WM: SEIKI BD-Live Blu-Ray Player BD660

[Vacillator]

Further update: I noticed that Walmart has re-stocked these players, but that the packaging has changed. This display model appeared identical, but I don't know for sure whether anything has changed.

Update: Walmart currently has these for $78 during the Anniversary Sale (EXPIRED).


I picked one of these up today at Wal*mart. I haven't hooked it up to try it out yet, and probably won't have time to do so until tomorrow. The display model was actually quite nice looking and seemed well built.

Some of the stated specs from the box.

Video Playback
Picture Enhancement: Progressive Scan, Video Upscaling, High Def (720p, 1080i, 1080p)
Compression Formats: H.264, VC-1, MPEG2, MPEG4
Playback Media: BD Profile 2.0, BD-R/RE 2.0, DVD, DVD-Video, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, DivX

Audio Playback
Sound System: Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Tru HD, DTS 2.0 + Digital Out
Compression Format: MP3, PCM, Dolby Digital DTS
Playback Media: MP3-CD, CD-R/RW, CD, MP3-DVD

Connectivity
HDMI, USB, Ethernet, Component Video, Composite Video, Coaxial, Optical

I had to buy it just to try it out and because it hit my <$100 price point.

[ayko]

It would be great if it could support MKV

[t_waly7]

Looks like a great price but what on earth is Seiki....a google search didn't really give me any information. I'm anxiously awaiting your review. Thanks OP

[Vacillator]

Here's their website listed on the box. The website contains zero product information

http://www.ivi-digital.com/

[t_waly7]

Here's their website listed on the box. The website contains zero product information

http://www.ivi-digital.com/

Gotta love this from the website

Blue-ray DVD Player Terminated

BLUE! So money

or this in the about us section http://www.ivi-digital.com/AboutUs-01.html

pursuit of beautify life by innovation and creative

sounds like it was put in Google translate and copy pasted.

In any case, let's hope their engineering and manufacturing is better than their spelling.

[Northguy]

I picked one up also. I liked the size which was a smaller profile. My sony 32 lcd in my bedroom is wall mounted and i have a small shelf for the sat reciever and this unit. I tried it out with Cold Mnt. on Blu-Ray at 720p. It looked pretty good. There is no live update for firmware over the ethernet. So I visited the above mentioned web site. No Support links? So i'm wondering if I should take it back and get the Samsung BD-1600 at The Source for 109.00? I'm worried about Firware updates for future Blu-Rays
http://www.thesource.ca/estore/produ...language=en-CA

[Busybuyer888]

I picked one up also. I liked the size which was a smaller profile. My sony 32 lcd in my bedroom is wall mounted and i have a small shelf for the sat reciever and this unit. I tried it out with Cold Mnt. on Blu-Ray at 720p. It looked pretty good. There is no live update for firmware over the ethernet. So I visited the above mentioned web site. No Support links? So i'm wondering if I should take it back and get the Samsung BD-1600 at The Source for 109.00? I'm worried about Firware updates for future Blu-Rays
http://www.thesource.ca/estore/produ...language=en-CA

For an extra $20 do you have to ask? Samsung SD-1600 all the way!

[xpat]

For an extra $20 do you have to ask? Samsung SD-1600 all the way!

++

[M-e-X-x]

I picked one up also. I liked the size which was a smaller profile. My sony 32 lcd in my bedroom is wall mounted and i have a small shelf for the sat reciever and this unit. I tried it out with Cold Mnt. on Blu-Ray at 720p. It looked pretty good. There is no live update for firmware over the ethernet. So I visited the above mentioned web site. No Support links? So i'm wondering if I should take it back and get the Samsung BD-1600 at The Source for 109.00? I'm worried about Firware updates for future Blu-Rays
http://www.thesource.ca/estore/produ...language=en-CA

http://www.ivi-digital.com/Product.html

'Blue-ray DVD Player Terminated'?

[Vacillator]

Reasonably impressed so far with the unit. We rented a Blu-Ray and watched it with no issues. The player is quiet, the movie loaded quickly and it responds quickly to the remote (the included remote is actually quite nice, although I'll use my Harmony remote if I keep the player). It grabbed a DHCP address right away too.

I plugged in my 2.5 external which I use on my WDTV and it didn't show any sign of recognizing it, so I'm guessing the USB port is only good to plug in a flash drive for firmware updates and maybe for BD-Live content. Oh well, I'm not overly concerned about that anyway, as I have plenty of other ways to play DivX/MKV content.

Really, the only thing that concerns me is the probable lack of support from the vendor. This is my first experience with a Blu-Ray standalone player. How frequently are firmware updates issued for players and how important are they? Will new Blu-Ray releases come out and be broken without a firmware upgrade?

That Samsung drive at TSCC is nowhere to be found around here, so that's out of the question as an alternative.

[Northguy]

I checked The Source and the samsung not here. I've watched Cold mnt and Sherlock Holmes so far. Pretty good quality. Quiet and fast loading. Walmart had a load of them today when I was there. A long weekend deal my guess. The discontinued Blu Ray on the website is not the same one (at least the picture is not). Tonight I will check out the upconverting of a Regular DVD.
I have to say so far i am impressed for only $88.
There was no record on harmony's website. I saved all the keys and uploaded them to Logitech Harmony's site. I have the Harmony 659 in my Bedroom.

[Y2Jared19]

Im on my way to get a second one now.

This player is seemingly for dvd anyways region free and also plays pal without problems. I played an imported region 2 coded dvd with no issue at all.

I plugged a usb flash drive into it and pressed the "media center" button on the remote and it read the usb drive no problems as well and xvids seem to work. Even in hd '720p' type quality.

Mkv files want to play, and they seem to play the sound perfect and the video is very fluid and isnt jerky, but theres pixelation and some video issues.

Bluray booted up just as quickly as a ps3 would, and played just fine, i didnt check bd live at all, as i never use that anyways.

[masterc]

Im on my way to get a second one now.

This player is seemingly for dvd anyways region free and also plays pal without problems. I played an imported region 2 coded dvd with no issue at all.

I plugged a usb flash drive into it and pressed the "media center" button on the remote and it read the usb drive no problems as well and xvids seem to work. Even in hd '720p' type quality.

Mkv files want to play, and they seem to play the sound perfect and the video is very fluid and isnt jerky, but theres pixelation and some video issues.

Bluray booted up just as quickly as a ps3 would, and played just fine, i didnt check bd live at all, as i never use that anyways.

Will it play divx files off usb?

[Y2Jared19]

yes

[nikhil1]

is this player avaiable at the Walmart at Markham/Steeles or the Walmart at Markville Mall