Region 1 (US) Blu Ray player - looking for recommendations.

[Alltheyoungdudes]

Anyone with a recommendation for a reasonably-priced Region 1 (US) or Region free Blu-ray player? I need it to be able to buy and play US only BR movies such as The Big Chill and Five Easy Pieces and many of the Criterion reissues - none of which are available in Region 2

I've two Sony BR machines - one with SACD which is handy - but I discovered a good while ago that it's not possible to hack them for all region BR play. And while I'd love to have the funds for an Oppo all region Universal player - they don't come cheap.

This one looks to fit the bill but any other suggestions welcome:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Panasonic-DMP- ... op?ie=UTF8

[Fran]

I know nothing of the model you have above there, but I always heard that Sony and Panasonic couldn't be region hacked via the remote. So maybe make sure of that before forking out (you probably have already)


fran

[Alltheyoungdudes]

Good point Fran...which is why I'm asking.

But the model I mentioned appears to be marketed as all-region for Blu-Ray and available in the UK, so I don't think hacking comes into it. Unless I'm mistaken, it's being sold as "ready to use". (I've managed to hack one of my BR players for all region DVDs but I think it's impossible to do so for Blu-Ray via remote.)

It's surprising and frustrating just how many movies on Blu-Ray are only available in the US/Region 1.

[mossym]

the days of using remote codes to unlock regions on players largely died with DVD. i've had 3 RF BR players, all involved the addition of an additional pcb so that the boot loader of the original player could be bypassed with one with a different region.when you see these saying ready to go it means someone has already installed the pcb. region is usually selected then with the remote prior to power up, 1 for region A, 2 for region B, or with a manual slider switch on the front. you have to change the region yourself then when you want to play a region locked disc


the players i have had liket hat are 2* panny's and an oppo, cannot speak for the sonys but i believe it simiilar. Also, as my oppo has been flaweless since i got it, and i'm not doing 4k with it, it's an older model and things may have moved on a little. i doubt there are models out now with region free codes from the remote though