Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

chrisl — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 21:05:59 GMT

I don't think so, but I have not tried (or do I have a changer). But, the software is only going to look locally for the changer (since it connects via firewire).

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

Todd — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 16:43:45 GMT

I read that the changer comes with software to control it. If that sw is loaded on all of the HTPC's, and then the changer is mapped, do you think it may work?

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

chrisl — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 18:26:58 GMT

Not using anything with an MCE interface. I'm sure there is software out there that will let to connect to the Changer from a network share, but what you need is software to let you control the changer itself (ie, change disc).

Nothing like that exists AFAIK.

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

Todd — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 17:31:33 GMT

I'm trying to set up an HTPC in each room in my house since extenders aren't streaming the movies the way I want them to. Does anyone know if this changer will be accessible on the network? If so, I think it'll be a great solution. Especially with the price under $400 now.

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

Jim — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 17:50:07 GMT

Regarding the metadata, if you rip to mp3, is the metadata stored in the file? If so, I was thinking that maybe a little utility could be written to batch override the metadata using an alternate source such as cddb.

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

chrisl — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 21:21:05 GMT

You can't AFAIK.

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

Kevin — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 20:14:40 GMT

I just bought one of these. I bought it to speed up ripping my 2500-disc CD collection. I was dissapointed that it only works with the media center and uses AMG guide. AMG has much worse information than cddb or freedb. Tracks get the wrong names, etc. Anyone know how to use freedb with Media Center?

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

chrisl — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:55:58 GMT

There is no way to extend it. None. Vista also _will not_ enable any sort of streaming to Extenders or other PC's.

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

Dave — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:53:36 GMT

Well... is there an answer to the DVD/extender question or not?

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

Tim — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:26:36 GMT

I think it is a great deal, but how do you get the DVDs to other rooms if they are not supporting it? Does someone know how to extend the DVD player to a MCE device?

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

mehul joshi — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 20:59:54 GMT

For all that were thinking as price to be "bloated" here is an update. Amazon dropped price on this changer to 299USD with 100USD mail in rebate. I dont think you can get 1.6TB of storage space for 299 USD considering cheapest HDD price for 500GB goes for 179USD. And on top of that you dont need to invest time in ripping things and dont need to worry about Hard disk crash and losing all your data and time invested in ripping. I think at 299 USD this makes a decent unit.

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

Tim — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 01:29:41 GMT

No support for Extenders??? If that is the case, how can you get a DVD to play in another room via an extender? Are you back to ripping them and hacking something with Windows MC to make it work? Any suggestions?

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

methcat — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:53:54 GMT

too bad, i'd have bought one this afternoon. looks like xloby and a standard changer for me.

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

chrisl — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:33:37 GMT

There will be no Extender support in either (Vista or MCE 2005) for DVD Changers.

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

methcat — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:30:36 GMT

has there been any confirmation on extender support in either vista or versions of 2005? that's the dealbreaker for me. i don't want to load all of my disks only to have to fish one out when i want to watch it in another room...

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

chrisl — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:43:41 GMT

David Ouriel: You must run it through a PC. It has no audio/video outputs. Media Center gets all of the metadata, the changer doesn't.

Bob James: It should work just like a standard DVD-ROM drive in Windows. You can't batch rip DVD's as you can with CD's, but you can use your favorite DVD Ripping program and do it one at a time.

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

Bob James — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:32:44 GMT

Has anyone here verified that this unit can rip DVDs to the Hard Drive? It says it rips CDs, but nothing about DVD ripping. I called Sony and they couldn't answer my question. They said it has Digital Rights Management so they don't think it's possible to rip DVDs.

Some support they have.

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

David Ouriel — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:16:29 GMT

So can this unit be used as an individual stand-alone CD/DVD Changer, or will I also need to hook up my computer. If I could just use this as a CD/DVD Changer that would play straight into my TV (and have connectivity to the internet to retrieve album art, ect), I think that would be ideal for me.

re: Sony VGP-XL1B2 Standalone DVD Changer!

mike — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 00:51:45 GMT

Well, Sony decided to lower the price even further. It now stands at $499. I checked Amazon.com and they even offer $100 rebate. So you can have this changer for $399 excluding s/h.

I already have the VGP-XL1 and most likely daisy-chain additional changer later in time.

Who knows, maybe the price will be even lower.

Sony's VGP-XL1B2 200 DVD changer for HTPCs

PICCOLA GADGETS — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 22:37:40 GMT

Even though it won't look nearly as good sitting next to your HTPC than the Vaios it was designed to complement, you can now pick up the Sony VGP-XL1B2 200 DVD changer that had previously limited to an optional add-on for the company's XL1 and XL2 Media C