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Samsung BD-P1500 - Pleasantly Surprised! (1 Viewer)

Matt Hough

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I have been reading comments over at AVS and several users there have been plagued with audio dropouts with this player.

Has anyone here using it had this problem? I am anxious to get this unit, but I'm not interested if it's got audio issues.

Thanks.
 

Matt Hough

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Thanks, Jay. I think I'm pretty much sold. I have a PS3 which I like a lot, but as a reviewer, I'd feel more comfortable with another Blu-ray player here in case something happens to the PS3.
 

Terry Hickey

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This is my first blu-ray player and I have played 7 discs: "20 Million Miles to Earth", "Total Recall", "Mission Impossible", "The Untouchables", "Casino Royale", "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" so far without any audio dropouts. I can only connect to my receiver via optical, but run hdmi from the player to the plasma flatscreen video-wise. I'm enjoying it along with my hdA3. My collection is small, 42 hd-dvds and 12 blu-rays.
 

BigKid13

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Mr. George,
First off, I hope I'm sending this to the right place as I am new to this stuff. I really appreciated your review of the Samsung BD-P1500 and was hoping you could lend your obvious expertise to a decision I need to make. I am looking to purchase my first Blu-ray player to replace a Toshiba HD-A2 in my home theater. I have a Panasonic PT-AE900U projector (720p) and a Denon AVR-1907 (no HDMI) with Def Tech speakers. So, here we go. Do you have any experience with the Sony BDP-S301 (Sony's big box store version of their S300) and how it might compare to the Samsung 1500? The Samsung can be bought for $380 plus $60 for a 4 year protection plan ($440 plus tax) whereas the Sony can be purchased for $378 plus tax, comes with an HDMI cable and Costco will take it back for any reason from now until the end of time. So I guess my questions are:
1. Is the Sony any good? Crap is still crap even if it's cheaper.
2. Is there another player, considering the limits of my receiver, that I should be looking at as spending a few extra bucks wouldn't kill me? I really don't fully understand the higher end sound stuff and don't even know if I would be able to really appreciate it with the system I'm running.
Thank you in advance for your time.
Best wishes,
David
 

Robert George

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David,

I do have some experience with the Sony S300. While I do consider the S300 a good performer on BD image quality, I pretty much hate it for everything else, most particularly the incredibly slow disc loading. This is also "only" a profile 1.0 player and the Samsung is 1.1 out of the box, and will be 2.0 at some point.

If your choice is between the Samsung 1500 and the Sony S301, that's a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned. Samsung wins easily.

That said, I did get a look at Sony's upcoming BDP-S350 yesterday, and I think the perception of BD player performance may be in for a change soon. This player won't be available for several weeks yet (middle to end of July), but what I saw of it yesterday might warrant waiting until you can get a real world comparison between the Samsung and the new Sony. Assuming you can wait that long.
 

Matt Hough

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I got my hands on one of these and hooked it up today. I only watched a few minutes of ENCHANTED just to make sure video was working at 1080p/24 and audio with Dolby TrueHD. Both were terrific.

Tonight, I'll watch the entire movie to see it in operation for an entire film. I'll also put in a James Bond sDVD - likely GOLDFINGER - to see its upconversion capabilities.
 

Len Berkoski

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There is currently an online deal for this player (bundled with the Matrix Collection) ... can anybody make any recommendations on this player versus waiting a few months for more christmas deals? Knowing my own personality, I'm more concerned with Disc Startup times, versus BD Live capabilities (2.0).
 

Matt Hough

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The most recent reviews I've read on line and in trade magazines have all been very positive as have been my experiences with the player.

As for start and load times, it's not as fast as a PS3 (which I also own), but it isn't as long as the Toshiba HD-DVD machine I have either.

If you have a receiver that decodes the new lossless codecs, this is a fantastic machine for Blu-ray output, and I also very much like its upconverting capabilities even more than the PS3. If you need 5.1 analog outputs to get the new lossless codecs via PCM, this is not the machine for you. It also doesn't internally decode DTS-MA though it does internally decode Dolby TrueHD if you'd rather the player to decode the audio rather than passing the bitstream to a receiver.
 

Len Berkoski

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I have an Onkyo TX-DS898, so its an older receiver, which can take coaxial and optical inputs. Although I understand I won't be able to get the newer lossless audio formats, I should be able to get something equivalent to the DD5.1 that DVD offers, right?
 

Matt Hough

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Absolutely. You'll get a higher bitrate lossy audio that will sound very good in comparison to the mixes on regular DVDs.
 

Rhoq

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I got in on the Amazon deal (with the free Matrix set) last week. Initial boot time is comparable to my Toshiba HD-A2 (approximately 40 seconds). The initial loading of a disc is also on par with the A2 (roughly 10 seconds after the tray is closed before the disc begins to play).

Given all of the horror stories I have heard about unacceptable loading times from stand-alone Blu-ray players, I was pleasantly surprised to see that discs load almost as quickly as my PlayStation 3. All-in-all loading times for the BD-P1500 are on par with my HD-A2, which aren't bad at all.
 

Mike<> C

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Just doing a bit of research so bare with me please!

Im wondering if someone can tell me what some of these terms mean.

What would the advantage of 5.1 Analog outputs?

What is the differance if any of bitstream Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA and being able to decode internally?

And what is MCH analogue outputs for audio?

Understanding the concept of DVD Players for instance I have a Toshiba that outputs DD and DTS via optical or coaxle to my HK AVR120 which decodes both so Id like a player simular, something that outputs all the neccesary codecs via HDMI or optical, to a reciever I will replace in the future. Will this player do that?
 

Chris Gerhard

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The big issue if you want to use the advanced audio codecs with an old receiver with analog audio input and no HDMI input, you need to have the player decode and output over the analog 5.1 or 7.1 output. Many players can bitstream the advanced audio codecs over HDMI for decoding by an attached HDMI 1.3a audio decoder. DTS-HD MA, Dolby TrueHD and Multichannel Uncompressed Lossless PCM can not be trasmitted over the optical or coaxial digital output. Some receivers have HDMI 1.1 or HDMI 1.2 audio processing that can receive PCM over HDMI so players that can decode and output PCM over HDMI work with those.

A few examples of products that do some of the things and there are many more that do each:

The PS3 decodes all audio and outputs PCM over HDMI.

The Sony BDP-S550 and Panasonic DMP-BD55 decodes and outputs over HDMI and analog 7.1 or bitstreams to an HDMI 1.3a audio decoder.

Ths Samsung BD-P1500 bitstreams all and so far decodes everything but DTS-HD MA for output over HDMI.

The Yamaha RX-V661 is HDMI 1.2a and accepts PCM over HDMI. The Yamaha RX-V663 is HDMI 1.3a and accepts PCM and bitstream and decodes all audio codecs.

I can't tell the difference personally between having the player decode and output PCM over HDMI compared to bitstream for decoding by my receiver. I don't have a player connected by analog connection to compare but I am relatively certain I couldn't tell any difference compared to the other two possibilities.

Chris

 

Mike<> C

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Thanks Chris I appreciate it but am still confused.

As far as the reciever goes that will be later so for right now all Im concerned with is it will pass DD or DTS via optical or coaxle output so this is not an issue "The big issue if you want to use the advanced audio codecs with an old receiver with analog audio input and no HDMI input, you need to have the player decode and output over the analog 5.1 or 7.1 output. " But I see what you are saying, same concept as DVD with built in decoders before they made them in recievers.
So what does bitstream mean?
So your saying mainly I want to be able to decode DTS-HD MA, Dolby TrueHD and Multichannel Uncompressed Lossless PCM via HDMI?What is Multichannel Uncompressed Lossless PCM?

Also what does it mean to decode and output "The Sony BDP-S550 and Panasonic DMP-BD55 decodes and outputs over HDMI"?Dont I only need to output these as long as my reciever I buy will decode them?
And last I guess will these codecs be upgradable via firmware in the future So I should deffinately get a player that is equiped with Ethernet?

Thanks again Mike

Chris it seems I may have found my answer via Cnet.com
"High-resolution soundtrack support on the BDP-S350 is good, although not perfect. There's onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD--which means you can hear Dolby TrueHD on any HDMI-compatible receiver--but DTS-HD Master Audio cannot be decoded by the player. On the other hand, the BDP-S350 can output both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio in bit stream format, which means that people with newer receivers with onboard decoding can still take advantage of DTS-HD Master Audio. Of course, the similarly priced Sony PlayStation 3 can decode both formats, which means you only need a receiver with HDMI support to take advantage of both formats. However, keep in mind that the differences between these high-resolution soundtracks and standard Dolby Digital and DTS may be hard to hear unless you have a high-end listening environment. "


but does this the BDP-S350 can output both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio in bit stream format happen via HDMI or something else? I want the best quality that will support future upgrades.
 

ManW_TheUncool

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With the apparent arrival of the holiday shopping season (and the likely deals to come), anyone know if/when Samsung will finally provide the firmware update needed to enable Profile 2.0 on this player (and will it actually even work well)? :D

Thanks for any info on that...

_Man_
 

Matt Hough

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I thought it was alrready available: version 2.0. I had read that some people were having issues with their players once their firmware was upgraded, but my 1500 plays just fine with version 2.0 loaded. Of course, I don't have it hooked up to the internet. (My PS3 has that connection.)
 

Rhoq

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Unfortunately, the BD-P1500 died after 2 weeks (stopped outputting audio & video). Amazon sent a replacement which immediately froze after updating the firmware. I've never had much luck with Samsung products, and this latest experience has convinced me to avoid Samsung in the future.
 

ManW_TheUncool

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Aye. That's always one concern I've had w/ Samsung products though they are not alone, IMHO. I'm actually also generally reluctant to buy players w/ Sony drives in them (since the early days of DVD) though I did take the plunge on the PS3 -- knock on wood I guess. :P But even w/ the PS3, so far, ironically, I already had trouble w/ the built-in Seagate(!) HDD -- used to think they were among the most reliable for HDDs.

I guess they just don't make these things like they used to. My first "real" CD player was a Sony ES model (from circa 1990) that lasted a very long time and would've probably lasted longer, if I didn't drop it during a move. Even after that drop, it still played fine for a long time before starting to flake out -- and I actually ditched it before it completely died.

_Man_
 

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