Questions About Samsung BD-UP5000

[AznNintendoFan1]

I have a question about the Samsung BD-UP5000 because I pre-ordered it for my father for christmas. I know he wants an HD player that does a good job upconverting standard DVDs and I know this will be great. My question is, will I have to update the firmware once it comes out of the box? How do we update firmware on dual format players? Do you have to do one update after the next for each side? Like do the HD-DVD firmware once then the Blu-Ray next? Or what? Please let me know. It'll ship on the 25th.

[Biosynthnut]

Hook it up to your router, from what I've read on AVS forums no firmware update is needed at this time. Though hopefully(cross your fingers) their will be a update for support for the analog outputs for HD audio since the player only does it for HDMI. Firmware updates are for the player not the format so it won't matter.

[Ph8]

Moving to "Cross Format" forum

[cflexsenhar]

I just got the player on wed. dec 19 and there is no firmware required. Check out the LG duo i have that too still trying to figure out which one to get.

[sotie]

I'm decided to return my 5000 due to the lack of support for lossless audio formats. Also, there are several which report problems with the video on avs forum.

[CCDMan]

I'm decided to return my 5000 due to the lack of support for lossless audio formats. Also, there are several which report problems with the video on avs forum.

Several, but not most. Most think the video is just fine. I will let you know tomorrow, mine is due.

Also, according to the majority of reports (not quite all but that is typical), support for lossless audio will be a firmware update. It had been strongly suspected for a couple months that support for lossless formats would very likely not be there on release. Example: A ZDNet pre-review in early SEPTEMBER said "Firmware upgradeable for DTS-HD High Resolution and DTS-HD"

I am amazed that folks find this surprising, it was known to be a strong possibility.

In any case, as far as I am concerned, normal Dolby 5.1 is fine for now. I am not an audiophile.

[sotie]

TrueHD doesn't work either. Actually it does but it's only 2.1 channels. Also, 4:3 format on SD dvd's is transmitted to the display as fullscreen.

[Arkadin]

I agree that people should NOT have been surprised about the audio aspect. What I'm worried about is the playback problems that have been reported. The Panny bd-30 seems to work fine with newer 1.1 discs. Personally I'm waiting for more reviews of this player before I purchase one.
Also, I probably won't wait much longer. I want to watch my 10 bds.
I'm tired of waiting at this point so the Panny will most likely be the bd player for me.

[CCDMan]

TrueHD doesn't work either. Actually it does but it's only 2.1 channels. Also, 4:3 format on SD dvd's is transmitted to the display as fullscreen.

True HD IS a lossless format. Reference

Personally I don't care about the aspect ratio either. My Crystallio II VP will make any ratio I need.

I'm tired of waiting at this point so the Panny will most likely be the bd player for me.

The BD30 has gotten good reviews. If the 5000 turns out to be crap, I plan to get the BD30 and Toshiba HDA35 and return the Sammy before my free return time is up. I don't really expect that based on the what the majority of owners have said but all this stuff also depends on how well it gets along with my other equipment.

[vinnie97]

The 5000 is not crap by my estimations (I have one!)...the audio support could be better of course but the rest seems to be on point. I've not watched any movie all the way through on it (no time!) yet but Lost Season 3 (Blu-Ray), Blood Diamond, TMNT, Breach and Transformers (HD DVD) have all played without a hitch.

[AznNintendoFan1]

Excellent! Keep waching, Vinny. Since I dont have a receiver or crazy sound system hooked up to my television, I dont really need to care about audio formats and whatnot. So with the video outputs, please keep watching and keep reporting! Thanks man. I hope more people who buy this like you will keep us posted. I just gave back my HD-A35 today just because I wanna get the BD-UP5000 myself but I am not sure whether I should get it just yet. Sorry to make it sound like I'd rather make you guys take the fall first but it's better to see what you guys say before I get one. Thanks again!

[vinnie97]

I understand the hesitation. I've been fiending this since October when I realized it would be one of the few streamlined methods of enjoying the Blu side in addition to Red (I have a 360 add-on that I picked up in March)...it's like a bad addiction! That AVS thread/FAQ as well as the dual format forum has much information to be gleaned.

[thx11384EB]

So just what the hell is going on with best buy??? They had the LG for 999.00 then lowered it to 799.00 Now the samsung WAS 799.00 and they raised it to 999.00

[AznNintendoFan1]

I know! Usually I love best buy over Circuit City but so far Circuit City is the store that's telling me I should be using its credit card instead of the first.

[Chickengas]

I got mine at BB for $799, now I got a coupon to save 12% on ANY purchase. Since I got this thing 12/24, I can technically return/repurchase the unit for $96 less!! Woohoo!!

$703