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CNET editors' rating:
3.0 stars
Good
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 13 reviews
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Product summary
The good: Relatively inexpensive compared with other standalone units; very good image quality on most Blu-ray Discs; onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD and bit stream output for all high-resolution audio formats; Ethernet port for firmware updates; Samsung claims it will update the unit to add Profile 2.0 support and onboard DTS-HD Master Audio decoding in the future.
The bad: Does not currently support Profile 2.0 or have onboard DTS-HD Master Audio decoding; Blu-ray image quality could be better; DVD playback will disappoint videophiles; no analog multichannel outputs; some annoying operational glitches; operational speed still sluggish compared with PS3.
The bottom line: The Samsung BD-P1500 lacks some features and doesn't perform as well as the PlayStation 3, but its relatively low price makes it a solid option for those few people on a budget who still demand a standalone Blu-ray player.
Specifications: Sound output mode: Stereo; Weight: 8.6 lbs; Service & support type: 1 year warranty; See full specs
Price range: $199.95 - $382.91
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 07/01/2008
- Released on: 05/15/2008
The most important question for any standalone Blu-ray player is whether it's better than the Sony PlayStation 3. Let's answer that one right off the bat: Samsung's new BD-P1500 is not. They both cost the same ($400 list), but the PS3 has better image quality, currently supports both Blu-ray Profile 2.0 and all high-resolution audio codecs, and it loads discs a lot faster. Not to mention that it's a high-def gaming system and also a pretty capable media streamer. We're getting tired of saying it, but almost anyone who wants to get into Blu-ray should stick with the PS3.
If you're still set on getting a standalone Blu-ray player (and there are a few decent reasons), the BD-P1500 becomes a more compelling option. Although the $400 price tag might seem high, it's actually fairly affordable for a Blu-ray player. We're also fans of its slick design, which takes up a lot less room than the curvy PS3. On the other hand, the BD-P1500 is currently missing some crucial features, such as multichannel analog outputs, onboard decoding for DTS-HD Master Audio, and Profile 2.0 support. However, if you trust Samsung to live up to its firmware update promises (and there is some reason for skepticism regarding the company's timeliness), the BD-P1500 will get both DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and Profile 2.0 support eventually. Of course, that leads to the frustrating feeling that the BD-P1500 is only half-baked right now, especially compared with the fully featured Panasonic DMP-BD50, but then again the Samsung costs $300 less. If you demand a standalone player and you're not willing to pay for the Panasonic DMP-BD50, the Samsung BD-P1500 is good choice for the money, but most consumers who don't want a PS3 should still wait for cheaper, more fully featured players in the future.
Design
We've knocked Samsung's excessively glossy designs in the past, but we're suckers for the BD-P1500's look. The front faceplate is still glossy black, but it's completely flat and doesn't have a bezel, unlike its predecessor the BD-P1400. The left side is dominated by the disc tray, and below that in the corner is a power button with a bright blue LED that illuminates when the player is turned on. Further to the right is an LED display that's a little small for our tastes. On the far right are some front-panel controls, including play, stop, and chapter forward/backward. In our opinion, the BD-P1500 is the most stylish Blu-ray player we've seen.
Samsung fans will recognize the same remote the company has packaged with most of its products for the last couple years. Toward the bottom is a directional pad for navigating menus, surrounded by oft-used buttons--although having three menu keys (menu, disc menu, and pop-up menu) becomes a little confusing. There are playback controls just north of the center of the remote, and there's some slight differentiation--including Braille-like nubs--that make it possible to navigate in the dark. Overall, it's a good remote, but we'd really like to see Samsung give it an update since it's been unchanged for so long and there's still room for improvement.
While the menu of Panasonic's DMP-BD50 still features blocky standard-def graphics, the BD-P1500 has nice high-def menus. They're easy enough to navigate, and we had no issues with routine tasks like changing the output resolution or audio output format.
Features
The Samsung BD-P1500 is currently a Profile 1.1 Blu-ray player, which means it can access picture-in-picture commentary tracks available on some Blu-ray Discs, such as Sunshine. The BD-P1500 is not, however, a Profile 2.0 player, so it cannot access the BD-Live features on certain Blu-ray Discs. The BD-Live features we've seen so far have been underwhelming to say the least, but they're sure to improve as disc makers get a handle on the technology. That said, Samsung has promised that it will offer a firmware update for the BD-P1500 in October 2008 that will give it Profile 2.0 functionality. To make that work you'll need to utilize the USB port on the back of the player as storage. Better late than never for Profile 2.0 support, but it's worth noting that the Panasonic DMP-BD50 and Sony PlayStation 3 are already fully Profile 2.0 compatible.
Soundtrack support is pretty good, although not flawless. The BD-P1500 can internally decode Dolby TrueHD, but currently can't decode DTS-HD Master Audio. It can, however, send both formats in bit stream mode to compatible receivers. That's unfortunate because that means only home theater fans with relatively new receivers can take advantage of DTS-HD Master Audio. Both the DMP-BD50 and PS3 can decode both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio internally. Again, Samsung is promising DTS-HD Master Audio decoding via a future firmware update, but there's no word as to when we can expect that.
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Where to buy
Samsung BD-P1500:
$199.95 - $382.91
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
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$299.99 | Yes |
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$299.99 | Yes |
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$215.94 | Yes |
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