Wal-Mart carrying $298 Blu-ray players?

Take this with a grain of salt, but according to Blu-ray.com Wal-Mart has begun selling a $298 USD Blu-ray player in select stores, a price over $100 USD lower than current entry-level players.

The site says that the cheaper players are showing up on Wal-Mart store shelves under brand names such as Magnavox and Sylvania but that they are in reality coming from Japanese manufacturer Funai which has been rumored for months to be working on a low-cost Blu-ray player.

Funai is known mainly for manufacturing low cost electronics, which in turn pressures the industry to lower prices for their name brand electronics.

Not much is known about the new players but the site says it supports the Profile 1.1 BD standard.

More information as it becomes available.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 May 2008 18:38

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32 comments

iluvendo

I've owned some funai stuff b4, kinda low on the quality totum pole

13.5.2008 18:43 #1

error5

Funai makes most of Walmart's house brands like Magnavox and Sylvania.

This was also reported at engadget and highdefdigest:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/12/fun...l-mart-for-298/
http://forums.highdefdigest.com/showthread.php?t=54384

Pioneer Kuro 50" PDP-5010FD 1080p Plasma With 24fps input and 3:3 72Hz Playback - ISF Calibrated
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player// Sony PS3 60GB - soon to be replaced by the Panasonic DMP-BD50
Marantz SR6001 Surround Sound Receiver With HDMI// B&W604/602/LCR600 // Hsu Research VTF3 Subwoofer
HD DVD Titles - 85 // BluRay Titles - 63 (and counting)

13.5.2008 18:58 #2

TBandit

thought you couldnt take pictures in store

13.5.2008 19:13 #3

wolf123

camera phone whos going too stop you.

13.5.2008 19:39 #4

escalante

I wonder how this will impact PS3 sales...
So far, it was the cheapest Blu-ray player out there. I'm guessing a lot of people bought one because of this. Now that there is a cheaper one out there, PS3 sales might see a slight dip. Just thinking out loud here...

13.5.2008 20:22 #5

mspurloc

So you're paying $300 for a player worth about $15 to the manufacturer and about $40 in a market based in reality. There's nothing that special about a high-def player, so this is a rip-off. I'm waiting until the prices get real.

13.5.2008 20:24 #6

error5

Originally posted by mspurloc: So you're paying $300 for a player worth about $15 to the manufacturer and about $40 in a market based in reality. There's nothing that special about a high-def player, so this is a rip-off. I'm waiting until the prices get real.So based on your version of reality, the $99 Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player was still $60 overpriced and was also a rip-off.

13.5.2008 20:49 #7

DVDBack23

Originally posted by mspurloc: So you're paying $300 for a player worth about $15 to the manufacturer and about $40 in a market based in reality. There's nothing that special about a high-def player, so this is a rip-off. I'm waiting until the prices get real.To be honest even with cheaper Asian production this probably still costs $180 or so to produce...

13.5.2008 20:58 #8

c1c

All new technology is pretty much a rip off. Look at how much Laserdisc players and movies cost back in the day. 400-1000k for players and 40$-$100 for movies. Its enough of the optical format, flash drives are the future.

13.5.2008 22:22 #9

erjl

I agree with mspurloc. If you can buy a DVD player for $30 to $80. You should be able to buy a BD player for $60 to $160. That's twice the price and I seriously doubt it costs more than twice as much to manufacture.

13.5.2008 22:50 #10

sk8flawzz

I'm still not convinced, price-wise, to dive into BD. However if I did cave I'd really much rather pony up the extra $100 and get the PS3.

13.5.2008 23:55 #11

thor999

Is anybody familiar with WalMart editing the movies they sell? I have heard the rumor that a questionable song was removed from Dirty Dancing, as well as other rumors. Thats definitely one movie I would care not to investigate, thank you.

14.5.2008 03:47 #12

wolf123

Walmart gets them like everyone else and if there is edited version of movie and they would want that then they could like.

The jerk there is s certain scene that was left out of the 26th anniversary edition yet they play the scene on tv and the new site hulu .

If you don't the scene it where gets on this ride and he spends 8 hours on it.

14.5.2008 04:49 #13

PantherM

Well, $298 is a start. Hopefully other manufactures will follow suit and we will see more price cuts. $250 BD players at Christmas?

14.5.2008 07:45 #14

SDF_GR

Originally posted by c1c: All new technology is pretty much a rip off. Look at how much Laserdisc players and movies cost back in the day. 400-1000k for players and 40$-$100 for movies. Its enough of the optical format, flash drives are the future.In euros
DVD-RW 4,7GB 6X Jewel Case = about 1,5 euros
BD-RW 25GB = about 20 euros
BD-RW 50GB = about 50 euros

Transcend 4gb USB2 = 39 euros
Transcend 32gb USB2 = 128 euros

of course the transfer speed is a great issue,
but as long thumb drives cant get even close to the "price to capacity " that optical media offer, i dont think that the their future is that close.
With this prices a 2hour HD movie that needs more than 15gb's, to buy a movies will cost you a fortune.

14.5.2008 07:56 #15

juankerr

Originally posted by mspurloc: So you're paying $300 for a player worth about $15 to the manufacturer and about $40 in a market based in reality.

I've spent a lot of time, effort and money researching, and putting together my home theater (50 inch plasma, Denon receiver, 7.1 speakers).

I don't know about you but I personally wouldn't leave the player duties to some $40 machine from the bottom of the barrel.

Quote:There's nothing that special about a high-def player, ...except that it does something that your regular DVD player cannot do - it plays BluRay discs.

14.5.2008 08:38 #16

eatsushi

Some specs on the Funai/Magnavox/Sylvania:

>Final Standard Profile 1.1 BD Player
>Video Output Resolutions: 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p (1080p/24 and 1080p/60)
>DVD Upconversion to 720p, 1080i, 1080p
>Support for HD Audio Formats: bitstream output, no internal decoding
>HDMI Ver. 1.3
>Weight 9.5 lbs.
>Dimensions: 17.2" x 13.9" x 2.8" (exact dimensions may vary by brand)

http://funai.us/BDPrelease010208.pdf

See posts #51 and up for some pictures and initial user impressions of the player:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1026390&page=2

Added: Another Walmart sighting:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/Dragngt/bluray-walmart.jpg

14.5.2008 11:19 #17

emugamer

Go Funai! I've had a Sylvania DVD player for a few years that has taken a beating from my kids. My cats also stick their paws in there looking for stuff, and I do believe hiding stuff. Darn thing still plays allmy retail and back up DVD's with no prob!

14.5.2008 11:45 #18

core2kid

If you noticed the player is only BluRay profile 1.1. To my knowledge all new players are profile 2.
These are probably not bad players but there has to be something that they don't include or something that is of lower quality than the competitors. Only time taking it apart will be able to tell.

14.5.2008 16:33 #19

juankerr

Originally posted by core2kid: If you noticed the player is only BluRay profile 1.1. To my knowledge all new players are profile 2.Not really. Only the PS3 is BD-Live 2.0 at this time (May 14th, 2008).

The new models from Panasonic and Sony will be 2.0 and there is word that the LG BH200 combo player could be upgraded to 2.0. The recent new models from Denon, Samsung and Philips are all Profile 1.1.

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/630898

14.5.2008 16:42 #20

susieqbbb

lame considering all blu-ray players on the market go to profile 2.0 fully at the end of the year so even with a 1.1 profile these players are worthless.

14.5.2008 16:58 #21

juankerr

Originally posted by susieqbbb: lame considering all blu-ray players on the market go to profile 2.0 fully at the end of the year so even with a 1.1 profile these players are worthless.unless:

1. You don't have an ethernet port at the back of your equipment rack and you don't want long lengths of CAT5 cable on your floor.
2. You have an ethernet port at the back of your equipment rack but you don't want to connect your player to the internet.
3. You don't care for the BD-Live extras and just want to watch the movies. "Download ringtones? - you've got to be kidding."

If you're any of the above then 1.1 is good enough for you.

14.5.2008 17:09 #22

juankerr

videobusiness.com is reporting that the Magnavox NB500MG9 will be found in more Walmart stores come Memorial Day weekend.

http://www.videobusiness.com/index.asp?l...4&desc=topstory

Quote:Come Memorial Day weekend, Wal-Mart will start selling Blu-ray Disc set-top players for $298, the cheapest starting price point yet for players in the format.

AVS Forum bloggers report seeing the player on shelves at various Wal-Mart outlets now, but the model should be more widely spread throughout the chain by May 24-26, according to sources.

This same player also will be sold at Best Buy under the chain�s in-house Insignia brand beginning mid- to late-July, priced at $347.99. Typically, Insignia products are among the more inexpensively priced at Best Buy.

Although research analysts have circled the $200 mark as the sweet spot for mainstream Blu-ray hardware adoption, these budget-conscious Funai players should give format sales a boost.

14.5.2008 22:25 #23

varikelo

Well, I just read at thedigitalbits.com that Walmart will also sell the Samsung BD-P1500, which is profile 2.0 compatible, for $349 USD, but this only in select stores.

At least this is something, hopefully will see this kind of players for under $300 USD at the end of the year....

Regards

15.5.2008 12:59 #24

FredBun

anything 40 inch or less bluray is a waste, and 300 bucks for a bluray is still a rip, make it $100 or less or stick it.

11.6.2008 22:45 #25

HDNow

Looks very good on my 52 inches LCD 1080P.

11.6.2008 22:52 #26

mspurloc

12.6.2008 00:15 #27

FredBun

mspurloc, neither am I.

12.6.2008 00:17 #28

mspurloc

Originally posted by error5: Originally posted by mspurloc: So you're paying $300 for a player worth about $15 to the manufacturer and about $40 in a market based in reality. There's nothing that special about a high-def player, so this is a rip-off. I'm waiting until the prices get real.So based on your version of reality, the $99 Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player was still $60 overpriced and was also a rip-off.1. Don't tell me my version of reality.
2. That would not be a rip-off. It's called reasonable markup, and is proof that not all companies are as corrupt as Sony has become.

12.6.2008 00:18 #29

FredBun

Calling Sony corrupt is being nice.

12.6.2008 00:22 #30

error5

Originally posted by mspurloc: 1. Don't tell me my version of reality.
2. That would not be a rip-off. It's called reasonable markup, and is proof that not all companies are as corrupt as Sony has become.Your $99 BluRay player should become reality next year once the Chinese manufacturers get in the game.

The fact remains that my next BluRay player purchase will be less expensive than the $700 I paid for my Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player (original MSRP $999).

12.6.2008 01:05 #31

eatsushi

Originally posted by DVDBack23: Originally posted by mspurloc: So you're paying $300 for a player worth about $15 to the manufacturer and about $40 in a market based in reality. There's nothing that special about a high-def player, so this is a rip-off. I'm waiting until the prices get real.To be honest even with cheaper Asian production this probably still costs $180 or so to produce...DVDBack23: you're very likely right on target there. This article is from 2 years ago but I'll post it just to give you an idea of how much it costs to manufacture an HD player:

Blu-Ray, HD DVD Players Cost Over $400 to Build � Research Firm

Quote:with the servo chipset, optical pick-up, H.264 decoder and royalties making up the majority of the cost, the initial estimates for the bill of materials for blue-laser disc players is over $400, according to In-Stat. Most of the costs are forecasted to decline considerably by 2010, except for royalties.Every $99 HD DVD Player Losing $500

Quote:the first HD-A1 HD DVD player cost Toshiba $674 in parts alone (Says iSuppli, 2006). So are they losing ~$500 bucks on these newer player selling for less than a C-note?Prices may have come down since then but it's unrealistic to say that these players only cost $15 to manufacture.

12.6.2008 10:23 #32

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