Recommend a blu-ray player for streaming from Windows 7

[Pragmatic]

Hi,

I'm building a home theater downstairs so my Xbox is going there as well.
Upstairs we're completely dependent on streaming from my Windows 7 pc.

Please recommend a Blu-ray player that is great for streaming, playing multiple formats, etc.
I would like one that is quick to start up and has responsive controls. (my Sony BD-3600 isn't this)

I'm a little confused DLNA. Will anything DLNA compliant be able to play any format? (mkv, avi, mpg, etc)?

TIA

[JamesA1]

I'm a little confused DLNA. Will anything DLNA compliant be able to play any format? (mkv, avi, mpg, etc)?

Not guaranteed - it depends on the Blu-Ray player and the firmware version, the DLNA server type and version, and the specific file format variation. Most manufacturers probably test DLNA with the Windows Media Player server, but they don't test every file type and every format variation, and invariably some of them don't work. You can try other DLNA servers running on your PC - the more popular ones with lots of users probably have some custom settings for each client device that will allow more formats to work. You should pick a specific Blu-Ray model and then do some internet searching to see what formats it supports with a particular DLNA server.

Some DLNA servers can do transcoding, so if you have a fast PC they can convert an incompatible video format to a compatible one on-the-fly for your DLNA client. Most aren't fast enough to keep up with HD video though.

[bugsbunny01]

i would recommend the LG bluray players. i have one, and it reads most known video formats(MKV, AVI, MPG, M2TS, etc), has usb ports that u can plug your external and read directly from it, stream through wifi, plug an ethernet cable. I have mine plugged to a router, and it streams movies from my win 7 pc without problems, i can use software to transcode like ps3 media server, or serviio, but no need. the bluray player handles it on its own

[arm2000]

Hi,

I'm building a home theater downstairs so my Xbox is going there as well.
Upstairs we're completely dependent on streaming from my Windows 7 pc.

Please recommend a Blu-ray player that is great for streaming, playing multiple formats, etc.
I would like one that is quick to start up and has responsive controls. (my Sony BD-3600 isn't this)

I'm a little confused DLNA. Will anything DLNA compliant be able to play any format? (mkv, avi, mpg, etc)?

TIA

mkv, avi and so on are container formats. A DLNA client (such as a BD player) doesn't handle the container format but only the codec (such as H.264) and being certified DLNA ensures that it can handle any codec that the DLNA server can throw at it. However, when playing files directly (from attached device or from network) it needs to handle these container formats itself, but this has no relation with DLNA

[iso3200]

I run PS3 Media Server (http://www.ps3mediaserver.org/) (requires Java) on my Win7 box streaming to my PS3. Works great!

[Pragmatic]

Ok thanks for the tips.

It seems like anything DLNA and I should be okay.

Now to find something that boots fast and has a nice UI.