Sony BDP-S480 and S380 doubts.

[kromak]

Hi. Some questions that I have about both these players:

1)The most important: Does both of them automatically resize HD videos to allow display on tube tvs?

2)Does any of them have limitations on the file's size it can play (I assume not, because of ntfs support)

3)Is there a limit on the number of subtitles it can switch on?

4)Is there a option to control the subtitle's size?

5)In case of "no" to the previous question, which would be the standard size?

6)Is there a option to control the subtitle's color?

7)Does them support .ass subtitles besides .srt?

[Emulgator]

BDP-S380:
1: Since CVBS-Out via yellow RCA and Component Out via YPbPr-RCA is provided: yes.
Caution: Your tube TV has to have these analog connections as well.
2. I would not assume NTFS, and I would not assume HDD, just Flash USB and FAT32.
But I am not sure about that.
3. Only one sub at a time if played from disc.
4. No, subs on DVD-Video and Blu-ray have to be rendered as encoded.
5. Subtitle Size on discs is to be rendered as encoded.
6. No, Subtitle color is to be rendered as encoded.
7. I guess no, neither .srt nor .ass are supported standalone.
Subs only if muxed into .m2ts, .MTS.
mp4, mkv: YMMV...
Tested BDP-S380 only for a few minutes, then moved on.

[kromak]

2. I would not assume NTFS, and I would not assume HDD, just Flash USB and FAT32.
But I am not sure about that.

So, that means I could have faced a similar limitation as in the dvd player that I have, where it cannot play fully any video above 1.0GB?

3. Only one sub at a time if played from disc.

That means if not from a disc, like from a usb device, it could switch between many available options? I am making this question because on a dvd player that I possess, it can only switch between three srt files, not matter how many are there.

In fact, I am pretty much only interested in playing through a device connected to the usb drive.

Anyway, I lost an auction on one of these, thinking about a cheap BDP-S490 that I found yesterday. Being another sony, can I assume similar features in these areas?

[Emulgator]

FAT32: 4GiB per file max.
If exFAT is possible, or if you can assume anything:
I would suggest you download a user manual for your intended player and go from there.
BTW, since you want to play anything, and not only from a disc, other player brands might be more flexible
(me having used a TViX-5100 in the past, then some Panasonics (50,80,110), then in search for a more flexible brand going to Oppo).
I suggest to search more hardware-oriented forums.
Oppo clones might be a good investment, with the other hardware boxes I can offer no experience.

[Ghitulescu]

A much more modern player would have less troubles with media it supports on OTHER than disc, however, after the "analogue sunset" they started to lack analogue outputs. They are also way faster with modern discs, think seconds instead of 2-3 minutes (due to complexity of java used in authoring).

Nevertheless, there are zillions of HDMI2analogue gadgets, for a few dollars each, if you still have the dinosaur.