Popcorn Hour 新機 A300

img] Popcorn Hour剛公佈A系後繼機A300 外形大小與A200相似將會用上新介面

另外於Network Tank Forums正就200系是否應跟隨300系上新介面進行投標有興趣嘅朋友可以到以下網址參考
 http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showthread.php?tid=55398

OPPO BDP-93/BDP-95 Latest Official Release BDP9x-57-0917

OPPO BDP-93/BDP-95 Blu-ray Disc Player Firmware Update

Release Information: Release date: September 26, 2011 Category: Latest Official Release Main Version: BDP9x-57-0917 Loader Version: CN0900 Sub Version: MCU93-09-0218 (BDP-93), MCU95-08-0218 (BDP-95) Release Notes: This version is designed for the OPPO BDP-93 and BDP-95 Blu-ray Disc players. Comparing to the previous official release version BDP9x-52-0707, the major changes included in this version are: Added Pandora Internet Radio streaming. The audio quality is 128 Kbps compressed stream decoded to 44.1KHz/16bit, 2-channel for both free and premium accounts. You can access Pandora by pressing the HOME button, and then select "Internet" from the Home Menu, or by pressing SOURCE and selecting Pandora. This service is limited to U.S. residents only. Added YouTube Leanback streaming. YouTube LeanBack is designed to provide an uninterrupted stream of HD videos from YouTube like you were watching a normal television channel. Access YouTube Leanback from the Home Menu -> Internet, or by pressing SOURCE and selecting YouTube. Resolved errors related to the player freezing when loading specific Netflix streams. In the previous firmware, when playing movies with optional language and subtitle selection, the player may freeze at the initial buffering screen. Examples of titles affected include "Shutter Island", "LOST. Season 1. Pilot" and "The One". Improved the subtitle support in M2TS/TS playback through USB drive, external hard drive or DLNA streaming. Customers have reported that the movie picture could occasionally freeze up during the playback, while the time counter was still moving forward. This issue was related to subtitles and has been resolved in this release. Resolved the subtitle flickering or image stuttering issue during some 3D movie playback. This issue has been reported to happen randomly on some 3D movies released in Asia or Europe. Sample titles include "Step Up", "SAW" and "Resident Evil: Afterlife". Resolved the image vertical stretch issue observed on some legacy DVD's. Customers have reported that when playing these DVD's using HDMI 1 and setting Aspect Ratio to "16:9 Wide/Auto", the pictures were vertically stretched. This issue could happen to certain 4:3 DVD's issued before or around 2000, and sample titles include "The Abyss", "Titanic", "TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH (2002)" and "1941 (1979)". Improved support for user-created DVD-Audio discs. In the previous firmware, the on-screen display and the front panel time counters may stop at 00:00:00 when playback advanced from Track 1 to Track 2. This was mostly observed on user-created DVD-Audio discs which were “Audio Only” and contained no menus, backgrounds, or additional features. Resolved the Test Tone missing or harsh noise issues. Some customers have reported these using some special combinations of downmix mode and speaker setting. Improved the audio information display, e.g., previously "MLP 5.1" was shown as "5.1", "1/2 DTS 6.1" was shown as "1/2 DTS 5.1". Added brief chapter information (Current Chapter/Total Chapters) on-screen display when pressing PREV or NEXT button to skip chapters. This feature only applies to commercial discs which include Blu-ray, DVD and DVD-Audio. Improved general disc compatibility based on recent and upcoming Blu-ray releases as well as user-submitted disc samples. Sample movies include "Avatar(3D)", "Journey to Mecca", "Alice (2009 Miniseries)" and "Pirate of Caribbean 4" (3D version released in Asia and Europe). All features and improvements of the previous firmware are also included in this version. Firmware Upgrade Instructions: Warning: Although firmware upgrade is an easy and usually trouble-free process, it is important to ensure that the power supply to the player is stable, and the upgrade process is not interrupted. A failed firmware upgrade can render the player unusable. There are three ways to upgrade the firmware. If your player has an Internet connection, the easiest way to upgrade the firmware is the "Via Network" method. If you have a USB thumb drive, you may choose the "Via USB" method. You can also use the "Via Disc" method by preparing a firmware upgrade CD yourself or requesting a firmware CD from OPPO customer service. Please follow one of the three procedures below based on the upgrade method chosen. Firmware Upgrade via the Internet Turn on your TV display and the OPPO player. Eject the disc tray from the OPPO player and remove any disc. Make sure that the player and the player is not playing any content. Press the SETUP button on the remote control to enter the setup menu. Select Device Setup, Firmware Upgrade, and then Via Network. The player will start searching for the new firmware from an OPPO firmware server. Please follow the on-screen instructions to complete the firmware upgrade process. Use the remote control to respond to on-screen prompts. Do not use the front panel buttons because the front panel buttons will stop working during the upgrade process. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TURN OFF THE PLAYER, UNPLUG THE POWER, OR PRESS ANY BUTTONS OTHER THAN NECESSARY TO RESPOND TO THE ON-SCREEN PROMPT DURING THE REMAINING UPGRADE PROCESS. In order to complete the firmware upgrade process, the player will turn off automatically. Turn on the player again after the firmware upgrade process is completed. Repeat from Step 2 above until the player reports that it already has the latest version. This will ensure that the player downloads and installs all parts of the firmware update. Check the new firmware version by going to the setup menu, and then selecting Device Setup - Firmware Information. Congratulations! You have just completed the firmware upgrade. Firmware Upgrade via a USB Thumb Drive Click here to download the firmware file BDP9x-57-0917.zip Insert a USB thumb drive to the computer that stores the downloaded zip file. (The USB drive must be in FAT or FAT32 format, not NTFS. If you are not sure, just use a new USB drive that is 2GB or smaller since small drives are usually factory-formatted in FAT/FAT32.) Unzip the firmware file to the USB drive. Verify that the USB drive now contains a UPG folder and that the UPG folder is in the root/main directory of the USB drive. Please ensure that the UPG folder is not contained within any other folder. There are 2 files in the UPG folder: BDP9X.BIN, BDP9X.SIGN.

幾唔捨得都要放手(W5000)，同時入手(HC4000)

從新屋入伙至今三年多，家中所有器材已面目全非，唯獨對部Benq W5000投影機不離不棄，原因Anthony一身影像調校知識都由佢而起。

巿面上比W5000好嘅機好多，但Anthony對佢調校項目同線性嘅表現真係好難揾得到，而亦因為佢Anthony最後都踏上ISF影像調校課程，所以呢部W5000可以話對Anthony有十分大嘅意義。

可惜歲月不留人，而對影音產品更甚，話之你有幾旗艦，過得兩三年就新晶片一上就會被比下去。Anthony部Benq W5000亦一樣，早兩三年去家訪真係無幾多部機可以令Anthony有換機念頭，但來到呢年嘅家訪真係開始有換機嘅念頭。

去過咁多家訪Anthony校投影機最愛嘅都係JVC同三菱，而以現時新機推出速度之快，Anthony亦唔打算投資太多喺投影機上，所以三菱嘅HC4000嘅價錢絶對係Anthony嘅主要欣賞原因之一，調校過四部HC4000都有好好嘅效果，所以最後都係決定入手...HC4000。

雖然部HC4000已經出咗一年有多，已經算係舊款，不過今年三菱應該唔會再推出2D DLP入門機，而會推出HC7800 3D DLP機，而定價要去到兩千到尾euro。Anthony對3D無乜興趣，加上HC7800嘅定價甚高，所以就算係水尾都入呢部HC4000。

HC4000真係又細部又輕，同部Benq W5000真係好大分別， 雖然又輕又細但裝機都真係有啲難度，上下左右都無得用Len Shift，加上鏡頭偏右，同之前嘅W5000置中好唔同，所以都花咗唔少時間去研究點攪，而最後都要清清架面嘅器材同將隻幕放落啲先得，都攪咗成兩個鐘先開到機。





今晚試過用ColorHCFR校下畫面，同之前所校過嘅HC4000一樣，對比度會對色温有負面影響，要將對比度調低到-7可以攞到平衡，好在部HC4000本身好光，調低少少對比度對畫面流明度唔會有太大影響。雖然6色上唔可以完全校至HD709-REC色域標準，但實際睇戲畫面比可以喺數字上校準嘅W5000更靚。

總括嚟講Anthony對呢部HC40004嘅表現十分滿意，希望個膽run-in後有更好嘅表現。

-全文完-

以上為Anthony非專業個人感受，如資料上有任何錯漏歡迎指正

趙學而 - Trinity Blu-ray CD入手

自從上個月入手趙學而嘅Trinity HQCD後，呢隻碟係Anthony近期最常聽嘅CD，全因除靚錄音加上選曲啱晒Anthony嘅口味。上次已經講過呢隻碟將會推出Blu-ray CD版本。

其實所為Blu-ray CD都只係將一大堆唔同格式嘅音樂檔案放晒入一隻25Gb嘅Blu-ray Disc入面。袒白講，係好聲嘅一種格式都夠，相信極少人會今日聽Flac版本、聽日聽Aiff版本到後日聽mp3卦。

雖然呢隻Blu-ray CD嘅定價真係好貴吓，要成$350而且Anthony本身已經有HQCD版本，但見係亞太區第一隻Blu-ray CD，所以都入隻支持下本地作品。

之前睇雜誌話可以喺Blu-ray Player播亦可以用電腦嘅Blu-ray rom 將有關音樂檔存放於電腦。但Anthony用Windows XP就唔可以將隻Blu-ray CD當成一隻Blu-ray rom咁讀，最後要用Anydvd rip成BDMV，係BD folder內嘅音樂檔案有flac、aiff、mp3連DSD都係，但就係無Anthony用開嘅wav，另外亦有十零將相片。

今晚分別用過

Play Blu-ray CD
1. Oppo HDMI 入 Cary 11a
2. Oppo RCA 入 Cary 11a
3. Oppo coaxial 入 Transporter XLR 入 Cary 11a

Play Flac
4. Transporter XLR 入Cary 11a

Play HQCD wav
5. Transporter XLR 入Cary 11a

喺Anthony嘅系統上第1個組合係最平最無動態，第2個組合會較燥，所以唔建議各位用HDMI直入AV AMP解碼。

而呢隻96khz24bit比HQCD係通透少少同分晰力好少少，係聽得出但唔多，當然最大可能係Anthony嘅系統同耳仔未夠班去聽出大分別。

聽聞呢隻Blu-ray CD係限量1,000隻，雖然Anthony以$340入手真係赤到死，但都覺值得，你呢?

-全文完-

PS:以上為Anthony的非專業個人感受，如資料上有任何錯漏歡迎指正。

Oppo BDP93/95 Public Beta Test

OPPO BDP-93/BDP-95 Blu-ray Disc Player Firmware Update

Release Information:

Release date: September 12, 2011
Category: Public Beta Release

Main Version: BDP9x-55-0902
Loader Version: CN0900
Sub Version: MCU93-09-0218 (BDP-93), MCU95-08-0218 (BDP-95)
Note: This release is still a beta test version, not an official release. Use it only if you would like to experiment with the new features and improvements. There is a very small chance of the new features and improvements not working properly. If that happens, please report any issue to us.

Release Notes:

This version is designed for the OPPO BDP-93 and BDP-95 Blu-ray Disc players. Comparing to the previous public beta release version BDP9x-53-0805B, the major changes included in this version are:

1. Added Pandora Internet Radio streaming. For public accounts (free registration), the audio quality is measured to be 44.1KHz/16bit, 2-channel. You can access Pandora through the player's Home Menu icon, Home Menu -> Internet, or by pressing SOURCE and selecting Pandora. Currently limited to U.S. residents only.
2. Improved the subtitle support in M2TS/TS playback, through USB drive, external hard drive or DLNA streaming. Customers have reported that the movie picture could occasionally freeze up during the playback, while the OSD timing counter was still moving forward. This issue was related with subtitles and has been solved in this release.
3. Resolved the subtitle flickering or image stuttering issue during some 3D movie playback. This issue has been reported to happen randomly on some 3D movies released in Asia or Europe, sample titles include "Step Up", "SAW" and "Resident Evil: Afterlife".
4. Resolved the image vertical stretch issue observed on some legacy DVD's. Customers have reported that when playing these DVD's using HDMI 1 and setting Aspect Ratio to "16:9 Wide/Auto", the pictures were vertically stretched. This issue could happen to DVD's issued before or around 2000, and sample titles include "The Abyss", "Titanic", "TWELVE O'CLOCK HIGH (2002)" and "1941 (1979)".
5. Improved general disc compatibility based on recent and upcoming Blu-ray releases as well as user-submitted disc samples. Sample movies include "Avatar (3D)", "Journey to Mecca" and "Alice (2009 Miniseries)". 

download link: http://download.oppodigital.com/BDP93/BDP9x-55-0902B.zip

from Oppo Digital

Slim Devices Transporter入手

相信Networker Player對Anthony或各位網友嚟講已經唔係啲咩新事物，自四五年前Anthony一直以Tvix SH4100經network睇mkv。而Popcorn Hour C200亦係Anthony現時最常用嘅Player。自上兩個月購入Onix DAC25後，Onix DAC25除咗有接駁Oppo BDP93聽CD機外，同時亦有連接Popcorn Hour C200擔任network music player解碼工作。

Anthony聽歌時好少會一隻CD由頭聽到落未，好多時會一隻碟只聽一兩首歌，而懶惰嘅Anthony實在唔想時常陏動肥大嘅身體去換碟，而Popcorn Hour C200板面嘅大LCD display可以喺唔開displayer下都可以揀選歌曲。當然音色上Oppo BDP93加Onix DAC25會比C200加Onix DAC25好。但以呢個方式聽歌實在太放便了，所以Anthony用C200聽歌比用Oppo BDP93還要多。

可惜嘅係為環境燈光，距離同Anthony大近視嘅問題，好多時要好用神先可以睇到C200嘅display所顯示嘅字。而如果同Andriod嘅Apps喺電話揀歌亦唔太方便，加上Anthony相信C200就唔係一部好嘅music transport，所以一直希望可以揾部真正嘅Network Music Player以取代C200。Anthony當然知道英國HiFi品牌Linn有呢類產品，但價錢並唔係Anthony所能負擔的，所以一直都只係得個睇字。

直至早前到網友Billy兄家中交收，從佢介紹得悉Slim Devices呢個牌好。Slim Devices正正係從04-05年已經推出Network Music Player呢類產品，由Squeezebox到現時嘅Squeezebox Touch， Slim Devices已經出咗第四五代產品。早年Slim Devices被電腦界巨頭Logitech收納其他，所以現時嘅Squeezebox都會以Logitech嘅個名稱出售。

而Billy兄所用嘅係Slim Devices時代嘅Slim Devices Classic 亦稱為SB3，當日Billy兄用SB3接駁東電嘅DAC再用Audiolab合併Amp推Dali喇叭，Anthony覺得效果十分唔錯，而其間Billy兄係用iPad2選曲，真係型到爆。好嘢.....Billy你叻，Anthony被你毒到，由離開Billy兄屋企果刻已經周身痕。

因為SB3已經停產多時，而Anthony怕最新嘅Slim Devices Touch嘅彩色觸控版面會因家中燈光會出現反光問題。所以最後從二手巿場買嚟SB3，並以同軸輸出嘅Onix DAC25解碼。用咗兩個星期，系統操作好簡單而音色亦十分滿意，平時唔用時亦可以當埋鐘用，可以取代埋Anthony隻光到會影響睇戲嘅電子鐘，而音色上SB3配Onix可以追近Oppo配Onix，只可以話Oppo配Onix會有較好嘅分晰力，但分別都只係輕微。Anthony真係愛死SB3同Onix呢個組合，價錢唔貴但有十分唔錯嘅音色，呢個組合令Anthony喺呢兩星期中每晚平均聽兩個鐘以上嘅歌，所以跟本無打算作升級。可惜，世事無絶對。正所謂無事出街少破財呢句說話真係無錯。噚日約咗朋友未夠鐘，所以行下二手鋪消消磨下時間。點知好衰唔衰被Anthony喺二手鋪見到佢........Slim Devices Transporter。

Transporter係Slim Devices見推出SB3後喺巿場大受歡迎而推出嘅高階產品，據稱呢部Transporter係第一部擁有HiFi級數嘅Network Music Player，設有Balance同Unbalance摸擬輸出，同時可以用透過同軸、光纖、BNC同AES/EBU輸出digital訊號，另外因為Transporter內置AKM嘅AK4396 DAC解碼，亦可以用透過同軸、光纖、BNC同AES/EBU接駁他器材輸入digital訊號作解碼之用，而且可以外接word clock。規格上Transporter真係十分出眾，唯一可惜嘅係佢只係support到96khz 24bit而未到192khz 24bit嘅水平，但喺音色表現上仍得到好多外國音響雜誌嘅好評。所以Anthony喺二手鋪見到呢部外觀十分新淨而又好價嘅Transporter，二話不說先將呢部機入手。返到屋企立刻將Onix同SB3下架換上Transporter，暫時用內罝碼以Balance接到Cary Cinema 11a。

開機後經簡單嘅setting已經可以選曲播放，機前兩個大displayer一個顯示歌曲資料，文字大小可以有三種選擇，而另一邊有兩個類似摸擬時代嘅音壓錶板，會隨音感而跳動，如果唔鍾意呢個樣子，亦有另外幾種選擇，而兩個display亦有光暗同全黑選擇。Anthony就比較鍾意大字體加模擬vu顯示多啲。

音色方面，初段感覺上會比SB3配Onix DAC25有更好嘅分晰力，但中頻無咁厚暖嘅感覺，感情亦無咁豐富，run-in大約兩鐘後厚暖感覺有所改善，但仍欠少少感情。Anthony從好多review得悉Onix DAC25嘅聲底係中低豐厚，人聲帶暖，所以有偽MBL嘅稱號，所以Anthony相信呢點做成兩部機嘅差別。可惜Anthony唔知到Transporter內嘅AK4936同Onix DAC25內嘅PCM1792A DAC那一個會較好(如果各位朋友知道嘅不妨告知Anthony)。而財力問題，Anthony只可以喺SB3+Onix DAC25同Transporter選其一，經考慮到Transporter可以外接word clock外亦可以於將來再接較高階嘅DAC以提昇質素，加上Anthony實在被Transporter嘅外形所吸引，結果好明顯了。暫時會用Transporter做埋解碼工作，希望再煲下感情會出啲。

-全文完-

PS:以上為Anthony的非專業個人感覺，如料資上有任何錯漏歡迎指正。

原來Soundtrack可以咁過癮: Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides

十幾年前Anthony都有輔買Soundtrack癮，不過當時係以港產片多，如新不了情，晚九朝五同天若有情等等..等等....但後來無聽歌，CD掉下一隻唔見下又一隻，到今日只剩返隻周末狂熱重保留喺屋企。

Anthony早前睇咗套暑假大片Pirates of the Caribbean on Stranger Tides，如果講影片本身，就唔係啱口味，但就戲中嘅配樂就十分吸引Anthony。呢套戲嘅配樂十分有氣勢，而且高低起伏十分大。咁啱今日行開CD Warehouse見到呢套戲嘅Soundtrack見唔係太貴就入返隻。

返到屋企急及待開嚟聽下。嘩!真係好堅，啲迅變好快，動態好大，同本時Anthony聽開比較平靜嘅Jazz Pop同口水歌好唔同，又另有一番韻味。嚟緊都會多啲留下啲Soundtrack。

不過呢啲咁激昂嘅音樂就唔係好啱瞓覺前聽，一來都轟得幾利害怕太夜聽會被人投訴，二來瞓覺前都係啱啲輕鬆啲嘅歌會好瞓啲。

PS:好似無出家報告咁，其實Anthony今個月都做咗兩次家訪，但唔知點解拎嗮相機同閃光燈，竟然做家訪時唔記得影相，真係抵打。希望下次唔好咁大頭蝦。