http://www.pcworld.ca/news/column/d29dc5ad0a01040800986975d049469c/pg0.htm
When it comes to Blu-Ray, Samsung has always been ahead of the pack, though the South Korea-based electronics conglomerate may not be the best known name, among the various vendors supporting this format.
Samsung was first to market with a Blu-Ray player (BD-P1000) last Summer, and now the company is also the first vendor to release a second-gen Blu-Ray device (BD-P1200).In my 2006 review of the Samsung BD-P1000, I had indicated that - despite the player's many attractive features - its steep price (at the time it retailed for $1,299.99 at Futureshop.ca) was likely to place it out of the range of all but the really serious videophiles.The good news is the price of the second generation player has dropped quite a bit.The BD-P1200 retails for around $700 at TheBrick.com, FutureShop.ca, and BestBuy.ca.Despite the price drop, that's still quite a sizeable chunk of change to fork out for a single AV device so the question is: do the features of the BD-P1200 justify the cost?Let's investigate further before we proffer an opinion.
Colours Unlimited
When it comes to Blu-Ray players, video and audio quality are by far the most crucial factors to consider when making a buying decision.Along with that you want to be sure the device is versatile, playing not just Blu-Ray discs, but most - if not all - of your existing media: your entire range of CDs, DVDs, for instance.If that seems a no-brainer consider this: many first-gen Blu-Ray players don't play CDs.The BD-P1200, however, does.And on the issue of audio and video quality, all first-generation players don't support the High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) version 1.3 specification that was released in June 2006.But the BD-P1200 does; it has an HDMI 1.3 compliant port.Why is that important? Or to put it another way: what's so hot about HDMI 1.3?Most of the hype surrounding this spec relates to its support of what in technical terms is referred to as "Deep Colour."Essentially, Deep Colour does away with previous interface-related restrictions on colour selection. So the interface no longer forces all content within a limited colour range.So - theoretically at least - HDTVs and other high-definition displays will have the potential to go from millions to billions of colours.What this means is that taking advantage of HDMI 1.3 manufacturers are able to create devices that represent any colour in nature, displaying an incredible range of tonal transitions and extremely subtle variations in detail - all making for a tremendous viewing experience.If this sounds too good to be true, you're right - at present it is!Theoretically, while the presence of an HDMI 1.3 port in players such as the BD-P1200 could exponentially expand the colour spectrum, it's going to be a while before this happens in practice.That's because to experience the benefits of deep colour, the capability has to be present not only in the player, but also on the display and on the media - in this case, the Blu-Ray disks themselves.As of now, to my knowledge, so far there aren't any disks or displays that offer deep colour.So I guess the most we could say for now is that the BD-P1200 is "deep colour" ready.HDMI 1.3 also supports the passing of HD lossless audio formats (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio). So an HDMI 1.3-enabled receiver with onboard Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding should theoretically enhance sound quality.But - according to some reviews - the improvement in sound quality is likely to be appreciated only by very discriminating audiophiles.
Vivid video, scintillating sound
While we may have to wait a bit for the true "deep colour" experience, the existing video quality of the BD-P1200 is certainly spectacular.I put the player through the paces to get a sense of how it handles colour.Last year, I had tested the BD-P1200's predecessor (the BD-P1000) - by hooking up the device up to a couple of displays: the Samsung LN-S4041D 40" Wide HDTV at 1080i and then the Samsung HLS6187W TV, a 61-inch display that supports 1080p resolution.This time around, I decided to use the HDMI jack on the device to marry the BD-P1200 to an Epson PowerLite Pro 1080 Cinema Projector.This high-end Epson projector offers native 1080p resolution and features Epson's proprietary CrystalFine 3LCD technology. (Analog jacks on the BD-P1200 include a component video port, and for standard definition there are S-Video and composite video ports).For audio, I used a digital coaxial cable to link the BD-P1200 to my Yamaha HTR-5630 AV Receiver. (In addition to the HDMI jack, the BD-P1200 also features both optical and coaxial digital audio outputs).Bottomline - both the sound and visual quality were awesome.That said, my AV experience was no different from what was delivered by the first-generation BD-P1000.In fact, some reviewers suggest that most Blu-Ray players (whether from Samsung or other manufacturers) "essentially perform identically."Whether that assessment is true or not, the range of flicks I viewed on the BD-P1200 definitely showcased the superior video and audio capabilities of the device.In Underworld Evolution (starring Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman) the visual style is consciously bleak, and includes inky greys, deep blues and purples, silver and rich blacks. The BD-P1200 rendered these with pristine clarity, sans noise or any noticeable inconsistency.Then from Casino Royale to Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, from Hitch to D??j?? vu to the Columbia Pictures' animated extravaganza Open Season (depicting the adventures of a domesticated grizzly bear with no survival skills when he's let loose in the depths of a forest) the picture and sound quality delivered by the BD-P1200 was deeply satisfying.The BD-P1200 features Dolby Digital, DTS, as well as Dolby Digital Plus decoders. The latter is a higher resolution format than Dolby Digital.?? Some reviews fault the BD-P1200 for not including such new, "highest-resolution" soundtrack formats as Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-Master.But with its current audio quality so nuanced and compelling, I really wonder whether inclusion of those formats would make any perceptible difference.The BD-P1200 also did a fine job of upconverting regular DVDs. It can output these via High HDMI in various signal formats - 720p, 1080i or 1080p.Inordinately long load times have been an issue with all first-generation Blu-Ray players.It doesn't seem that the BD-P1200 has significantly improved performance in this regard.In my tests with the BD-P1000 last year it took a good 35 seconds for the Blu-Ray discs to load and start playing.
A trade-off?
Samsung's second gen Blu-Ray player rectifies many performance bugs in the first-gen player. It certainly isn't as quirky and in my tests there were far fewer operational hiccups.That said, there was one really cool feature of the BD-P1000 that the BD-P1200 player lacks.While the BD-P1000 had two front-panel card readers that enabled it to display digital pictures and play mp3 files from 10 different types of flash media, these readers are not present on the BD-P1200.To some that may not be a big deal, especially considering that the second gen player costs $600 less - but it's a feature that I miss.
Retro design
The BD-P1200 has that sleek, retro look with the characteristic Samsung glossy black finish. You have to be careful not to touch the front panel because its surface does show fingerprints.Unlike the first gen player, there aren't any memory card readers on the front panel. It includes just three buttons: power, output resolution, and disc open/close.Another front-panel control at the far right is a directional-pad-like circle that allows access to four functions: play/pause, stop, chapter forward, and chapter backward.The power button and LED display emit a blue light - again a Samsung hallmark - which adds to the retro-like effect and can be visually pleasing, especially when with the lights off.
Final word
Samsung has definitely listened to user feedback when designing its second gen Blu-Ray player.The BD-P 1200 costs much less, and resolves many of the operational quirks of its predecessor.It is also "deep-colour" ready, though how this will actually impact the visual experience we'll only know once we have disks and displays that support this technology.Much like its predecessor, the BD-P1200's main strengths include: outstanding video and audio quality (when hooked up with the right display and audio gear); its ability to upconvert DVDs and CDs, unique interactive features, and a sleek, retro look.Negative features include the long time it takes to load discs, the absence of memory card slots, and no decoders for the highest-res audio formats - Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD-Master.The absence of memory card slots make upgrades a bit more complex, as you now have to use the Ethernet jack on the player to access firmware updates.The Blu-Ray player is a good buy and certainly has an edge over current first-gen Blu-Ray players. But despite the price drop, some value-conscious buyers may still find the device too pricey.
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