Samsung BD-P1500 - Pleasantly Surprised!

Jay Friedman · 05-08-2008, 12:01 PM

I'm aware of the reported problems with some of Samsung's previous Blu-ray players, so I was expecting much less from the BD-P1500 than the stellar performance that I have seen and heard so far.

I picked one up at my local Wal-Mart for only $348.00 + tax. I've owned both Sony and Panasonic Blu-ray players and now own a PS3. Here are my initial thoughts on the Samsung 1500 after playing several discs.

I can confirm that it does bitstream Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA to my Yamaha RX-V663 receiver. The picture is gorgeous, certainly as good as and, to my eyes, even a bit sharper than the PS3. I do not have a Blu-ray test disc to actually look at resolution patterns, but it looks very sharp with great colors. My TV is a 60" Sony SXRD.

The biggest surprise? The disc loading times are much faster than I expected. I did not actually time them, but the discs I put in loaded at least as quickly, and, I believe, even more quickly than what I remember the Panasonic BD30 load times were. Even "slow-loading" titles such as Ratatouille loaded in a very acceptable amount of time.

If the BD-P1500 continues to perform this well, I'm considering returning my somewhat noisy PS3 and keeping the Samsung.

I'm looking forward to other reviews that would verify or nullify my observations, especially about the load times.

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Scott-S · 05-08-2008, 01:04 PM

Jay,

Are you refering to the PS3 as noisey due to sound noise (ie: fans etc.) or noisey picture?

Also, how does this Samsung stack up in upconverting SD-DVDs?

Jay Friedman · 05-08-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott-S

Jay,

Are you refering to the PS3 as noisey due to sound noise (ie: fans etc.) or noisey picture?

Also, how does this Samsung stack up in upconverting SD-DVDs?

Hi Scott,

I was refering to the fan noise from the PS3.

I've only had time to look at one SD-DVD, so it's difficult to judge, but I'd say it looked at least as good as on the PS3. Of course it's all somewhat subjective.

Rich Allen · 05-08-2008, 02:11 PM

Does it internally decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA? If it does, I just may invest in it.

Thanks.

Jay Friedman · 05-08-2008, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Allen

Does it internally decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD MA? If it does, I just may invest in it.

Thanks.

It internally decodes and also bitstreams Dolby TrueHD. It only bitstreams DTS HD MA. As seems to be the pattern, internal DTS HD MA decoding is promised in a future firmware upgrade.

PaulDA · 05-08-2008, 04:19 PM

Does it have MCH analogue outputs for audio?

Jay Friedman · 05-08-2008, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulDA

Does it have MCH analogue outputs for audio?

No, it does not have MCH analogue outputs.

Rich Allen · 05-08-2008, 06:26 PM

As long as it can be added in a future update, doesn't sound bad at all.

Thanks.

Doug Otte · 05-09-2008, 11:03 AM

Does it forcibly stretch 4:3 SD-DVDs like the 5000 does?

Doug

Robert A · 05-09-2008, 11:13 AM

Am I missing something here? I thought this player wasn't coming out until June.

Scott-S · 05-09-2008, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Does it forcibly stretch 4:3 SD-DVDs like the 5000 does?

Wow, I didn't know some players did that. That would be a deal breaker for me. I know it is off topic, but does the PS3 do this?

Chris Gerhard · 05-09-2008, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott-S

Wow, I didn't know some players did that. That would be a deal breaker for me. I know it is off topic, but does the PS3 do this?

As far as I know many DVD players when used with most widescreen HD displays upscaling 4:3 frame DVD's, the result is the picture is stretched. Play the DVD at 480 and the aspect ratio should be correct and I assume that is the case with the Samsung BD-UP5000 and BD-P1500. I know it is with my BD-P1200. I don't know whether the blame is on the display or the player, but there are always ways around it. I have never watched a 4:3 DVD stretched and I own the PS3 and the BD-P1200.

Chris

Chris Gerhard · 05-09-2008, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Otte

Does it forcibly stretch 4:3 SD-DVDs like the 5000 does?

Doug

Play the DVD at 480 and the display shouldn't stretch. Also some displays have the ability to take the incoming upscaled HD signal and maintain 4:3 aspect ratio. You probably won't find any big issue with not upscaling 4:3 DVD's.

Chris