$250 - $350 Range Crossroads

[bd_noob09]

First, I'm sorry if this question has been asked to death, so feel free to refer me other threads - I'm haven't been able to find my answer directly via search.

I'm in the $250 - $350 range, which is putting me at a crossroads: Sammy BD-P1500 vs. BD-P2500, Sony BDP-S350 vs. BDP-S550.

According to this chart:



and other research, it seems that the cheaper Sammy BD-1500/Sony BDP-350 offer 2.0 analog output and "STREAM"
DTS-HD HR and DTS-HD Master Audio.

The Sammy BD-2500 (which also adds the HQV chip)/Sony BDP-2550 offer 7.1 analog output and offer "COMPLETE" support for DTS-HD HR and DTS-HD Master Audio.

1) For the Sammny BD-2500 and Sony BDP-2550, do they both offer DTS-HD HR and DTS-HD Master Audio DECODERS? If the do, why don't they say "DECODE" vs. "COMPLETE"??

2) I don't have a surround sound system yet -- and probably won't for a least a year. However, I have a HDTV and want a Blu-ray player now. Is it worth paying more (now) for the Sammny BD-2500 or Sony BDP-2550 so I don't limit my capabilities in the future?

Thanks in advance!

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by bd_noob09

2) I don't have a surround sound system yet -- and probably won't for a least a year. However, I have a HDTV and want a Blu-ray player now. Is it worth paying more (now) for the Sammny BD-2500 or Sony BDP-2550 so I don't limit my capabilities in the future?

I would probably go with the cheaper players now considering you do not even have a surround system. By the time you add one, there will be better BD players available than either of your more expensive choices at cheaper prices.

[Kage]

You could add the Pioneer BDP-51FD to your list. It can be found for the upper $200 range.

[bd_noob09]

In terms of VIDEO QUALITY alone -- what's the best suggestion? I do have a nice TV, so I don't want to skimp on video quality.

I believe the Sony BDP-S350/BDP-BX1 and BDP-S550 have the same chip technology, so strictly speaking in term of video quality, both units would have an equal picture.

However, (to my knowledge) the Sammy BD-P2500 HAS a HQV chip, and the BD-P1500 DOES NOT have a HQV chip.

Would the video picture of the Sammy BD-P2500 (with a HQV chip) be better/significantly better than the picture quality from the Sonys?

**Also, what about DVD upscaling...do Sammys or Sonys do a better job?**

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by bd_noob09

In terms of VIDEO QUALITY alone -- what's the best suggestion? I do have a nice TV, so I don't want to skimp on video quality.

**Also, what about DVD upscaling...do Sammys or Sonys do a better job?**

Anything with the HQV chip is going to significantly outperform virtually all other upscaling solutions. If that is your sole priority I would go with the more expensive Samsung player.

[bd_noob09]

Thanks Clark Kent, I appreciate it.

So, a Blu-ray player with a Reon HQV chip will always outperform a Blu-ray player without a Reon HQV chip IN TERMS of (standard def) DVD upscaling. Gotcha.

Now what about Blu-ray playback?

In terms of Blu-ray picture quality, would the Sammy BD-P2500 be WORSE, BETTER, or ABOUT SAME as a Sony BDP-S350/BDP-S550 ?

(Both Sonys should technically have the same picture as they have the same chip.)

Sammy or Sony?

Thanks for all the help so far!

[Clark Kent]

You might want to check out the following technical review of the Sony BDP-S350.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/dvd-p...-player_4.html

Here is a relevant excerpt:

With HD material, the performance of the BDP-S350 was a bit of a mixed bag. The player got a failing score for proper 1080i conversion because while it could properly handle 1080i material encoded in a 3-2 cadence, it could not properly handle 1080i material encoded with a 2-2 cadence.

The S350 didn't show that it was reducing a significant amount of digital noise from an image so it didn't pass our test for noise reduction.

On the upside, because the S350 is motion adaptive, the player was able to pass our diagonal filtering test and it shows a smooth image even in cases where there are multiple diagonal lines, such as on the mast of a moving ship.

The player also has good color representation in its color spaces with no problems with banding.

The S350 was tested for pixel cropping with its component video and HDMI connections and more than 10 pixels total were being cropped from all sides so it received a failing score for the test.

[Sammy]

I have had excellent service from my BD-P2500 with f/w ver 2.4. The upscaling is, in fact, phenomenal. The pq rivals the Sonys from seeing those in the stores. This player can be had for around $350 at newegg.com (got mine for $330, right now it is $360) or maybe even less elsewhere. If you buy it now, I am willing to bet a nickel that you upgrade your audio in less than a year. I did and my 10 year old receiver handles dts core but not HD. You could get the cheaper one now (some even at $150) but next year when you upgrade your audio system, you'll be in for another $150 to $200 for a replacement player at that time assuming that they cost less then. The choice is yours, but the amount of money you spend won't change too much unless there is some super custom deluxe player (and associated higher dollar receiver) available next year.

[Chordata]

You may want to check into the upcoming Pioneer BDP 120 (which is being released in April for $250). It decodes, I believe, TrueHD and DTS-HD MA. It does not have analog outputs, however.

[bd_noob09]

Wow, that review (thanks Clark Kent) REALLY turned me off from the Sonys. Especially since I have a large collection of (standard def) DVDs I still want to be able to enjoy, upconverting is an issue for me.

-I know there's the whole controversy of how bad Samsung was with all of it's older Blu-ray players (even as recent with the BD-1500), especially in regards to firmware updates. However, Sammy BD-2500 owners, has this been your experience with the BD-2500?

- In doing some research, I've been getting a lot of feedback that Pioneers - speaking strictly in terms of Blu-ray PQ - do the best job. (The Pioneer BDP-120 does look promising, thanks O_V_N).

Either:
1) Get a Pioneer and sacrifice on upconverting PQ?
2) Get a Sammy and sacrifice on Blu-ray PQ?

[StanDaMan99]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Anything with the HQV chip is going to significantly outperform virtually all other upscaling solutions. If that is your sole priority I would go with the more expensive Samsung player.

Definitely true!

[Blacklac]

Actually, the Pioneer 51 upconverts just as good as the Reon in the Sammy's, some say slightly better even. Plus the Pioneer has tons of picture controls, I think that player is a steal at that price. However, if you NEED Profile 2.0 or internal DTS-MA decoding, move on. Internal DTS-MA decoding is still rumored for a future firmware though... It is also somewhat slow with Java disc's. On the plus side, it can play PAL and be hacked (not quite a simple remote sequence though) for Region Free on SD DVD's only. Also plays AVCHD. Oh, and EXCELLENT Wolfson DAC's.

[Sammy]

I think the BD pq is awesome on the BD-P2500, but haven't spent a whole lot of time looking at the pq on other players. The upscaling of my older 480p DVD's to 1080P is very impressive. I don't understand the statement of suffering on pq with BD-P2500. Is there a documented source for this statement that I am not aware of?

[bd_noob09]

Originally Posted by Sammy

I think the BD pq is awesome on the BD-P2500, but haven't spent a whole lot of time looking at the pq on other players. The upscaling of my older 480p DVD's to 1080P is very impressive. I don't understand the statement of suffering on pq with BD-P2500. Is there a documented source for this statement that I am not aware of?

You know what Sammy, I think is my (and maybe all of our problem): how does the PQ actually differ between different models on the SAME TV. I wish you could just get a Samsung, Pionner, and Panasonic, hook them up to three identical TVs, and then do some comparing...

To answer your question Sammy, I personally have yet to see an actual review that said the PQ of a Samsung BD-P2500 was subpar. Basically, people just keep saying Pioneers (or Panasonics of that matter) have "the best Blu-ray PQ" (ie: which I interpret as better chip technology).

Another possible explination for the "better PQ" besides "better technology" could result from the picture controls that both Pioneer and Panasonic seem to have, and Samsung lacks. THUS, maybe the picture quality is actually better with Pioneers and Panasonics because of the fact a person has the ability to fine tune the PQ to a particular display.

HOWEVER, if you're not into tweaking your controls, potentially there will be little, to no difference between the three brands.

In regards to upscaling/upconverstion, I've gotten the vibe that even though Pioneer may do a pretty great job of upcoverting SD DVDs, still nothing compares to the power of the Reon HQV chip for its deinterlacing abilities. However...the Reon HQV chip would thus have little effect on 1080P (Progressive Scan) Blu-ray discs.

Right?

[Sammy]

I've got a zillion picture control options on my HDTV. What is there on the Panasonic BDP's that I don't have on my BD-P2500? Or at least that is not on the HDTV? I don't know a whole lot about the video processing but I don't think there is a separate chip for 480p and 1080P processing in the samsung. It seems that one video processor would process all video, but, like I said, I don't know.