AfterDawn: News

Memorex releases sub-$300 USD Blu-ray player

Memorex has become the first major electronics producer to sell a Blu-ray player at under $300 USD at launch, setting the new milestone with its MVBD-2510 priced at $270 USD.

The player does however lack Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) but for the average user who does not care about the ability to download extras from the Internet, the player is a great deal for the price and Profile 1.1 is fine. The player has HDMI out and support for Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD and raw bitstream audio. It will also play 1080p24p natively without the need for pulldown that degrades quality.



The player is set to ship in November and should be on retail shelves by late November/early December.




Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 18 Sep 2008 16:43

• Previous article

• RIAA to sue Ray Beckerman

• Next article

• Xbox 360 name change, redesign coming?

• 28 comments

• JRude

  I can buy almost 7 DVD-Divx Certified players for that amount. I'm placing my money on standard DVD's.

  18.9.2008 17:18 #1

• iluvendo

  I'l wait and see

  18.9.2008 17:55 #2

• ikari

  Originally posted by JRude: I can buy almost 7 DVD-Divx Certified players for that amount. I'm placing my money on standard DVD's.New techology is always expensive at first. Remember a year ago what the prices were? It has come down. Not as fast as we would like but it has come down and will continue to come down.
  
  Remember how much dvd players where when they first came out? Now look how cheap they are.
  
  For me, I find it is still too much and I will continue to wait has the technology improves and the prices go down further. I also am not normally the "early adopter" type.
  
  Well, also I need to buy a HDTV or projector and a newer onkyo system. That might be awhile. :-)

  18.9.2008 18:06 #3

• tavek

  MEMOREX? never knew they had a hardware line.
  I always joke to people, if you cant buy a sony, always go for the next best thing MEXICAN sony by teh way of "SANYO"
  
  Yeah i know sanyo isnt south of the border , but all these players are still too close to ps3, give it till next xmas, when they will finally put out a reasonable HTIB combo.

  18.9.2008 19:10 #4

• Ryu77

  Originally posted by tavek: MEMOREX? never knew they had a hardware line.
  I always joke to people, if you cant buy a sony, always go for the next best thing MEXICAN sony by teh way of "SANYO"
  
  Yeah i know sanyo isnt south of the border , but all these players are still too close to ps3, give it till next xmas, when they will finally put out a reasonable HTIB combo.There has already been Blu-ray HTIB solutions available for quite some time. Two that come to mind...
  
  1) Samsung HTBD2T: http://www.samsung.com/au/consumer/detai..._cd=HT-BD2T/XSA
  
  2) Panasonic SC-BT105: http://panasonic.com.au/products/details.cfm?objectID=4567

  18.9.2008 20:00 #5

• error5

  Originally posted by ikari: Remember how much dvd players where when they first came out? Now look how cheap they are.DVD players became available in the US in March 1997.
  
  The average retail price for DVD players:
  1st half of 1997 = $735
  2nd half of 1998 = $470
  
  Mean price:
  1st half of 1999 = $443.39 ~ 2 years post launch.
  
  Source: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpidvd.htm
  
  ------------
  
  Just when Memorex announces their BD player, Samsung cuts $120 off their BD-P1500 model (now at $278.81) if you buy from amazon.com:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-BD-P1500-1...21789731&sr=1-3
  
  There's also a widespread rumor that Sony is dropping $100 off the price of their BDP=S350 to $299 by the end of the month.
  
  http://www.techfresh.net/sonys-blu-ray-p...per-next-month/

  18.9.2008 22:38 #6

• Blackloz

  I will have to buy one of these or one of the samsung's off of Amazon. I need a second BD player for upstairs.

  18.9.2008 23:10 #7

• tleewade

  i like most people still have to buy a hd tv first then think about a hd dvd player. the ecomeny is in bad shape so it will be a while yet. that dont help blueray. ok spelling nerds say something.

  19.9.2008 10:37 #8

• Toshibot

  Originally posted by tleewade: i like most people still have to buy a hd tv first then think about a hd dvd player. the ecomeny is in bad shape so it will be a while yet. that dont help blueray. ok spelling nerds say something.With the economy in bad shape and gas prices sky high, people will choose not to go out to restaurants and movie theaters. People will choose to stay at home and watch their DVD's and BluRay's.
  
  Bad economy = more movie watching at home.

  19.9.2008 10:55 #9

• Vr0cK

  I've seen a Samsung Blu-ray player for $299 at Bestbuy if anybody likes that price range but wants a more well-known brand.

  19.9.2008 11:56 #10

• mspurloc

  And?
  Unless this means a $100 street price, no sale.
  I'm not interested in being gouged for a player that costs the same to make as a regular DVD player.
  Sorry.
  
  Besides, it's Memorex.
  Polaroid and Memorex, same quality.

  19.9.2008 13:12 #11

• Toshibot

  Originally posted by error5: Originally posted by ikari: Remember how much dvd players where when they first came out? Now look how cheap they are.DVD players became available in the US in March 1997.
  
  The average retail price for DVD players:
  1st half of 1997 = $735
  2nd half of 1998 = $470
  
  Mean price:
  1st half of 1999 = $443.39 ~ 2 years post launch.
  
  Source: http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpidvd.htm
  
  ------------
  
  Just when Memorex announces their BD player, Samsung cuts $120 off their BD-P1500 model (now at $278.81) if you buy from amazon.com:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-BD-P1500-1...21789731&sr=1-3
  
  There's also a widespread rumor that Sony is dropping $100 off the price of their BDP=S350 to $299 by the end of the month.
  
  " target="_blank">http://www.techfresh.net/sonys-blu-ray-p...-month/
  
  As of today 2:24pm EDT, the Sony S350 is now down to $339.98 at amazon.com and is now number 1 on its bestseller list among all players including SD DVD players.
  
  Number 2 is the Samsung 1500 at $278.82.
  
  The top 3 bestsellers are all BluRay players. The number 3 is the Panasonic BD30 at $277.57.

  19.9.2008 14:29 #12

• JRude

  SONY's list...I would not buy a Sony. Too expensive for any class it's in. When I see a list of ALL players I'll be impressed. People who buy Sony buy the name no matter what. People who buy Sony are usually high end buyers. Too many off brand SDVD players out there selling to make Sony's list impressive.

  19.9.2008 15:26 #13

• Toshibot

  Originally posted by JRude: SONY's list...Nope. It's amazon's list updated hourly:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=amb_link_183...pf_rd_i=1065836
  
  Also from amazon/eproductwars.com:
  
  Ironman BluRay - sales rank = #4
  Iron Man DVD - sales rank = #5
  
  That's the first time I've seen a BluRay disc outrank a DVD on pre-orders at amazon.
  
  http://www.eproductwars.com/dvd/

  19.9.2008 15:36 #14

• error5

  http://www.tvpredictions.com/black091908.htm
  
  Black Friday Forecasts:
  
  BluRay players for $149
  BluRay player + BD movies bundles for $199
  42" 720p Plasma HDTV for $499

  19.9.2008 21:21 #15

• DVDBack23

  Originally posted by error5: http://www.tvpredictions.com/black091908.htm
  
  Black Friday Forecasts:
  
  BluRay players for $149
  BluRay player + BD movies bundles for $199
  42" 720p Plasma HDTV for $499Id upgrade the whole house at those prices :)

  20.9.2008 02:41 #16

• mspurloc

  Originally posted by error5: http://www.tvpredictions.com/black091908.htm
  
  Black Friday Forecasts:
  
  BluRay players for $149
  BluRay player + BD movies bundles for $199
  42" 720p Plasma HDTV for $499Wow, I was hoping for more realistic prices this fall.
  
  If you're going to plasma, and I won't until they have an actual lifespan or you can get them repaired for less than they cost, why would you go 720?
  
  Getting closer on the price point for BR players, but they're too late. The technology's obsolete. I'll just wait for whatever the next format is, as long as it doesn't have BR's crippling DRM.

  20.9.2008 13:39 #17

• error5

  Originally posted by DVDBack23: Id upgrade the whole house at those prices :)...including the bathrooms, the garage and the doghouse. ;)
  
  I feel your enthusiasm DVDBack23.
  
  But as usual there will still be people who will complain until 42" 1080p HDTV's are $100 or less, BD-Live BluRay players are $25 or less and new release BD movies are 3 for a dollar.

  20.9.2008 19:28 #18

• mspurloc

  Originally posted by error5: Originally posted by DVDBack23: Id upgrade the whole house at those prices :)...including the bathrooms, the garage and the doghouse. ;)
  
  I feel your enthusiasm DVDBack23.
  
  But as usual there will still be people who will complain until 42" 1080p HDTV's are $100 or less, BD-Live BluRay players are $25 or less and new release BD movies are 3 for a dollar.And there will still be the employees of warehouse stores, specialty stores and electronics manufacturers who gouge, or defend gouging.

  20.9.2008 20:10 #19

• error5

  More pricing news:
  
  Fox Introduces New Pricing Scheme for Catalog Titles - MSRP = $20, Now Available for $14.95 At amazon.com
  
  For those who don't need 1.1 and BD-Live or maybe those looking for a backup player:
  amazon.com has the Sony BDP-S300 for $199.98 with free shipping.

  20.9.2008 20:34 #20

• Toshibot

  Originally posted by error5: http://www.tvpredictions.com/black091908.htm
  
  Black Friday Forecasts:
  
  BluRay players for $149
  BluRay player + BD movies bundles for $199
  42" 720p Plasma HDTV for $499Excellent news.
  
  It's great to see both hardware and software prices coming down. Definitely a step in the right direction.

  20.9.2008 20:47 #21

• HDNow

  Originally posted by Toshibot: Originally posted by error5: http://www.tvpredictions.com/black091908.htm
  
  Black Friday Forecasts:
  
  BluRay players for $149
  BluRay player + BD movies bundles for $199
  42" 720p Plasma HDTV for $499Excellent news.
  
  It's great to see both hardware and software prices coming down. Definitely a step in the right direction.But they said they weren't going to lower prices this year?
  
  I guess they were lying huh?

  21.9.2008 08:08 #22

• dblbogey7

  Originally posted by error5: More pricing news:
  
  Fox Introduces New Pricing Scheme for Catalog Titles - MSRP = $20, Now Available for $14.95 At amazon.comThey're responding to the Warner and Lionsgate announcements. Once the other studios fall in line all catalog titles will be streeting for $14.95 or less.
  
  Originally posted by error5: For those who don't need 1.1 and BD-Live or maybe those looking for a backup player:
  amazon.com has the Sony BDP-S300 for $199.98 with free shipping.This is the expected clearance sale of 1.0 stock. Still good news as the S300 is a pretty solid performer for those who don't need the extras. I remember a Sony spokesman saying that sub-$200 pricing was going to be impossible this year.
  
  Originally posted by error5: ...including the bathrooms, the garage and the doghouse. ;) You forgot the RV and the minivan. LOL!

  21.9.2008 08:34 #23

• dblbogey7

  Originally posted by error5: There's also a widespread rumor that Sony is dropping $100 off the price of their BDP=S350 to $299 by the end of the month.
  Surprise: It's already $295 (plus free shipping) at amazon.
  
  Why would anyone buy this Memorex when the Sonys, Samsungs and Panasonics are quickly dropping in price? This Memorex has to have a street price of $145 to $199 to have a chance.

  21.9.2008 08:47 #24

• error5

  Originally posted by dblbogey7: Originally posted by error5: There's also a widespread rumor that Sony is dropping $100 off the price of their BDP=S350 to $299 by the end of the month.
  Surprise: It's already $295 (plus free shipping) at amazon.
  
  Why would anyone buy this Memorex when the Sonys, Samsungs and Panasonics are quickly dropping in price? This Memorex has to have a street price of $145 to $199 to have a chance.Agreed and thanks for the BDP-S350 info.
  
  In addition, the Samsung 1500 is available from radioshack.com for $199 albeit a limited time offer until the 27th. The 1500 is Profile 1.1 out of the box but can be upgraded to BD-Live 2.0 with a future firmware update:
  
  http://www.radioshack.com/product/index....rentPage=family
  
  Regular price is $299. $100 off until Sept 27th so sale price = $199.

  22.9.2008 08:48 #25

• Toshibot

  At this rate we should see $99 players if not by Black Friday then by Christmas.

  22.9.2008 09:37 #26

• pmshah

  I was just going over the weekend newspapers. There are no less than 5 different models of BlueRay+DVD players cum recorders on sale for under US$ 300/=

  22.9.2008 12:31 #27

• Ryu77

  Originally posted by pmshah: I was just going over the weekend newspapers. There are no less than 5 different models of BlueRay+DVD players cum recorders on sale for under US$ 300/=What exactly does a Cum Recorder do? Is that some new type of interactive media format for the pRon industry? O-o
  

  
  
  "The only limit to your potential is in your mind"
  
  PS3 compatible video creation thread... mkv2vob, tsMuxeR etc.: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/621809
  The complete HD (Blu-ray/HD-DVD) back-up thread.: http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/639346

  23.9.2008 09:04 #28