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The Panasonic DMP-BD50 is packed with features, but is it too expensive?

When Panasonic announced the DMP-BD50 at CES 2008, home theater enthusiasts who didn't want a game console as their Blu-ray player finally had a fully-featured standalone player to look forward to. The Panasonic DMP-BD50 promises the two big elusive features: Blu-ray Profile 2.0 and onboard decoding for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Tuesday, we attended a demonstration of the DMP-BD50 and learned some new details. Here's a quick glance at the spec sheet as far as we know right now.

Key features of the Panasonic DMP-BD50:

• Blu-ray Profile 2.0 (BD-Live)
• Onboard Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding
• Can output Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio in bit stream format
• Can output DVDs and Blu-ray discs in 1080p at 24 frames per second
• 5.1 analog outputs
• SD card slot capable of playing back AVCHD video
• $700 list price, available this spring

The big news that we didn't know from CES was the $700 list price, which is more than we were expecting. Whether it's fair or not, all standalone players are going to be compared with the , which costs $400, has all the major Blu-ray features, and loads discs must faster than any standalone player we've tested. (Panasonic told us that the DMP-BD50's load times aren't significantly faster than its predecessors.)

Compared with the recently announced Pioneer BDP-51FD, the DMP-BD50 is well-positioned, as the BDP-51FD is only a Profile 1.1 player and will only have onboard Dolby TrueHD decoding when it's released--with DTS-HD Master Audio coming later via a firmware update. On the other hand, the BDP-51FD is $100 cheaper and has 7.1 analog outputs, for those still using older non-HDMI receivers.

We're starting to sound like a broken record, but our instinct is that the majority of buyers are going to stick with the cheaper PlayStation 3 until quality standalones become more affordable. What do you you think? Will any of these standalone players compete with the relatively cheap PS3? Or is the PS3 positioned to be the best Blu-ray value for (at least) the rest of 2008?

Samsung HT-BD2S: the "s" is for "smaller speakers".

(Credit: Samsung)

A second Blu-ray home theater system has joined Samsung's product lineup. The HT-BD2S is essentially identical to its predecessor, the Samsung HT-BD2T, but with two important distinctions: the BD2S has small satellite speakers (versus the four tallboy models that anchored the BD2T), and it's available for an even $1,000 (a 33 percent discount off the BD2T's asking price).

Does the downsized price and speaker size make the HT-BD2S more attractive than its big brother? ... Read more

The BD-P1500 will be BD-Live ready, but it won't have DTS-HD Master Audio decoding.

Samsung announced the BD-P1500 back at CES 2008, but our enthusiasm for it has always been tempered by the fact that the original announcement pegged it as a Blu-ray Profile 1.1 player. Well, Samsung made the BD-P1500 a little more interesting this morning by announcing that the BD-P1500 will be "BD-Live Ready" when it's released in June (pushed back from its original May release date). This means that the BD-P1500 won't be BD-Live (also known as Blu-ray Profile 2.0) capable when it's released, but owners will be able to update the BD-P1500 via a firmware update in the future. Samsung hasn't officially specified when that upgrade will be available, but we're hearing that it'll likely be in the October time frame.

But while Samsung giveth future BD-Live support, it taketh away DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. We originally reported that the BD-P1500 would have onboard DTS-HD Master Audio decoding--based on what we were told by Samsung--but now we're been told that the BD-P1500 won't have DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and that DTS-HD High Resolution decoding will only be supported by a future firmware update, no word as to when that update is coming. The BD-P1500 will have onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD out of the gate, but we really expect all but the cheapest Blu-ray players to have full support for DTS-HD Master Audio at this point, especially after its been added to the PlayStation 3.

Pricing wasn't included in the news release, but Samsung has told us the BD-P1500 will have a list price of $400. That's identical to the Sony PS3, which offers BD-Live and DTS-HD decoding now, and $100 less than the anticipated price of the Panasonic DMP-BD50, which will offer both of those features when it hits stores later this spring. As always, we'll reserve our final judgment until we get our hands on some review samples, but at this point--even with the promised firmware upgrades--it looks like the BD-P1500 is going to have an uphill battle in the increasingly competitive Blu-ray marketplace.

Maybe that price cut in Blu-ray players is coming sooner than we think because Digitimes is reporting that Sony has set some very ambitious goals for Blu-ray in 2008. And by ambitious I'm talking a 50-50 split with DVD.

The short article, which carries the headline, "Sony looks to 50% global market share for its Blu-ray products in 2008," says that "Sony will offer Blu-ray Disc (BD) devices in a wide range of product lines and prices and aims to increase the global market share of its BD products from 20 percent currently to 50 percent by the end of 2008."

It also summarizes some remarks that Sony president and electronics CEO Ryoji Chubachi made recently at a press conference in Taipei.

DVD and BD currently account for about 80 percent and 20 percent, respectively, of global demand for movie discs, Chubachi indicated. The new BD devices to be offered by Sony include models integrating an HD LCD TV with BD recording functionality, Chubachi pointed out.

The reporter then adds:

"Sony has relied mainly on the PlayStation 3 (PS3) to promote BD, and sales of the game console will increase along with the offering by top Hollywood studios of new BD movies, Chubachi noted. However, Sony will extend its BD promotion from the current focus on the PS3 and BD players/recorders to IT devices, Chubachi pointed out."

Perhaps something was lost in the translation, but 50 percent seems ridiculous at this point, especially with most Blu-ray players still costing north of $400. Even the 80-20 figure doesn't seem right, but maybe I'm too North American focused. What do you guys think? Am I incorrect, is Mr. Chubachi, or is the Digtimes reporter just not telling the story correctly?

The world's first 2.0-compatible Blu-ray player.

(Credit: CNET)

The PlayStation 3 is the first Blu-ray player to support BD-Live functionality, thanks to a firmware update available today. Officially announced just last week, the update (version 2.20) was released right on schedule, and is now available as a free download to PS3 owners directly through the console's onscreen interface. Once installed, it allows the PS3's to access Internet-connected BD-Live content available on some discs. The list of compatible discs is currently minimal--just War and Saw IV available now, plus The Sixth Day and Walk Hard following on April 8--and the first round of BD-Live content doesn't seem to be very diverting. But as the list of supporting titles grows--and, ideally, the BD-Live content becomes more compelling--look for players that don't support Profile 2.0 compatibility to be confined to the clearance shelves. The PS3 remains the best bet for Blu-ray shoppers, even if they have no interest in using its gaming capabilities.

Is Samsung's BD-P1200 a defective product?

(Credit: CNET)

Samsung was the first to market with a Blu-ray player, but it hasn't exactly been a smooth ride. Home theater enthusiasts will undoubtedly remember the brouhaha over the first Blu-ray player, the Samsung BD-P1000, which was blamed for the initial lackluster video performance of Blu-ray (although, we always thought the fault lied more with poor movie transfers, rather than the BD-P1000). More recently, we've blogged the entire slate of firmware fixes Samsung has released to correct compatibility issues with certain discs on its entire line of Blu-ray players.

Apparently those firmware fixes aren't enough for everyone, as a class action complaint has been filed against Samsung for selling "defective" Blu-ray players--most notably the . The main complaint is that the BD-P1200 hasn't been able to play certain Blu-ray discs, and although it doesn't specify which movies, we personally have experienced issues with Live Free or Die Hard, Rescue Dawn, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Now Samsung certainly isn't the only company that has had to update its player to accommodate new releases, but the delays have certainly frustrated the early adopter community past their breaking point.

The latest firmware update for the BD-P1200 has supposedly fixed the issue, which definitely won't help the class-action complaint. Let's hope that Samsung gets the message that a Blu-ray player that doesn't play all Blu-ray movies just isn't acceptable. As Senior Editor John Falcone will be quick to point out, it's just another reason not to buy Blu-ray--yet.

(Credit: Samsung)

Over the last few weeks, there has been a lot of speculation regarding the status of Samsung's upcoming Blu-ray/HD DVD combo player--the BD-UP5000--and the high-end Blu-ray player, the BD-P2400. Finally, Samsung has made an official announcement. First, the bad news: The BD-P2400 is officially canceled. The BD-P2400 was supposed to be the step-up to the BD-1400, adding HQV video processing, but now those who want HQV will have to go for the combo player.

Now for the good news. Here's exactly what Samsung told us about the BD-UP5000:

Status of BD-UP5000 Duo HD Player:

• The Duo HD Player will ship from Samsung factories at the end of October and will be available to consumers at retail by mid- to late December.
• The Duo HD Player will be BD Profile 1.1 ready--this means it will include the necessary hardware to play BD Profile 1.1 discs.
• A firmware update will be available at the end of January 2008 to allow playback of BD Profile 1.1 discs.***

*** Profile 1.1 discs are currently not available and compatibility must be fully tested before we can assure complete compliance to BD Profile 1.1 requirements.

Besides the delayed release date, this should be (mostly) good news for enthusiasts looking to get a single player to handle both HD DVD and Blu-ray. Blu-ray profile 1.1 means that it will support picture-in-picture functionality--for example, watching a director discuss a scene in the small window with the movie behind it. As Samsung mentions, profile 1.1 discs aren't available yet, but at least we know the BD-UP5000 will be able to handle them.

(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.

(Credit: Samsung)

Editors' note: Toshiba has officially announced that it will stop producing HD DVD products, bringing an end to the format war. For that reason, CNET recommends that consumers should avoid buying this player for high-definition movie playback, as very few HD DVD discs will be produced in the future.

We've already known most of the details about the upcoming Samsung BD-UP5000 HD DVD/Blu-ray combo player for a while, but today at CEDIA they announced a few more nuggets of info. Here's a summary of what we know:

BD-UP5000's key features

• 1080p output at 24 frames per second on Blu-ray and HD DVD
• HQV video processing
• Onboard decoding for Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD
• Firmware upgradeable for DTS-HD High Resolution and DTS-HD Master Audio onboard decoding (see this blog for more information)
• HDMI 1.3 port
• Ethernet port
• $1,000 MSRP, available Q4 2007

The spec sheet we got from Samsung also mentioned "stereo and 5.1/7.1-channel audio outputs", but we have not yet been able to confirm if that refers to multichannel analog outputs (as we suspect) or the ability to output multichannel audio via HDMI. We've also inquired to see exactly how Samsung plans to implement its support for DTS-HD High Resolution and DTS-HD Master Audio--whether by onboarding decoding or by enabling bitstream output. Note that if they enable DTS-HD support by enabling bitstream output, you will need a newer receiver with onboard DTS-HD Master Audio decoding to take advantage of the lossless high resolution soundtrack.

Overall, we have to admit we're pretty impressed with the BD-UP5000 compared to LG's combo player, the BH200. The inclusion of HQV video processing at the same price point is a nice upgrade, since HQV can improve performance on both standard DVD and high-def discs. Samsung's decision to support high-resolution audio, albeit by a firmware update, is also a plus over the BH200 which has currently only announced support for bitstream output. Of course, both combo players still have to face the fact that you can buy both a PlayStation 3 and Toshiba HD-A2 for less.

(Credit: Samsung)