Need Tips about Dual-Format players?

jdastas · 03-23-2008, 07:18 PM

HI all,
Im new here and a relative Noob to the whole Blu-ray/hd-dvd thing. I purchased an HD-DVD player about 6-7 months ago w/ some disc. I'm now looking to go purple and purchase a dual format player that will play both my exsisting hd disc and some new blu-ray disc. What are your thoughts on the Samsung BD-UP5000 and the competing LG model. I've come close to pulling the trigger on the Samsung model this week but have decided to wait and see if it will go under 400 by April. I've started my own research and have noticed that some people have some issues with their Samsungs but hopefully a few firmware updates can fix a few those problems. Anyway, any insight and ideas will be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.

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Lew Crippen · 03-24-2008, 12:13 PM

Welcome to the forum Jose.

If it were me, I’d concentrate on getting the best Blu-Ray player you can afford and that meets your needs. Keep the HD-DVD player. Since you already have the HD-DVD hardware spending money on a dual-format player will not be cost effective.

Not really a big deal to connect up two different players to the same system.

DaleAV · 03-24-2008, 01:30 PM

I am toying with similar thoughts. I have an older, but very good Toshiba XA1.
The biggest problem with the Samsung is that it will likely be the last dual player they will make.
LG makes one that right now costs more and actually has fewer features.
Samsung says they will continue to support the 5000 and have an audio codec fix planned for release in May.
I don't like stacking more components into my system (it is just not convenient) but getting a BD player with the lastest profile 2.0 could be an advantage. The 5000 will likely never be above 1.1
I was hoping to keep the XA1 as a back up player, in case a dualie crapped out.
While Blue Ray is becoming the only game in town, I am not overly optimistic on it's future either. Maybe in the long run it will not matter as much as to what you do today.

Derrick Lee · 03-24-2008, 04:24 PM

I personally bought the LG BH200, but only because I got a deal for trading my 360 drive and price matching to bring it down to CDN $300 + taxes. That made it cheaper than a standalone Blu-Ray player. I still have my A35 as my receiver is older and doesn't support HDMI so I need the analog outs.

With recent firmware updates, the player has been brought up to profile 1.1, decodes Dolby TrueHD to 5.1 and bitstreams the new audio codecs. Someone also posted a region hack to allow it to play SD DVDs from other places over the weekend.

With LG publicly committed to keeping this player updated, there is no reason this player could not be updated to 2.0. It has the ethernet connection due to the HD DVD half of the player, and it also has a USB jack the the Blu-Ray portion can use for storage if you plug in a USB drive to bring it up to 1GB of storage. Although the HD DVD menus are a bit slower and choppier, overall I'm very happy with my purchase.

DaleAV · 03-24-2008, 11:09 PM

The main thing that keeps me from the LG is lack of analog output. In all other aspects, it has the edge (in firmware especially) over the Sammy.
But the 'promised' update in May is supposed to take to 1.1 also.
I guess both players suffered a bit in terms of handling codecs. Glad this is getting resolved.

jdastas · 03-25-2008, 12:05 AM

I plan on keeping my exsisting HD-dvd player in the bedroom as a good upconverting player, but I have HD-dvd movies that would like to enjoy in the living room without having to have two different players . Thats the reason why I am looking toward the dual format players. One unit and Im not stuck watching my hd-dvd's in the bedroom or having to move the player back and fourth. Im sorry to ask such a question, but what is the biggest advantage of a blu-ray player that is profile 2.0. If the 5000 is 1.1 and i don't have that great of a ht set up, I wonder if I wouldn't be missing out on much?

Mark Cappelletty · 03-25-2008, 12:41 AM

Yeah, I'm in the same boat. I have the 360 add-on and about 40 movies and I find the unit noisy and, with my Xbox having been in the shop twice, would rather not rely on a game console for my hi-def viewing needs. I've heard that the Samsung has firmware issues up the wazoo and that the LG is a lot more solid, but again, I'm on the fence. I also only have x-number of inputs on my Onkyo 703 and don't want to add two more machines to it.

DaleAV · 03-25-2008, 09:08 AM

That's part of the problem with dual players. We are talking about a fairly high degree of complexity and more chance of problems.
The convenience is hard to beat though.
I know the Samsung has had it's share of problems, but from what I read now across a few forums, most owners are quite pleased, but will be more satisfied once the promised update in May is a reality. It supposedly has virtually perfect video, but audio processing has been all over the place.
I definitely need a player with analog 5.1 at a minimum leaving the LG out, too bad, because it does have stronger mfr. backing.
I just ordered the 5000 from Vann's, and could return it in 30 days if not happy.
Figure I'll run it through it's paces, and if too buggy, just trade it back in maybe for a PS3 which is actually the closest anyone has come in producing a reasonably priced profile 2.0 BD player. Not crazy about the form factor, guess if I was a real gamer I would not care..I will still have my Toshiba XA1 for HD DVD in any case.

The B-Man · 03-28-2008, 02:20 PM

I own an XBOX 360 HD-DVD player and a PlayStation 3.

Currently, the Samsung BD-UP5000 is 449.99 at Amazon.com. I received mine a couple days ago and the picture quality is better on the Samsung compared to what I have previously. The first thing I did when removing it from the box was upgrading the firmware. This procedure went without a hitch. The reason I bought this player is to avoid buying an HDMI receiver and use the available EXT. IN input.

There are however 3 problems with the player that I'm aware of:

1) The sound from any movie that has a Dolby TrueHD track, will be output through the FL and FR speakers ONLY. This problem will appear whether you use optical or the analog 7.1 output. This sucks for movies that ONLY have an English Dolby TrueHD track like: 30 Days of Night, Resident Evil, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2.

2) Should you shoose the analog 7.1 option, the subwoofer crossover is fixed at 100Hz with no way to adjust it.

3) The surround back channels on 6.1 or 7.1 discs are absent during playback while using the analog 7.1 outputs.

BD Live like HDi hasn't impressed me yet. There has never been online content that I would tell friends as a must-see exclusive feature. It also adds loading times to the discs. Just waiting for that supposed May firmware update for this player.

Jari K · 03-29-2008, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew Crippen

If it were me, I’d concentrate on getting the best Blu-Ray player you can afford and that meets your needs. Keep the HD-DVD player. Since you already have the HD-DVD hardware spending money on a dual-format player will not be cost effective.

I fully agree. After May/summer, there´ll be no new HD DVD-releases (perhaps some odd imports), so it´s better to spend your money to the quality Blu-ray-player (that supports 1.1/2.0).



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