S&V Review of the Samsung BD-P1500

[mmmmDoNut]

For your reading pleasure

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/blu...sc-player.html

Bottom Line

As someone who has essentially zero interest in gaming, I'm frustrated that the leading Blu-ray player up to this point has essentially been a hijacked videogame console. Most earlier standalone Blu-ray players couldn't match the PS3's performance, or they cost so much that they failed to deliver good value. Now, with the Samsung BD-P1500, we finally have a "real" Blu-ray player that can deliver outstanding performance at an affordable price. No, it doesn't have interactive BD-Live capability, but to many people (myself included), those features are of minor importance next to things like basic video performance and disc handling — areas where the BD-P1500 excels. While the inclusion of DTS-HD Master Audio decoding and multichannel analog outputs would have certainly widened its appeal, when paired with the right receiver, those omissions become irrelevant. In some ways, the BD-P1500 shows us that Blu-ray has finally come of age.

[JAC35]

Couldn't agree more with this except for the omissions becoming irrelevant. The PS3 is the one to beat but nobody seems willing / ready to step up to the plate. Very frustrating to see! At this point I'm doubtful it will happen for Q4. B&M Sales people really need an SA unit that they can say " This is the unit you need to take the full advantage of Blu-ray" Just someone get it done for Q4 and all will be good.

[mmmmDoNut]

Personally I'm waiting on the new Pioneer 051FD. Really hoping it lives up to all the specs on paper.