There’s a unique frustration every dedicated film collector or expat knows intimately. You’ve just imported a long-awaited Blu-ray box set—perhaps a British TV series that never aired stateside or an original cut of a Japanese anime classic. You slide the pristine disc into your player, settle into your couch, and press play, only to be met with a cold, impersonal message: “Playback Prohibited Due to Region Code.” That digital wall is infuriating. It transforms a prized piece of physical media into a useless plastic coaster. For years, my solution was a clumsy, space-consuming setup of multiple players, each tethered to a specific geographic region. It was a constant battle of swapping HDMI cables and remembering which machine played which disc. This is the precise problem the Dynastar Region Free Blu-ray Player promises to solve: one machine to play any disc from anywhere in the world, effortlessly.
- REGION-FREE PLAYBACK FOR BLU-RAY & DVDS - NO RESTRICTIONS: Plays Blu-ray region A, B, & C; Plays standard DVDs from ANY REGIONS 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,...
- BLU-RAY & DVD PLAYBACK - Make the most of your HDTV. Blu-ray disc playback delivers exceptional Full HD 1080p video performance along with stunning...
What to Consider Before Buying a Region-Free Blu-ray Player
A Region-Free Blu-ray Player is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for cinephiles, collectors, and anyone living abroad who wants to maintain access to their physical media library without borders. Its primary benefit is freedom—the freedom to purchase and enjoy films and shows from the UK (Region B), Japan (Region A), Australia (Region B), and beyond, without worrying about compatibility. It consolidates a potentially complex, multi-device setup into a single, streamlined unit, simplifying your home entertainment center and ending the headache of region-code errors for good.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the very real limitations of a globalized media world. This includes film enthusiasts who import boutique labels like Arrow Video or Masters of Cinema from the UK, anime fans sourcing discs directly from Japan, or individuals who have moved countries and brought their beloved DVD and Blu-ray collections with them. It’s for the person who values the highest possible quality of physical media over the often-compressed nature of streaming. However, it might not be suitable for those who exclusively stream content or only purchase discs released in their own country. If your collection is entirely Region A (North America), a standard, less expensive player will serve you just fine.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Based on the compact Sony BDP-S1700 chassis, this player is quite small and lightweight. Measuring roughly 10.75 by 10.67 inches, it fits easily into tight media cabinets or on a small shelf, making it ideal for those with limited space. Its minimalist black design is unobtrusive and blends well with other AV equipment.
- Capacity/Performance: The core performance metric here is its region-free capability. It must flawlessly play Blu-ray Regions A, B, and C, and DVD Regions 0-8. Beyond that, it delivers a crisp 1080p Full HD resolution and supports high-fidelity audio formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Crucially, it lacks 4K UHD playback and Wi-Fi connectivity, relying on a wired Ethernet port for its smart features.
- Materials & Durability: The player’s shell is a standard, durable plastic, typical of consumer electronics in this price range. The internal components are from Sony, known for reliability. However, because this is a third-party modified device, long-term durability can be a variable, as some user experiences suggest potential issues down the line after the modification.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: Here, the experience is split. For standard DVDs, it’s plug-and-play; the region switching is automatic. For Blu-rays, it requires a manual, somewhat unintuitive process that involves pressing specific buttons on the remote while the disc tray is open. This added step is a critical part of the ownership experience and a significant departure from a standard player.
Keeping these factors in mind, the Dynastar Region Free Blu-ray Player stands out in several areas, particularly its core promise of global disc compatibility. You can explore its detailed specifications and user feedback here.
While the Dynastar Region Free Blu-ray Player is an excellent choice for its specific purpose, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
Unlocking Global Cinema: Our Definitive Guide to the Best Region-Free Blu-ray Players
- Enjoy Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD as well as DVD discs
- Compact Size: Space-saving design allows this Blu Ray DVD player for tv to fit neatly in narrow spaces and on thin racks. Dimensions: Approx. 9 5/8" W x 1...
- See the unrivalled visual clarity of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray
First Impressions and Key Features
Unboxing the Dynastar Region Free Blu-ray Player was an interesting experience. The packaging immediately signals that this isn’t a standard off-the-shelf product. Tucked inside with the player, remote, and power brick was a single, photocopied sheet of paper—the all-important instructions for changing Blu-ray regions. This document is the key to the whole operation. The bundle also included the promised 6-foot Dynastar HDMI cable and a simple EU plug adapter. The player itself is a Sony BDP-S1700, a familiar, compact, and lightweight unit. It feels solid enough, though it’s clearly built from plastic. There are no external markings to indicate its special, modified nature; it’s a sleeper agent in the world of home electronics. The most critical first impression is one of cautious optimism: it looks like a standard player, but that simple instruction sheet hints at the powerful capability hidden within.
Key Benefits
- Plays Blu-ray discs from all regions (A, B, C) and DVDs from all regions (0-8).
- Excellent 1080p Full HD picture quality with strong upscaling for standard DVDs.
- Compact, lightweight design fits easily into any entertainment setup.
- Includes a 6-foot HDMI cable, allowing for immediate setup out of the box.
Potential Drawbacks
- Included power adapter is often 120V only, not the advertised 110-240V worldwide voltage.
- Blu-ray region switching is a manual, non-intuitive process with no on-screen confirmation.
- Inconsistent quality control from the modifier can lead to units that aren’t properly region-unlocked.
A Deep Dive into the Dynastar Region-Free Experience
A region-free player lives or dies by one simple test: can it play the disc? But beyond that binary outcome lies the user experience—the setup, the performance, and the potential pitfalls. We spent weeks putting the Dynastar Region Free Blu-ray Player through its paces with a library of discs spanning the globe to see if it truly delivers on its promise of a borderless film collection.
The Double-Edged Sword of Setup and Region Switching
The initial physical setup is as straightforward as it gets. We connected the included HDMI cable to our TV, plugged in the power adapter, and connected an Ethernet cable for smart features. The player booted up with the familiar Sony interface, which is clean and easy to navigate. Our first test was a Region 2 DVD imported from Germany. We slid the disc in, and it played instantly, without any prompts or issues. The player’s automatic DVD region detection and PAL-to-NTSC conversion worked flawlessly. This is the seamless experience one hopes for.
Blu-ray playback, however, is a different story and reveals the device’s modified nature. This is where that single sheet of instructions becomes indispensable. The process is entirely manual:
- Press the ‘Eject’ button to open the disc tray.
- With the tray open, press and hold one of the colored buttons on the remote (Yellow for Region A, Blue for Region B, Red for Region C).
- While still holding the button, press ‘Eject’ again to close the tray.
The most jarring part of this process is the complete lack of feedback. No light blinks, no message appears on the screen. As one user aptly put it, it feels like nothing is happening at all. You have to simply trust that you’ve performed the ritual correctly. We selected a Region B British crime drama, held down the blue button, closed the tray, and inserted the disc. After a moment of suspense, the film’s menu appeared. Success! It worked exactly as instructed. But the process feels like a secret handshake, and we found ourselves confirming with the instruction sheet every time for the first few days. This is the product’s biggest hurdle; while effective, it’s not elegant, and it’s easy to see how some users could get frustrated and believe it isn’t working.
Unlocking a World of Cinema: Playback Performance
Once you master the region-switching quirk, the player’s performance is genuinely impressive. At its core, the Sony BDP-S1700 is a fantastic 1080p machine, and Dynastar’s modification doesn’t compromise that quality. We tested it with a visually rich Region B Blu-ray of “Blade Runner 2049,” and the picture was stunning. The 1080p output was sharp, colors were vibrant and accurate, and motion was smooth. It faithfully reproduced the film’s complex visual palette without any noticeable artifacts or degradation.
Where the player truly shines for collectors is its handling of standard DVDs. We tested it with an older, Region 4 anime series from Australia. The built-in upscaling technology did an excellent job of converting the 480p source for a modern 4K TV. While it can’t perform miracles, the image was noticeably cleaner, with sharper lines and less noise than on an older DVD player. As one satisfied user noted, “Even the DVD images shown much more sharpness and color is so dynamic and solid perhaps due to upscaling.” This feature alone makes it a worthy replacement for an older, dedicated DVD player. Audio performance was equally robust, passing through DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD signals to our receiver without a hitch, providing immersive and detailed sound that honors the original mix.
The Achilles’ Heel: Power, Connectivity, and Potential Problems
For all its playback prowess, the Dynastar Region Free Blu-ray Player is plagued by a significant and baffling issue: the power supply. The product is explicitly marketed with “Worldwide voltage compatibility (110-240 volts),” a critical feature for international buyers. However, our unit, like those of many other users, arrived with an AC adapter clearly marked “Input: 120 V.” Plugging a 120V-only device into a 240V European outlet will destroy it. This is a major discrepancy that forces international users to immediately purchase a separate, compatible power supply, undermining a key selling point. It’s a frustrating oversight for a product aimed at a global audience.
The player’s connectivity is functional but dated. It relies on a wired Ethernet connection for its smart apps like Netflix and YouTube. In an age of ubiquitous Wi-Fi, having to run a physical cable can be inconvenient depending on your home setup. The apps themselves are basic but functional, though we found the performance could be sluggish compared to modern smart TVs or dedicated streaming devices. Lastly, while our review unit performed reliably, we cannot ignore reports of long-term durability issues. One user detailed a frustrating decline after four months, where the player began to blank out during movies and eventually refused to play certain discs. This suggests that the reliability of these modified units may not match that of a factory-sealed product, a risk potential buyers must consider for the price.
What Other Users Are Saying
Our findings are strongly reflected in the broader customer feedback. There’s a clear divide between those who receive a properly working unit and those who encounter frustrating issues. On the positive side, many users are thrilled once they get it running. One buyer, after receiving a working replacement for a faulty first unit, stated it “worked like a charm. Plays Region B Blu-rays and Region 2 DVDs without a hitch.” Another celebrated that it “finally let me get rid of existing DVD player and use only one player to watch all my bluray and Dvd region 1 dics without problem.”
However, the negative experiences highlight recurring problems. The most frequent complaint is the power adapter. One user warned, “this was advertised as being dual-voltage… However, the AC/DC adapter itself clearly states ‘Input: 120 V 60 Hz AC’… it will fry when it’s plugged in.” The inconsistency of the modification is another major issue, with several reports of receiving players that simply weren’t region-free out of the box. One disappointed customer said, “I pop in a Blue Ray region B? Follow closely the printed instructions still could not get it to work.” These reviews paint a picture of a fantastic product concept hampered by inconsistent execution.
How Does the Dynastar Player Compare to Alternatives?
The Dynastar Region Free Blu-ray Player occupies a specific niche, but it’s important to understand the alternatives. Depending on your priorities—be it 4K resolution, budget, or simplicity—other players might be a better fit.
1. Samsung UBD-M8500/ZA 4K UHD Blu-Ray Player
- Play 4K Ultra HD movies at 4x the resolution of full 1080p HD, letting you watch your favorite scenes with a level of detail and clarity like never...
- HDR allows for a greater range of color contrast and brightness, enhancing details. The player recognizes HDR content and automatically optimizes...
The Samsung UBD-M8500/ZA is a step up in terms of raw visual fidelity. As a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, it’s designed for viewers with a 4K TV who want the absolute best picture quality from their 4K discs. It offers superior resolution, HDR support for enhanced color and contrast, and robust smart features. However, it is not region-free out of the box. This player is the ideal choice for someone whose priority is maximizing the quality of their domestic (Region A) 4K and standard Blu-ray collection, not for someone needing to play imported discs.
2. DIDAR Mini Blu-Ray DVD Player 1080P
- Full HD 1080P- Watch the latest Blu-ray Disc movies in Full High Definition quality, for depth and image clarity far exceeding that of DVD. so you can...
- Compact, Space-Saving Design: Slim size allows the Blu Ray DVD player to fit neatly in narrow spaces and on thin racks.
The DIDAR player represents the budget-friendly, minimalist alternative. It’s an ultra-compact 1080p player that’s great for small spaces, secondary rooms, or users with simple needs. Crucially, it is only region-free for DVDs; for Blu-rays, it is locked to Region A. If your collection consists primarily of international DVDs and you only have a handful of domestic Blu-rays, this could be a very cost-effective solution. It sacrifices the all-region Blu-ray capability of the Dynastar for a much lower price point and smaller footprint.
3. LONPOO Blu-Ray Disc Player 1080P
- Full HD 1080p : Watch the latest Blu-ray Disc movies in Full High Definition quality, for depth and image clarity far exceeding that of DVD. The LP-100...
- Multi-functional Home Theater Player : Support blu ray discs in region A/1 only. This Blu-Ray Disc Player works as DVD player, CD player, U disk files...
Similar to the DIDAR, the LONPOO player is a no-frills, standard 1080p Blu-ray player. It competes directly with the unmodified Sony BDP-S1700 that the Dynastar is based on. It provides reliable playback for Region A Blu-rays and all-region DVDs, includes HDMI and AV outputs for compatibility with newer and older TVs, and has a USB port. This player is for the user who doesn’t need to play imported Blu-rays at all and is simply looking for a dependable and affordable machine for their local media collection.
Final Verdict: A Powerful But Flawed Gateway to Global Cinema
The Dynastar Region Free Blu-ray Player is a product of immense potential and considerable frustration. When you receive a good unit and master its quirks, it is a magnificent tool for any serious film collector. It successfully breaks down the digital walls of region-locking, delivering excellent 1080p picture quality and fantastic DVD upscaling. It truly can be the single player that unites a global media collection.
However, we cannot recommend it without significant caveats. The gamble on receiving a properly modified unit, the misleading claims of worldwide voltage compatibility, and the unintuitive Blu-ray switching process are substantial flaws. This is not a player for the casual user or someone who expects a seamless, plug-and-play experience. It is for the dedicated hobbyist who understands the risks and is willing to potentially buy a new power adapter to achieve their goal. If you’re that person, the reward is access to a world of cinema that would otherwise remain locked away.
If you’ve decided the Dynastar Region Free Blu-ray Player is the right fit for your collection, you can check its current price and availability here.
Last update on 2025-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API