Good buy, great blu-ray player

First off let's please get this item into the correct Epinions category.  This is a standard high quality Blu-ray DVD player, not a burner.  If Epinions can get this model moved into the regular Blu-Ray DVD Player category, please delete/ignore this paragraph.

At my local Best Buy, I looked at this and a Samsung unit for the same price ($299). Both were hooked up so I (with the salesman's help - BTW he was very polite and knowledgeable) played with them a bit and decided I liked the Sony better because of the way it responded and the screen menus. Both had good video using a Spiderman III disc that was there for demo. It was almost a toss-up.  But I am more comfortable with the older Sony name.

At home, the only problem I had was due to my 2005 model TV's strange way of connecting an HD/Blu-ray DVD player.  I discovered that the TV (Mitsubishi WD52628 52" 1080p HD DLP) was really only 1080i capable from the device inputs. It only can display 1080p from the antenna or direct cable input.  Rats!  Oh well, once I figured it out (bought a HDMI cable from RadioShack for $34), everything went pretty smoothly.

Setup for the BDP-S350 is a bit tricky at first; the on-screen sequence is not the *most* intuitive that I have ever seen, and the owner’s manual is a bit terse. But I got it setup to play blu-ray discs at highest resolution using the "Auto" detect setting on Output resolution. There are several default and "Auto" settings; most users will be fine using those.

Viewing Spiderman III and the new Indiana Jones movie, the player performed flawlessly.  Picture was crisp and clearer than anything I had ever seen on my Oppo DV971H Upconverting DVD player (which I highly recommend if you do not want Blu-Ray or have a 1080i or 1080p HDTV yet, but that is another review).  Motion is smoother with few artifacts when the camera panned horizontally.  Big plus.  Fast forward or next chapter, pause, backwards...all those worked as expected (just fine).

The audio output is fine -I simply ran a stereo cable pair over to my modest home theater setup.  I heard no problems - wife and I agreed that the sound was full-dimensional and great, if maybe a bit low on volume with Blu-ray discs. Playing a standard DVD, the sound output was louder. But hey, that's what they make volume controls for.

I found the remote easy to learn to use for what I use it for - playing DVDs, pausing, fast forward and rewind, and stop / eject. I did NOT try to teach it to control any other devices. I do NOT play games or try any of that interactive stuff that comes on many DVD movies as "bonus features". If you or the kids have an interest in that - you will need to read a different review.  My wife and I just watch movies.

And with this Sony Blu-ray player, watching movies just got better and MUCH easier on the eyes..

Big GB