Samsung BD1500, anyone have review?

ClashFan

Enjoying the debate, guys!

HD DVD has spoiled me a bit with regards to audio. I have a pretty decent setup (see me sig). I really enjoy the TrueHD tracks on those HD DVDs that have them, and DD+ in some cases (like Transformers).

I'd like something along the lines of this in my first BD player. The new Samsung, should the initial positive reviews of it continue, interests me with 1.1 from the beginning and the potential for 2.0 with firmware update. But, then there's the sound.

I can clearly tell the difference b/t an HD DVD audio and that of DVD's and television broadcasts. I'd like whatever BD player I end up getting being clearly better, too.

The Panny BD50 is way too much for what I'm willing to spend for a first player. I spent $322 for my first HD DVD player, and I'm looking at that same ballpark for the first BD player. The new Panny is already in the ballpark...

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My gear:

Samsung LN46A650 -- 46" 120 Hz
Onkyo TX-SR674 receiver
JBL Venue fronts, Infinity TSS-1100 center
Infinity TSS-1100 surrounds and rear surrounds
JBL SUB12 subwoofer
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player (firmware 2.7) (100+ HD DVDs)
Sony BDP-S550 BD player (51 BDs)
Xbox 360 game console
Comcast Motorola 6412 HDTV cable box
Logitech Harmony 550 Remote
1 wife, 2 sons (ages 15 and 8)

anythingwt

I know this thread is a bit old, but Engadget just did a review on the Samsung BD-P1500:

The Good
Dolby Digital Plus and TrueHD decoding. Dolby Digital Plus and TrueHD encoding to DTS via S/PDIF works great for those without HDMI audio. Player bitstreams all codecs. Passed both the video resolution and film resolution loss test on the HQV test disc. (Player set to 1080p60)
Same great menus and scrub bar as the BD-UP5000. Resume works on some discs. At 6 seconds, it has the fastest eject from off of any player we've tested. Component and HDMI will both output at the same time, unless resolution is set to to 1080p24. If it is set to 1080p60, then component runs at 1080i60. Bonus View works as advertised. Best looking Samsung Blu-ray player yet. Perfect picture and audio quality -- including 24p.

The Bad
We wish it had a native resolution setting like Pioneer & Sony's Source Direct feature.
Only way to change the resolution is to stop the disc. Only way to make the scrub bar show up is to hit pause. Still don't like the non-backlit remote. Load times aren't stellar; 34 seconds to load a disc, 47 seconds if the player is off. No coax digital output. No discrete analog out -- first Samsung BD player without them.
No DTS-HD MA support until firmware update. No BD Live until firmware update. Resume doesn't work on some discs (BD-J limitation).

Conclusion
There's a lot to like about this player, but it's hard to believe that after 2 years and 5 players, Samsung still doesn't have a "full featured player." Sure BD Live isn't for everyone -- and in fact, many don't even have internet connectivity behind their HDTV -- but with BD Live and DTS-HD MA currently missing from this one, the only thing really left to like over the previous model is the price. And since the PS3 sells for the same -- unless you find the BD-P1500 on sale -- we wonder who'd prefer the BD-P1500 over Sony's multifaceted console. The good news is we don't have anything exceptionally bad to say about the BD-P1500; in fact, it works as advertised in every way. So if you're in the market for a standalone player, and don't care can wait for BD Live and DTS-HD MA decoding, this is currently the player to beat.


Link.

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E55 KEV

2 weeks is old?

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anythingwt

I suppose it's not really all that old.. I just figured the OP already had his question answered with all the debating going on. The Engadget review is helpful though..

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PFC5

Thanks for the review info anythingwt!!!

I think it is great that this player is doing the transcoding to DTS over optical so you can at least get 1.5mbps for people who do not have an HDMI receiver. I think EVERY player should have this feature.

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Denon AVR-887
Klipsch RP-5 Pwred Towers (mains) (525 watts peak each 12"Subs)
All Klipsch RC-25(ctr),(2)SS1(surr),(2)SS1(rearSurr)
Toshiba (2)HD-A20,PS3,BD35
For SACD/DVD-A Samsung HD-841
Panny 50pz80u plasma SETTINGS
RCA HD50LPW162 50"DLP w/HD2+
SA 3250HD
47" LCD+Yamaha5790+HD-A1(bedroom)
Harmony 680 + (2) 670s (amazing remote/support)
Game room with Onkyo receiver & B&W Speakers
The_Cable_Game
Take the high ground and be happier

ClashFan

I do have an HDMI receiver (1.1), but it does not decode HD audio. I need the player to do that, as my HD DVD players do.

Will a future firmware allow this player to decode DTS HD internally??

If so, I might take a shot at this one sooner rather than later. Isn't DTS HD the big audio thing on most BD titles rather than Dolby TrueHD?

__________________
My gear:

Samsung LN46A650 -- 46" 120 Hz
Onkyo TX-SR674 receiver
JBL Venue fronts, Infinity TSS-1100 center
Infinity TSS-1100 surrounds and rear surrounds
JBL SUB12 subwoofer
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player (firmware 2.7) (100+ HD DVDs)
Sony BDP-S550 BD player (51 BDs)
Xbox 360 game console
Comcast Motorola 6412 HDTV cable box
Logitech Harmony 550 Remote
1 wife, 2 sons (ages 15 and 8)

hatt

From post 17
They say it will be able to. When is the problem.

WheatenTerrier

I'll be buying this player, becuase the ps3 won't bitstream the dts-hd and hd-ma to my receiver. This will, and my receiver can do the rest. It's supposed to ship in a week or two, can't wait.

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Chris Gerhard

Let us know what you think after you get it. Samsung is beginning to get their act together and I think this player is a big improvement over previous models.

Chris

Chris Gerhard

You have an HD DVD player that decodes DTS-HD internally?

Chris

Bravestime

Your Right. It appears Samsung has been doing much better with their players, especially with the 1200s. Nice to see it coming together for them. This should give Samsung owners more confidence in the company. Kudos Samsung.

E55 KEV

got my second unit - I posted this in another thread:

"The remote is a POS! I took first unit back to Wal-Mart and second unit does the same.

After setting the BD-P1500 remote to operate my Sharp LCD TV it only works a few seconds. After hitting TV Vol +/- and/or TV CH +/- a few times the TV stops responding from the BD remote. Then the BD player stops responding to the remote input. The BD remote freezes up!

I have to remove the batteries from the BD remote to reset it in order for the BD player to respond."

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dontknowjack

I see that Sony is about to come out with S350. Could this one be far better than Samsung 1500?

Chris Gerhard

Only time will tell. I do believe the S350 is profile 2.0 out of the box and the Samsung BD-P1500 will be updated to 2.0 at some future point but even that isn't clear to me, maybe both will require an update. Features and performance look like a wash otherwise to me. Owning both Sony and Samsung players, I would rate the Sony firmware improvements timely and better tested, Sony has done a great job in that regard. Samsung firmware updates have been problematic although things are getting much better lately.

Chris

mickjaeger@tis

I have just purchased the BD1500 along with the Samsung LCD TV model LE52A556P and I am more than pleased with their performance. The upscaling to 1080P is excellent but as with all things the result of the upscaling is dependant on the original recorded quality of the disc. A recent copy of Dejavu is upscaled to almost blu ray quality whilst an older version of the Richard Gere disc Yanks is no where near as good - the original grainy picture is exacerbated when upscaled....I have to buy some discs to keep my wife happy! My only comment so far is that when playing a recent copy of The Prestige I got white flashes across the bottom of the TV screen but I suspect this may be a disc fault? This is my only problem so far.