Sony Multi Zone Region Free Blu Ray Player - PAL/NTSC Playback - Zone A B C - Region 1 2 3 4 5 6

(This is an edited version of an earlier negative post after some confusion and misunderstanding on my part about the product and receipt of clarification from the company marketing this product.) The Sony S1500RF is a Sony BDP-S1500 which has been modified for "Region Free" operation by the various companies marketing this item. The sticker on the box indicates that the modified unit operates in Blu-Ray zones A/B/C and DVD regions 0 - 8 while the paperwork inside the box indicates Blu-Ray zones A/B/C and DVD regions 1 - 6. The "RF" designation is given to the S1500 in order to differentiate between a stock Sony S1500 and this modified version. The "Region Free" modification is done in hardware so updating the software should not result in loss of the "Region Free" capability. The Sony S1500RF was easy to set up and configuration for the internet was automatic.

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While it plays all my British Region 2 DVDs just fine, it ran aground with "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - Extended Version" from Sweden. Even after installing the latest software updates, it still wouldnt play. I had just ordered a new LG player from amazon.com, and while researching similar issues others had with that one, someone mentioned the odd way to change BD regions. I dug up a 2011 Sony BD player remote which had numerals (the remote that came in the box for this Sony player didnt have numerals), and I managed to switch the BD region codes. This is truly a design flaw in remotes for newer models. I guess someone decided removing the IMPORTANT numeral buttons would make the remote look more "artsy". At least I HAD an old Sony remote.

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This review is for the SONY BDP S1700 Multi Region Bluray player. I will give it 4 stars for flawless operation so far, about three months of use but I cant rate its streaming abilities because I havent used it for that. It hasnt ever refused to play DVDs or Blurays from any region, but you do have to select A, B or C for Bluray regions. Very simple. Picture and sound quality are impressive but not the best for 4K televisions, this player has no 4K upscaling engine and my TVs upscaler is mediocre. In this regard I think all 1080p HD players are obsolete. 4K is the new standard (for now, 8K is coming eventually), but they can still be useful. DVDs look very good with this player, it has a great PAL~NTSC converter but I can see ghosting with some discs. What I really appreciate about this player is its ability to play MP3 CDs & DVDs. I have a number of classic radio series in these formats, Jack Benny, Life Of Riley, Goon Show, etc. I have a SANYO FWBP807FP 4K player that finds no readable files in these formats and the SONYs displays are great! Very informative and user friendly. Exhaustive image searches are perfect, no freezing or refusals. The 1700 does everything I ask it to do without a lingering PAUSE (II) onscreen symbol, great for screen shots! So overall a Very Good player with impressive versatility, but not the best choice for 4K televisions. Look for a 4K upscaling player, its worth a little more. Stay away from overpriced 4K UHD Multi Region players, they cost between $350-500 at this time. 4K discs are region free, you can buy a decent 4k player for less than $100 easily and a Multi Region 4K upscaling unit for $200. I would rather have two players for the price of one anytime!

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