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While the rest of tech world was busy scouring news from CES 2009, Samsung's duo of Netflix-enabled Blu-ray players--the BD-P2500 and BD-P2550--received a firmware update to enable onboard DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. The players were promised the update "by the end of the year", but chalk it up to another delayed Samsung firmware release, as we've seen before.

The firmware is available for download from Samsung's site, and the players can be updated via a direct download using an Ethernet connection, or, for players not connected to home networks, users can download the file to a USB stick or CD, then install.

Firmware updates have always been a double-edged sword for Samsung players, as they're a pain to keep track of, but have also enabled the company to add features to older models. Now that features like DTS-HD Master Audio and Profile 2.0 support are essentially standard, we're hoping new Samsung Blu-ray players like the BD-P3600 and BD-P4600 are truly "ready to go" when they come out in the first half of 2009.

The BD-P1500 will get DTS-HD Master Audio by the end of 2008.

Samsung has put out some pretty good Blu-ray players, but the company needs to setup an RSS feed to keep buyers up to date with the constantly changing firmware plans. We got a note from Samsung this afternoon explaining that the firmware update adding DTS-HD High Resolution decoding to the Samsung BD-P1500, BD-P2500, and BD-P2550 has been delayed until the end of the year. That means owners will have to live with standard DTS soundtracks for a little bit longer if they don't own an HDMI-compatible receiver with onboard decoding for DTS-HD Master Audio.

On the upside, Samsung is now promising that all three units will get full DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, rather than the step-down DTS-HD High Resolution decoding. That's pretty good news, and the BD-P2550 is stacking up to be quite a player, with Profile 2.0 support, HQV video processing, Netflix streaming, and now internal decoding for both high-resolution audio soundtrack formats. And, we noticed it's now selling for $350 at Best Buy. Expect a full review from us sometime next week, and find out how it stacks up against the Editors' Choice winning Panasonic DMP-BD35.

Sony wasn't kidding when it said the next PS3 system update was coming in mid-April. Just in time to take the edge off tax day, the version 2.30 of the PlayStation 3 system software is now available for download. As revealed last week, the software update adds DTS Master Audio decoding (to deliver the best audio from compatible Blu-ray movies), as well as a major overhaul of the interface for the PlayStation Store (as explained in the Sony video walkthrough shown above).

The question is: what do you think? Does the DTS upgrade make the PS3 an even better Blu-ray player? Does the PlayStation Store makeover finally put Sony's online offerings on par with Xbox Live? Is all of this irrelevant compared with the forthcoming releases of Grand Theft Auto IV and Metal Gear Solid 4? Let us know what you think.

(Credit: CNET)

Sony has announced the details on the next PS3 firmware update--version 2.30, coming mid-April--and the big news for home theater fans is that the PS3 is getting onboard DTS-HD High Resolution and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding for Blu-ray movies. Home theater fans have long lamented that the PS3 could not decode the new DTS soundtracks at their highest resolution, especially since movie studios like Fox have opted for DTS-HD Master Audio on many Blu-ray releases. Without getting too technical, DTS-HD Master Audio offers 7-channels of lossless audio at 96K sampling frequency and 24-bit depths--which means that the sound sent to your receiver should be identical to the studio master.

While some sticklers will point out that the PS3 can't output Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio in bitstream format, it's definitely a non-issue. Decoding the audio at the source is actually better than having the ability to bitstream high-resolution soundtracks, since it means even people with older HDMI-capable receivers can enjoy the high quality audio. Sure, your receiver won't light up the pretty DTS-HD Master Audio logo, but who cares--you still get the same great sound.

We have ranked the PS3 as the best Blu-ray player for quite some time, and this only sweetens the deal. Almost all of our major complaints have been addressed, except for the fact that it still doesn't work nicely with a universal remote. Some diehard home theater fans will cringe at the idea of using a game console as their main disc player, but they should get over their hang-up as the PS3 is currently the best Blu-ray has to offer and it also happens to be the cheapest. And you can play high-def games and stream music, movies and photos.

The new firmware will also include a much-needed overhaul to the PlayStation Store. The official PlayStation Blog posted a walkthrough of the new store, and we have to admit it looks pretty good. Check it below.

When Onkyo released the budget TX-SR605 AV receiver last year, it rocked the industry with its low price and high-end features such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-Master Audio decoding. Other manufacturers pretty much had to stay on the sidelines as TX-SR605s flew off the shelf, but it looks as if Sony is ready to fight back with its new line of budget AV receivers. The company's 2008 line of AV receivers includes four new affordably priced models--the STR-DG520, STR-DG720, STR-DG820 and STR-DG920--and they look pretty good from the spec sheet. Here are the details:

The STR-DG520

(Credit: Sony)

Key features of the Sony STR-DG520:

• 5.1 channels, 100 watts of power
• Two HDMI inputs
• Supports 1080p pass-through at 60 and 24 frames per second
• Available in March for about $200

The STR-DG720

(Credit: Sony)

Step-up features on the STR-DG720:

• 7.1 channels, 105 watts of power
• Three HDMI inputs
... Read more

Is the BDP-S550 the first standalone Blu-ray player better than the PS3?

(Credit: Sony)

Sony has announced two new Blu-ray players scheduled to be released in the second half of the year: the entry-level BDP-S350 and the step-up BDP-S550. We haven't been the biggest fans of Sony's recent standalone Blu-ray players (the BDP-S300 was really slow and the same price as the PlayStation 3). Fresh off its victory over HD DVD, however, the company has announced two new Blu-ray players for 2008, both of which sport considerably more attractive feature sets and prices. Here are the details:

Key features of the Sony BDP-S350:

• Supports BonusView, which means it is Profile 1.1 compliant
• BD-Live ready, which means it can gain BD-Live capability with a firmware update
• Ethernet port for firmware upgrades
• Supports 1080p output at both 24 and 60 frames per second
• Onboard decoding for Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD
• Bitstream output for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio
• About $400 list price, scheduled to come out this summer

Step-up features on the BDP-S550

• Onboard decoding for DTS-HD High Resolution and DTS-HD Master Audio
• 7.1 analog outputs
• 1GB local storage, which should make it Profile 2.0 compliant
• About $500 list price, scheduled to come out in the fall

While the BDP-S350 is interesting for its relatively low price point, it's still going to be hampered by the fact that it costs the same as the PlayStation 3--which offers almost all the same functionality (except bitstream audio output for high-resolution soundtracks), plus you get a high-definition game console and a media streamer. On the other hand, we could see the BDP-S550 being a hit with home theater enthusiasts because it offers a couple of key step-ups that make is a particularly solid standalone player--DTS-HD Master Audio Decoding and 7.1 analog outputs. We're betting that the PS3 eventually gets onboard DTS-HD Master Audio decoding--which will make BDP-S550 less attractive--but for right now it looks like a solid option for audiophiles, especially those who plan to use the 7.1 analog outputs. Of course, the BDP-S550 will also have to compete with other step-up standalone players coming out this year and we're betting the Panasonic DMP-BD50 will give it a run for its money.

As an audio guy I'm super curious about HD DVD and Blu-ray's high-resolution audio formats, Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-Master Audio. Yes, they've been around for awhile now, but listening to the super duper formats hasn't been easy. I haven't yet heard them at home, and show demos haven't been of much help in determining the sonic advantages of the lossless formats. The potential for much better than standard Dolby and DTS sound is there, but getting there, well, I'm still waiting.

Thomas J. Norton's recent Ultimate AV column described in detail just how tricky the road to high-rez sound can be, even for someone as tech savvy as Norton. Yes, you need a HDMI 1.3 HD player hooked up to a HDMI 1.3 A/V receiver like Onkyo's TX-SR875, along with discs encoded in either of the lossless formats, but even then, there's no guaranty you're gong to hear high-rez sound. Norton concludes that the first generation HDMI 1.3 Blu-ray and HD DVD players cannot pass Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio at FULL resolution. True, there may be new or modified chips that can, but Norton's unaware of any currently available players equipped with the new chip. What can I say, other than buyer beware?

(Credit: Samsung)

We can't help but be a little skeptical, but according to a Samsung representative, the new Samsung BD-UP5000 Blu-ray/HD DVD combo player will have onboard decoding for all high-resolution audio formats following a firmware update, including DTS-HD Master Audio. This is great news for high-def disc fans, as the BD-UP5000 would be the first player we're aware of that has onboard decoding for DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS's losslessly compressed soundtrack format. The same representative also confirmed that both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks can be output over the analog 7.1 outputs, which will be useful for audiophiles with older receivers.

The BD-UP5000 will also be capable of sending these high-resolution soundtracks in bit-stream format to compatible AV receivers, although Advanced Content flags on certain discs could limit the usefulness of this feature (if you're interested, HDTV magazine has a good summary of the issue). We'll do hands-on testing of this issue as soon as we get our hands on a new bit-stream enabled player. Of course, with onboard decoding, you'll be able to output high-resolution audio in PCM format over HDMI, avoiding the Advanced Content flags issue.

With HQV video processing, 1080p output at 24 frames per second, full support for all high-resolution soundtrack formats (eventually) and the ability to play both HD DVD and Blu-ray discs, the BD-UP5000 looks to deliver all of the major features that enthusiasts have been asking for. It's definitely a little annoying that the BD-UP5000 has a firmware update scheduled before it's released, and we've been burned enough times on promised firmware updates to be a little skeptical. Still, at $1,000 the BD-UP5000 is looking like a very solid choice for high-def movie enthusiasts, and could foreshadow a way out of the format war.

The Toshiba HD-A35 is the flagship model of the third-gen lineup

(Credit: Toshiba)

When a trio of new HD DVD players popped up on Amazon.com last week, the question wasn't so much, "Are they real?" as "How are they different from the existing models?" Toshiba clarified the issue today by officially announcing the three new models in a press release that trumpeted a handful of new features that will appeal to enthusiasts. But some key questions about those step-up features remain unanswered.

First, the basics. All three of the new models boast new, slim cases that are only 59.5mm high (less than 2.5 inches). And unlike many Blu-ray players--including models that cost hundreds more--the new HD DVD players each include active Ethernet ports and upgradeable firmware, so they can take advantage of the growing number of HD DVD titles that make use of interactive online features. The new lineup breaks down as follows:

• HD-A3 ($300, October 2007): With its output resolution limited to 1080i, the primary appeal of the entry-level model is its affordable price tag. Except for the slimmer case, this looks to be nearly a clone of the current HD-A2, which is currently selling online for as little as $200.
• HD-A30 ($400, September 2007): An extra $100 buys you 1080p output, HDMI CEC compatibility (which allows for control between other CEC-enabled AV products when connected via HDMI and using a single remote control), and 24-frame video support (1080p/24).
• HD-A35 ($500, October 2007): In addition to the same features as the HD-A30, the top-end model in the fall 2007 lineup adds 5.1-channel analog audio outs, support for Deep Color video and HDMI passthrough audio.

Sounds great. Of course, there's a secret about those cutting-edge features that all those other blogs aren't telling you.