Hard to believe that CES 2007 was the venue at which Samsung launched its
second-generation Blu-ray player, as just 12 months later we're staring the fourth-gen unit right in the face. Coming this May, the BD-P1500 will support 1080p playback (not to mention 720p / 1080i / 1080p DVD upconversion), 7.1 PCM, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD HR and MA, Bitstream audio output via HDMI, HDMI 1.3 with CEC and the obligatory
Profile 1.1. Meanwhile, the firm is also announcing its forthcoming combo player, and for those out there who have yet to successfully
hunt one down or are just too frightened by the reports of lackluster audio performance, you may want to hit the pause button 'til May. The BD-UP5500 (pictured after the break) handles Blu-ray / HD DVD discs and supports 1080p24, but otherwise remains functionality identical to the P1500. The pain? $399 for the BD-P1500, $599 for the BD-UP5500.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bruzer @ Jan 24th 2008 3:27PM
Personally I'm going to wait for the Profile 2.0 players. Why download, burn, then run from cd a firmware update when it can be done directly with an internet connection? That's something that HDDVD has had right from the start.
Sean @ Jan 6th 2008 5:08PM
If this player decodes DTS-HD Master Audio internally, it will be a miracle!!!!
Daniel @ Jan 17th 2008 6:24PM
i might get the combo player seems like it will be the best of both worlds
Spiza @ Jan 6th 2008 5:14PM
I'm guessing the 1500 will be under $200 this year.
BigMike @ Jan 6th 2008 5:17PM
I'm hoping combo players start coming down in price. It would be a better option for those not wanting to pick a side yet.
Anthony Butler @ Jan 6th 2008 5:32PM
have they learned from their mistake and included Ethernet connections tho?
JimC @ Jan 6th 2008 5:36PM
Not sure about other models but my BD-P1200 has ethernet and I thought the 1400 did as well???
Mr_Fizzlepop @ Jan 6th 2008 5:36PM
If this player has a Ethernet Jack so it can be firmware upgraded to 2.0 when the time comes I might not wait to upgrade from the PS3.
Does anyone know if the PS3 outputs the bitstream through the Digital Audio jack?
After so many cables I'm not going to be an HDMI nazi and stomp my feet at having to have 2 cables leave the PS3 to give me Great picture And sound, and I honestly haven't gone to research it yet cause it's not that big of an issue, but if someone knows that's great.
Brad @ Jan 9th 2008 2:20AM
No, the PS3 does not currently output bitstream for the new audio formats. Whether it will ever do so with a firmware update is debatable and Sony isn't talking. However, the PS3 DOES convert and output the new audio formats as PCM across the HDMI cable. Every codec is supported except for DTS-MA.
It's also debatable (and probably depends on the receiver) whether you even need bitstream output if the PS3 converts to high resolution PCM audio through HDMI. It then comes down to what has the better mathmatical conversion (the PS3 or the receiver, but keep in mind that we are talking about mathmatical algorithms here, as we're taking digital conversion - i.e. it's not like comparing analog components where more expensive is usually better).
ScottM @ Jan 6th 2008 6:11PM
So, what is the difference between the BD-UP5500 and the BD-UP5000 other than price?
Seems odd to "release" the BD-UP5000 then have it's predecessor come out a few months later...
T-bone @ Jan 6th 2008 6:21PM
the 5500 looks promising. States that it an handle all the audio formats and since it can play HD DVD, it must have an ethernet port. Read a press release that mentioned that firmware would be upgradeable via ethernet.
Nice.
DEEZNUTZ @ Jan 6th 2008 6:59PM
Man Blu came through guns blazin. CES 2008 was a horror movie starring HDDVD as the victim at every turn.
Tom @ Jan 6th 2008 8:02PM
The BD-UP5000 has an ethernet port, as required to play HD DVDs. So one would assume the 5500 will, too.
I've been told that hardware requirements (memory as well as ethernet connectivity) for HD DVD would satisfy those of Profile 2.0 and that it should be possible to upgrade either the 5000 or 5500 to it. But has Samsung ever stated that will support a firmware upgrade to 2.0 when the standard is finalized (and assuming no changes hardware requirements)?
Mark @ Jan 8th 2008 4:26PM
Since Sony has a history of abandoning it's customers, I hope Samsung will have the sense to support formats that are still in use, such as SACD.
Staci @ Jan 8th 2008 4:28PM
So can you still play old regular dvds on this new hi-tech system? Or do they have to de the blue ray /hd dvds? do hd dvds work on a regular dvd player.Sorry not that hi- tech savy.
Nicole @ Feb 18th 2008 12:56AM
I was wondering the same thing. Can regular dvd players play the blu-ray?
Matt @ Jan 8th 2008 10:40PM
Good to see the 5500 coming closer to sane pricing levels.