Needing Blu Ray advice

[cregster]

I've got a Samsung BDP 1400. When it works, I love the sound and picture. However, when it works is not often. Frequent reloading of disc, even after upgrade, freezing of movie, etc. I am sold on Blu Ray, but I want to get another player, but be a bit more smart this time.

I don't yet have an HDMI plasma or lcd. I have one of the old componant plasmas. So, no HDMI connection yet, but the picture at 1080i is still better than the Direct TV high def. The main feature needed is the 5.1 analog out put.

What I liked about the 1400 was that it decoded True Hd and DTS HD and sent out through the 5.1 analog. So, I would like to stick with one that decodes and puts out these formats (better yet DTS Master HD).

I don't know if the 1400 was second generation or what, but it seems 2nd gen is what to get now. (or is there a 3rd gen out now?)

I don't want to spend like $800 for a player. $500 or so is OK.

What do you guys reccommend I take a look at??

[thePope666]

Originally Posted by cregster

I've got a Samsung BDP 1400. When it works, I love the sound and picture. However, when it works is not often. Frequent reloading of disc, even after upgrade, freezing of movie, etc. I am sold on Blu Ray, but I want to get another player, but be a bit more smart this time.

I don't yet have an HDMI plasma or lcd. I have one of the old componant plasmas. So, no HDMI connection yet, but the picture at 1080i is still better than the Direct TV high def. The main feature needed is the 5.1 analog out put.

What I liked about the 1400 was that it decoded True Hd and DTS HD and sent out through the 5.1 analog. So, I would like to stick with one that decodes and puts out these formats (better yet DTS Master HD).

I don't know if the 1400 was second generation or what, but it seems 2nd gen is what to get now. (or is there a 3rd gen out now?)

I don't want to spend like $800 for a player. $500 or so is OK.

What do you guys reccommend I take a look at??

ps3 is a great blu player. its just a bonus that it plays games

[Gio]

first off if your having those problems i'd return it

im a big sony fan i love my bdp-s300 and bdp-s500 models

but the panasonic bd30 seems pretty killer

http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/31/p...eady-reviewed/

[cregster]

Yes, the panasonic had caught my eye. Only thing is that it doesn't decode TrueHD and output on the analog 5.1. The 1400 does. Though, to tell the truth, I must say that just the uncompressed soundtracks sound fantastic. But, I've noticed some discs not having the uncompressed track lately.

I am really not sure what you would hear different from the, let's say, Disney 24 bit 48 k uncompressed soundtrack vs. TrueHD. or master HD. I am sure there is some difference, but likely very small as I doubt the True HD or master would be more than 24/96. I mean, I know pro-tools can record up to 32 bit and 192 K, but I don't think 5.1 soundtracks are released to even theatres in that format.

My receiver decodes TrueHD, but not Master, so Master HD via bitstream doesn't help me much.

The PS3 sounds good. Main thing I am interested in at this point is does the damn disc play and load every time?

Yes, I am inquiring of the internet seller I bought from about returning. If it was Circuit City or somewhere, the thing would be back on their shelf right now. It is only the hassle of packaging and being totally without that is stopping me.

[Brain Sturgeon]

Do you need an analog 5.1 output? If so, the PS3 does not have this.

AFAIK, The Samsung BD-P1400 does not decode either TrueHD or DTS-MA-- it will pass them both via bitstream. You say your receiver decodes TrueHD, so it must be HDMI 1.3 compliant as that is the only way to bitstream THD. If so, then you shouldn't have a need for analog 5.1.

Could you clear this up to make potential suggestions for a player easier?

FWIW, I own both a PS3 and a Panny DMP-BD10A, and both have performed absolutely flawlessly as BD players on any disc that I have thrown at them. The PS3 is faster, but the BD10A is no slouch. The 10A does decode both TrueHD and DTS-HD HR, and passes them out as either 5.1 LPCM via HDMI or via the 7.1 analogue outs. The BD30k sounds like a fabulous player as well, but it does not internally decode THD or DTS-HD MA-- it will pass these as bitstream via HDMI.

[JJ]

Standalone? Panny 30. PS3 is amazing too, I could never pick one, I love both.

[Frode]

I think the problem in this case is that the receiver does not convert from hdmi to component, and that the Samsung can't output video through component while audio through the hdmi. I'm not sure the PS3 would be able to do that either.

[Kairav]

Buy a PS3, since by 3rd Quarter next year, it is going to be a profile 2.0 player. It plays 99.9% of BDs out there and can serve as a good multimedia hub for your home theatre.

[cregster]

Now we are on the second page, I wonder how many responses I will get.

I have an older plasma that only has computer and componant input. No HDMI or DVI. So, I need the 5.1 analog audio.

My receiver is 1.3 hdmi, but you need the screen. The whole path has to be hdmi. So, I am componant video and 5.1 analog now--until I get a new screen.

For that reason, the 5.1 audio output is important to me. PS3 doesn't do it. So that is out.

My other problem is that the place I bought the unit from, HYpathia Way, has not answered me after about 4 days regarding returning the 1400. So, I am stuck at the moment. Send for authorized repair for two weeks, or wait until I hear from the seller, or say F'it and get the panny. I am not confident that even after repair it will work. I see the price went to $299, but that's a lot of money for a player that won't work.

I had experience with a SACD/ DVD audio player when they first came out that had similar problems, and could never be fixed. Out of the box not working, will remain not working--no matter what the update.

[AlaskaDon]

There is a more logical solution, although it won't be the cheapest one. If money is a huge issue then this will probably be out of the question, but what makes the most sense to me is to keep the 1400 and go ahead and get it over with, and replace the display with one that is HDMI equipped.

It sounds like the problem with the 1400 is stemming from not outputting via HDMI and I haven't seen much being posted about it being all that unreliable but it's always possible that you just happened to get a bad one. If an exchange on the BD player doesn't solve the problem then I would save up the money to replace the TV rather than to spend money on a different BD player. It sounds like you have a decent receiver already so the TV seems to be the weak link to me.

[davidPS3]

PS3 is my vote. I have two of them for my theater set ups and they work great! Go with the 40 gig and save some $$$.

[DragonSarc]

Originally Posted by Gio

panasonic bd30 seems pretty killer

http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/31/p...eady-reviewed/

I second this HIGHLY RECOMENDED if you want just a stand alone that does Bitstream truHD and DTS Master - PS3 is good to but wont bitstream DTS HD MSTR.

[TheChad]

Hey All,

Sorry to chime in on someone elses thread, but the stupid forum settings wont allow me to create my own thread yet.



I had a Samsung BD-P1200, Obviously we don't need to go into the Firmware release issues with this, But I have untill Jan. 15th 2008 to return it to Best Buy, So my time is running out..

I was thinking of getting the BD-P1400, But I see there are issues with that player as well.

Prehaps Sony is the best way to go?

I read alot of reviews and the BD-P1200 got great reviews because of its HQV chipset, However I didn't noice any better quality in my SD DVD's.

My question is, What player should I get instead of this 1200, I have several hundred SD DVD, So Upconversion is a huge +, but obviously Blu-Ray Quality, and Audio Quality are #1.

Or for the money is the 1200 the best deal, and I should just wait months/years for samsung to release firmware to play newer blu-ray's?

I only paid $285 for my BD-P1200, I do not have any interest in paying $500+ for a player. So I know that narrows down my choices. I'd like to find a player for under $400.

Currently I'm looking at:

Sony BDP-S300 ($288.99)
Samsung BD-P1400 ($349.99)

Most of the others I've seen are well over $400. But I'm open to suggestion with reason.

Thanks for the help,

-TheChad

[beastcmg]

The Panasonic DMP-BD30 is a good choice I had the BD-P1200 and with the FW issues I gave up and got the Panasonic DMP-BD30.

[TheChad]

Originally Posted by beastcmg

The Panasonic DMP-BD30 is a good choice I had the BD-P1200 and with the FW issues I gave up and got the Panasonic DMP-BD30.

Its $499, Is it really worth the $200 more, than the 2 Models I mentioned above?

Just from looking at the specs, If I was going to spend $499 on a player, The DMP-BD30 does look the best, But is it really worth $200 more?

Out of the 2 I Mentioned, Which one is better?

Thanks,

-TheChad

[JasonR]

The S300 is really nice, depending on what you want. If you need PiP and TrueHD sound, don't do it. It works great for me though.

[TheChad]

Originally Posted by JasonR

The S300 is really nice, depending on what you want. If you need PiP and TrueHD sound, don't do it. It works great for me though.

Why would you need PIP for Blu-Ray? I don't understand this feature..?
TrueHD would be nice, But my Reciever doesn't support it, and Most Blu-Ray's are coming with Uncompressed audio anyway, so Its not all that important to me.

Really this is my personal outlook... In this uncertain time of the blu-ray/HD-DVD war, It doesn't make since to spend $500+ on a player, expecially one that supports technologies that arn't really even used yet in the disc's available. If/When Blu-Ray wins the war, The player prices will drop under $300, and shortly after that under $200, and both the players and disc's by then will be supporting all the features blu-ray's design supports.

So I'm looking for something to get a jump on blu-ray, so I can have an HD solution, I am plenty happy with my Dolby Digital/DTS 5.1 technologies, and don't really care about online interactivity and games that may be on some blu-ray's. I never used any of the features in any of my DVD's for the last 10 years, so I doubt i'd ever use them in my Blu-Ray's. I just want to watch the movies. Upconversion is a + though, since I do have alot of SD DVD's, but I havent really seen upconversion look much better than SD DVD anyway.

Thanks,

-TheChad

[TheChad]

** Update **

I went to best buy today, and looked at the Panasonic BD30, The only movie I tested on all the players was Pirates - At worlds end, since I knew it was a "problem movie"

I tested the Sony S300, Samsung 1400, panasonic BD30, and the Sharp Model (?)

The Samsung 1400, and Sharp Model (?) were by far the slowest, all the players played the movie, but Samsung and Sharp too a LOOONG time to load. The Sony S300, took about 1/2 the time of the Samsung 1400 to load, and the Panasonic BD30, too only a few seconds, It was almost instant.

However The Mr and Mrs Smith movie they had handy at best buy, did take quite ahwile to load on the BD30, which was the only unit I tested that movie on.

I am now drawn between the BD30, and the S300, It looks like the BD30 2ill pass DTS-HD audio to my reciever, but not the Dolby Digital version (DD-MA?), Is this true?

Thanks for the help.

-TheChad

[jmramirez]

the bd30 will bitstream Dolby True HD and DTS MA to your receiver, just be sure you receiver is capable of decoding the formats

[finalfantasy]

Originally Posted by jmramirez

the bd30 will bitstream Dolby True HD and DTS MA to your receiver, just be sure you receiver is capable of decoding the formats

I just don't understand why all BRay standalone owners didn't just go and buy PS3...the updates are automatic and with hard drives, they are great for everything, not just games...

I mean, if standalones were $100-$200, I could see, but when PS3s and standalones are about the same price, why would there be any debate?

And, eons ago, when PS3s first came out and the standalones first came out, it was a better deal to buy PS3s...I just don't get it...

Buy a PS3 and your problem is solved...