (alongside the new Mac Pro/Mini).

BTW, using Netshade (VPN) on my Mac Mini, I have been enjoying Netflix USA and Canada content - for movies and programmes not available on Netflix UK.

Unlike the AppleTV, however, the Mac Mini/Netflix combo only offers stereo.

Netshade is also valuable in facilitating current content from the major US networks, thereby saving on a $ky subscription.

Ah yes, good plan! Thanks