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Excellent review of the new Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray disc player from Sound & Vision Online.

Article here.

CN: Amazing picture and sound but ... the player originally shipped with a noise reduction circuit turned on which converted film grain into "crawlies". A new version has been shipped with the noise reduction turned off but ... the reviewers didn't feel it made much difference.

When the original BD-P1000 arrived, I excitedly hunkered down in our lab with Sound & Vision Senior Reviews Editor Al Griffin and a dozen of the first Blu-ray titles. As we swapped them out one by one, we grew increasingly concerned. They sounded great on our system, with a refreshingly clean, unstrained openness not typically heard on DVD. But the picture was suspect. Video quality mostly looked high-def — but not always. Close-ups had that remarkable detail we've grown accustomed to on good HDTV broadcasts and HD DVDs, but medium and wide camera shots tended to look soft.

The images also failed to display the eye-popping contrast and range of light that was evident with our HD DVD player. Perhaps most disturbing, though, was that many scenes — sometimes whole discs — randomly exhibited a subtle video noise in portions of the picture.

The end result is that the Blu-ray images, disc to disc and even scene to scene, were all over the place quality-wise and generally lacked that solidity that has been the hallmark of HD DVD. ... I just couldn't get past the fact that it still looked like video.

Of course, the first HD DVD player wasn't all that great from a useability standpoint. At the very least it managed a great picture (even if it took two minutes just to eject a disc).

Hence:

I'd be remiss if I didn't comment on the BD-P1000's stunning industrial design. This is really one beautiful player, with a clean, sculpted front panel and a solid feel; build quality is excellent, and the gloss black cover distinctive. You'd be proud to have it sitting out in the open.

Although it wasn't without occassional hiccups, the BD-P1000 also worked well in day-to-day operation — a refreshing change from the slow, glitchy performance of the first HD DVD player. Power-up and disc-boot times were faster by about a third, though still longer than for a standard DVD player. Transport commands executed smoothly, and, unlike with HD DVD, the onscreen indicators for fast-forward and rewind modes were fully functional.

And the verdict?

As far as we're concerned, the jury's still out. We'll be anxious to test players from Sony, Pioneer, and other manufacturers, as well as future Blu-ray titles, to see if images from the two formats don't converge or, at least, become equally impressive in their own rights. In the meantime, though, it would appear that Round One goes to HD DVD.

--Alan

The Sony player is the only one that will matter...of course better off just getting the less expensive PS3.

But then the question becomes ...

Is $600.00 too much to spend on a gaming system or is it a bargain for a Blu-ray player?

--Alan

WRXWagon2112 wrote:But then the question becomes ...

Is $600.00 too much to spend on a gaming system or is it a bargain for a Blu-ray player?

--Alan

Survey says, "bargain for a Blu-ray player" is the number one answer!

Yeah I think at this point the PS3 is going to be a bargain Blu-Ray player that happens to play games also.

sirwilliam wrote:Survey says, "bargain for a Blu-ray player" is the number one answer!

Next question: If a $1000.00 player isn't producing high-quality images, will a player for nearly half the price do better?

Follow-up question: Will people be willing to watch high-def movies on their gaming system? After all, I know of no one who's ever used the PS2 as their primary DVD player. the transport controls were just too clunky.

Sorry, but I'm a little down on Sony these days.

--Alan

Libra Monkee wrote:Yeah I think at this point the PS3 is going to be a bargain Blu-Ray player that happens to play games also.

Exactly, a high def Blue ray player which uses digital uncompressed audio and plays all PS1, 2 and 3 games.

WRXWagon2112 wrote:

sirwilliam wrote:Survey says, "bargain for a Blu-ray player" is the number one answer!

Next question: If a $1000.00 player isn't producing high-quality images, will a player for nearly half the price do better?

Follow-up question: Will people be willing to watch high-def movies on their gaming system? After all, I know of no one who's ever used the PS2 as their primary DVD player. the transport controls were just too clunky.

Sorry, but I'm a little down on Sony these days.

--Alan

It's okay I forgive you No, the PS2 had a lot of problems integrating the DVD player w/ the game player. Two totally seperate lasers. The DVD player laser had real problems in the beginning w/ tracking. The rushed the release of the Player. Later they came out w/ newer versions that rectified the problem but you were still better off buying a nice $99 sony player for your DVDs.

Sony has always been good w/ electronics for me (recievers, cd players, dvd players, etc). I never bought/owned a PS2 or PS1 b/c I am a diehard Nintendo guy (best gaming systems in my opinion). I believe there will be a few kinks to work out w/ the new PS3 but I don't think they will make the same mistakes as the PS2.

sirwilliam wrote:Sony has always been good w/ electronics for me (recievers, cd players, dvd players, etc). I never bought/owned a PS2 or PS1 b/c I am a diehard Nintendo guy (best gaming systems in my opinion). I believe there will be a few kinks to work out w/ the new PS3 but I don't think they will make the same mistakes as the PS2.

For Sony's sake, I hope they've learned their lesson. Because with all I've seen about the Wii, that'll be the game system that focuses on actual gameplay and not fancy graphics ... for less than half the cost. Projected max price of $250.00! I'm not a gamer and I'm thinking of getting one when they come out.

I just have this feeling that Sony's pricing themselves out of the console market. It's like they're falling into the same trap that Nintendo did when Sony brought out the original PS. They have this arrogance about them that no matter what, everyone will buy their console. Price be damned.

--Alan

I'll believe that the PS3 is good hardware when I see it. of course that that price, I won't be seeing one for a loooooong time.

Interesting review on the Blu-ray player. I really have high hopes for HD-DVD and Blu-ray, but my money will be spent getting a PS3 when it comes out. I'll have a little of both worlds instead of just one. Even if the interface is a little clunky, I only use it for navigating the menu's, so maybe once every 2 hours. Not a huge detriment if I can't just push one button.

PS3 vs. Wii vs 360:
The PS3 I think will be a great console. M$ made a BIG mistake not putting a HD-DVD in the console. The graghics/sound are great, but I have this weird feeling that they are going to hit a wall soon. The PS3 is the best of both worlds: a next-gen DVD player and a gaming console. With the versitility of the Cell processor, a LOT can be done with the console.

The Wii will be the game play champion, no doubt. Nintendo has always had great game play, even for kids. The new games look pretty good and the control for them is very unique. This alone will allow them to stay in the market with the other big boys. Besides, you can't beat the price!

I have 3 words for the Wii: Online Lightsaber Game.

as for the PS3: I just don't see how any real marked can be built around a console that starts at $600. I don't even have my own 360 yet...

Mr Kleen wrote:I have 3 words for the Wii: Online Lightsaber Game.

as for the PS3: I just don't see how any real marked can be built around a console that starts at $600. I don't even have my own 360 yet...

Remember how much all those idiots were paying for the 360s when they first came out? And now they are still $400...I don't think $600 is that big a stretch especially all that is included.

"all those idiots" aren't enough to sustain the market. some people will pay any price Sony asks but I wonder if ENOUGH people will pay the price Sony is asking.

if Forza 2 is as good as 1, I won't even need a PS3.

I'm optimistic about the PS3 also. Even if it's Blu-Ray player doesn't perform as well as some of the standalone machines it would still be cheaper that said machines plus it doubles as a video games console. As with the PS2 when it was first released I'm not expecting the first generation of the system to everything it advertises, optimally. When the PS2 first came out, while it played DVDs the controls were, hmm, clunky plus the were issues with fluctuating sound levels. Both issues were... improved, in later models or if you bought the PS2 DVD remote with the firmware upgrade CD.

As far as Micro$h!+... er... soft there have been rumors that later versions of the 360 will have an intergrated HD-DVD player. Whether or not this is an actuallity, the guys in Redmond will neither confirm nor deny.

My take on the Revolution (I refuse to call it by any other name)... in a word... gimmicky. I see a lot of cool I ideas but if it's not done right it could get old very quickly. But, at least they're taking a chance on something new unlike MS and Sony who are just giving there old dogs a face lift and 200 CCs of steroids and calling it new. You're still playing the same old game but now they're prettier.

All in all, my predictions are as follows: I think the PS3 will be great system, but not at first. The 360 will get better once it has other systems to copy. The Revolution will sell like hotcakes for the first year or so then slowly sink into nothingness once the novelty dies.



I am Chuck and I approve this message.

the Revolution controllers were cool enough that Sony rushed their copycat system to E3.

I wanted to dislike the 360, but after playing it I'm fairly impressed. it's not perfect but it's very entertaining.

I'll play what ever is good, I like, and can afford.

Mr Kleen wrote:the Revolution controllers were cool enough that Sony rushed their copycat system to E3.

I wanted to dislike the 360, but after playing it I'm fairly impressed. it's not perfect but it's very entertaining.

I'll play what ever is good, I like, and can afford.

I, too, will play what ever is good, I like, and you can afford