Sharp BDHP21U Blu-Ray Player Review
February 11, 2009
The Sharp Aquos BDHP21U is Sharp's second effort on the consumer Blu-ray disc player. The first effort, BDHP20U was a solid first effort from Sharp. This new player builds on the earlier model by adding high defintion audio support and Profile 1.1 support. However, it seems to lack the refinement and performance when it comes up against the Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung's Blu-ray players.
Features and Design
There's nothing new with the design of the player. It is pretty similar to the BDHP20U model in every aspect. The remote control can be quite useful if you have LCD Aquos television set from Sharp. The combination of Blu-ray disc player and the television set links them via Aquos Link which enhances the ease and speed of operation. This is similar to Sony's Bravia Sync with its Blu-ray player and the Bravia line of LCD television set. The other big feature is the fast loading speed. I'm not familiar with the earlier model BDHP20U's loading speed. But, according to varoius other reviews, it seems to be the big selling point for the Sharp Blu-ray disc players. The loading time is fairly fast compared to other manufacture's disc players. The lack of Profile 2.0 support is pretty dissapointing. And, the lack of ethernet connection limits its ability for firmware upgrade. The only other way to do it would be through disc flashing.
Picture Quality
The video quality is fairly good. I did a lot of upconversion tests with regular DVDs due to its predecessor's trouble with the upconversion of regular DVD movies. I didn't notice any problem besides the normal problems of upconverting regular DVDs. The blu-ray disc played without problem. The colors were spot on and no noticeable artifacts or jaggieness. As noted earlier, the load time is faster than any other Blu-ray player tested. The audio options are definitely an upgrade from its predecessor. This model comes with onboard decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master audio. This should help with receivers that are not capable of decoding these audio formats. Also, the 7.1 channel and other standard audio output is supported through receivers.
This player is definite upgrade from the earlier model. However, it lacks the Profile 2.0 support as well as ethernet connectivity. If your not planning on using the BD-LIVE features, than this shouldn't be a problem. The Aquos Link feature is nice plus if you already own Aquos television. Also, the onboard decoding of high resolution audio is a nice plus. Overall, there are better players from Sony or Samsung or other manufacturers. However, this player should be cheaper than other models. And, if you already own Aquos TV this might be a natural buy.
Rating:
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Blu-Ray Discussions
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purchased a sharp 21U a number of months ago, very disappointed, especially since I was so happy with my sharp tv. Phoned sharp a couple of times, felt like they couldn’t care less. Don’t rent bluray discs anymore, frustrated waiting for twenty minutes for player to decide if it will play or not. Buy another brand.
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Sharp’s hd-hp21u should just be recalled. That’s what a class company should do. Or at least make a contact with the buyers, also let them know how they will resolve the problem.Anything short of that, shows that the company just doesn’t care about their customers.
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This player (BD-HP21U)does not play any of the Disney Blue Ray movies. I have installed the latest firmware update, and it still doesn’t play any of them. I don’t like to buy Blue Ray movies now because I’m not sure they will play on this player.
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Sharp sucks nothing made after july will not work. Take them way to long for firmware updates. But this firmware crap sucks to. If this took place during hd/dvd and blu-ray wars we would all be buying hd/dvd
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Just typed into Google “My Sharp Blu Ray player sucks” and found this site near the top of the search results. Can’t recall the last time a Netflix disc played without an issue. They don’t load, don’t think they have discs in them, stutter/stick… you name it. I’m buying an OPPO!
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I am having the same problem as many others on here. I have updated with the most recent firmware from Feb 13. and I can not play “Taken” or “New in Town” This kind of sucks because I payed a lot of money for a piece of trash. I have only been able to watch a little more than half the Blue ray disk that I have tried. Something needs to happen here from sharp. It is pretty ridiculous that we can’t use this player for what it is intended for, “Blue Ray disks”. I need a PS3!!!!!!!! Sharp you suck….thanks for wasting my money.
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“Common Sense” sounds like a CDR to me. One of those 3rd-party, minimum wage Level 1’s sure we’ve all gotten our complete fill of lately.
It sounds more and more what I need to do is just find a good used PS3 that hasn’t been abused, THEN, and only THEN, will I have the best of Bluray AND everything e;se….
I believe the main problem is that the content on a BluRay disk is so massive (pverblown MIGHT be a better word), that it takes an actual CPU-type device with an actual hard drive to play it. Ergo, the PS3 OR a triple player in a desktop/laptop. With few if any exceptions, stand-a-lone BlueRay players ALL have their individual problems.
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Slumdog wouldnt play for me at all i just did the latest firm update and now it plays. One thing it take a long time to load up about 5 mins total time.
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Common sense you are an idiot! I have the latest firmware 03.13.2009 and my player won’t play Slumdog. I bought this to watch movies when I want. I don’t like to pop in a movie then have to d/l firmware then u/l, then see if it works, which it didn’t in Slumdog’s case. The fact is that this technology should be good enough that you don’t need firmware every 3-6 months.
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I really have a hard time believing that all these people have had problems with this player. Frankly, I’m sure that some bad apples fall into the bag but I think many are operator error. Most folks these days want thinks to be effortless and easy, the American way. FYI, those who obviously didn’t bother to do research the current update for firmware has been available since 3/13. That alone makes me think some of these reviewers are lazy and full of b/s. Most products these days have minimal standards, especially from big name manufacturers. As for the warranty reps, I can see why they would get pissed off if most of the complaints come from people who don’t read the instruction manual and can’t follow the simple steps to update firmware. Perhaps those who complain have found other companies more hospitable? Like Samsung’s infamous in home repairs, meaning we’ll pick it up and throw it in the back of a truck for repairs at the shop. So stop complaining and do your research! If everyone listened to the whinning of others no one would ever purchase anything, for someone is always smart enough to confuse operator error with a defective product!
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I guess they give the good ones to the reviewers. i sent mine back under warren tee. they updated the firmware (they made me send it back for that???) which, oddly wasn’t available online. it worked for 3-4 movies, then got ratty again. since i had seen ‘get smart’ the night before and it was on, i put it in again, and it said ‘incompatible disc’. bad enough they sold me a bad product, but to then follow it up with bad service, is unacceptable.
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I have the sharp bdhp21u same problem only with Quantum Of Solace. Will read then not play. Is there firmware available for Canadian bought players? Will the firmware south of the border work up here? I am asking this because Sharp.ca doesn’t have any firmware available as yet.
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Had the same problem with Australia – but it wouldn’t even open to let me get the DVD back. But the update from 3/13 fixed it and we are now watching Australia!
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There is a 3/13/09 software update–now it plays Milk!!!
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In addition to not playing Australia, this will also not play Milk!
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Yep this piece of garbage blu-ray player has been nothing but trouble since I bought it. Narnia last year along with several other Disney movies and now Australia. I waited nearly three months for the update so we could play Narnia so I guess about Summer time we can expect this one fixed. I’m going to look at buying a Sony and run this thing over with my Jeep!
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EXACTLY the same issue here… we rented Australia on Blu-Ray last night, and this Sharp player would not play it (just a blank screen after reading the disc for a while). I also updated the firmware and still could not play this disc.
I am confident, however, that Sharp will come out with a new firmware update that will fix it (loading new firmware from a flash drive is really cool… way more convenient than burning an update CD). The player has worked perfectly fine with everything else I’ve tried, so I won’t be throwing it in the street.
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Same problem, unable to play Australia even with the firmare upgrade dates February 2009. This Blu-Ray player is a low end player, very very slow to load almost all movie. Very disapointed with this player and by Sharp.
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What a co-incidence!
Same night i am trying to watch Australia but my Sharp Blu-ray player just won’t play it…. I have tried two copies but none would work… It just says reading the disc and then just a message saying disc read complete…. after that just a blank screen.
What the heck???
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I don’t understand why there are so many good reviews of this produst. The bottom line is that it sucks. Bad! It does not play all Blu-Ray DVD’s. Period. Don’t expect it to just from reading some shoddy reviews in this forum. I just bought Australia (yeah, yeah, I heard it was a crappy movie too) and it does not work in this player even with the firmware update. I tried one copy, returned it and tried the second copy with the same results. Sharp supports sucks. Their menu options are confusing and wait times are unbearable. It is VERY SLOW to load with EVERY Blu-Ray movie. I read a review somewhere in here from a guy named “rinverso”, this dude is either HIGH (as a kite) or works from Sharp. Buyer beware and do not disregard poor reviews especially if they are the greater percentage of reviews in any forum. This player should be recalled and the industry should set a better standard for these damn Blu-Ray discs. Until then, don’t buy any Blu-Ray player. Just wait until there is a better standard.
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