Picked up a store demo BD-UP5000 for $225. Would you keep it?

[ErinH]

Here's the deal. CC near me was getting rid of all demo units. They had this Samsung BD/HD-DVD player for $225. It was pretty beat up on top, but worked fine and the display area is without a scratch. Came with remote only; no box, instructions, etc. But, still retains mfg warranty (as do most open box items). I figured I'd pick it up and if I didn't want it, I'll take it back tomorrow. Would rather have bought it now than go back later and it be gone.

Cheapest price I'm finding for this is $380 for refurbs; $800 on amazon BNIB.

I'm looking into avsforums right now and it appears the firmware upgrade in May has allowed it to bitstream TrueHD & DTS-MA. However, it's only upgradeable to 1.1; not 2.0.


The thread on AVS is about 98752350 pages long, so I'm hoping someone here can chime in on their thoughts. My original intent was to pick up the Panny bd-55. But, for $240 out the door, I figured this wouldn't be such a bust, and I can take it back within 30 days.

Thanks for input.

 

[jamie2112]

Thats a tough one for me Erin. That is a great price considering its new price is 800. I would play all your your movies and if it plays fine go with it. You could always leave it on wrapped in plastic overheat it and send it to the mfg and get a brand new one

 

[ErinH]

Well, the few discs I do have all work well.

It's a bit slow for me. Seems slower than the bdp1500 I had for a few days (then took back because I couldn't stomach $400 for it... it's now at $250 and less).


I'm not too sure 2.0 (live) is that important to me. I'll need to upgrade it to 1.3 (if it isn't already) and tinker with it.

I was wanting something that could decode internally originally, but after thinking about it, the receiver or pre/pro I get will have to be able to do this via HDMI. This player will do all audio formats this way; though not via Analog. It can bitstream MA so that's fine.

I may hang on to it. I was worried that the audio would not be 'up to date' but from the post here, it seems as long as my receiver can decode the typcal formats, I'm fine.

Plus, I suppose having HD-DVD capability is a + if I wanted to pick up one of those titles.

I'll keep digging on this, though...

 

[jostenmeat]

I'd still prefer a Panasonic. But, it looks like you landed a good deal. Wait till the BD-35 either drops to $200, or even at the current price, or at current price with promotional BDs or the like. Use that as your primary player, and then use the Sammy as a backup BDP, primary DVD, and primary HD-DVD player.

Every once in a while I play with the idea of an HD-DVD player. If you ever wanna sell it, lemme know. I don't think I will... but... hmrz.

If you ever do get an HD-DVD to try out, check out The Thing if you can find it. Amazing transfer for its age and budget, and the Bluray version is not even close.

Oh yeah, you can enjoy the Bourne Trilogy.

The Pianist, and King Kong (Jan 20 is BD release).

Elizabeth, Apollo 13, Stardust, Casablanca, Feast, Dawn of the Dead (remake), Pitch Black might* be some not available on BD. These all have alright PQ, not reference, but enough improvement to be worthwhile.

 

[ErinH]

I think I'm going to take it back. I've thought about it, and just not sure about keeping it. I think I'd feel 'better' going with the Panny, but asking for it as an x-mas present.

if anyone wants it, I'd take price I paid + shipping. Figure about $270 via PP?

I might put this in the F/S section tomorrow or Friday once I get pics. Give folks who may want a good deal a chance to pick it up before I take it back to CC.

 

[The Dukester]

I would say it's a 50-50 proposition on keeping it. I have one, and feel that way about it. On one hand, it has Reon processing, so you won't find any BD player that can touch it for anywhere near that price on SD material. BD and HD DVD also look fantastic when the player works, which is a potential problem. Many folks on AVS report one of the lazers going bad along with drop-outs and freezing on some discs. I have not (fortunately) had any problems with mine to date. Seems like if you get a good one, it's great, if not, well.... Samsung seems to be getting really lax in supporting it if you have a problem, too.

Samsung is slow about firmware updates, also. I would say if you don't plan on using it for much SD playback and don't have or plan on buying HD DVD discs, take it back. I like HD better than BD, so I have the "one size fits all" Samsung along with a Toshiba XA2 to cover those. As mentioned, some discs look and/or souind better on HD than BD.

So, there you have it: great picture on all formats, most all the latest audio decoding and a great price...when it works and if you get a good one.

 

[Thunder18]

$80 got me a 5 year warranty on my Panasonic DMP-BD10A that was $400 new. Your warranty would be cheaper and you'd all but guarantee yourself $225 in trade in credit if it ever breaks.
Keep it, but a bunch of cheap clearance HD-DVD's and enjoy it until it breaks. When it does and they can't fix it, Craigslist the HD-DVD's and use the trade in credit towards a newer blu-ray player.

 

[ErinH]

My wife’s been bugging me about keeping this unit or taking it back. After reading that lossless via analog gives issues with bass management, and also realizing that whatever unit I get will decode this audio via HDMI, I’ve decided I am going to take this back. Think I’ve also decided on picking up the Panasonic bd-55. Actually, the -35 doesn’t look bad, either.

Edit: Well crap. Now I'm not sure. It seems that this unit can bitstream 7.1 just like the panny bd-35. So, it seems that this unit does everything I need it to do. No?

So, then it really comes down to this: do I think I’ll ever want to upgrade to 2.0. That seems to be the limiting factor. If I’m going to let the receiver do the decoding for 7.1, then I don’t really need to worry about anything else; just if I want profile 2.0.

Man, I’m really having a hard time wrapping my head around this crap.

 

[jostenmeat]

Take a breath, its really easy. If your receiver decodes, you do not need any better than a BD-35. Done. No worries.

I myself don't even have profile 2.0, but 1.1. I completely forget until others like you even mention it. 1.1 does everything I need: which is to play bluray movies! lol

there is no profile 1.3. You might be confusing it with some FW version for some particular player. There has only been 1.0, 1.1, 2.0. Not that you need to worry about any of this with the BD-35.

 

[ErinH]

yea, 1.3 was the firmware... I had that # on my mind when I made that post. I meant to say 2.0


It's just a bit hard trying to make this decision. The wife isn't okay with letting me buy another one in a few months so I've got to decide if I'm going to keep this or take it back in place of the panny.

the -35 looks like it'd be all I need. But, from what I'm seeing, what I have right now has the same audio options. Or am I wrong?


I'm usually pretty good with this stuff, but bitstream, audiophile, pcm, lpcm, dts, hd, ma, etc, etc, etc, is all confusing the piss out of me. :/

 

[jostenmeat]

Yeah I imagine so. Hey, its up to you. That's why different models come with different feature sets.

If you are decoding in the receiver, and want the best Bluray PQ for the money, with good history, and good FW support:

Pana BD-35

If you want an HD-DVD player, with good SD-DVD playback as high priorities as well, then keep the thing.

We can't know what the hell you want. Sheesh.

 

[ErinH]

hey! don't get so pissy with my indecision!

You said it well; the fact that you didn't say anything about differences in audio does it for me. I wanted to be sure that the panny's audio options weren't less than that of the sammy's (now that it's been upgraded).

I'll get the panny. Thanks.

 

[jostenmeat]

You're welcome.

I can't think of a single thing that Panny did wrong for pure BD playback, whether audio, or video. Since your receiver is decoding, no need for the BD55.

Be done with it. Its a great player.

*one thing that it can NOT do is send out SD DVD at 480i, in the case you demand to use outboard VP. I think*

 

[ErinH]

Well, the plan was to originally leave the possibility of internal decoding on the table in case the receiver I get doesn't do the decoding. But, I can't imagine a way that I wouldn't buy a receiver that does. The only way that I wouldn't was when I was looking at some mcintosh gear and saw their pre/pro doesn't... but at that price, I wouldn't buy something that doesn't... and I also want auto-EQ at the least.

I'm going to keep an eye on black friday ads; maybe the panny will be on sale.

 

[hmbmd]

I really think the decision comes down to these factors:
1. Are you going to obtain HD discs?
2. Are you going to watch a lot of SD discs?
If the answer to these questions is "yes" then keep the Samsung. The SD upscaling may be the best on the market (though some receivers have the same chip), and of course the question of HD discs would rule out other "plain" Blu-ray players. If your answer to the above questions is "no", then return it and get a different, new-in-box, Sony or Panasonic. Which model you get would depend on what receiver you have or will be getting. Don't let your head explode over a choice between good options.

 

[ErinH]

I really think the decision comes down to these factors:
1. Are you going to obtain HD discs?
2. Are you going to watch a lot of SD discs?
If the answer to these questions is "yes" then keep the Samsung. The SD upscaling may be the best on the market (though some receivers have the same chip), and of course the question of HD discs would rule out other "plain" Blu-ray players. If your answer to the above questions is "no", then return it and get a different, new-in-box, Sony or Panasonic. Which model you get would depend on what receiver you have or will be getting. Don't let your head explode over a choice between good options.

1. No.
2. I have a good collection of SD discs, but don't have intentions on buying more. Most of the ones I have are fairly old, so I'm not sure that any upconverting is going to be substantial between models. At least, imo.