Let's Talk Blu Ray

geektoad · December 21, 2008

Hey Tobias, I saw where you said you just got the Samsung BD-P2550. I'm actually shopping Samsung at the moment as well. Can you tell me what the $179 difference is between the BD-P2550 and the BD-P2500? They're listed arounf $479 and $299 respectively, and I can't find a clear definition of what's been upgraded in the new model.

Thanks!

geektoad · December 21, 2008

Ok, the price difference isn't that bad. Just found the BD-2550 for $349 at Best Buy. Still curious as to the differences (Samsung's site sucks)

Zembonez · December 21, 2008

OOOH! This one comes with free Batman discs!

COMES WITH FREE BATMAN DISCS!

I still have not made the BluRay player purchase... I'm interested too.

tobias · December 21, 2008

Ok, the price difference isn't that bad. Just found the BD-2550 for $349 at Best Buy. Still curious as to the differences (Samsung's site sucks)

The only major difference I found was that the 2550 supports Pandora. The Netflix streaming is nice since we already have a Netflix account (Blu Ray discs are only $1 per month too) and the image quality on the Samsung unit has been highly acclaimed. It has on-board DTS Master Audio decoding for those with older receivers (me for now) and has HQV video processing. I also like the small size and slick look to it. I bought my parents a Sony BDP-S350 over Thanksgiving and fell in love with the image quality but really wanted the Netflix too so I researched and found the BD-P2550 to be the best option for me.

EDIT: Jim, $900 for a DVD player... You are crazy. It ought to come with a free Batman suit for that much.

Zembonez · December 21, 2008

Ok, the price difference isn't that bad. Just found the BD-2550 for $349 at Best Buy. Still curious as to the differences (Samsung's site sucks)

The only major difference I found was that the 2550 supports Pandora. The Netflix streaming is nice since we already have a Netflix account (Blu Ray discs are only $1 per month too) and the image quality on the Samsung unit has been highly acclaimed. It has on-board DTS Master Audio decoding for those with older receivers (me for now) and has HQV video processing. I also like the small size and slick look to it. I bought my parents a Sony BDP-S350 over Thanksgiving and fell in love with the image quality but really wanted the Netflix too so I researched and found the BD-P2550 to be the best option for me.

EDIT: Jim, $900 for a DVD player... You are crazy. It ought to come with a free Batman suit for that much.

TRUE!

I certainly would not pay that much. I have a Denon but it wasn't anywhere NEAR that expensive. I am interested in BluRay now. How does that netflix streaming thingee work?

Zembonez · December 21, 2008

From CNET:

The Samsung BD-P2500 is nearly identical to the Samsung BD-P2550, the only exception being that the BD-P2550 is exclusive to Best Buy and adds Pandora streaming to the feature set. Otherwise the two products are identical and buyers should opt for the BD-P2550 unless there is a price difference.

Here is their review. Looks like a pretty darn good choice.

http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-...7-33310107.html

geektoad · December 21, 2008

Thanks for the info guys, nice find Jim Yeah, I really like the what Samsung's been doing the last couple years quality wise. our main TV is a 46" Samsung LCD and it's awesome.

Netflix streaming is cool. You go to their website and set up your instant queue. Then as you add things to your instant queue, within a minute or two it shows up on the queue of the device you're using. I've been using it on both our Tivo and our Xbox 360 now that the service is available on Tivo, it won't be used on the 360 anymore The interface on the Tivo is way better. My only complaint about the streaming service is that the selection is really limited right now.

Looks like i'm going to have to go to Best Buy, cause the Pandora functionality would be hot shit.

stadt11 · December 21, 2008

Sony makes some of the best BluRay players. + if you wanted a Game Console I say get the PS3 ... here's my reasoning ...

You can get a $400 PS3 for $250 - basically you signup for there SonyStyle CC and use that $150 towards the purchase of the PS3, then cancel the CC.

I found this info @ SonyStyle.com

Schmids5.3l · December 21, 2008

+1 I Love the PS3. Blu Ray, built in wifi, looks good, some good gaming (hopefully more exclusives next year), internet browser, excellent graphics, it's the shiz.

geektoad · December 21, 2008

Sony makes some of the best BluRay players. + if you wanted a Game Console I say get the PS3 ... here's my reasoning ...

You can get a $400 PS3 for $250 - basically you signup for there SonyStyle CC and use that $150 towards the purchase of the PS3, then cancel the CC.

I found this info @ SonyStyle.com

I'd thought about doing that. But, i don't want to listen to the noise of a PS3 (they are loud) while watching movies, and without intending to start a fan-boy holy war, I'll also say that the PS3 is not up to snuff as a gaming system as far as i'm concerned, so it doesn't hold any extra value that way.

Zembonez · December 21, 2008

Something to consider.

IF - You are into the accuracy of sound reproduction from the system (which I am) the PS3 can't hold a candle to a purpose built, home audio, sound isolated player. Sonically, the tightness of bass and overall clarity is affected greatly by outside vibrations when a DVD player is in operation. The better sound deadening (or isolation) that is engineered into the player, the more accurate the sound coming from the system.

This is why I have Denon player currently.

Schmids5.3l · December 21, 2008

My PS3 isn't loud at all...shouldn't be a problem anyways unless your watching a silent film from the 1920's on bluray.

Loud is an xbox 360...louder is an xbox 360 with the ""intercooler"" However they are pretty quiet when they are broken

Zembonez · December 21, 2008

My PS3 isn't loud at all...shouldn't be a problem anyways unless your watching a silent film from the 1920's on bluray.

Loud is an xbox 360...louder is an xbox 360 with the ""intercooler"" However they are pretty quiet when they are broken

If I played games, the PS3 would be in the mix for that reason alone. Not a gamer myself.

Schmids5.3l · December 21, 2008

If I played games, the PS3 would be in the mix for that reason alone. Not a gamer myself.

I'm not a big gamer either, I only play 2 games and might put in an average of 1 hour a day. Sometimes go thru a phase and play for hours each day (free time pending) for a week.

Speaking of Blu Rays I'm the shit at guessing Christmas gifts, and I'm 99% positive I'm getting The Dark Knight on Blu Ray...I can't wait. I saw it once at the drive in...I can't wait to watch it here.