My requirements:
-Since The Sony KDL-46NX715 already replaced my Scart switch, should my next Media Player Western Digital Live HD to believe it and disappear from the living room.
-Optimal Operability
-Use As a CD player
Integration into the monolith design of the Sony KDL-46NX715
Technical Specifications:
-2D / 3D Blu-ray player with built-in BRAVIA Internet Video
-Supported Formats: JPEG (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA), MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV (BD,
DVD, CD, USB, DLNA), XviD, AVC-HD, WMV, MPEG4, MPEG1 / 2 (BD, DVD, CD, USB, DLNA);
VOB, VRO (DVD)
Video: Precision Cinema HD Upscale (via HDMI) / Photo TV HD: 1080p Upscaling
DVD (via HDMI), xv Colour, Deep Colour, 24p True Cinema
Quickstart (3 sec.), Wireless optional (via UWA BR 100), BRAVIA Internet
Video, controllable by iPhone / iPod Touch / Android
That reads once good, but the practice is often different because occur in the parameters within the formats deviations and can lead to incompatibilities.
Connections:
-2 USB ports (front and back)
-HDMI Output
Ethernet interface (100Mbit)
-Digital Coaxial for DTS / Dolby Digital
-Komponentenausgang
-Analoger Video and audio output via RCA
-WLAN-Ready (means nothing more than then you have to buy a wireless stick to when you want to use it)
Processing:
Unfortunately, the quality of workmanship no longer corresponds to what I'm used to from Sony. Cheap plastic and only 3 control buttons on the unit could close without the Sony logo on a cheap device from discounters. The charge makes the extension a rickety impression. In the price range to see other players but also no better, so I got what I expected.
Scope of supply:
-Sony BDP-S480 3D Blu-ray Player
Remote control with batteries
-Manual
Construction and installation:
Since I have a network switch with 4x HUB, I do not need WiFi. With its low height, the player can be easily integrated into existing TV-furniture, which can not necessarily be said of many AV receivers.
After switching on the player demanded equal to an update from the network. If you use DHCP, therefore no further configuration is required. The update was gone in minutes and ready for the player then.
The best and which I have never expected, was the compatibility with my Buffalo LinkStation Duo. The LinkStation was during installation of the Blu-ray player in the auto mode. This mode actually works only with installed NAS Navigator. That is, the LinkStation recognizes in Auto mode, the hosts turned on only in relation to particular signals in the network. Using WD TV Live HD Media Player I had my turn on the LinkStation manually because they did not recognize the player.
After switching on the Blu-ray player I saw the icon of my Buffalo LinkStation Duo on the screen. After selection opened the directory structure and I had access to my NAS. So it is clear that the Sony BDP-S480 is capable of the Buffalo LinkStation Duo on and off in the automatic mode. Perfect !!!
Audible noise:
The issue of noise is virtually no treatment in the tests, should, in my view, however, also be taken into account. Again and again we read in the reviews of the users that you send your device because it was too loud.
Since I had previously only DVD player, I can compare the Sony BDP-S480 only with these devices. More than a comparison is not possible, since I have no instruments to capture the volume and also says nothing about the subjective perception.
The Sony BDP-S480 has the loudest drive that I've ever had in any case. All my previous players were much quieter, even the cheap players from the discounters. This is noticeable only when reading a DVD or Blu-ray noticeable and you feel it about as if you turn on a battery operated vacuum cleaner. Once the disc is recognized, reduces the level to a normal level, that I do not feel in comparison to other devices or loud distracting, though my hearing is so sensitive that even I sometimes feel the faint ticking of a clock as disturbing. No player may have a DVD or Blu-ray playback completely silent and if I have extremely quiet passages in the movie, I hear not only the players, but also the cars that drive past my street or other noise.
Operation:
When operating several options are available:
-Use The cheap-looking, supplied remote
-Use The remote control of the KDL-46NX715
-Use The app 'Media Remote' from Sony with an Android phone
I have tried all variants. The supplied remote control serves its purpose and is working properly, but it creates again a jumble of remotes in the living room. If you already have a Sony TV, the BDP-S480 can also control what I like much better. You can install the Sony app 'Media Remote' In addition to an Android smartphone. This requires a working wireless, since the control is effected in this case via the network. This works quite well and makes it even vorzunemen the entries in the Opera web browser the BDP-S480 much more convenient from of smartphone. I tested the i9000 functionality with my Samsung Galaxy S.
The menu structure of the BDP-S480 is the same as the other Sony devices and thus also uses the XrossMediaBar.
Nevertheless, there is a significant difference: The BDP-S480 of the menu to be quite slow. Actually, incomprehensible, but because it is the same concept as the KDL-46NX715 and do not exist here such problems. I hope that still seems a firmware update to remedy this shortcoming.
Data Compatibility:
Here I have used a lot of time to test the compatibility with different file formats. The player can really replace a media player and excels when it comes to Internet functionality my Western Digital Live HD even. The following USB hard disks and drives I've tried, some of which are older and were not recognized by all my previous devices.
-Western Digital HP SimpleSave 500GB 2.5 'USB 3.0
-Western Digital 2.5 'MyBook 500GB
-Trekstor USB Storage DataStation pocket 't.ub external
Hard disk 2.5 '(problematic disk that requires a lot of power!)
-Diverse Hard drives with 40GB / 80GB in external Aluline 2.5 'USB enclosure (IDE and S-ATA)
-Western Digital WDE1UBK10000E Elements external hard drive 1
TB HDD 3,5 '
-Hama Card Reader 35in1 with various SD card of 1 GB to 16 GB (SDHC)
-TrekStor DataStation maxi mu External Hard Drive 500GB 3.5 '
-Samsung Galaxy S i9000
-Panasonic DMC-TZ7
-FujiFilm FinePix S6500fd Digital Camera
I tested the DivX and XviD formats in all forms, MP3, JPEG, AVI, MKV, AVC-HD, VOB, ISO, WMA, WMV, TS files from my Comag SL90 HD, MPEG2 and MPEG4.
There were detected almost all file formats, but there were some problems also:
-ISO Files will not play
DVD menus are not working. It can only be played pure VOB files.
Files from Comag SL90 HD is not recognized.
-The Samsung Galaxy i9000 S was not detected
But that was all, because the other formats are easily recognized and played incl. The way forward.
Network functionality:
In addition to the integrated 100 MBit Ethernet interface, the Sony BDP-S480 'wireless ready', which means nothing else than that you should buy if required a WLAN USB Stick from Sony for 56 EUR so.
But it is also cheaper with the Netgear Universal WiFi Internet Adapter WNCE2001-100GRS (Ethernet to WLAN). Advantage of such an adapter is to use the Ethernet socket, you do not need for connection via WLAN anyway. The power is supplied via the USB port and the adapter can also be used with other devices:
Here I have taken the same file types on my Buffalo LinkStation Duo NAS drive that came with my test with the local drives for use. In addition to the already mentioned control the NAS drive in automatic mode, almost all formats could be played back, with one exception:
The previously detected via USB drive MKV files were not played. The player hung on there and even after 10 minutes of waiting time nothing happened.
I'm still looking for a solution to the problem. With Samsung TVs, there will be similar problems, the Twonky media server may directly affect the NAS drive. By updating the version of the Twonky media server on the Buffalo LinkStation Duo is the problem to fix.
Since everything else is working properly, the WD TV Live HD Media Player could be replaced.
The other network features such as Youtube etc. are not really worth mentioning.
Blu-ray and 3D playback:
When playing Blu-ray discs, the player does not show any weaknesses. The disc is loaded in a few seconds. The picture is sharp and the layer change in my still few Blu-ray discs were barely noticeable. The 3D functionality I have with the 2 Blu-ray 3D discs
'Open Season' and 'wonderful world of oceans 3D' tested.
The 3D effects splendidly in Open Season. That's why I can not give me 'wonderful world of oceans 3D' Birthday. Especially in 'The Living Oceans 3D' effects could convince me definitively the 3D. It has not only the impression of standing in front of an aquarium, but feels almost like a diver who is in the midst of fish and corals go. In the scene with the sharks you downright frightened because the sharks are threatening to swim out of the screen and you believe every moment to be touched by them.
DVD playback:
There was no shortage of test material, because I have an extensive DVD collection. The BDP-S480 scales the SD material very well and the image quality is more than satisfactory. Artifacts are barely perceptible and the difference to a Blu-ray will be noted with a large viewing distance hardly. Therefore, I will draw on some, a few DVDs replacement with a Blu-ray Disc into consideration.
Audio CD Playback:
For me it is also the use as a CD player is important. Here, unfortunately, falls on negative, that you can not select a single track using the numeric keypad on the remote control, which is standard with a CD player. Otherwise, the CD playback works well and I could not tell the difference from my old Technics CD player.
Stability:
An unusual criterion? In my view, not because it came a few times before that the player said goodbye with a 'wait' on the display. Especially when one or other audio CD or the access to certain files came this before now and then. Other players, however, have similar problems and the advice to remove the plug, you should not always follow. Usually it is enough just to keep the on / off button pressed longer.
Conclusion:
The Sony BDP-S480 is a player with many strengths and some weaknesses:
Pro:
-Plays From many data formats, but not all
-Schaltet The Buffalo LinkStation Duo and off automatically
-2 USB ports, a front and a rear
-relative Quiet (although others argue the opposite)
Contraindications:
-MKV Containers do not currently have network playable
-Billig Acting processing
Sometimes -Hängt on itself
-Träge Menu structure
For the price I know of right now is no better player and certainly not flat rate with a free 3 month package of LOVEFiLM, although there is not always the offer. Therefore, I can recommend buying fully, especially if already a Sony Bravia LCD TV in the living room.
