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  spacecowboy on 27/04/2011 - 21:06

  Criterion blu rays are all encoded for Region A (USA) unfortunately, as you say.

  'Unlike its DVD releases, a mixture of NTSC-standard Region 0 (region-free) and Region 1 DVDs, Criterion Collection Blu-ray Discs are Region A.'

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Criterion_Collection

  We unfortunately are in Region B. So these won't play on most machines released in Australia. I have a Sony playstation 3 & a Panasonic 3D blu ray player, & neither of these machines can play Region A blu rays. Very frustrating. I don't know what major brand machine sold in Australia would play Region A blu ray discs.

  And from what I've seen, you can't 'hack' blu ray players to break the region lock, unlike dvd players. So that option is out too. I was able to hack my sony dvd player with a progammable remote to play other region dvds. But this isn't possible on blu ray players apparently.

  It's a shame, as I would buy Criterion blu rays if this region problem didn't exist. I don't know why Criterion don't release Region B versions too, for the European market. But they don't.

  So I just don't buy them…

  Before I buy any blu rays from USA I check at they are region unlocked:

  http://regionfreemovies.com/

  The info on this site has always worked for me.

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  johnd320 on 27/04/2011 - 21:48

  My solution to this Bluray region code issue was to purchase a Region A bluray player from the USA. These bluray players are usually just 110 volts, so I purchased a step down transformer in Australia from Tortech.

  http://www.tortech.com.au/category/595/

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    Crownanchor on 27/04/2011 - 22:16

    Buying a USA Blu Ray player + shipping, then a step down transformer is a lot of money, any other solutions?

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      tor on 27/04/2011 - 22:22

      I have heard rumors that the soniq blu-ray player is region free. Google around a bit.

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        Crownanchor on 27/04/2011 - 22:41

        Thanks, and after some googling found this: http://www.regioncodefreedvd.com/Region_Free_Blu_ray_dvd_pla…
        Region Free players, and there are a few out there. Buying a region free player is probably a better idea than going through all the hoops for a Region A only player.

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  spacecowboy on 28/04/2011 - 00:14

  The only region free blu ray players I was able to find advertised for sale within oz were Soniq & Kogan. Neither brand sounds very high quality.

  Ebay has listings for 'chip modified' blu ray players that are region free in Sony, Pioneer, Marantz & other brands. But these are not cheap, & I am guessing you get no manufacturers warranty on them.

  Buyer beware if you buy a cheap brand or modified machine…

  Amazons prices on these Criterion editions are fine, I am just thinking how few people here will own blu ray players that are able to read them.

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  melmac77 on 28/04/2011 - 01:10

  I have a few criterions I play mine on my HTPC with anydvdHD running tossing up weather to get some more now or wait and see if barnes & noble have another sale which is where I got my last lot. Particularly interested in Sweet smell of success, broadcast news and blowout.
  If you don't want an elcheapo player then modded Oppos are available in Oz which are capable of playing region A, you can also import them yourself as they are dual voltage, if you import yourself you will also need to purchase a region mod kit.